39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team: Difference between revisions

39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team shoulder sleeve insignia
Active	1967-present (as a separate brigade)
Country	United States of America
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch	United States Army National Guard
Garrison/HQ	Little Rock, Arkansas (headquarters)
Nickname(s)	Arkansas Brigade Bowie Brigade
Engagements	Iraq War *Operation Iraqi Freedom
Insignia
39th Brigade Combat Team Distinctive Unit Insignia

The 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 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 39th Brigade completed its second deployment to Iraq in December 2008, after spending a year on active federal duty. Unlike the last deployment to Iraq from 2004-2005, the 39th Brigade Headquarters did not have command and control of all of its subordinate units. Many company sized units of the Brigade have been attached to Regular Army units.

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. It is headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas. It was placed in federal service on October 12, 2003 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II. The 39th was attached to the 1st Cavalry Division and served in and around Baghdad for a year, returning to the United States in March 2005. In late August 2005, after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast of the United States, elements of the 39th, then commanded by Colonel Mike Ross, were among the first military units to provide recovery and relief efforts to citizens of New Orleans, Louisiana. The 39th lead the effort to evacuate an estimated 16,000 people from the New Orleans Convention Center.

The history of the formation has two streams. The 39th Infantry Brigade was active as part of the 20th Division from October 1918 to February 1919, with the 48th and 89th Regiments.^[1] However the main antecedent of today's brigade was the 39th Infantry Division, created in 1917, 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 formation was never activated and its troops were instead parceled out to other fighting units. Many soldiers from the 39th volunteered to fight with the 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.

In 1994 the 39th was again reorganized and gained its designation as an "Enhanced" brigade. Later in 1999, under the Army Integrated Division concept paired National Guard and Reserve brigades with active duty headquarters and support units. At this time the 39th became part of the 7th Infantry Division.

In the spring of 1999, B Co, 2nd battalion of the 39th was activated for Operation Southern Watch in Kuwait. The mission lasted a total of seven months, and was the first "pure" national guard effort in the region. C Co of the Brigade's 1st Battalion carried on the 39th's role in Operation Southern Watch when they replaced B Co. in September 1999.

On October 10, 2001, Second Battalion of the brigade was activated in support of the Global War on Terror.^[2] Second Battalion was sent to Egypt in order to take over the Multinational Force and Observers mission, freeing up regular army infantry units to deploy to Afghanistan. This was the first "pure" National Guard takeover of the MFO mission. Second battalion deactivated on October 11, 2003.

On October 12, 2003, the brigade, commanded by Brigadier General Ronald Chastain (now Major General), was ordered to federal service in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II for a period of up to 18 months. Second battalion, now non-deployable under current NGB rules, was merged with the brigade's third battalion. Fillers were attached from Connecticut, New York and Oregon. While in Iraq, the brigade was attached to the 1st Cavalry Division, commanded by Major General Peter W. Chiarelli (now a Four Star General & Vice Chief of Staff of the Army) 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 an 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 with the 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division 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 came under rocket attack at Camp Cooke in Taji, resulting in 4 killed in action, all members of the 39th Support Battalion, headquartered in Hazen, Arkansas. April 24 was the highest single day casualty total for Arkansas soldiers since the Korean War. The most coordinated enemy attack the Brigade had seen occurred on November 20, 2004 when twenty-six 39th soldiers were ambushed near Ft. Apache in North Baghdad. They fended off over 100 insurgents for several hours without ammo resupply or support. The officer in charge, despite being wounded, endured intense enemy direct fire and personally neutralized an enemy machine gun emplacement without support. The officer received the Silver Star for going above and beyond the call of duty.

In the spring of 2005, units of the 39th BCT started their rotation back to Fort Carson, Colorado, Fort Hood, Texas, and Fort Sill, Oklahoma for demobilization.

