64th Brigade Support Battalion (United States)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 64th Brigade Support Battalion


caption= Mountaineers
dates= 1942
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= US Army
type= Combat Service Support
role= Support
size= Battalion
command_structure= 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division
current_commander= LTC Robert L. Hatcher, Jr.
current_S4= CPT Javan A. Barker
garrison= Fort Carson, Colorado
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=Mountaineers
patron=
motto= Mountaineers!
colors= gold and red
identification_symbol=
march=
mascot=
battles=World War II

Vietnam

Operation Iraqi Freedom
* OIF 1 2003-2004
* OIF 5 2005-2006
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=
decorations=Presidential Unit Citation (Army)
battle_honours=Presidential Unit Citation (Army)

The 64th Brigade Support Battalion, nickamed "Mountaineers," is a United States Army Support Battalion, currently assigned to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.

History

The 64th Forward Support Battalion was constituted in 1942 as the 64th Quartermaster Battalion. In August 1942, it was activated as the 64th Quartermaster Laundry Battalion, and was then separated in 1943 into Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 64th Quartermaster Battalion, and four separate companies. In 1948, the Headquarters Detachment was allotted to the Regular Army. It was inactivated in 1949 at Camp Lee, Virginia along with the separate companies.

From 1950 to 1953, the unit activated for services in Europe during the cold war. In 1963, the 64th Quartermaster Battalion was activated for services in Vietnam, where it was inactivated in 1970. Redesigned 1 December, 1975 as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 64th Support Battalion. Together with its companies, the unit was reactivated and assigned to the 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized) and served in Germany until its deactivation in 1984. On 15 May 1987, the 64th Support Battalion was reactivated at Fort Carson, Colorado.

The 64th Support Battalion is authorized 13 campaign streamers for use with organizational colors. The streamers were earned for action in World War II and in the Vietnam Conflict.

The distinctive unit insignia worn by the soldiers of this battalion is the primary buff and scarlet, colors symbolic of support units. Black refers to the petroleum capability of the battalion. The fleur-de-lis and the three battlements allude to the three campaigns credited to the battalion in France and Europe in World War II. The original rice motif symbolized service in Vietnam. The turned down inner blades of the wreath, crossing diagonally simulate the Roman numeral X and refer to participation in the ten campaigns in Vietnam. The two red areas allude to the two meritorious unit commendations awarded to the battalion during service in Vietnam.

The unit deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, in support of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team. The unit was deployed to Iraq in 2005 and again in 2007. Although it has received praise for successful execution of its wartime mission, it has been criticized for poor NCO leadership.