History
The history of the 41st Brigade can be traced back to 1917 when the 41st Infantry Division was created for service in World War I primarily from National Guard units from Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana. For more information see the 41st Division history.
In 1965, the Division was reorganized as a separate brigade, located primarily within the Oregon Army National Guard. During the 1980s the brigade was the "roundout brigade" of the 7th Infantry Division, serving this capacity until August 2006, when the division was deactivated.
In 1999, 136 members of C Company, 1–162 Infantry were called up to active duty to protect Patriot Missile batteries in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. This was the first activation of Oregonian National Guardsmen to federal service since 1941.
On September 11, 2001, advance elements of the 241st Military Intelligence Company arrived in Tuzla, Bosnia, for a seven month deployment as part of the NATO Stabilization Force.
1–162 Infantry was deployed 6 February 2003 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the first unit in 41st Brigade to deploy to combat operations since World War II.
Several months after 1–162 INF deployed to Iraq, 2-162 INF deployed as part of the 39th Infantry Brigade (Enhanced) (Arkansas National Guard) to Iraq. The battalion served in Baghdad and other parts of Iraq, suffering a number of casualties while conducting stabilization security missions. During the same time, a handful of personnel were sent to train foreign soldiers in Afghanistan.
In September, 2005, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Brigadier General Douglas Pritt commanded the majority of the brigade as part of Task Force Oregon in relief and security efforts near the French Quarter in New Orleans. By the end of the month, when Hurricane Rita wreaked havoc again on the Gulf Coast, the 41st was put in charge of the newly designated Joint Task Force Rita to assist in all disaster-related needs in Texas and Louisiana.
In the spring of 2006, BG Pritt and the brigade joined the personnel already in Afghanistan making the total force approximately 950 soldiers marking the first major deployment of the brigade to a combat zone since World War II.
Most recently, the 41st IBCT deployed to Iraq, under the command of Colonel Dan Hokanson, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Read more about this topic: 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team (United States)
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