Arkansas Army National Guard and the Global War on Terrorism

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The history of the Arkansas Army National Guard and the Global War on Terrorism begins with the expanded use of the National Guard for overseas duties as the United States reduced the size of the active army in an attempt to realize a "Peace Dividend" at the close of the "Cold War". Beginning in the 1990s Arkansas National Guard unit's experience increased Operations Temp and overseas training opportunities. In the late 1990s Arkansas National Guard units began deploying as part of peace keeping operations in the Balkans and in support of ongoing operations in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Following the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, the National Guard became deeply involved in the Global War on Terrorism, with units deploying to guard infrastructure such as Arkansas Nuclear One and airports as part of Operation Noble Eagle. The Guard initially replaced regular army units on missions such as Middle East peace keeping in order to free these units for combat operations. With the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, the Arkansas National Guard began deploying for combat operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

Contents

Overseas training opportunities

Members of Battery B, 5th Battalion, 206th Field Artillery train with a Honduran Army artillery section in June 1990 5-206th FA Howitzer Section Trains with Honduran Army.jpg
Members of Battery B, 5th Battalion, 206th Field Artillery train with a Honduran Army artillery section in June 1990

39th Brigade units conducted numerous overseas training rotations throughout the 1980s and early 1990s. [1]

Reorganization of 1996

The Arkansas National Guard was directed to reorganize, consolidate and restation units effective 30 September 1996 as follows: [2]

New UnitFormer UnitStation
Det 1, HQ and HQ Company, 2nd Battalion, 153rd InfantryBattery A, 5th Battalion, (105mm)(Towed) 206th ArtilleryWynne
Det 1, Company A, 2nd Battalion, 153rd InfantryBattery C, 5th Battalion, (105mm)(Towed) 206th ArtilleryHarrisburg
Company C (Minus Det 1), 2nd Battalion, 153rd InfantryBattery B, 5th Battalion, (105mm)(Towed) 206th ArtilleryForrest City
Det 1, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 153rd InfantryCompany C, 2nd Battalion, 153rd InfantryBrinkley
HQ and HQ Service Battery (Minus Det 1 (Fire Support)), 1st Battalion, 206th Field ArtilleryHQ and HQ Detachment, 217th Maintenance BattalionRussellville
Det 1, HQ and HQ Service Battery (Fire Support), 1st Battalion, 206th Field ArtilleryDet 1, HQ and HQ Service Battery (Fire Support), 5th Battalion, 206th ArtilleryNorth Little Rock
Battery A, 1st Battalion, 206th Field ArtilleryBattery A, 1st Battalion, 233rd Air Defense ArtilleryMorrilton
Battery B, 1st Battalion, 206th Field ArtilleryBattery B, 1st Battalion, 233rd Air Defense ArtilleryParis
Battery C, 1st Battalion, 206th Field ArtilleryBattery C, 1st Battalion, 233rd Air Defense ArtilleryDardanelle
Det 2, HQ and HQ Company, 39th Infantry BrigadeHQ and HQ Service Battery, 5th Battalion, 206th Artillery (105mm)(Towed)West Memphis
Det 1, 239th Engineer CompanyHQ and HQ Battery, 1st Battalion, 233rd Air Defense ArtilleryBooneville
Det 1, Troop E, 151st CavalryDet 1, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 153rd InfantryWest Helena

SFOR 9

In March 2001, Company D, 1–153rd and Company D, 3–153rd deployed to Bosnia as part of the Multinational Stabilization Force (SFOR), Security Force Nine in order to assist with the enforcement of the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH). [3] The companies were attached to 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division for the deployment as part of Task Force Eagle. They performed presence patrols outside Forward Operating Base Morgan and Camp McGovern, and participated in the consolidation of weapon storage sites. The soldiers also guarded the sites. [4]

Operation Southern Watch

Company B, 2nd Battalion, 153 Infantry, and B Company, 3rd Battalion, 153rd Infantry of the 39th BCT were activated for Operation Southern Watch, May through September 1999. [4] B/2-153 deployed to Kuwait while Company B, 3-153 deployed one platoon to Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia and two platoons to Eskan Village in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 39th Brigade soldiers provided security at Patriot Missile Batteries during these deployments. The mission lasted a total of seven months, and was the first "pure" National Guard effort in the region. Company C, 1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry carried on the 39th's role in Operation Southern Watch when they replaced B/2-153 IN in September 1999. [3]

