407th Brigade Support Battalion

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 407th Forward Support Battalion


caption=The griffin (a composite of eagle and lion) symbolizes the coordinated campaign of the Allies. The five hills represent the liberation of the city of Nijmegen. The roundel, simulating a wheel, alludes to the Quartermaster and Transportation Corps. The parachute with its nine cords refers to the nine campaigns in which the parent unit participated during World Wars I and II. The colors commemorate the decorations awarded the 407th: red and green for the Belgian Fourragere, red for the Meritorious Unit Commendation and orange for the Netherlands Lanyard.

The two divisions of the shield are used to denote service during World Wars I and II. The fleurs-de-lis symbolize the original organization's action during World War I in Lorraine, Saint Mihiel and Meuse-Argone, France. The rampant lion, suggested by the coat of arms of Belgium and the Netherlands, alludes to the former organization's drive during World War II to stem the invading enemy; and the wavy bar alludes to the wavy bend on the arms of Rhineland signifying the sweep through that province during the same campaign. The engrailed border represents a parachute and symbolizes that unit's service with the 82d Airborne Division.

dates= 5 August, 1917-
country= United States of America
allegiance=
branch= U.S. Army
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command_structure=82nd Airborne Division
garrison=Fort Bragg, North Carolina
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nickname=Golden Griffins
patron=
motto=Supply is Strength
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battles=World War I
World War II
Operation Power Pack
Operation Urgent Fury
Operation Just Cause
Operation Desert Shield
Operation Desert Storm
Operation Restore Democracy
2003 Invasion of Iraq
Operation Iraqi Freedom{
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current_commander= Lt. Col. Matthew P. Shatzkin
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notable_commanders= Lt. Col. Ann E. Dunwoody
identification_symbol=
identification_symbol_label=Distinctive Unit Insignia
identification_symbol_2=
identification_symbol_2_label= Parachutist Badge Background OvalOriginally designated the 307th Supply Train (Motor), the unit was activated on 5 August 1917 at Camp Gordon, Georgia as the country was building up for World War I. The unit was part of the 82d Infantry Division, which was assigned to the American Expeditionary Force on the Western Front in France. The Supply Train served with distinction during the American offensive on the St. Mihiel Salient and during the severe fighting in the Argonne Forest.

After the Armistice, the unit was demobilized in 1919, and reorganized two years later in the organized reserves as the 82d Division Train, Quartermaster Corps. After several other changes in designation, the Supply Train finally received its present day numerical designation as the 407th Quartermaster Regiment on 1 July, 1936.

Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the 82d , along with the 407th, was called to active duty on 25 March 1942 at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana. On 15 August of that same year, the 407th left its non-airborne roots behind forever when it became the 407th Airborne Quartermaster Company. The 407th then supported the Division in both Sicily and Italy.

When the Division went into Normandy, the 407th arrived there with the glider forces and the seaborne forces. The 407th also participated in the glider assault into Holland. For these two operations, the 407th is credited with two arrowheads (initial assault) on its battle streamers.

In the years after World War II, the 407th finally became a full battalion. On 1 September 1957, the unit reorganized as the 407th Supply and Transportation Battalion. In this configuration, the 407th served in the Dominican Republic for Operation POWER PACK, in Grenada for Operation URGENT FURY, in Panama for Operation JUST CAUSE, and in Saudi Arabia and Iraq for Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM and Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.

On 22 October 1993, the unit took its present day form as the multi-functional 407th Forward Support Battalion. In this configuration, the unit provides all Direct Support logistical needs as part of the Division’s 2d Brigade Task Force. During Operation RESTORE DEMOCRACY in Haiti, the 407th was ready to deploy with Task Force Falcon, only to be stood down at the last minute. Thus, proving the battalion’s ability to deploy with the Task Force, anywhere in the world, within 18 hours to close with and destroy the enemy

The paratroopers of the 407th are as versatile as the battalion. Whether pumping fuel from a forward area refueler, transporting critical ammunition, issuing food and supplies, fixing damaged vehicles, maintaining the Brigade’s weapons systems, issuing repair parts, or treating and evacuating casualties from the drop zone, the soldiers of the 407th are sentinels in America’s Guard of Honor. They are proud of what they do in the DISCOM, proud to support the 2d Brigade Task Force, and proud to be "All AMERICANS".

Past commanders

*Lt. Col. Ann E. Dunwoody
*Lt. Col. Thomas Rogers
*Lt. Col. William Hughes
*Lt. Col. Jeffrey Douville
*Lt. Col. F.D. (SAM) Samonte

ee also

*Maroon Beret
*Parachutist Badge
*Military cadence

External links

* [http://www.bragg.army.mil/407fsb/ "407th Forward Support Battalion"]
* [http://www.qmfound.com/407th_Support_Battalion.htm "Distinguished Units of the Quartermaster Regiment: 407th Forward Support Battalion"]
* [http://www.ww2-airborne.us/units/407/407.html "The 82nd Airborne World War II: The 407th Airborne Quartermaster Company"]