11th Infantry Brigade (Light)Arrived Vietnam: 19 December 1967
Departed Vietnam: 13 November 1971 Locations: Duc Pho Dec. 67 - June 71 The Loi July 71 - Nov. 71 Authorized Strength: HHC 1968- 188 1971 - 128 Commanders: Brigadier General Andy A. Lipscomb Dec. 67 Colonel Oran K. Henderson March 68 Colonel John W. Donalson Oct. 68 Colonel Jack L. Treadwell Mar. 69 Colonel Hugh T. F. Hoffman Sept. 69 Colonel Kendrick B. Barlow March 70 Colonel John L. Insani Sept. 70 Colonel Warner S. Goodwin March 68 The 11th Infantry Brigade arrived in Vietnam as an emergency deployment from Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, where it was serving in a Strategic Armed Forces role replacing the 25th Infantry Division, which had already been sent to Vietnam. (The 11th Infantry Brigade was in turn replaced by the 29th Infantry Brigade, Hawaii National Guard, which closed its mobilization station 13 May 1968.) The 11th Infantry Brigade was officially combined with the newly formed 23rd Infantry Division (AMERICAL) on 15 February 1969 and operated in Quang Ngai and Quang Tin Provinces along the coastal lower portions of the I Corps Tactical Zone. It departed Vietnam as part of Increment IX of the U.S. Army withdrawal along with the bulk of the AMERICAL Division and was folded up at Fort Lewis. 11th Infantry (Light) Order of Battle: Assigned and Attached Units Brigade Infantry 3rd Battalion, 1st Infantry 4th Battalion, 3rd Infantry 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry 4th Battalion, 21st Infantry Brigade Support 6th Support Battalion 6th Engineer Company 327th Aviation Detachment 90th Chemical Detachment 31st Public Information Detachment Brigade Artillery: 6th Battalion, 11th Artillery (105mm) Brigade Reconnaissance: Troop E, 1st Cavalry (Armored) 173rd Airborne BrigadeArrived Vietnam: 7 May 1965
Departed Vietnam: 25 August 1971 Locations: Bien Hoa May 65 - Oct. 67 An Khe Nov. 67 - April 69 Bong Son May 69 - Aug. 71 Authorized Strength: HHC 1966- 265 1968 - 312 Commanders: Brigadier General Ellis W. Williamson May 65 Brigadier General Paul F. Smith Feb. 66 Brigadier General John R. Deane Jr. Dec. 66 Brigadier General Leo H. Schweiter Aug. 67 Brigadier General Richard J. Allen April 68 Brigadier General John W. Barnes Dec. 68 Brigadier General Hubert S. Cunningham Aug. 69 Brigadier General Elmer R. Ochs Aug. 70 Brigadier General Jack McFarland Jan. 71 Formed in May 1963, the 173rd Airborne Brigade ("Sky Soldiers") began training for the type of warfare it would encounter in Vietnam and was sent to Vietnam from Okinawa as the first major U.S. Army ground combat unit. When committed to combat, the brigade represented the sole U.S. Pacific Command (USAPACOM) quick-reaction reserve and was to be on temporary duty only until it could be replaced by an airborne brigade from the United States. Despite these optimistic withdrawal intentions the brigade remained in Vietnam for almost all the U.S. effort. A particularly elite unit, it also operated with an Australian battalion during the early part of its service. The brigade became famous at the Battle of Dak To in November 1967 when it fought an entrenched North Vietnamese Army regiment on Hill 875 and, in some of the most bitter fighting of the war, captured the hill on Thanksgiving Day, earning the Presidential Unit Citation, It was also noted for its combat parachute jump during Operation JUNCTION CITY 22 February 1967 in War Zone C of Tay Ninh Province. It had been initially sent to Vietnam to provide infantry security for the Bien Hoa airbase complex but launched into a series of intensely fought offensive operations including striking into War Zone C during September-November 1966 in Operation ATTLEBORO. The brigade struck this same location again early in 1967. Throughout 1968 the brigade fought in Binh Thuan and Binh Dinh Provinces. By 1969 the brigade was engaged in pacification efforts and route security (securing portions of QL 1, Vietnam's