Global War on Terrorism

Conflict/OPNUnitDate activated#Activated
Operation Iraqi Freedom296th Medical Company10 February 2003117
1123rd Transportation Company11 February 2003167
39th Infantry Brigade12 October 20032,850
HHD, 2–114th Air Traffic Control5 December 200354
Company C, 212th Signal Battalion13 October 2004138
Bravo Battery, 1–142nd FA2 August 2005152
25th Rear Area Operations Center17 September 200549
77th Aviation Brigade (449th, 185th, 111th)1 April 2006258
2/142 Fires Brigade (HHC, A, B)13 July 2006323
875th Engineer BN19 July 2006387
Charlie Battery, 1–142nd FA6 January 2007152
213th Area Support2 July 200778
HHC 871st Troop Command9 June 200729
39th Infantry Brigade2 January 20083,320
216th Military Police2 January 2008105
1123rd Transportation Company2 January 2008112
224th Maintenance Company2 January 2008137
1038 Engineer Company2 January 2008110
217th Support Battalion (Fires)2 January 2008486
Operation Noble Eagle212th Signal Battalion5 June 2003262
Company A, 875th Engineer Battalion15 March 200398
224th Maintenance Company15 March 2003215
HHSB, 1, 142nd FA13 March 2004122
25th Rear Area Operations Center7 February 200349
OAFCompany B, 935th Corps Support Battalion30 January 2003131
216th Military Police Company4 October 2002124
2nd Battalion, 142nd Field Artillery Brigade3 September 2002280
Operation Enduring Freedom216th Military Police Company (duty at GTMO)16 July 200395
Det 1, 70th MPAD (duty at GTMO)8 August 200310
1036th Engineer Company (SAPPER)7 November 200995
1037th Engineer Company (MOB AUG)7 November 200995
Arkansas Agricultural Development Team 1 (AR-ADT1)3 February 201064
KFOR 5BCompany D, 114th ATS12 October 200319
KFOR 7Alpha Battery, 1–142nd FA17 June 2005140
KFOR13 (Kosovo)HHC 1 BN 114th Aviation11 April 201057
DET 1, CO F, 2nd BN 238th Aviation11 April 201020
SFOR 15 (Bosnia)Detachment 1, 149th Aviation Company5 February 200415
MFO (Sinai)2nd Battalion, 153rd Infantry8 October 2001628
SFOR 15 (Bosnia)Company D, 3rd Battalion, 153rd Infantry3 February 200185
Company D, 1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry3 February 200185
Operation Southern Watch (Saudi Arabia)Company B, 3rd Battalion, 153rd Infantry28 May 1999136
Operation Southern Watch (Kuwait)Company B, 2nd Battalion, 153rd Infantry28 May 1999136
Company C, 1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry25 September 1999136

Operation Jump Start

In December 2006, the Arkansas National Guard deployed two 70-man companies for service on the southwest border in support of Operation Jump Start. [5] [6] The operation was a joint operation between the Arkansas Army National Guard and the Arkansas Air National Guard. The primary army troop providers were the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and the 35th Aviation Brigade. The 39th IBCT supplied to 70-man companies for service near Deming, New Mexico. The 35th Aviation Brigade supplies pilots and crews from the 1st Battalion, 114th Aviation to fly surveillance missions along the border area between Texas and Mexico. [6]

Organization of the Aviation Brigade

The Arkansas Army National Guard was authorized by National Guard Bureau in Memo NGB-ARF-T Organizational Authority Number 203-03 to create the Headquarters and Headquarters Company Aviation Brigade of the 35th Aviation Brigade in order to provide command and control to the state's aviation assets. Later, in 2006 the HHC Aviation Brigade, 35th Infantry Division was reorganized as the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 77th Theater Aviation Brigade by NGB Memo NGB-ARF-T Organizational Authority Number 26-06.