The following units were Task Organized under the 39th Brigade Combat Team during Operation Iraqi Freedom II^[3]

1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment was Task Organized under 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division during OIF II

After Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana in August 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.^[4] Under tactical control of the Louisiana National Guard, 39th soldiers were given the mission of providing security and food and water to an estimated 20,000 people at the New Orleans Convention Center on September 2. By the afternoon of September 3, all individuals staying in and around the Convention Center had been 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 2006.

The brigade, and its subordinate units, have been deployed more the last 5 years than the previous 50 years.

In June 2006 the 39th Brigade began deploying troops along the Southwest Border with Mexico as part of Operation Jump Start. The Brigade manned two sectors of the border around Lordsburg, New Mexico and near Deming, New Mexico. Unit members occupied Observation Posts and reported activity along the border the United States Border Patrol.^[5] Various battalions with in the 39th Brigade were tasked with supplying volunteer companies during this period. The HHB, 1st Battalion, 206th Field Artillery Manned the Deming station from December 2006 through June of 2007. While serving in Operation Jump Start members of the Brigade were able to begin preparing for the Brigade's second deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

It is ironic that the 1st Arkansas Infantry and the 3rd Arkansas Infantry, the parent units of the 153rd Infantry Regiment and the 206th Field Artillery Regiment were stationed in these same areas of New Mexico ninety years earlier during General "Black Jack" Pershing's punitive Mexican Expedition against Pancho Villa.

The 39th Brigade Combat Team received an alert for a second deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in April of 2007. The Brigade was placed on duty in October 2007 to prepare for its second deployment to Iraq while still under state control. It began a 90 day pre-mobilization training period, while still under state control at Chaffee Maneuver Training Center (CMTC)on 1 October 2007.^[6] This allowed the unit to perform certain tasks in Arkansas and allowed unit members to be closer to their families for a longer period of time.

The Brigade was placed in Federal Service in January 2008 and trained at Camp Shelby, Mississippi until it deployed beginning in March 2008 to Iraq.

The Brigade did not serve together as a Maneuver force during the second deployments. The elements of the Brigade were assigned to various Security Forces missions, including Convoy Security and Force Protection Companies providing security at Installations in Iraq.

The 39th BCT redeployed to Camp Shelby, Mississippi in December 2008 and demobilized.

On April 24, 2005, 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 during Operation Iraqi Freedom II from 2004-2005.

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 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. 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.

• Sergeant First Class William W. Labadie Jr. of Bauxite, Age 45. Killed in Action, 4/7/04

• Captain Arthur L. Felder of Lewisville, Age 36. Killed in Action, 4/24/04

• Chief Warrant Officer Patrick W. Kordsmeier of North Little Rock, Age 49. Killed in Action, 4/24/04

• Staff Sergeant Billy J. Orton of Carlisle, Age 41. Killed in Action, 4/24/04

• Staff Sergeant Stacey C. Brandon of Hazen, Age 35. Killed in Action, 4/24/04

• Specialist Kenneth Melton of Batesville, Age 30. Killed in Action, 4/25/04

• Staff Sergeant Hesley Box of Nashville, Age 24. Killed in Action, 5/6/04

• Sergeant First Class Troy Leon Miranda of Wickes, Age 44. Killed in Action, 5/20/04

• Sergeant Russell L. Collier of Harrison, Age 48. Killed in Action, 10/3/04

• Sergeant Ronald Wayne Baker of Cabot, Age 34. Killed in Action, 10/13/04

• Sergeant Michael Smith of Camden, Age 24. Killed in Action, 11/26/04

• Corporal Jimmy Buie of Floral, Age 43. Killed in Action, 1/04/05

• Specialist Joshua Marcum of Evening Shade , Age 33. Killed in Action, 1/04/05

• Specialist Jeremy McHalffey of Mabelvale, Age 28. Killed in Action, 1/04/05

• Specialist Lyle Rymer II of Fort Smith, Age 24. Killed in Action, 1/28/05

• Staff Sergeant William Robbins of North Little Rock, Age 31. Killed in Line of Duty, 2/10/05

Sgt. 1st Class Anthony Lynn Woodham, 37, of Rogers, Ark., a member of Arkansas National Guard Delta Company, 39th Brigade Support Battalion, 39th Brigade Combat Team of Heber Springs, Ark., died July 5, at Camp Adder, Tallil, Iraq, from non-combat related injuries.

