120th Infantry Brigade (United States)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 120th Infantry Brigade


caption=120th Infantry Brigade shoulder sleeve insignia
dates= 1943-1945
1997-1999
2006-Present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= U.S. Army
type= Infantry
role= Training
size= Brigade
command_structure=
garrison= Fort Sam Houston
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patron=
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colors=
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battles=Bastogne
anniversaries=
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current_commander=
current_commander_label=
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identification_symbol_label=Distinctive Unit Insignia
identification_symbol_2=
identification_symbol_2_label=The 120th Infantry Brigade is an AC/RC unit based at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

The unit is responsible for training selected United States Army Reserve & National Guard units in Texas & the South-Western U.S.

Lineage

* Constituted 26 March 1943 in the Army of the United States as Headquarters, 3d Armored Infantry Group
* Activated 31 March 1943 at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas
* Reorganized and redesignated 30 March 1943 as Headquarters, 3d Armored Group
* Reorganized and redesignated 14 September 1943 as Headquarters, 12th Tank Group
* Reorganized and redesignated 13 December 1943 as Headquarters, 12th Armored Group
* Inactivated 20 October 1945 at Camp Gruber, Oklahoma
* Disbanded 2 July 1952
* Reconstituted 24 October 1997 in the Regular Army as Headquarters, 120th Infantry Brigade, and activated at Fort Sam Houston, Texas
* Inactivated 16 October 1999 at Fort Sam Houston, Texas
* Activated 1 December 2006 at Fort Sam Houston, Texas

Campaign Streamers

Unit Decorations

History

During World War II, Headquarters, 12th Armored Group was attached to the 9th Armored Division to reinforce Combat Command R. The unit participated in the Siege of Bastogne under the command of the 101st Airborne Division and received the Presidential Unit Citation for participation in that battle.

The unit was formerly designated as 2nd Brigade, 75th Infantry Division. The brigade is a subordinate unit of U.S. First ArmyIn 2006, as part of the Army's Transformation Plan, the 2nd Brigade, 75th Division was reflagged as the 120th Infantry Brigade.

Organization

The unit is composed of:
*Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 120th Infantry Brigade
* 3rd Battalion, 289th Regt (CS/CSS) Beaumont, Texas
* 3rd Battalion, 290th Regt (CS/CSS) Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
* 3rd Battalion, 291st Regt (Infantry) Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (inactive)
* 3rd Battalion, 381st Regt (CS/CSS) Grand Prairie, Texas
* 1st Battalion, 381st Infantry Regiment Little Rock, Arkansas (inactive)
* 2nd Battalion, 382nd Regt (LS) Waco, Texas
** Detachment, 2nd Battalion, 382nd Regt (LS) Fort Polk, Louisiana
* 1st Battalion, 393rd Infantry Regiment Fort Chaffee, Arkansas
* 2nd Battalion, 393rd Infantry Regiment Fort Chaffee, Arkansas
* 3rd Battalion, 393rd Infantry Regiment Fort Chaffee, Arkansas
* 1st Battalion, 394th Regt (Infantry) Lafayette, Louisiana (inactive)
* 1st Battalion, 395th Regt (Engineer) Fort Hood, Texas
* 2nd Battalion, 395th Regiment (Field Artillery) Fort Hood, Texas
* 3rd Battalion, 395th Regt (Armor) Fort Hood, Texas

For further information see "The Brigade, A History" by John J. McGrath from the Combat Studies Institute Press, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Heraldry

*Distinctive Unit Insignia: The dark blue, the color traditionally used by the Infantry unit, denotes the Presidential Unit Citation awarded to the unit. The arched band refers to the unit’s World War II campaign in the Battle of the Bulge. The caltrops represent the defensive success by the Allies to protect Bastogne, Belgium from the German Army. The field of Gutte de Sang symbolizes the Battle of Ardennes, Siege of Bastogne, one of the bloodiest conflicts during World War II.

*Shoulder Sleeve Insignia: The flag blue of the shoulder sleeve insignia is the color traditionally associated with Infantry units. The embattled pale suggests tank tracks, denoting the 120th Infantry’s lineage as an armored unit. Red symbolizes the Brigade’s striking capabilities. The bayonet signifies close combat, illustrating the Brigade’s mission.

References

* [http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/div/120infbde.htm Lineage & Honors for 120th Infantry Brigade]
* [http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/lineage/branches/div/075d2bde.htm Lineage & Honors for 2nd Brigade, 75th Division]
* [http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Inf/120InfantryBrigade.htm The Institute of Heraldry: 120th Infantry Brigade]
* [http://www.samhouston.army.mil/120th/ Brigade Homepage]
* [http://www.blackanthem.com/News/sports/First_Army_Commander_s_Warrior_Challenge_Challenges_Soldiers_printer.shtml Commander's Challenge article]