Reorganization of 2005–2006

In 2005 and 2006, as a part of the United States Army's transition to a new modular force, which focused on shifting from a division centric force to a brigade centric force, the Arkansas Army National Guard once again underwent a re-organization. This redesign of the army was intended to make the force more easily deployable by making brigades more self-contained and less dependent on support organizations at the division level. Major changes in each Major Subordinate Command included:

39th Brigade Combat Team:

142nd Field Artillery:

87th Troop Command:

Along with this reorganization came a significant re-stationing of several units within the state of Arkansas.

Significant state missions

The 39th BCT, 142nd Fires Brigade and the 87th Troop Command activated 50-man County Recovery Teams under state control in order to support Ice Storm Recovery Operations in northern Arkansas, [7] in Sharp County, Arkansas, between 30 January to 6 February 2009.

Operation Katrina

After Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana in August 2005, elements of the Arkansas National Guard deployed to New Orleans by C-130s from the Little Rock Air Force Base to support the relief and recovery efforts as part of Operation Katrina. [8] Under tactical control of the Louisiana National Guard, Arkansas soldiers were given the mission of providing security and food and water to an estimated 20,000 people at the New Orleans Convention Center on 2 September. [9] By the afternoon of 3 September, all individuals staying in and around the Convention Center had been evacuated. The mission of the Arkansas Soldiers in Louisiana grew to the point that at one time the State Task Force was responsible for working with local officials in 14 parishes. Elements of the Arkansas National Guard stayed deployed in Louisiana until February 2006.

Arkansas National Guard Fallen Soldiers

This list is intended to include those Arkansas National Guardsmen who died while on duty in support of combat operations during the Global War on Terrorism. This list may be shorter than the lists included in various unit histories because those lists include soldiers who were not Arkansas National Guardsmen prior to mobilization, but may have been attached or assigned later. Arkansas' 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team suffered a total of 33 casualties during its 2004–2005 deployment, however only 15 of these soldiers were Arkansas National Guardsmen.

Operation Iraqi Freedom 2004

Operation Iraqi Freedom 2005

Operation Iraqi Freedom 2006

Died of non-combat related injuries on 20 July 2006 in Baghdad, Iraq.

Operation Iraqi Freedom 2007

Operation Iraqi Freedom 2008

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 1967–2002, 39th Infantry Brigade (Separate), The Arkansas Brigade, 35 Years of Excellence, A Brief History of the 39th Infantry Brigade (Separate)
  2. National Guard Memorandum, NGB-ARF-IC (310-49C), Organization Authority Number 15-97
  3. 1 2 1967–2002, 39th Infantry Brigade (Separate), The Arkansas Brigade, 35 Years of Excellence, Memorandum from BG Ronald S. Chastain
  4. 1 2 Global Security. Org, 3–153rd Infantry Battalion, Retrieved 22 January 2010,
  5. Moore, Keith. "Arkansas Soldiers Keep Watch on New Mexico Desert". National Guard Bureau. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 31 December 2009.
  6. 1 2 Heathscott, Chris. "Guard Leaders Get First Hand Look at Operation Jump Start". Arkansas National Guard Public Affairs Office. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 31 December 2009.
  7. Heathscott, Chris. "750 Guardsmen now supporting civil authorities in North Arkansas ~ Guard tasked with 71 missions in response to recent ice storm". Arkansas National Guard Public Affairs Office. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 31 December 2009.
  8. New Orleans: post-Katrina violence was exaggerated, Bill Wineburg, Retrieved 14 January 2010. http://ww4report.com/node/1131
  9. Rainbows and Believers. Retrieved 15 January 2010. Archived 30 June 2007 at Archive.today
  10. SPC. Lyle Wyman Rymer II Accessed 26 April 2017, https://ahp117.wordpress.com/2012/06/17/spc-lyle-wyman-rymer-ii/
  11. Stone, David, Joint Burial – 12 Crew & Passengers "Easy 40" ANC(Blackhawk crash 7 Jan to be buried at ANC), 6 October 2007|
  12. Arkansas Online, Fallen Soldiers, accessed 9 September 2010, http://m.arkansasonline.com/warcasualties/