115th Brigade Support Battalion

Last updated
115th Brigade Support Battalion
115 Spt Bn COA.png
Coat of arms
CountryUnited States
BranchUnited States Army
TypeSupport Battalion
Garrison/HQ Fort Cavazos
Motto(s)Mule Skinners
ColorsBuff, Red, Gold
Insignia
Distinctive Unit Insignia 115 Bde Spt Bn DUI.jpg

The 115th Brigade Support Battalion is a battalion of the United States Army. Organized at Camp Henry Knox, Kentucky in 1919 as the 657th Motor Transport Company, it was re-designated the 84th Motor Transport Company on 1 December 1919. Since that time, many re-designations have occurred as the United States Army has changed.

Contents

History

Interwar years

The 115th Brigade Support Battalion carries the history, lineage, and colors of the 15th Supply Transport Battalion. It was originally organized at Camp Henry Knox, Kentucky in 1919 as the 657th Motor Transport Company, it was re-designated the 84th Motor Transport Company on 1 December 1919 and demobilized 31 December 1920 at Camp Dix, New Jersey. The unit was reconstituted 1 May 1936 in the Regular Army as Troop D, 16th Quartermaster Squadron, an element of the 1st Cavalry Division. [1]

World War II

Troop D, 16th Quartermaster Squadron, activated 15 January 1941 at Fort Ringgold, Texas. The troop traveled with the division throughout its World War II campaigns in the Pacific theater earning campaign credit for Bismarck Archipelago, Leyte, Luzon, and New Guinea as well as two Meritorious Unit Commendations for actions in support of the 1st Cavalry Division. [2]

Troop D was moving with the division when it earned its initial first designation, "First in Manila" during the campaign to retake the Philippine Islands. As the Japanese will to fight evaporated on the clouds of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Troop D marched into Japan when the division achieved its second motto, "First in Tokyo". During the occupation, the troop became the quartermaster support unit for the division.

Korean War

In 1949, the troop became the 15th Quartermaster Company and moved to Korea in 1950 to participate in combat supplying of the 5th, 7th, and 3rd Cavalry Regiments, Division Artillery, and Special Troops. The 15th Quartermaster Company fought with the division north across the 38th Parallel. In the invasion of North Korea, the First Team’s third accolade, "First in Pyong Yang" was added to the battle honors of the division and its quartermaster company.

The 15th Quartermaster Company remained in Korea after the war and with the activation of "ROAD" division in 1963 was combined with the 23rd Transportation Battalion and re-designated as the 15th Supply and Transport Battalion.

Vietnam War

In 1965, the 15th Supply and Transport Battalion returned to Fort Benning, Georgia with the 1st Cavalry Division and organized as a part of the Army’s first airmobile division. From 1 July 1971 until the end of the year, the unit served in the Republic of Vietnam. During its tenure in Vietnam, it participated in many campaigns to include the Tet Counteroffensive. While in Vietnam, the 15th Supply and Transport Battalion received the Presidential Unit Citation, the Valorous Unit Award, three Meritorious Unit Commendations, and three Republic of Vietnam Crosses of Gallantry and the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal. [3]

Cold War

Upon its return to the United States in 1971, the 15th Supply and Transport Battalion and the 1st Cavalry Division moved to Fort Hood under the TRICAP concept. In January 1975, the 1st Cavalry Division was reorganized, becoming the Army’s newest armored division. The 15th Supply and Transport Battalion adapted itself quickly to meet the ever-changing logistical needs of the division.

In 1984, the entire structure of the Division Support Command (DISCOM) underwent a dynamic change. Support battalions were activated, incorporating previous elements of the 15th Supply and Transport Battalion, the 15th Medical Battalion, and the 27th Maintenance Battalion. These units had previously provided brigade-level combat service support as forward area support teams; thus was born the 1st Forward Support Battalion on 1 October 1984. The 1st Forward Support Battalion took on the mission of supporting 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division.

Under the initial support battalion concept, the newly formed battalions had no history and lineage and only generic colors. This problem was corrected in 1987 when the Department of the Army and the Institute of Heraldry re-designated all support battalions. The 1st Forward Support Battalion became the 115th Support Battalion (Forward) on 15 May 1987 and given the full lineage, honors and colors of 15th Supply and Transport Battalion.

Gulf War

In October 1990, the 115th Forward Support Battalion deployed to Saudi Arabia for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm and provided logistical support to the soldiers of the 1st Brigade Task Force. During Operation Desert Storm, traversing 260 kilometers into the heart of Iraq, the 115th Forward Support Battalion met the challenge of providing continuous logistical support.

In the spring of 2003, the 1st Cavalry Division was organized under the FORCE XXI structure. The creation of multi-functional logistics companies with the FORCE XXI Forward Support Battalion consolidates all classes of supply and maintenance organizational elements currently embedded within the maneuver battalions with the direct support capability currently in the Forward Support Battalion.

