181st Infantry Brigade (United States)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 181st Infantry Brigade


caption=181st Infantry Brigade shoulder sleeve insignia
dates= 1917-08-05 - 1945-11-19
1947-01-25 - 1954-05-17
1956-04-17 - 1959-05-01
1963-04-01 - 1965-12-31
2006-12-01 - Present
country= United States
allegiance= United States Army
branch= Active Duty
type= Light Infantry
role= Training
size= Brigade
command_structure= 1st Army
garrison= Fort McCoy, Wisconsin
garrison_label=
equipment=
equipment_label=
nickname=Eagle Brigade
patron=
motto="Docere Bellum Et Pax Pacis"
"To Win War and Peace" [ [http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Inf/181InfantryBrigade.htm The Institute of Heraldry: 181st Infantry Brigade] , The Institute of Heraldry. Retrieved 06-14-2008.]
colors=Black & Red
colors_label=
march=
mascot=
battles=
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honours=World War I
World War II
current_commander=
current_commander_label=
ceremonial_chief=
ceremonial_chief_label=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
colonel_of_the_regiment_label=
notable_commanders=Major Oscar F. Miller {Medal of Honor}
Col. Jeffrey J. Kulp
identification_symbol=
identification_symbol_label=Distinctive Unit Insignia
identification_symbol_2=
identification_symbol_2_label=

The 181st Infantry Brigade is an infantry brigade of the United States Army based at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin. As an Active Component/Reserve Component (AC/RC) brigade, the unit serves primarily in a training role for other units of the US Armed forces.

The unit is responsible for training selected United States Army Reserve and National Guard units in the Central-Northern United States. The unit was formerly designated as 2nd Brigade, 85th Division. The brigade was redesignated and re-missioned several times: such as in 1999, when the 181st was merged with the 2nd Brigade, 85th Division and carried that name and lineage.

Organization

The 181st Infantry Brigade is subordinate to the 1st Army, headquartered at Fort Gillem, Georgia. [http://www.first.army.mil/1aEast/organization-unitsleaders.asp 1st Army, Division East Organization] , United States Army. Retrieved 06-10-2008.] It is comprised of six prime components. [ [http://www.first.army.mil/1aEast/images/PageImages/Structure-1AE3.jpg1st Army, Division East Organizational Chart] , 1st Army Staff. Retrieved 06-10-2008.] The brigade's Headquarters and Headquarters Company, as well as the 1-338th Training Support Battalion (CS/CSS), the 2-411th L Support Battalion, and 3rd Battalion, 340th Infantry are headquartered at Fort McCoy. The 1-340th Training Support Battalion (CS/CSS), headquartered at Arden Hills, Minnesota and the 3-335th Training Support Battalion (CS/CSS), headquartered in Highwood, Illinois are also part of the brigade.

History

World War I

During World War I, the 181st Infantry Brigade was constituted 5 August 1917 [http://www.first.army.mil/1aEast/181inbde/ 181st Infantry Brigade Homepage] , 181st Infantry Brigade Staff 07-01-2008.] in Camp Lewis, Washington. The Brigade was composed of the 361st Infantry Regiment, the 362nd Infantry Regiment, and the 347th Machine Gun Battalion. The 181st Infantry Brigade trained for 10 months at Camp Lewis prior to being deployed to France in August 1918. It was assigned to the 91st Infantry Division. [http://www.first.army.mil/1aEast/lineage-pdf/181L&H.pdf Lineage and Honors for 181st Infantry Brigade] , United States Army. Retrieved 06-14-2008.]

After Meuse-Argonne and the liberation of France, the Brigade was sent to assist the British with quelling the German Army’s final gasps at Ypres-Lys until the signing of the Armistice on November 11, 1918, which ended World War I. After four months of peacekeeping operations in liberated Belgium, the Brigade was sent back to Camp Lewis and demobilized on April 30, 1919. In 1921 it was reconstituted and placed in the Organized Reserves, again assigned to the 91st Infantry Division.

World War II

In July 1944, during the Arno Campaign of the Second World War, the 91st Reconnaissance Troop spearheaded Task Force Williamson under the command of General E.S. Williamson, Assistant Division Commander for the 91st Division. The 2nd Platoon of the 91st Reconnaissance Troop and the 1st Battalion, 363rd Infantry were the first to enter Leghorn (Livorno) on its way to liberating Pisa.

Post-War

After VE day, the Brigade was deactivated and reconstituted several times through 1945 as a headquarters and headquarters company and a reconnaissance troop. It was reactivated in 1947 as a mechanized cavalry reconnaissance troop; redesignated in 1949 as the 91st Reconnaissance Company and reconstituted in 1963 as a headquarters and headquarters company.

The 181st Infantry Brigade was reactivated at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin in December 2006, the Brigade trains soldiers, sailors and airmen to support contingency operations in the Global War on Terror.

Honors

Campaign Participation Credit

References

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

External links

* [http://www.first.army.mil/1aEast/lineage-pdf/181L&H.pdf Lineage & Honors for 181st Infantry Brigade]
* [http://www.mccoy.army.mil/ReadingRoom/Triad/01262007/Kulp_Commander_181st_01-26-07.htm Change of Command for the Brigade]
* [http://www.mccoy.army.mil/vtriad_online/01122007/181st_Infantry_Brigade_Reflagging_01-12-07.htm Brigade reflagging ceremony]
* [http://www.first.army.mil/1aEast/organization-unitsleaders.asp 1st Army reference to its subordinate brigades]