Spc James M. Clay 25, of Mountain Home, Ark.; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment, 39th Brigade Combat Team, Arkansas Army National Guard, Little Rock, Ark.; died November 13, 2008 in Anbar province, Iraq, of injuries sustained in a vehicle accident. (www.armytimes.com/honorthefallen)

In May 2007, the service of several of the Brigade's units was recognized:

• 1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry was awarded a Meritorious Unit Citation (MUC) for the period of 17 March 2004 through 23 March 2005.
• Company C, 3rd Battalion, 153rd Infantry was awarded a Valorous Unit Award (VUA) for the period of 24 March 2004 through 20 January 2005.

The 39th is currently commanded by Colonel Kirk VanPelt, succeeding Colonel (P) Kendall Penn. Colonel VanPelt served in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom II as the commander of 2nd Battalion, 153rd Infantry. The current Command Sergeant Major is Command Sergeant Major Steven C. Veazey, who also served in OIF II as the Command Sergeant Major of the 1st Battalion, 153d Infantry.

153rd Infantry Regiment
153rd Infantry Regiment, Distinctive Unit Insignia

206th Field Artillery Regiment
206th Field Artillery Regiment, Distinctive Unit Insignia

151 Cavalry Regiment
151 Cavalry Regiment, Distinctive Unit Insignia

39th Brigade Support Battalion
39th Brigade Support Battalion, Distinctive Unit Insignia

39th Special Troops Battalion
39th Special Troops Battalion, Distinctive Unit Insignia

COL Kendall A. Penn, 2007-2009

COL George M. Ross, 2005-2007

MG Ronald S. Chastain, 2001-2005

MG Walter A. Paulson II, 1996-2001

MG Don C. Morrow, 1994-1996

BG Wesley V. Jacobs, 1990-1994

MG Melvin C. Thrash, 1986-1990

MG James A. Ryan, 1984-1986

BG Oliver W. "Dub" Myers, 1981-1984

BG John B. Webb, 1978-1981

MG Harold L Gwatney, 1973-1978

MG Joseph R. Chappell, Jr., 1971-1973

BG Dan Walker, 1967-1971

Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), 39th BCT "Bladerunners": Little Rock, Arkansas

1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment: Malvern, Arkansas

2nd Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment: : Searcy, Arkansas

1st Battalion, 151st Cavalry Regiment (RSTA): Warren, Arkansas

1st Battalion, 206th Field Artillery Regiment: Russellville, Arkansas

39th Brigade Support Battalion: Hazen, Arkansas

39th Brigade Special Troops Battalion: Conway, Arkansas

The unit's shoulder sleeve insignia consists of a Bowie knife 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. The brigade motto is "Courage".

Traditionally, when you think of the 39 th Infantry Brigade and its vast array of weapons for the individual soldier, you may envision rifles, machine guns, missiles, or artillery. Yes, we exist in an age of modern technology and weaponry. Among this array of weapons exists a weapon that holds its birth here in our great state, The Bowie Knife. Some may consider this piece of equipment as antiquated or nonfunctional, but this knife has served our troops admirably from the late 1830s to today. The Bowie Knife we have come to know and admire traces it roots back to Washington, Arkansas in the late 1830s. The famous blacksmith and knife maker, James Black, first made it. As legend has it, James Bowie was traveling through Arkansas and stopped in Washington to see Mr. Black. Mr. Bowie's intention was to have Mr. Black make him a knife of his (Bowie's) own design. Mr. Bowie had selected Mr. Black since Mr. Black was an expert in tempering steel and was renowned to be the best knife maker in the Southwest. Mr. Bowie left a knife pattern that he had whittled out of wood with Mr. Black for the new knife design. Mr. Black agreed to undertake this request to produce the knife in one month for Mr. Bowie. The knife blade was to be made of the finest material, possess a heavy hand guard, and be balanced for throwing.