only major north-south highway) in the An Lao Valley of Binh Dinh Province. The following years were spent in similar operations within the II Corps Tactical Zone. 173rd Airborne Brigade Order of Battle: Assigned and Attached Units Brigade Infantry 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry (Airborne) 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry (Airborne) 3rd Battalion, 503rd Infantry (Airborne) 4th Battalion, 503rd Infantry (Airborne) Brigade Support 173rd Support Battalion (Airborne 173rd Engineer Company 534th Signal Company 173rd Signal Company (Airborne) Brigade Artillery: 3rd Battalion, 319th Artillery (105mm)(Airborne) Brigade Reconnaissance: Company D, 16th Armor Troop E, 17th Cavalry (Armored) Brigade Aviation: 335th Aviation Company (Airmobile) Attached Allied Battalion: 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment Attached Units 3rd Battalion, 506th Infantry (Airmobile) 172nd Military Intelligence Detachment 404th Army Security Agency Detachment |
196th Infantry Brigade (Light)Arrived Vietnam: 26 August 1966
Departed Vietnam: 29 June 1972 Locations: Bien Hoa May 65 - Oct. 67 Tay Ninh Aug. 66 - May 67 Chu Lai June 67 - Oct. 67 Tam Ky Nov. 67 - March 68 Phong Dien April 68 - May 68 Hoi An June 68 - June 68 Chu Lai July 68 - March 71 Authorized Strength: HHC 1966- 285 1968 - 188 1971 - 128 Commanders: Colonel Francis Conaty Aug. 66 Brigadier General Edward H. deSaussure Jr. Aug. 66 Colonel Francis Conaty Sept. 66 Brigadier General Richard T. Knowles Nov. 66 Brigadier General Frank H. Linnell May 67 Colonel Louis Gelling Nov. 67 Colonel Fredrick J. Krosesen Jr. June 68 Colonel Thomas H. Tackaberry May 69 Colonel James M. Lee Nov. 69 Colonel Edwin L. Kennedy May 70 Colonel William S. Hathaway Nov. 70 Colonel Rutland D. Beard Jr. June 71 Brigadier General Joseph P. McDonough Nov. 71 The 196th Infantry Brigade was raised at Fort Devens and originally scheduled to be sent to the Dominican Republic in mid-1966 but was rushed to Vietnam instead and posted in the western portion of the III Corps Tactical Zone C of Tay Ninh Providence, which developed into a major action after a large enemy base camp was uncovered 19 October 1966. In April 1967 the brigade was selected, along with the 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division and the 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, to forma provisional divisional-sized unit called Task Force OREGON and then moved to I Corps Tactical Zone. The brigade stayed with this command, which was converted into 23rd Infantry Division (AMERICAL) 25 September 1967. The 196th Infantry Brigade officially joined this division 15 February 1969. It operated throughout northern Vietnam, and after the division was closed out of Vietnam 29 November 1971, the 196th Infantry Brigade was reconstituted as a separate (provisional) brigade-sized element to safeguard the same area of operations. In April 1971 the brigade was relocated to Da Nang for the major port security duties. It finally departed Vietnam as the last U.S. Army combat brigade to leave in Increment XII of the U.S. Army withdrawal. 173rd Airborne Brigade Order of Battle: Assigned and Attached Units Brigade Infantry 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry (during November 1971 only) 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry 1st Battalion, 46th Infantry (Only during the brigade service August 1971 - June 1972, after the 23rd Infantry Division (AMERICAL) had departed. F/8 Cavalry joined the brigade in November 1971.) Brigade Support 8th Support Battalion 175th Engineer Company 587th Signal Company 27th Chemical Detachment 10th Public Information Detachment Brigade Artillery: 2nd Battalion, 82nd Artillery (105mm) Brigade Reconnaissance: Troop F, 8th Cavalry (Air) (Only during the brigade service August 1971 - June 1972, after the 23rd Infantry Division (AMERICAL) had departed. F/8 Cavalry joined the brigade in November 1971.) Troop F, 17th Cavalry (Armored) 198th Infantry Brigade (Light)Arrived Vietnam: 21 October 1967
