1st Armored Division (United States)

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1st Armored Division
1st US Armored Division SSI.svg
1st Armored Division shoulder sleeve insignia
Active 1932 – 46
1951 – present
Country United States of America
Type Modular
Size 15,000+
Part of Forces Command
Nickname Old Ironsides[1]
Motto Defender CSD, Lead the Way!
Colors red, yellow, and blue
March Iron Soldier March
Engagements World War II

Operation Desert Storm
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Commanders
Current
commander		 Major General Dana J. H. Pittard
Notable
commanders		 Orlando Ward

Ernest N. Harmon
Insignia
Distinctive unit insignia US 1ADDUI.PNG
 
1st Armored Division "Old Ironsides" (1942–1945)
Parent unit
1st Armored Division
Components
U.S. Armored Divisions
Previous Next
2nd Armored Division (Inactive)


The 1st Armored Division—nicknamed "Old Ironsides"[1]—is the standing armored division of the United States Army, with its base of operations in Fort Bliss, Texas. It was the first armored division of the U.S. Army to see battle in World War II.

Contents

Command structure [edit]

As of May 2011 the division command group consists of: Commander: Major General Dana J.H. Pittard Assistant Division Commander (Maneuver): previous- Brigadier General Stephen Twitty (deployed to ISAF 2012) Assistant Division Commander (Support): Vacant Chief of Staff: Colonel Randall C. Lane Command Sergeant Major: Command Sergeant Major Ronnie R. Kelley

Current structure [edit]

OrBat 1st Armored Division

Since relocating to Fort Bliss, Texas, 1AD has been reorganized under the new modular design, in which the deployable unit of maneuver is a brigade, rather than a division. The Division consists of four Brigade Combat Teams and a Combat Aviation Brigade.

1st US Armored Division SSI.svg 1st Armored Division consists of the following elements:

The division is supported by the 15th Sustainment Brigade.[5]

Insignia [edit]

The division was nicknamed "Old Ironsides", by its first commander, Major General Bruce R. Magruder, after he saw a picture of the frigate USS Constitution, which is also nicknamed "Old Ironsides". The large "1" at the top represents the numerical designation of the division, and the insignia is used as a basis for most other sub-unit insignias. The cannon represents fire power, the track represents mobility, and the lighting bolt represents speed and shock force.

The three colors, red, yellow, and blue represent the Artillery, Cavalry, and Infantry Branches respectively, which are the colors of the three original combat arms which, when forged into one, created the field of Armor. This "pyramid of power" was devised by the order of then-Lieutenant Col. George S. Patton, Jr. in Bourg, France in early 1918 during Patton's formation and training of the Tank Corps in support of the American Expeditionary Force under General John J. Pershing.[6]

Unit history [edit]

Origins [edit]

Col. Daniel Van Voorhis took a cadre of 175 officers and enlisted men from Fort Eustis to Fort Knox in February 1932, and established a Provisional Armored Car Platoon. This was based on an earlier effort, but was predicated on a new Cavalry Regiment TO&E (Table of Organization and Equipment) which was published that year. Also published, but never implemented, was a Cavalry Division TO&E which reflected the then unnatural assimilation of machines into the Horse Cavalry.

Van Voorhis's cadre and platoon became the kernel for the 7th Cavalry Brigade, which went active on 1 March 1932 at Fort Knox. At first, it was nothing more than a headquarters detachment and the Armored Car Platoon.

On 3 January 1933, the 1st Cavalry Regiment was relieved from assignment to the 1st Cavalry Division, and was moved from Fort D.A. Russell (now Francis E. Warren Air Force Base) to Fort Knox. The earlier Mechanized Platoon was incorporated into the new Regimental TO&E, and the result was the 1st Cavalry Regiment [Mechanized], which went active on 16 January 1933.

The new regimental commander was Colonel Van Voorhis, late of the experimental Mechanized Force, while the executive officer was Adna Chaffee. The Post Commander of Fort Knox was Brigadier General Julian R. Lindsey, another cavalryman. To round out the cavalry nature of the unit, Major Robert W. Grow was on the Regimental Staff.

Van Voorhis added the 13th Cavalry Regiment, the 68th Field Artillery Battalion, the 7th Reconnaissance Squadron, the 7th Signal Troop, the 4th Medical Troop, the 47th Engineer Troop and the 17th Quartermaster Battalion. The 7th Cavalry Brigade was fully formed.

Van Voorhis remained in command until September 1938, when he was promoted to command the V Corps (United States) at Indianapolis, Indiana. Chaffee took over from Van Voorhis.

On 7 May 1940, the 7th Cavalry Brigade took part in the Louisiana Maneuvers at Monroe, Louisiana that were instrumental in developing the armored division concept. The maneuvers concluded on 27 May 1940, and the brigade returned to Fort Knox on 31 May 1940, and preparations began to expand the brigade into the 1st Armored Division.

On 15 July 1940, 7th Cavalry Brigade was expanded, reorganized, and redesignated as 1st Armored Division. 1st Cavalry Regiment was redesignated as 1st Armored Regiment and 13th Cavalry Regiment was redesignated as 13th Armored Regiment.

The first order of battle for the 1st Armored Division was as follows:

HHC, 1st Armored Division
HHC, 1st Armored Brigade
1st Armored Regiment (Light)
13th Armored Regiment (Light)
69th Armored Regiment (Medium)
68th Armored Field Artillery Regiment
6th Armored Infantry Regiment
27th Field Artillery Battalion (Armored)
16th Engineer Battalion (Armored)
81st Armored Reconnaissance Squadron
13th Quartermaster Battalion (Armored)
19th Ordnance Battalion (Armored)
47th Medical Battalion (Armored)
141st Signal Company (Armored)

Formation of 4th Armored Division [edit]

On 15 April 1941 the 1st AD sent a cadre to form the U.S. 4th Armored Division ("Name Enough") at Pine Camp, New York.

World War II [edit]

Commanders [edit]

  1. MG Bruce Magruder (July 1940 – March 1942),
  2. MG Orlando Ward (March 1942 – April 1943),
  3. MG Ernest N. Harmon (April 1943 – July 1944),
  4. MG Vernon Prichard (July 1944 – September 1945),
  5. MG Roderick R. Allen (September 1945 – January 1946),
  6. MG Hobart R. Gay (February 1946 to inactivation).

Training [edit]

After completing its organization and equipping, 1st Armored Division trained at Fort Knox, where it participated in the Technicolor short movie The Tanks Are Coming (as the "First Armored Force"). It deployed to participate in the VII Corps Maneuvers on 18 August 1941. Once the maneuvers concluded, 1st Armored Division then moved on 28 August 1941, and arrived at Camp Polk for the Second Army Louisiana Maneuvers on 1 September 1941. They then moved to Fort Jackson on 30 October 1941 to participate in the First Army Carolina Maneuvers. 1st AD then returned to Fort Knox on 7 December 1941, but started to prepare for deployment overseas instead of returning to garrison.

Service [edit]

The 1st Armored Division was ordered to Fort Dix on 11 April 1942 to await their deployment overseas. The division's port call required them to board the RMS Queen Mary at the New York Port of Embarkation at the Brooklyn Army Terminal on 11 May 1942. They arrived at Northern Ireland on 16 May 1942, and trained on the moors until they moved on to England on 29 October 1942.

The unit's first contact with an enemy was as part of the Allied invasion of Northwest Africa, Operation Torch, on 8 November 1942. Elements of the division were part of the Northern Task Force and became the first American armored division to see combat in World War II. Combat Command B (CCB) of the division landed east and west of Oran under the command of Brigadier general Lunsford E. Oliver, and entered the city on 10 November 1942. On 24 November 1942, CCB moved from Tafaroui, Algeria to Bedja, Tunisia, and raided Djedeida airfield the next day. Djedeida was finally conquered on 28 November 1942. CCB moved southwest of Tebourba on 1 December 1942, engaged German forces on El Guessa Heights on 3 December 1942, but its lines were pierced on 6 December 1942. CCB withdrew to Bedja with heavy equipment losses between 10 and 11 December 1942, and was placed in reserve. CCB next attacked in the Ousseltia Valley on 21 January 1943, and cleared that area until 29 January 1943 when sent to Bou Chebka, and arrived at Maktar on 14 February 1943. Combat Command A (CCA) fought at Faid Pass commencing on 30 January 1943, and advanced to Sidi Bou Zid, where it was pushed back with heavy tank losses on 14 February 1943, and had elements isolated on Djebel Lessouda, Djebel Kasaira, and Garet Hadid. Combat Command C (CCC), which had been constituted on 23 January 1943 to raid Sened Station on 24 January, advanced towards Sbeita, and counterattacked to support CCA in the Sidi Bou Zid area on 15 February 1943, but was repulsed with heavy losses. The division withdrew from Sbeita on 16 February 1943, but – by 21 February 1943 CCB contained the German attack toward Tebessa. The German withdrawal allowed the division to recover Kasserine Pass on 26 February 1943 and assemble in reserve. The division moved northeast of Gafsa on 13 March 1943 and attacked in heavy rains on 17 March 1943 as CCA took Zannouch, but became immobilized by rain the next day. The division drove on Maknassy on 20 March 1943, and fought the Battle of Djebel Naemia on 22–25 March 1943, and then fought to break through positions baring the road to Gabès between 29 March and 1 April 1943. It began to follow up the withdrawing German forces on 6 April 1943, and attacked towards Mateur with CCA on 27 April 1943, which fell after hard fighting on Hill 315 and Hill 299 on 3 May 1943. The division fought the Battle for Djebel Achtel between 5 and 11 May 1943, and entered Ferryville on 7 May 1943. The German forces in Tunisia surrendered between 9 and 13 May 1943. The division was reorganized in French Morocco, and began arriving in Naples, Italy on 28 October 1943.

After the fall of Sicily, the unit, part of the US Fifth Army, invaded mainland Italy. It took part in the attack on the infamous Winter Line in November 1943. It then flanked the Axis armies in the landings at Anzio, and participated in the liberation of Rome on 4 June 1944. The division continued in combat to the Po Valley until the German forces in Italy surrendered on 2 May 1945. In June, the Division moved to Germany as part of the occupation forces.

Casualties [edit]

  • KIA (killed in action): 1,194
  • WIA (wounded in action): 5,168
  • DOW (died of wounds): 234

Inactivation [edit]

1st Armored Division returned to the New York Port of Embarkation on 24 April 1946, and was inactivated at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey on 25 April 1946.

Post World War II [edit]

Ground operations during Operation Desert Storm, with the 1st Armored Division positioned at the center of the force.

The Korean War saw a buildup in U.S. forces after World War II. As part of that buildup, the 1st Armored Division was reactivated on 7 March 1951 at Fort Hood. It was the first Army unit to receive the new M48 Patton tank. After a number of years in Texas, the division was moved to Fort Polk, Louisiana, in 1956.

The division was deployed to Texas, Florida, and Georgia, in response to the Cuban Missile Crisis. During the six-week deployment, it received a visit from President John F. Kennedy. A few units fought in the Vietnam War, and were returned to the division after the war. The 3d Brigade deployed to Chicago, Illinois to restore order after Martin Luther King Jr.'s marches. At that time, the division was based in Fort Hood, Texas.

As the Vietnam War wound down, there was a fundamental reorganisation of the Army. As part of this reorganisation, the 1st Armored Division was moved to Germany in 1971. It replaced the 4th Armored Division in the Bavarian city of Ansbach. The Division remained in Ansbach, with brigade units in the neighboring towns of Bamberg, Illesheim, Fürth (Nuremberg), Katterbach, Crailsheim, Erlangen and Zirndorf, West Germany for the next twenty years, as part of the American forces committed to NATO.

In August 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait. Army units were dispatched to protect Saudi Arabia. Later in the fall, President George H. W. Bush made the decision to deploy American heavy forces on a massive scale to eject the Iraqis from Kuwait. The lead unit for this deployment was the VII Corps from Germany. 1st Armored Division was one of four American heavy divisions assigned to VII Corps in theater. In the ground attack of the Gulf War, the Division led the VII Corps' flank attack on the Iraqis. It had the duty of destroying the elite Iraqi Republican Guard units. In eighty nine hours, the division moved 250 kilometers, destroyed 768 vehicles, and captured 1,064 prisoners of war, at the cost of four dead. It returned to Germany on 8 May 1991, and celebrated with a visit from Vice President Dan Quayle.

On 18 December 1995, under the command of Major General William L. Nash, the division deployed to northeast Bosnia as the command element of Task Force Eagle, a powerful, multinational unit intended to keep the peace. (A Russian brigade, initially under the command of Colonel Aleksandr Ivanovich Lentsov, was part of that effort. An account of the interactions of the Americans and Russians in Bosnia in 1996 may be found in James Nelson's Bosnia Journal.) The 1AD returned in late 1996 to Germany.

In 1999, the unit was once again deployed, this time to Kosovo, for Operation Allied Force, and Operation Joint Guardian.

Afterwards, the unit trained heavily in Hohenfels and Grafenwöhr Training Areas in Germany, with realistic OPFOR (Opposition Forces) exercises. Some units were deployed into Iraq and other countries in the Middle East for the global War on Terrorism.

Operation Iraqi Freedom [edit]

In the build-up in the months prior the March 2003 invasion of Iraq, two battalions of the 1st Armored Division's 3d Brigade were deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 2–70 Armor and 1–41 Infantry battalion task forces augmented the 82nd Airborne Division ("All-American"), the 3d Infantry Division ("Rock of the Marne"), and the 101st Airborne Division ("Screaming Eagles") throughout the campaign to oust Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. These units spearheaded the U.S assaults in As Samawah and Karbala and later occupied the southern area of Baghdad. The 1–13 Armor battalion followed shortly behind towards the end of March 2003.

In May 2003, the division deployed to Iraq and assumed responsibility for Baghdad, under command of Brigadier General Martin E. Dempsey, and the surrounding areas, relieving the 3d Infantry Division. The division was scheduled to return to Germany in November 2003, but was extended an additional 3 months in October in order to defeat a Shia militia led by Moqtada Al Sadr. Near the end of that period the Division was again extended an additional three months. During the first three-month extensions Task Force 1–37 AR ("Bandits") fought Al Sadr's forces in Karbala while Task Force 2–37 AR ("Dukes")along with elements of 2–3 FA (Gunners) fought in Diwaniya, Sadr City, Al-Kut, and Najaf. Task Force 1–36 IN ("Spartans") became the CJTF-7 Operational Reserve and conducted operations throughout the theater in support of the 1st Cavalry Division. Forces from the 2d Brigade fought in Kut. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, the division lost 133 soldiers.

The division's 3d (BULLDOG) Brigade deployed to the Iraqi Theatre once again in Feb 2005 for Operation Iraqi Freedom Three from Fort Riley, Kansas, this after their April 2004 redeployment from OIF 1, spent nine months stateside. There, they are attached to the 3d Infantry Division and are the major unit operating in the Taji(north of Baghdad) area of operations.

2nd Brigade Combat Team (BCT) deployed to Kuwait November 2005 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom IV, spending three months as a theater reserve. Following the Al-Askari Mosque bombing in February of the following year Task Force 2–6 Infantry was activated from theater reserve status and deployed to Iraq. Three months later, in May 2006, the two remaining brigade task forces in Kuwait deployed to Ramadi, Iraq. In August 2006, 2BCT rear detachment, still in Kuwait, deployed to Baghdad International Airport.

The division's 1st Brigade Combat Team ("Ready First") deployed again to Iraq in January 2006 after months of intensive training in Grafenwöhr and Hohenfels, Germany. Many of the soldiers who fought with units like 1–36 Infantry("Spartans"), 2–37 Armor("Iron Dukes"), and 1–37 ("Bandits") returned to Iraq for a second time. The majority of the Ready First Brigade was deployed to Northern Iraq in Nineveh province concentrating on the city of Tal' Afar. In May 2006 the main force of 1st Brigade received orders to move south to the city of Ramadi in volatile Al Anbar Province. In January 2006 a smaller force, Task Force Spartan, was sent to replace 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit and took control of the area surrounding Hit, Iraq in Al-Anbar Province. Task Force Spartan had less than 800 personnel but had an area of responisibility about the size of the state of Rhode Island. There they helped train the Iraqi Army as well as heavy recruiting and training of Iraqi Police units. Strengthening the Iraqi Army and Police units in the area, in addition to much needed anti-insurgent missions laid the foundation for stability in Hit and the surrounding area. August 2006, seven months into their Iraq tour, 1st BCT received news of a forty-six-day extension. After nearly fourteen months, Ready First redeployed from Iraq in mid-February 2007 back to their garrisons of Ray Barracks, Friedberg, Germany and Giessen Depot, Giessen, Germany.

In September 2007, the 1st Armored Division Headquarters deployed again to Iraq. The 1st Armored Division conducted a relief in place with the 25th Infantry Division and assumed command of Multi-National Division North, headquartered in Tikrit, Iraq, on 28 October 2007. Multi-National Division North was then composed of five Maneuver Brigade Combat Teams, a Combat Aviation Brigade, a Fires Brigade, and an Engineer Brigade. Multi-National Division North includes the Iraqi provinces of Ninawa, Kirkuk (formerly at Tamin), Salah ad Din, and Diyala along with Dahuk, and As Sulaymaniah. The area also includes the critical cities of Tal Afar, Mosul, Bayji, Tikrit, Kirkuk, Samarra, Balad, Baqubah, Dahuk, and Sulaymaniah. The Division currently commands all Coalition Forces in Northern Iraq. Arbil province remains aligned as a separate Multi-National Division, North-East. The 1st Armored Division has tackled numerous complex problem sets in Northern Iraq applying both lethal and non-lethal means. The area includes ethnic fault lines between Arabs and Kurds, religious fault lines between Sunni and Shia Muslims, numerous tribal regions, and the complexities involving significant Former Regime Elements and the dynamics of energy. The Division conducted RIP/TOA with Headquarters 25th Infantry Division on 8 December 2008 and conducted a successful redployment back to Wiesbaden Army Airfield in Germany.

In April 2008 the 2nd BCT out of Baumholder, Germany deployed to Baghdad Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Brigade conducted 14 months of combat operations and successfully redeployed back to Germany in May 2009. On 30 Jul 2009 the 2nd BCT cased its colors and reflagged to the 170th BCT signifying the start of the brigade's move to Fort Bliss, Texas.

In May 2009 the 4th HBCT out of Fort Bliss, Texas deployed to Southern Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The brigade will be used as an advise and assist brigade in order to train Iraqi security forces.

On 14 July 2009 the Department of Defense announced that Headquarters 1st Armored Division and the 1st HBCT would return to Iraq in late 2009 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

1st Armored Division Headquarters deployed to Baghdad, Iraq in November 2009 serving as United States Division – Center

In December 2010 the 1st Armored Division redeployed from Baghdad, Iraq after 12 months of serving as United States Division – Center

Afghanistan [edit]

In mid October 2011, Task Force Bulldog, 3rd Brigade, 1AD, relieved 4th BCT, 10th Mountain Division. They are tasked to conduct counterinsurgency operation while building up the ANSF in the Regional Command East area.[7]

In December 2012, 1-1AD (1st BCT, 1st Armored Division), and 4–501st Aviation (4th Battalion, 501st Regiment, Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Armored Division) deployed to Afghanistan.[8]

Move to Fort Bliss [edit]

In 2005 the Base Realignment and Closure or BRAC commission decided to move the 1st Armored Division to Fort Bliss, Texas no later than 2012. As part of the current Army-wide transformation, several division units were inactivated or converted to other units. 1AD officially uncased its colors at Fort Bliss 13 May 2011.

  • 1st Brigade: The 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division cased its colors at Friedberg, Germany on 20 April 2007, ending 62 years of military presence in Germany.[9] 1st Brigade reactivated and uncased its colors on 27 October 2008.[10] and began reconfiguring as a Stryker brigade (SBCT). Denoted 1-1AD "Ready First", the 1st BCT, 1st AD deploys to Afghanistan in December 2012.[8] The first female engagement team to deploy from Fort Bliss had already been trained in 2012, in advance of Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta's order rescinding restrictions on women in combat roles.[11]
  • 2d Brigade: 2d Brigade, 1st Armored Division in Baumholder, Germany, remained assigned to USAREUR until 15 July 2009, when it was reflagged as the separate 170th Infantry Brigade.[12] It is scheduled to relocate to the U.S. in 2012. As part of the Grow the Army Plan announced 19 Dec 2007, the 170th is one of two Infantry Brigades to be activated and retained in Germany until 2012 and 2013. (The other Brigade is the 172nd Infantry Brigade in Schweinfurt, Germany, which reflagged from 2d Brigade, 1st Infantry Division on 16 March 2008.[10][13]) In 2010, the U.S. Army attached 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division to the Brigade Modernization Command,[14] assigning it the evaluation mission previously held by the 5th Brigade, 1st Armored Division, AETF. The 2/1 AD has been given the mission of validating the operational relevancy of solutions and developing doctrine prior to fielding to deploying forces. It is an HBCT tasked organized that is equipped to replicate heavy, light and Stryker formations. 2/1 AD evaluates all network capability solution candidates and other Army Modernization capability candidates in a full spectrum operational environment at Fort Bliss, Texas and White Sands Missile Range. This unique Army mission supports adaptive evaluation of capability candidates, unit organizational design and operational concepts. The brigade provides immediate feedback that permits TRADOC to assess modernization concepts, identify implications, and enables the Army Test and Evaluation Command to assess the technical performance of materiel technologies.
  • 3d Brigade: On 28 March 2008, the 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division (HBCT) inactivated at Fort Riley and reflagged as 2d (Dagger) Brigade, 1st Infantry Division (HBCT).[15] The 3rd Brigade was reactivated as an Infantry Brigade Combat Team on 2 July 2009 at Fort Bliss.[16]
  • 4th Brigade: On 4 March 2008, 4th Brigade, 1st Armored Division activated at Fort Bliss as a HBCT and reflagged from the 4th Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division.[17]
  • 5th Brigade: In 2007, a new unit, 5th Brigade, 1st Armored Division, activated at Fort Bliss as an Army Evaluation Task Force. 5th BCT tested the Future Force Warrior system. Fifth BDE 1 AD evaluated multiple types of Spin Out Equipment and prepared them for fielding to the rest of the Army. 5th Brigade was deactivated in 2010. (Fifth Brigade now serves to train Reserve and National Guard components for deployment as part of First Army Division West, at Fort Bliss.)
  • Aviation Brigade: The Aviation Brigade, 1st Armored Division inactivated on 7 June 2006 at Fliegerhorst Kaserne, Hanau, Germany and relocated to Fort Riley, Kansas to reflag as the modular Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division.[18] The Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th ID has been reflagged to CAB, 1st AD. 4–501st Aviation (4th Battalion "Pistoleros", 501st Regiment, Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Armored Division) deployed to Kuwait in November 2012.[8]
  • Engineer Brigade: The Engineer Brigade, 1st Armored Division, the last of its kind in the Army, cased its colors and inactivated at Giessen, Germany on 26 April 2007.[19]
  • Division Artillery: Division Artillery, 1st Armored Division cased its colors and inactivated at Baumholder, Germany on 1 May 2007. The 1st AD DIVARTY was the last standing Division Artillery unit in the Army.[20]

The division's colors were officially moved from Germany to Fort Bliss beginning on 13 May 2011.[21]

Lineage [edit]

Note: HHC denotes a Headquarters and Headquarters Company.

HHC, 1st Armored Division [edit]

  • Constituted 16 January 1932 in the Regular Army as Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 7th Cavalry Brigade (Mechanized)
  • Headquarters activated 1 March 1932 at Fort Knox, Kentucky; Headquarters Troop activated in December 1934 at Fort Knox, Kentucky
  • Reorganized and redesignated 15 July 1940 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Armored Division
  • Inactivated 25 April 1946 at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey
  • Activated 7 March 1951 at Fort Hood, Texas

HHC, 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division [edit]

  • Organized 1 January 1942 in the Regular Army at Fort Knox, Kentucky, as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, Combat Command A, 1st Armored Division
  • Reorganized and redesignated 20 July 1944 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Combat Command A, 1st Armored Division
  • Converted and redesignated 1 May 1946 as Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3d Constabulary Regiment, and relieved from assignment to the 1st Armored Division
  • Inactivated 20 September 1947 in Germany
  • Converted and redesignated 27 February 1951 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Combat Command A, 1st Armored Division
  • Activated 7 March 1951 at Fort Hood, Texas
  • Reorganized and redesignated 3 February 1962 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division

HHC, 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division [edit]

  • Organized 1 January 1942 in the Regular Army at Fort Knox, Kentucky, as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, Combat Command B, 1st Armored Division
  • Reorganized and redesignated 20 July 1944 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Combat Command B, 1st Armored Division
  • Inactivated 9 April 1946 at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey
  • Activated 7 March 1951 at Fort Hood, Texas
  • Inactivated 23 December 1957 at Fort Polk, Louisiana
  • Redesignated 3 February 1962 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Brigade, 1st Armored Division, and activated at Fort Hood, Texas

HHC, 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division [edit]

  • Constituted 27 June 1944 in the Regular Army as Headquarters, Reserve Command, 1st Armored Division
  • Activated 20 July 1944 in Italy
  • Inactivated 25 April 1946 at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey
  • Redesignated 27 February 1951 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Reserve Command, 1st Armored Division
  • Activated 7 March 1951 at Fort Hood, Texas
  • Reorganized and redesignated 26 June 1954 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Combat Command C, 1st Armored Division
  • Inactivated 23 December 1957 at Fort Polk, Louisiana
  • Redesignated 3 February 1962 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3d Brigade, 1st Armored Division, and activated at Fort Hood, Texas
  • Inactivated 15 April 1995 at Fort Lewis, Washington
  • Activated 16 February 1996 at Fort Riley, Kansas
  • Inactivated 28 March 2008 at Fort Riley, Kansas

HHB, 1st Armored Division Artillery [edit]

  • Constituted 15 July 1940 in the Regular Army as the Artillery Section, Headquarters, 1st Armored Division, and activated at Fort Knox, Kentucky
  • Redesignated 15 November 1940 as the Artillery Section, Division Headquarters, 1st Armored Division
  • Reorganized and redesignated 1 March 1942 as Headquarters, Division Artillery Command, Headquarters, 1st Armored Division
  • Consolidated 20 July 1944 with the Service Company, 1st Armored Division (less Military Police Platoon) (constituted 1 January 1942 in the Regular Army and activated 8 January 1942 at Fort Knox, Kentucky), and consolidated unit reorganized and redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, Division Artillery, 1st Armored Division
  • Inactivated 18 April 1946 at New York Port of Embarkation, New York
  • Activated 7 March 1951 at Fort Hood, Texas
  • Reorganized and redesignated 1 July 1955 as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Armored Division Artillery
  • Inactivated 23 December 1957 at Fort Polk, Louisiana
  • Activated 3 February 1962 at Fort Hood, Texas
  • Inactivated 1 May 2007 at Smith Barracks, Baumholder, Germany

HHC, 1st Armored Division Support Command [edit]

  • Constituted 1 January 1942 in the Regular Army as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 1st Armored Division Trains
  • Activated 10 January 1942 at Fort Knox, Kentucky
  • Reorganized and redesignated 24 January 1942 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Armored Division Trains
  • Inactivated 25 April 1946 at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey
  • Activated 7 March 1951 at Fort Hood, Texas
  • Reorganized and redesignated 15 February 1957 as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 1st Armored Division Trains
  • Consolidated 3 February 1962 with the 1st Armored Division Band (organized in 1943) and consolidated unit reorganized and redesignated as Headquarters, Headquarters and Band, 1st Armored Division Support Command
  • Reorganized and redesignated 15 April 1968 as Headquarters, Headquarters Company and Band, 1st Armored Division Support Command
  • Reorganized and redesignated 21 August 1972 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Armored Division Support Command (Band element concurrently withdrawn – hereafter separate lineage)
  • Inactivated 15 August 2008 at Wiesbaden Army Airfield, Wiesbaden, Germany

HHC, Aviation Brigade, 1st Armored Division [edit]

  • Constituted 16 April 1986 in the Regular Army as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Aviation Brigade, 1st Armored Division, and activated in Germany.

Honors [edit]

HHC, 1st Armored Division [edit]

Campaign participation credit [edit]

  • World War II:
  1. Tunisia;
  2. Naples-Foggia;
  3. Rome-Arno;
  4. Anzio;
  5. North Apennines;
  6. Po Valley
  1. Defense of Saudi Arabia;
  2. Liberation and Defense of Kuwait;
  3. Cease-Fire
  1. Operation Iraqi Freedom; May 2003 – July 2004 (Baghdad,Najaf,Karbala)
  2. Operation Iraqi Freedom; Oct 2007 – Dec 2008 (Tikrit)
  3. Operation Iraqi Freedom; Dec 2009 – Dec 2010 (Baghdad, Al Anbar)

Decorations [edit]

  1. Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for SOUTHWEST ASIA
  2. Army Superior Unit Award for 1995–1996
  3. Valorous Unit Award For Operation Iraqi Freedom I
  4. Presidential Unit Citation For Operation Iraqi Freedom I
  5. Joint Meritorious Unit Award For Operation Iraqi Freedom I
  6. Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for Operation IRAQI FREEDOM 07-09
  7. Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for Operation IRAQI FREEDOM 10-11/ Operation NEW DAWN

HHC, 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division [edit]

Campaign participation credit [edit]

  • World War II:
  1. Tunisia;
  2. Naples-Foggia;
  3. Anzio;
  4. Rome-Arno;
  5. North Apennines;
  6. Po Valley

Decorations [edit]

  1. Army Superior Unit Award for 1995–1996
  2. Presidential Unit Citation for Operation Iraqi Freedom
  3. Joint Meritorious Unit Award for Operation Iraqi Freedom
  4. Valorous Unit Citation for Operation Iraqi Freedom
  5. Navy Unit Commendation for Operation Iraqi Freedom

HHC, 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division [edit]

Campaign participation credit [edit]

  • World War II:
  1. Algeria-French Morocco (with arrowhead);
  2. Tunisia;
  3. Naples-Foggia;
  4. Anzio;
  5. Rome-Arno;
  6. North Apennines;
  7. Po Valley
  • Southwest Asia:
  1. Defense of Saudi Arabia;
  2. Liberation and Defense of Kuwait;
  3. Cease-Fire

Decorations [edit]

  1. Presidential Unit Citation for OIF 1 (2003–2004)
  2. Valorous Unit Award, IRAQ 1991
  3. Meritorious Unit Commendation, SOUTHWEST ASIA 2005–2006
  4. Meritorious Unit Commendation, IRAQ 2008–2009
  5. Army Superior Unit Award for 1995–1996

HHC, 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division [edit]

Campaign participation credit [edit]

  • World War II:
  1. Rome-Arno;
  2. North Apennines;
  3. Po Valley
  • Southwest Asia:
  1. Defense of Saudi Arabia;
  2. Liberation and Defense of Kuwait;
  3. Cease-Fire

Decorations [edit]

  1. Valorous Unit Award for IRAQ-KUWAIT
  2. Valorous Unit Award for Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF 1)

HHB, 1st Armored Division Artillery [edit]

Campaign participation credit [edit]

  • World War II:
  1. Tunisia;
  2. Naples-Foggia;
  3. Rome-Arno;
  4. Anzio;
  5. North Apennines;
  6. Po Valley
  • Southwest Asia:
  1. Defense of Saudi Arabia;
  2. Liberation and Defense of Kuwait

Decorations [edit]

  1. Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for SOUTHWEST ASIA

HHC, 1st Armored Division Support Command [edit]

Campaign participation credit [edit]

  • World War II:
  1. Tunisia;
  2. Naples-Foggia;
  3. Rome-Arno;
  4. North Apennines;
  5. Po Valley
  • Southwest Asia:
  1. Defense of Saudi Arabia;
  2. Liberation and Defense of Kuwait;
  3. Cease-Fire

Decorations [edit]

  1. Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for SOUTHWEST ASIA

HHC, Aviation Brigade, 1st Armored Division [edit]

Campaign participation credit [edit]

  • Southwest Asia:
  1. Defense of Saudi Arabia;
  2. Liberation and Defense of Kuwait;
  3. Cease-Fire

Decorations [edit]

  1. Valorous Unit Award for IRAQ-KUWAIT
  2. Army Superior Unit Award for 1995–1996

References [edit]

 This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Army Center of Military History document "Lineage of the 1st Armored Division and Companies".

  1. ^ a b c d e "Special Unit Designations". United States Army Center of Military History. 21 April 2010. Archived from the original on 9 June 2010. Retrieved 23 June 2010. 
  2. ^ a b c http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Heraldry/ArmyDUISSICOA/ArmyHeraldryUnit.aspx?u=7124
  3. ^ [1][dead link]
  4. ^ [2][dead link]
  5. ^ "News Release: Army Announces Conversion of Brigade to Stryker Configuration". Defense.gov. 12 March 2009. Archived from the original on 30 May 2011. Retrieved 21 May 2011. 
  6. ^ Carlo D'Este. Patton : A Genius for War HarperCollins, (1995), p 215.
  7. ^ http://www.rc-east.com/en/regional-command-east-news-mainmenu-401/5015-bulldogs-take-control-during-in-eastern-afghanistan-.html
  8. ^ a b c MG Dana J. H. Pittard (28 November 2012 ) Fort Bliss Monitor
  9. ^ Jimenez, Alfredo (3 March 2008). ""Ready First" Combat Team ends more than 60-year Germany run". Retrieved 10 May 2008. 
  10. ^ a b It deployed as of 19 November 2010 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The brigade returned home in Nov 2010, Miles, Donna (3 March 2008). "Combat Team Reflagging to Mark Start of 1st Armored Division's U.S. Standup". American Forces Press Service News Articles. Retrieved 10 May 2008. 
  11. ^ "'FET' to fight: female engagement team makes history", Fort Bliss Monitor, July 11, 2012
  12. ^ "1st AD brigade gets new colors". Stars and Stripes. Archived from the original on 22 July 2009. Retrieved 16 July 2009. 
  13. ^ "Army Announces Next Steps in USAREUR Transformation" (PDF). News release of HQ U.S. Army Europe and 7th Army. 6 March 2008. Retrieved 10 May 2008. [dead link]
  14. ^ http://www.bctmod.army.mil/news/pdf/FFIDtoBMCnewsrel.pdf
  15. ^ "2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division Colors Move to Fort Riley". 1st Infantry Division News Viewer. March 2008. Archived from the original on 15 April 2008. Retrieved 10 May 2008. 
  16. ^ "Fort Bliss: Birth of brigade continues growth". El Paso Times. July 2009. Retrieved 9 July 2009. 
  17. ^ Clark, Bradley J. (March 2008). "Sun sets on Long Knife, rises on Highlanders". First Team News. Retrieved 10 May 2008. 
  18. ^ Weisel, Karl. June 2006%20Germany%20bids%20farewell%20to%204th%20Brigade.pdf "Germany bids farewell to 4th Brigade" (PDF). Retrieved 10 May 2008. [dead link]
  19. ^ Jimenez, Alfredo. "Ceremony Bids Farewell to 'Iron Sappers' of 1st Armored Engineer Brigade" (PDF). Retrieved 10 May 2008. [dead link]
  20. ^ Patton, Mark S. "1st Armored Division Artillery Cases Colors in Baumholder Ceremony" (PDF). Retrieved 10 May 2008. [dead link]
  21. ^ Patton, Mark, "'Old Ironsides' bids farewell to Germany", Stars and Stripes, 13 May 2011.
  1. George F. Howe (1979). The Battle History of the 1st Armored Division. The Battery Press, Inc. ISBN 0-89839-025-7.  covers its first (World War II era) incarnation.

External links [edit]

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