U.S. 39th Infantry Brigade
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The 39th Brigade Combat Team (BCT) was formerly called the 39th Infantry Brigade (Separate) —nicknamed the Arkansas Brigade— is a combat brigade of the United States Army made up of soldiers from the Arkansas National Guard. The brigade is as of July 2006 stateside, however, individual members are in Iraq filling in critical positions in other active duty units and another 150 are tasked for border security missions in New Mexico and Texas.
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[edit] Description
The 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) was formerly called The 39th Infantry Brigade (Separate) and is one of 15 National Guard brigades designated as a "BCT". Brigades with this designation receive higher levels of training, more advanced equipment, and higher troop levels than normal National Guard brigades. It also makes these brigades a self-contained combat unit capable of intelligence, reconnaissance, maneuver, fire support, combat service support, and command and control without having to require attachments or detachments during deployments. The 39th BCT is the largest National Guard command in Arkansas with approximately 6,000 soldiers. It is headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas.
[edit] Insignia
The units insignia consists of a Bowie knife (or "Arkansas Toothpick") over a diamond. The Bowie knife symbolizes the state of Arkansas, where the Bowie knife originated, and close hand-to-hand fighting which is the specialty of the light infantry. The diamond is a reference to a unique aspect of the state of Arkansas which has the only diamond field in North America in Murfreesboro, Arkansas. The red and blue colors are the colors of the Arkansas flag and represent both their loyalty (blue) and the blood (red) that its soldiers have shed for both the state of Arkansas, and the United States in its operations in Iraq and abroad. The Brigade motto is "Courage".
[edit] History
[edit] Up to 1990
The history of the unit goes back to 1917 with the creation of the 39th Infantry Division which consisted of troops from Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas. The unit served as a training division for troops that would be reassigned to other units for duty overseas during World War I and was demobilized after the war.
In World War II the unit was never activated and its troops were instead parceled out to other fighting units. Many soldiers from the 39th volunteered to fight with the US 3rd Armored Division. In 1947 the 39th was transferred to Arkansas and the Louisiana troops were assigned their own command. The unit was briefly federalized in 1957 during the Little Rock Integration Crisis.
In 1967 the division was redesignated as the 39th Infantry Brigade (Separate) and in 1973 was paired with the US 101st Airborne Division as a training partner and became an air-assault brigade.
[edit] Post Cold War and Iraq
In 1994 the 39th was again reorganized and gained its designation as an "Enhanced" brigade under the Army Integrated Division concept which pairs National Guard and Reserve brigades with active duty headquarters and support units. At this time the 39th became part of the 7th Infantry Division.
On October 12, 2003, the brigade, commanded by Brigadier General Ronald Chastain (now Major General and the Adjutant General of the Arkansas National Guard), was ordered to federal service in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II for a period of up to 18 months. While in Iraq, the brigade was attached to the US 1st Cavalry Division, commanded by Major General Peter Chiarelli (now a Lieutenant General) as the 39th Brigade Combat Team. The 39th spent 6 months conducting training in the United States before serving one year on the ground in Iraq.
Prior to departing the United States for the mission in Iraq, the 39th trained at the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) at Fort Polk, Louisiana. While there, on February 17, 2004, President George W. Bush visited the 39th and had a MRE (Meals Ready to Eat) lunch in a field mess tent with soldiers. After lunch, President Bush made brief remarks to the soldiers.
Elements of the brigade were headquartered in the Green Zone in Baghdad while others were stationed at Camp Cooke in Taji, Iraq. During this time, the members of the brigade's 239th Engineer Company stationed in Camp Cooke and their families back in Arkansas were the subject of a TV documentary series that aired on the Discovery Times channel called Off To War. The 39th was also covered by embedded reporter Amy Schlesing of the Arkansas Democrat Gazette for the entire time in Iraq.
In April 2004 the 39th endured a rocket attack at Camp Cooke in Taji, suffering 4 killed in action, all members of the 39th Support Battalion, headquartered in Hazen, Arkansas. April 24 is the highest single day casualty total for Arkansas soldiers since the Korean War.
In the spring of 2005, units of the 39th BCT started their rotation back to Ft. Carson, CO, Ft. Hood, TX, and Ft. Sill, OK for demobilization.
After Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana in August of 2005, elements of the 39th deployed to New Orleans by C-130s from the Little Rock Air Force Base to support the relief and recovery efforts there. Under tactical control of the Louisiana National Guard, 39th soldiers were given the mission of providing security and food and water to an estimated 20 thousand people at the New Orleans Convention Center on September 2nd. By the afternoon of September 3rd, all individuals staying in and around the Convention Center had been successfully evacuated. The mission of the 39th in Louisiana grew to the point that at one time the brigade was responsible for working with local officials in 14 parishes. Elements of the 39th and the Arkansas National Guard stayed deployed in Louisiana until February of 2006.
The brigade, and its subordinate units, have been deployed more the last 5 years than the previous 50 years.
[edit] Honoring the Fallen
On 24 April 2005, under the brilliant sun of an Arkansas spring day, thousands gathered at the front steps of the Arkansas State Capitol to honor the 33 men who died while serving with the 39th Infantry Brigade in Iraq.
The 39th Infantry Brigade of the Arkansas Army National Guard was part of the 1st Cavalry Division during the yearlong deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II. Mobilized for a total of 18 months, the 39th was the largest and longest serving Arkansas Army National Guard unit to be deployed since World War II.