Departed Vietnam: 13 November 1971 Locations: Duc Pho Oct. 67 -Nov. 67 Chu Lai Dec. 67 - Nov. 71 Authorized Strength: HHC 1968 - 188 1971 - 128 Commanders: Colonel J.R. Waldie Oct. 67 Colonel Charles B. Thomas June 68 Colonel Robert B. Tully Dec. 68 Colonel Jere D. Whittington May 69 Colonel Joseph G. Clemons Nov. 69 Colonel William R. Richardson June 68 Colonel Charles R. Smith March 71 The 198th Infantry Brigade was raised at Fort Hood and originally scheduled for deployment to Vietnam as the "Practice Nine Barrier Brigade" in 1968. The barrier was to be highly developed "Magi not Line" along the DMZ separating North and South Vietnam at the time. Parts of it was actually constructed in 1967. However, the planned fortifications never materialized, and the brigade was rushed to Vietnam to join Task Force OREGON, which in the meantime had become the basis of the 23rd Infantry Division (AMERICAL). The 198th Infantry Brigade thus remained with this division throughout its service in Vietnam defending the I Corps Tactical Zone area. It departed with Increment IX of the U.S. Army withdrawal, along with the bulk of the AMERICAL Division. 198th Infantry Brigade (Light) Order of Battle: Assigned and Attached Units Brigade Infantry 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry 1st Battalion, 46th Infantry 5th Battalion,46th Infantry 1st Battalion, 52nd Infantry Brigade Support 9th Support Battalion 555th Engineer Company 587th Signal Company 87th Chemical Detachment Brigade Artillery: 1st Battalion, 14th Artillery (105mm) Brigade Reconnaissance: Troop H, 17th Cavalry (Armored) |
199th Infantry Brigade (Light)
Arrived Vietnam: 10 December 1966
Departed Vietnam: 11 October 1970
Locations: Long Binh/Cat Lai December 1967 - December 1967
Bien Hoa January 1968 - April 1968
Long Binh/Duc Hoa May 1968 - July 1969
Xuan Loc August 1969 - June 1970
Long Binh/Gia Ray July 1970 - October 1970
Commanders:
Brigadier General Charles W. Ryder Jr. December 1966
Brigadier General John F. Freund March 1967
Brigadier General Robert C. Forbes September 1967
Brigadier General Franklin M. Davis Jr. May 1968
Colonel Fredric E. Davison August 1968
Brigadier General William R. Bond November 1969 (Killed in action by enemy automatic=rifle fire on 1 April 1970 south of Vo Xu.)
Colonel Robert W. Selton April 1970
Colonel Joseph E. Collins July 1970
The 199th Infantry Brigade was formed at Fort Benning and rushed to Vietnam to assist in safeguarding virtual areas in the III Corps Tactical Zone, remaining in that region throughout its service in Vietnam. With emphasis on joint U.S. - South Vietnamese Army operations, the brigade swept around the Saigon area through 1967, moving into Bien Hoa Providence in Operation UNIONTOWN in December. The 1968 Tet offensive began on 31 January 1968 with a 3 A.M. rocket attack against II Field Force Vietnam Headquarters, Long Binh Post and Bien Hoa Air Base. The brigade was soon defending itself in fierce combat against the 27th Viet Cong Regiment smashing against the 199th - Field Force, Vietnam perimeter. During the 31 January 1968 Long Binh attacks, the brigade's 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry was helicoptered into Saigon to retake the Phu Tho Racetrack from enemy forces who had infiltrated the capital and were using the racetrack as a command post. The racetrack was taken within 8 hours and for the next grim two days the battalion engaged in house-to-house fighting in the Cholon sector of Saigon. The brigade next only found light and sporadic contact with enemy forces during numerous reconnaissance-in-force operations around the Duc Hoa -Long Binh area for the remainder of the year. In 1969 the brigade concentrated on security toward the north and east of Saigon. It departed Vietnam as part of Increment IV of the U.S. Army withdrawal and was inactivated at Fort Benning 15 October 1970.