As the appointed month passed, Mr. Bowie returned to Mr. Black's shop. Mr. Black had made a knife to Bowie's pattern as requested and had also made a similar knife with his own modifications. Both of these knives were single edged, but Mr. Black's knife design had a curved point of two edges. This made it possible to either stab or slash with the knife. Mr. Bowie was pleased with these modifications and took Mr. Black's knife in place of the knife he had designed.

Shortly after Mr. Bowie had acquired his new knife, he had an occasion to use it. Being attacked by three men who had been hired to kill him, Mr. Bowie drew his knife. He slashed at the first man, beheading him; utilized an upward stab, killing the second man, and the third man attempted to run away. Mr. Bowie gave chase and delivered a downward swing blow to the top of the man's head, killing him. This fight made both Mr. Bowie and Mr. Black famous. Soon Mr. Black was deluged with requests from all over the Southwest for knives “like Bowie's”.

Mr. James Black was the only man who knew how to make the real Bowie Knife. He had developed a secret way of making a fine steel which no one could duplicate. He never divulged this secret and took it with him to the grave in 1872. Mr. Black lies in an unmarked grave in a cemetery at Washington, Arkansas. Mr. Bowie was considered to be a businessman, explorer, and soldier. He gallantly gave his life in 1836 in the most famous battle of the Texas War of Independence at the Alamo.

Soon after the Army National Guard's reorganization and the 39 th Infantry Brigade's formation on December 1, 1967, the Bowie Knife was adopted as a part of the brigade insignia and as the individual weapon of brigade field grade officers, the Commanding General's Aide-de-Camp, and more recently the Command Sergeants Major, Sergeants Major, and Chief Warrant Officer Four (CW4). A distinctive and honored award from the brigade, the knife is modified from the original design to be more suitable for close combat. It is indicative of the aggressive, fighting spirit of the infantry.

Only knives that are procured by order of the brigade commander are authorized for wear or presentation. General officers are authorized a knife with an ivory handle. Colonels wear knives with stag handles, while other field grade officers and the Aide-de-Camp wear black handles. CW4s are authorized to wear walnut handles. The ranks of Command Sergeants Major and Sergeants Major are authorized to wear the cherry wood handle and retired Master Sergeants are authorized coco-bolo handles. Honorees are presented a knife commensurate with their rank. All former brigade members and persons who have been honored by the presentation of the brigade Bowie Knife may wear it on ceremonial occasions.

A native knife maker conceived the Bowie Knife in Arkansas and today this knife continues to be produced in Arkansas. Until his death, each presentation grade knife was hand made by Mr. Jimmy Lile of Russellville, Arkansas. Mr. Lile was also commissioned to make the knives made by Sylvester Stallone in the “Rambo” movies. The Lile family continues to make the “Bowie Knife” for the Brigade. The general public cannot purchase one of these knives, but can purchase a different style based on the Bowie Knife pattern.

Each brigade Bowie Knife bears the recipient's name, social security number, rank, and military branch, as well as the maker's name and serial number of the knife. The Brigade Bowie Knife, a work of superb craftsmanship, identifies the bearer as a member of the elite, the 39 th Infantry Brigade, “The Arkansas Brigade”.

• Global Security.org (outdated)
• 39th BCT (outdated)
• Fallen Arkansans
• [http://www.ng.mil/ngbgomo/library/bio/818.htm
• Secretary of State Official Press Release
• 153rd Infantry at the Institute of Heraldry
• 206th Artillery at the Institute of Heraldry
• 39th Special Troops Battalion at the Institute of Heraldry
• 39th Brigade Combat Team at the Institute of Heraldry
• "Campaign, War Service, & Unit Award Sreamers"
• "Department of the Army listing of approved unit awards"
• Public Affairs News Article