69th Infantry Brigade (United States)

69th Infantry Brigade
Shoulder Sleeve Insignia of the 69th Infantry Brigade (Separate)
Active
  • 1917–1919
  • 1921–1942
  • 1963–1984
  • 1984–1997
Country United States
Branch United States Army
Type Infantry
Size Brigade
Engagements World War I

The 69th Infantry Brigade was a brigade of the Kansas Army National Guard, which saw service with the 35th Infantry Division during World War I.

World War I

The brigade was formed in August 1917 as part of the 35th Division. It fought with the American Expeditionary Forces in France, including the 137th and 138th Infantry Regiments.[1] On 27 April 1919 the brigade headquarters arrived at Newport News aboard the USS Princess Matoika, before being demobilized at Camp Funston on 8 May.[2]

Interwar period and World War II

Between 1921 and 1942, the 69th Brigade existed as part of the 35th Division, including the 134th and 137th Infantry, of the Nebraska and Kansas National Guards, respectively.[1] On 23 December 1940, the brigade was inducted into Federal service at Omaha, moving to Camp Joseph T. Robinson on 7 January 1941 with the division. After the Attack on Pearl Harbor resulted in the United States entry into World War II, the brigade transferred to Fort Ord on 23 December. It moved to Camp San Luis Obispo on 17 January 1942, and was disbanded there on 3 February as divisions were reduced to a triangular organization, eliminating the need for brigades. Headquarters Company became the 35th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop of the division.[3]

69th Infantry Brigade (Separate)

On 1 April 1963, the 35th Infantry Division (Kansas part) was redesignated as the 69th Infantry Brigade (Separate).[4]

The brigade was then mobilized for training at Fort Carson during the Vietnam War. In a message received from the Department of the Army dated April 11, 1968, the 69th Infantry Brigade was ordered to active duty effective May 13, 1968, in order to replace the 1st Brigade, 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized), stationed in Vietnam.[5] The 69th Brigade was integrated into the 5th Infantry Division as a replacement for the brigade in Vietnam, to bolster manpower. The 69th Brigade's units were attached to their counterparts in the 5th Infantry Division.[6] The 169th Support Battalion was attached to the Division Support Command, and later became the divisional maintenance unit; 2-133 FA became part of the divisional artillery; the cavalry troop joined the divisional cavalry; and the 169th Engineer Company became part of the divisional engineer battalion. Later the active duty maintenance battalion was inactivated, and the 169th Support Battalion taking on the entire task.

The 3rd Battalion, 137th Infantry, was not included in the call to active duty for two reasons; to leave a unit available in Kansas in the event of civil disturbances or major natural disaster; and because the battalion was newly reorganized as an infantry unit and had not yet completed Advanced Unit Training. The 69th Brigade arrived at Fort Carson in May 1968, and some personnel began to be levied for Vietnam duty in July, arriving in-theater in October. After return from Fort Carson, on December 12, 1969 demobilization ceremonies were held at various armories throughout Kansas and Iowa. The 69th Brigade officially reverted to state control on December 13, 1969. 324 officers and 2,073 enlisted men of the Brigade served in Vietnam and 40 died, with hundreds being wounded.[7]

On 25 August 1984, it was converted into the headquarters of the reformed 35th Infantry Division (Mechanized),[5][4] and another brigade headquarters appears to have been formed from the remainder of the brigade headquarters. In 1984–85, the 69th Infantry Brigade was reported to comprise the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 137th Infantry Regiment, the 1st Battalion, 635th Armored Regiment, 1st Battalion, 127th Field Artillery, E Troop, 114th Cavalry, and the 169th Engineer Company.[8] The brigade was redesignated as the 69th Brigade, 35th Infantry Division, serving with it until 1 September 1997, when it was redesignated as the 130th Field Artillery Brigade.[9]

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 McGrath 2004, p. 169.
  2. ↑ Clay 2010, p. 317.
  3. ↑ Stanton 1984, p. 195.
  4. 1 2 Wilson 1999, p. 346.
  5. 1 2 McGrath 2004, p. 235.
  6. ↑ https://books.google.co.nz/books?id=dspbeHovckwC&pg=RA4-PA30&lpg=RA4-PA30&dq=%2269th+Infantry+Brigade%22+Vietnam&source=bl&ots=wzmFAJHg4R&sig=WkZLmyyP8kprkAnf2Hq3zSPsmM4&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi9-qLZ8_HZAhVBNpQKHddfASc4ChDoAQgtMAI#v=onepage&q=%2269th%20Infantry%20Brigade%22%20Vietnam&f=false
  7. ↑ 69th Infantry Brigade: The 1968 Mobilization, from "THE BATTLE OF FORT CARSON, VIETNAM AND RETURN," the program for 69th Infantry Brigade (Separate). Second Reunion In Commemoration of the Brigade’s Mobilization for Federal Active Duty (May 13, 1968 – December 12, 1969), Topeka, Kansas, October 28–29, 1994.
  8. ↑ Isby & Kamps 1985, p. 383.
  9. ↑ McKenney 2010, p. 163.

Bibliography

  • Clay, Steven E. (2010). US Army Order of Battle 1919–1941 (PDF). 1. Fort Leavenworth, Kansas: Combat Studies Institute Press. ISBN 9780984190140.
  • Isby, David C.; Kamps, Charles T. (1985). Armies of NATO's Central Front. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0-7106-0341-X.
  • McGrath, John J. (2004). The Brigade: A History: Its Organization and Employment in the US Army (PDF). Fort Leavenworth, Kansas: Combat Studies Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-4404-4915-4.
  • McKenney, Janice E. (2010). Field Artillery: Regular Army and Army Reserve, Part 1 (Army Lineage Series) (PDF). CMH Pub 60-11. Washington, D.C.: Center of Military History. OCLC 275151269.
  • Stanton, Shelby L. (1984). Order of Battle: U.S. Army, World War II. Novato, California: Presidio Press. ISBN 9780891411956.
  • Wilson, John B. (1999). Armies, Corps, Divisions, and Separate Brigades (PDF). Washington, D.C.: Center for Military History, U.S. Army. ISBN 0-16-049994-1. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
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