The new 115th Forward Support Battalion, with "centralized" combat service support, provides all logistical support, and tied together the entire spectrum of supplies and services for the maneuver battalions within the 1st Brigade Combat Team (BCT). It consisted of three forward support companies (FSCs), a brigade support company, a medical company, and a headquarters and distribution company.

Modern era

In March 2004, the 115th Forward Support Battalion deployed to the Persian Gulf for Operation Iraqi Freedom II. The battalion mastered a myriad of new tasks and challenges as it adapted to the rapidly changing environment in and around Baghdad during their year-long deployment. Continuing their lineage of excellence, the 115th Forward Support Battalion provided first-class logistical support to the 1st Brigade Combat Team during periods of intense combat in Sadr City, and during the landmark first free Iraqi election.

In 2005, the Army moved from a division-based force structure to brigade-based. The 1st Brigade Combat Team re-structured as Interim Brigade Combat Team, incorporating the previous elements of the 1st Battalion, 82d Field Artillery Regiment; 312th Military Intelligence Battalion; 20th Engineer Battalion; 13th Signal Battalion; and 115th Forward Support Battalion.

On 12 July 2005, the 115th Forward Support Battalion became the 115th Brigade Support Battalion and re-aligned from DISCOM to the 1st Brigade Combat Team under the new structural concept. The 115th Brigade Support Battalion provides distribution-based, centrally-managed combat service support to 1st Brigade Combat Team to sustain its operational employment in small scale contingencies.

The unit has a reputation within the 1st Cavalry Division for getting the job done and "Making it Happen," a phrase that describes the hard-charging spirit of the battalion and the men and women who serve in it.

Awards and decorations

Campaign credit

ConflictStreamerYears
World War II
Streamer APC.PNG
Bismarck Archipelago
Leyte
Luzon
New Guinea
Vietnam War
Vietnam Service Streamer vector.svg

Unit decorations

RibbonAwardYearNotes
U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg Presidential Unit Citation (Army) [4] 23 Oct – 26 Nov 65
Valorous Unit Award ribbon.svg Valorous Unit Award [5] 1 May – 29 Jun 70
Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) [2] 25 Feb - 25 Jun 1944
Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) [2] 26 Jun – 25 Dec 44
Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) [6] 1 Jun 67 – 31 May 68
Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) [7] 1 Jun 68 – 30 Nov 69
Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) [5] 1 Jan 70–31 Jan 71
Philippines Presidential Unit Citation.png Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation (Army) [2] 7 Dec 41 – 10 May 42 or 17 Oct 44 – 4 Jul 45
Gallantry Cross Unit Citation.png Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, with Palm [8] 9 Aug 65 – 19 May 69For service in Vietnam
Gallantry Cross Unit Citation.png Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, with Palm [9] May 69 – Feb 70For service in Vietnam
Gallantry Cross Unit Citation.png Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, with Palm [10] 21 Feb 70 – 28 Feb 71For service in Vietnam
Civil Action Unit Citation.png Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Unit Citation [10] 1 Jan 69 – 1 Feb 70For service in Vietnam

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Cavalry Division (United States)</span> United States Army combat formation, active since 1921

The 1st Cavalry Division is a combined arms division and is one of the most decorated combat divisions of the United States Army. It is based at Fort Cavazos, Texas. It was formed in 1921 and served during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf War, with the Stabilization Force in Bosnia-Herzegovina, in the Iraq War, in the War in Afghanistan as well as Operation Freedom's Sentinel and Operation Inherent Resolve. As of July 2023, the 1st Cavalry Division is subordinate to III Armored Corps and is commanded by Major General Kevin D. Admiral.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">40th Infantry Division (United States)</span> US Army National Guard formation

The 40th Infantry Division is a modular division of the United States Army. Following the army's modularization the division has become a four-brigade combat team with National Guardsmen from throughout the Pacific/Western United States and Oceania. Its division headquarters is located at Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">9th Infantry Division (United States)</span> Military unit

The 9th Infantry Division is an inactive infantry division of the United States Army. It was created as the 9th Division during World War I, but never deployed overseas. In later years it was an important unit of the U.S. Army during World War II and the Vietnam War. It was also activated as a peacetime readiness unit from 1947 to 1962 at Fort Dix, New Jersey, and Fort Carson, Colorado, and from 1972 to 1991 as an active-duty infantry division at Fort Lewis, Washington. The division was deactivated in December 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division (United States)</span> Military unit

The 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division is a cavalry unit of the United States Army based in Fort Cavazos, Texas.

Reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition (RSTA) groups the tasks of reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition conducted by the Department of Defense. RSTA supports military operations at a strategic, operational, or tactical level, either by dedicated RSTA forces or those which possess the capability.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">199th Infantry Brigade (United States)</span> Military unit

The 199th Infantry Brigade (Light) is a unit of the United States Army which served in the Army Reserve from 1921 to 1940, in the active army from 1966 to 1970 (serving in the Vietnam War), briefly in 1991–1992 at Fort Lewis, and from 2007 as an active army training formation at Fort Moore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">58th Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade</span> Maryland Army National Guard formation

The 58th Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade is a military intelligence brigade of the United States Army National Guard in Maryland. It was largely formed from the personnel and equipment of the 58th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade and officially stood up in its present configuration on 1 August 2015. Most recently, members of the brigade joined state efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 in Maryland and constituted one of the last U.S. Army National Guard units to serve in the War in Afghanistan, returning to Maryland in February, 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">725th Support Battalion (United States)</span> Military unit

The 725th Brigade Support Battalion (BSB) (Airborne) is a support battalion assigned to the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 11th Airborne Division located in Alaska, which is one of two brigade combat teams assigned to 11th Airborne Division. The unit provides support for the infantry, artillery and cavalry units assigned to the brigade. The 725th consists of eight support companies. The 725th used to be known as the 167th Support Battalion. The unit's motto is "Service to the Line".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division</span> Military unit

The 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division is a combined arms armored brigade of the 1st Cavalry Division based in Fort Cavazos, TX. Major equipment includes the M1A2SEP Tanks, M2A3 & M3A3 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, M109A7 Paladin howitzers, and M1114 up-armored Humvees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">64th Brigade Support Battalion (United States)</span> Military unit

The 64th Brigade Support Battalion, nicknamed "Mountaineers," is a United States Army support battalion, assigned to the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division in Fort Carson, Colorado.

The 229th Aviation Regiment is an aviation unit of the United States Army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">75th Cavalry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 1st Squadron, 75th Cavalry Regiment is a United States Army cavalry squadron established in 2004. It is the Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition Squadron (RSTA) squadron of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team "Strike" ♥, 101st Airborne Division. It performs reconnaissance and cavalry missions in support of that brigade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">15th Sustainment Brigade</span> Military unit

The 15th Sustainment Brigade was a sustainment brigade of the United States Army based at Fort Bliss, Texas. It provided logistics support to other units of the United States Army, and was subordinate to the 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary). It previously had provided support to the 1st Cavalry Division, but now did so for the 1st Armored Division until 12 May 2015 when the 15th Sustainment Brigade became part of the 1st Armored Division and was renamed 1st Armored Division Sustainment Brigade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Sustainment Brigade (United States)</span> Military unit

The 1st Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade is a sustainment brigade of the United States Army based at Fort Riley, Kansas. It provides logistics support to the 1st Infantry Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States military beret flash</span>

In the United States (US) military, a beret flash is a shield-shaped embroidered cloth that is typically 2.25 in (5.72 cm) tall and 1.875 in (4.76 cm) wide with a semi–circular base that is attached to a stiffener backing of a military beret. These flashes—a British English word for a colorful cloth patch attached to military headgear—are worn over the left eye with the excess cloth of the beret shaped, folded, and pulled over the right ear giving it a distinctive appearance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">101st Sustainment Brigade</span> Military unit

The 101st Division Sustainment Brigade is a sustainment brigade of the United States Army based at Fort Campbell providing logistical support to the 101st Airborne Division. Formerly a separate unit under the command of United States Army Forces Command, it became a division sustainment brigade in 2015 and adopted the wear of the division SSI.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tennessee Army National Guard</span> Component of the US Army and military of the U.S. state of Tennessee

The Tennessee Army National Guard is a component of the United States Army and the United States National Guard. It is administered by the Tennessee Military Department. National coordination of various state National Guard units are maintained through the National Guard Bureau.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ronald Kirklin</span> American Brigadier General

Brigadier General Ronald Kirklin is a retired general officer in the United States Army. Kirklin was the 53rd Quartermaster General and Commandant of the Quartermaster School at Fort Lee, Virginia from 2014 to 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">15th Brigade Support Battalion (United States)</span> Military unit

The 15th Medical Battalion is a former battalion of the United States Army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">158th Cavalry Regiment (United States)</span> Military unit

The 158th Cavalry Regiment was a United States Army cavalry regiment, represented in the Maryland Army National Guard by 1st Squadron, 158th Cavalry, part of the 58th Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade at Annapolis.

References

  1. US Army, Office of the Quartermaster General. 115th Support Battalion Archived 23 December 2016 at the Wayback Machine . Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Department of the Army (change dated 4 June 1962). Pamphlet 672-1, page 58. Accessed 11 May 2017. Unit listed as "16th Cavalry Quartermaster Squadron, 1st Cavalry Division".
  3. Department of the Army (24 March 2017). Pamphlet 672-3, page 20. Accessed 12 May 2017. Unit listed as "15th Transportation Battalion".
  4. US Army (21 September 1967). General Orders No. 40 [ permanent dead link ], page 4. Retrieved 12 May 2016. Unit listed as "15th Transportation Battalion (Acft-Maint Sup) (Airmobile)".
  5. 1 2 US Army (29 November 1972). General Orders No. 43 [ permanent dead link ]. Retrieved 12 May 2016. Unit listed as "15th Transportation Battalion".
  6. DAGO 28, 69
  7. DAGO 2, 71
  8. DAGO 59, 69
  9. DAGO 11, 73 amended DAGO 42, 72
  10. 1 2 DAGO 42, 72