199th Infantry Brigade (Light) Order of Battle: Assigned and Attached Units
Brigade Infantry
3rd Battalion, 3rd Infantry
3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry
4th Battalion,12th Infantry
5th Battalion, 17th Infantry
Brigade Support
7th Support Battalion
179th Military Intelligence Detachment
87th Engineer Company
313th Signal Company
152nd Military Police Platoon
44th Military History Detachment
503rd Chemical Detachment
856th Army Security Agency Detachment
40th Public Information Detachment
Brigade Artillery: 2nd Battalion, 40th Artillery (105mm)
Brigade Reconnaissance: Troop D, 17th Cavalry (Armored)
Company F, 51st Infantry (Long Range Patrol)
Company M, 75th Infantry (Ranger)
Other Units on Temporary Duty: 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry
Departed Vietnam: 11 October 1970
Locations: Long Binh/Cat Lai December 1967 - December 1967
Bien Hoa January 1968 - April 1968
Long Binh/Duc Hoa May 1968 - July 1969
Xuan Loc August 1969 - June 1970
Long Binh/Gia Ray July 1970 - October 1970
Commanders:
Brigadier General Charles W. Ryder Jr. December 1966
Brigadier General John F. Freund March 1967
Brigadier General Robert C. Forbes September 1967
Brigadier General Franklin M. Davis Jr. May 1968
Colonel Fredric E. Davison August 1968
Brigadier General William R. Bond November 1969 (Killed in action by enemy automatic=rifle fire on 1 April 1970 south of Vo Xu.)
Colonel Robert W. Selton April 1970
Colonel Joseph E. Collins July 1970
The 199th Infantry Brigade was formed at Fort Benning and rushed to Vietnam to assist in safeguarding virtual areas in the III Corps Tactical Zone, remaining in that region throughout its service in Vietnam. With emphasis on joint U.S. - South Vietnamese Army operations, the brigade swept around the Saigon area through 1967, moving into Bien Hoa Providence in Operation UNIONTOWN in December. The 1968 Tet offensive began on 31 January 1968 with a 3 A.M. rocket attack against II Field Force Vietnam Headquarters, Long Binh Post and Bien Hoa Air Base. The brigade was soon defending itself in fierce combat against the 27th Viet Cong Regiment smashing against the 199th - Field Force, Vietnam perimeter. During the 31 January 1968 Long Binh attacks, the brigade's 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry was helicoptered into Saigon to retake the Phu Tho Racetrack from enemy forces who had infiltrated the capital and were using the racetrack as a command post. The racetrack was taken within 8 hours and for the next grim two days the battalion engaged in house-to-house fighting in the Cholon sector of Saigon. The brigade next only found light and sporadic contact with enemy forces during numerous reconnaissance-in-force operations around the Duc Hoa -Long Binh area for the remainder of the year. In 1969 the brigade concentrated on security toward the north and east of Saigon. It departed Vietnam as part of Increment IV of the U.S. Army withdrawal and was inactivated at Fort Benning 15 October 1970.
199th Infantry Brigade (Light) Order of Battle: Assigned and Attached Units
Brigade Infantry
3rd Battalion, 3rd Infantry
3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry
4th Battalion,12th Infantry
5th Battalion, 17th Infantry
Brigade Support
7th Support Battalion
179th Military Intelligence Detachment
87th Engineer Company
313th Signal Company
152nd Military Police Platoon
44th Military History Detachment
503rd Chemical Detachment
856th Army Security Agency Detachment
40th Public Information Detachment
Brigade Artillery: 2nd Battalion, 40th Artillery (105mm)
Brigade Reconnaissance: Troop D, 17th Cavalry (Armored)
Company F, 51st Infantry (Long Range Patrol)
Company M, 75th Infantry (Ranger)
Other Units on Temporary Duty: 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry