196th Infantry Brigade (United States) - Vietnam

Vietnam

15 July 1966 – June 1972. The 196th LIB was reactivated again in September 1965 at Fort Devens, where it was originally scheduled to be sent to the Dominican Republic, but was rushed to Vietnam on 15 July 1966 via transport ships, arriving on 14 August 1966 in Tay Ninh City, where it began combat operations in the western area of the III Corps Tactical Zone. The 196th conducted Operation Cedar Falls, Gadsden, Lancaster, Operation Junction City, Benton, and Operation Attleboro (War Zone C of Tay Ninh Province), where it turned into a major action after a large enemy base camp was found on 19 October 1966. In April 1967, the 196th was selected, along with the 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division and the 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, to form a temporary division unit called Task Force Oregon, where it was moved to the I Corps Tactical Zone. The brigade became part of the 23rd Infantry Division (the Americal Division) on 25 September 1967, and participated in Operation Wheeler/Wallowa, Golden Fleece, Fayette Canyon, Frederick Hill, Lamar Plain, Elk Canyon I, and Elk Canyon II. In early May 1968, the 2/1 of the 196th was flown in to assist at the Battle of Kham Duc. On 29 November 1971, the 196th became a separate temporary entity to safeguard this same area of operations. In April 1971, the 196th moved to Da Nang to assist in port security duties, and finally left Vietnam on 29 June 1972 as the last combat brigade to leave in Vietnam. The brigade suffered 1,188 KIA, and 5,591 WIA in Vietnam.

Operations as a separate Brigade (15 July 1966 – 25 September 1967)

  • Cedar Falls
  • Gadsden
  • Lancaster
  • Attleboro
  • Junction City
  • Benton

Operations as a part of the Americal Division (25 September 1967 – June 1972)

  • Wheeler/Wallowa
  • Golden Fleece
  • Fayette Canyon
  • Frederick Hill
  • Lamar Plain
  • Elk Canyon I
  • Elk Canyon II

Headquarters locations during the Vietnam War

  • Tay Ninh, August 1966 to May 1967
  • Chu Lai, June 1967 to October 1967
  • Tam Ky, November 1967 to March 1968
  • Phong Dien, April 1968 to June 1968
  • Hoi An, June 1968 to March 1971
  • Da Nang, April 1971 to June 1972

ORDER OF BATTLE

Brigade Infantry & Brigade Artillery

  • 2d Battalion, 1st Infantry
  • 3d Battalion, 82d Artillery
  • 3d Battalion, 21st Infantry
  • 1st Battalion, 46th Infantry
  • 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry

Brigade Reconnaissance

  • Troop F, 8th Cavalry (Air)
  • Troop F, 17th Cavalry (Armored)
  • 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry (Armored)
  • 64th Infantry Platoon (Combat Tracker)
  • 48th Infantry Platoon (Scout Dog)
  • LRRP, 196th Infantry Brigade (later reflagged as Co E, 51st Infantry)

Brigade Support

  • 8th Support Battalion
  • 175th Engineer Company
  • 23rd Military Police Company
  • 408th Radio Research Detachment (ASA)
  • 635th Military Intelligence Detachment, Team 2
  • 544th Military Police Platoon
  • 687th Signal Company
  • 196th Signal Company (Prov)
  • 27th Chemical Detachment
  • 10th Public Information Detachment
  • HHD & Band, 196th Support Battalion (Prov)
  • 569th Military Intelligence Detachment
  • Company C, 37th Signal Battalion, 1st Signal Brigade (62nd. Co.)

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