The day’s events started with the “39th Brigade Combat Team Fallen Heroes Memorial Ride” where over two thousand motorcyclists rode from the Clear Channel Metroplex in Little Rock to the front of the State Capitol. Chief Warrant Officer Three (CW3) Dennis Bradley of Benton, Arkansas, had the concept for the memorial while the 39th Infantry Brigade was still in Iraq and opened the memorial event. SGT Tammy Holman of Little Rock sang the National Anthem, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance lead by SPC James Carter. Chaplain (COL) David McLemore of Russellville, who served with the 39th in Iraq, offered the opening prayer.
The honored guests for the memorial program were the family members of those who died. Over 100 relatives of the honored soldiers were present. Brigadier General (now BG) Ron Chastain, who commanded the 39th while in Iraq, Major General Don C. Morrow, the Adjutant General of the Arkansas National Guard, and Secretary of State Charlie Daniels were the featured speakers for the memorial program. Colonel Mike Ross of North Little Rock served as the master of ceremonies for the memorial event.
Lieutenant Colonel John Edwards of Little Rock, the Staff Judge Advocate of the 39th in Iraq, read a proclamation by Governor Mike Huckabee naming April 24, 2005, “39th Infantry Brigade Fallen Heroes Day.” Edwards also read the 33 names of those who died in Iraq while Command Sergeant Major.
Larry Isbell, the highest ranking enlisted member of the 39th Infantry Brigade, assisted family members in ringing the bell from the USS Arkansas in a memorial tribute. In one of the most moving parts of the program, Jaelun Felder, the eight year old son of the late Captain Arthur “Bo” Felder of Lewisville, Arkansas, read a poem entitled “My Father the Hero.”
Prior to the event, Secretary of State Daniels hosted a reception in the old Supreme Court Chamber in the State Capitol for the family members of the lost soldiers of the 39th.
[edit] Command
The 39th is currently commanded by Colonel Mike Ross.
[edit] Current Units
- Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), 39th BCT: Little Rock, Arkansas
- 1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry: Malvern, Arkansas
- 2nd Battalion, 153rd Infantry "Gunslingers": Searcy, Arkansas
- 1st Battalion, 151st Cavarly (RSTA): Warren, Arkansas
- 1st Battalion, 206th Field Artillery: Russellville, Arkansas
- 39th Brigade Support Battalion: Hazen, Arkansas
- 39th Brigade Special Troops Battalion: Conway, Arkansas
[edit] 39th BCT combat deaths during OIF
SFC William W. Labadie Jr. of Bauxite, Age 45 Army National Guard, 39th Infantry Brigade Killed in Action, 4/7/04
CPT Arthur L. Felder of Lewisville, Age 36 Army National Guard, 39th Infantry Brigade Killed in Action, 4/24/04
CWO Patrick W. Kordsmeier of North Little Rock, Age 49 Army National Guard, 39th Infantry Brigade Killed in Action, 4/24/04
SSG Billy J. Orton of Carlisle, Age 41 Army National Guard, 39th Infantry Brigade Killed in Action, 4/24/04
SSG Stacey C. Brandon of Hazen, Age 35 Army National Guard, 39th Infantry Brigade Killed in Action, 4/24/04
SPC Kenneth Melton of Batesville, Age 30 Army National Guard, 39th Infantry Brigade Killed in Action, 4/25/04
SSG Hesley Box of Nashville, Age 24 Army National Guard, 39th Infantry Brigade Killed in Action, 5/6/04
SFC Troy Leon Miranda of Wickes, Age 44 Army National Guard, 39th Infantry Brigade Killed in Action, 5/20/04
SGT Russell L. Collier of Harrison, Age 48 Army National Guard, 39th Infantry Brigade Killed in Action, 10/3/04
SGT Ronald Wayne Baker of Cabot, Age 34 Army National Guard, 39th Infantry Brigade Killed in Action, 10/13/04
SGT Michael Smith of Camden, Age 24 Army National Guard, 39th Infantry Brigade Killed in Action, 11/26/04
CPL Jimmy Buie of Floral, Age 43 Army National Guard, 39th Infantry Brigade Killed in Action, 1/04/05
SPC Joshua Marcum of Evening Shade , Age 33 Army National Guard, 39th Infantry Brigade Killed in Action, 1/04/05
SPC Jeremy McHalffey of Mabelvale, Age 28 Army National Guard, 39th Infantry Brigade Killed in Action, 1/04/05
SPC Lyle Rymer II of Fort Smith, Age 24 Army National Guard, 39th Infantry Brigade Killed in Action, 1/28/05
SSG William Robbins of North Little Rock, Age 31 Army National Guard, 39th Infantry Brigade Killed in Line of Duty, 2/10/05
[edit] External links
- [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/39in-bde.htm Global Security.org (outdated)
- [http://www.carson.army.mil/UNITS/F7ID/39th/39theSB.htm 39th BCT (outdated)
- [http://www.kthv.com/life/people/Arkansas_Fallen_Heroes/default.asp Fallen Arkansans
- [http://www.ngb.army.mil/ngbgomo/library/bio/chastain_rs.htm Brigadier General Ronald S. Chastain (link missing)
- [http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/news/pr/2005/042505-1.html Secretary of State Official Press Release
