The 196th Brigade was an active Army unit from 1965 to 1972. As many as 20,000 soldiers served in its ranks during this period. Its assignment was Vietnam service, and it was the last combat unit to leave that country. The Brigade was decommissioned upon its return to the States. The Brigade suffered more than 1200 Killed-In-Action, and many more wounded, during its years of combat duty. It is to their memory and help that we are pledged.

The 196th Light Infantry Brigade was re-activated in 1998.

Membership is important to maintain the organization. All officers of the Association are elected by the membership, and serve as unpaid volunteers. Mailing and administration costs are paid from membership fees and donations.

SHOULDER INSIGNIA

The 196th Light Infantry Brigade Shoulder Insignia. The color blue is used to denote infantry, the yellow and red symbolize cavalry and artillery. The double-headed match, used during the days of the matchlock musket, is lighted at both ends to ensure readiness. The 196th was activated 15 September 1965 at Fort Devens, Massachusetts, by General Order Number 266.

UNIT HISTORY

The 196th Light Infantry Brigade was raised at Fort Devens in September 1965 and originally scheduled to be sent to the Dominican Republic in mid-1966, but was rushed to Vietnam instead and posted in the western portion of the III Corps Tactical Zone. It initiated Operation Attleboro into War Zone C of Tay Ninh Province, which developed into a major action after a large enemy base camp was uncovered, 19 October 1966.

In April 1967 the brigade was selected, along with the 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division and the 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, to form a provisional division-sized unit called Task Force OREGON and moved to the I Corps Tactical Zone. The brigade stayed with this command, which was converted into the 23d Infantry Division (AMERICAL) 25 September 1967. The 196th Light Infantry Brigade officially joined this division, 15 February 1969. It operated throughout northern Vietnam, and after the division closed out of Vietnam, 29 November 1971, the 196th Light Infantry Brigade was reconstituted as a separate (provisional) brigade-sized element to safeguard the same area of operations.

In April 1971 the brigade was relocated to Da Nang for major port security duties. It finally departed Vietnam as the last U.S. Army combat brigade to leave in Increment XII of the U.S. Army withdrawal.

ORDER OF BATTLE
Brigade Infantry & Brigade Artillery
2d Battalion, 1st Infantry
3d Battalion, 82d Artillery
B Battery, 1st Battalion, 14th Artillery
1st Battalion, 6th Infantry
3d Battalion, 21st Infantry
Brigade Reconnaissance
4th Battalion, 31st Infantry
Troop F, 8th Cavalry (Air)
1st Battalion, 46th Infantry
Troop F, 17th Cavalry (Armored)
Brigade Support
8th Support Battalion
23rd Military Police Company
26th Combat Engineer Battalion
175th Engineer Company
687th Signal Company
156th Signal Platoon
635th Military Intelligence Detachment
27th Chemical Detachment
10th Public Information Detachment
HHD & BAND, 196th Support Bn (Prov)
328th Radio Research Company
Arrived Vietnam: 14 August 1966
Departed Vietnam: 29 June 1972
Locations:
Tay Ninh Aug 66-May 67
Chu Lai June 67-Oct 67
Tam Ky Nov 67-Mar 68
Phong Dien Apr 68-May 68
Hoi An Jun 68- Jun 68
Chu Lai Jul 68-Mar 71
Da Nang Apr 71-Jun 72

196th Light Infantry Brigade is Re-Activated at Ft. Shafter, HI
The following communication was forwarded to officers of the 196th LIB association.
16 April 1998

Mr. Knight,

My name is CPT Ken Miller, I am a brigade adjutant stationed at FT Shafter, HI. I would like to inform you that my Brigade is going to reorganize and we will be known as the 196th Infantry Brigade, effective 26 May 1998. I require your assistance in getting this word out, as we would like to invite as many members of the Brigade to Hawaii for the reflagging ceremony.

We are honored to have a chance to break out the colors of a Brigade such as the 196th and want to share this ceremony with as many members as possible.

The reflagging is scheduled for 26 May 1998 at 0900. The ceremony will take place at Palm Circle, the parade field, FT Shafter, HI. I am the point of contact for this ceremony and am here to assist any soldier who cares to attend this ceremony.

My email is millerk@shafter-emh3.army.mil our Brigade address is: Building 525, Stop 104, FT Shafter, HI 96858. Our phone number is DSN 438-1209, ext 241 or commercial 808-438-1209, ext 241.

Thank You,
CPT Ken Miller

When asked for additional background information, Captain Miller replied "We did some research and found three brigades that had a distinguished lineage in the Pacific area of operations. Of the three we decided upon the 196th. We felt this was a great brigade that represented the professionalism and dedication with which we would be proud to be associated.

"The mission of the brigade is to train and assist Reserve component units in the Pacific Theater attain and maintain the highest levels of training, logistics, maintenance, and readiness. The Army calls brigades such as this "Training Support Brigades." The Army made a decision a year back to give all Training Support Brigades a number designation from a historical brigade.

"The brigade is comprised of 106 soldiers divided into four battalions, three infantry and one forward support battalion. An infantry battalion is located in Alaska, another in Guam, an one in Hawaii, with companies in American Samoa and California. The forward support battalion is in Hawaii.

"The commander of the brigade is COL Ronnie W. Tucker. COL Tucker is a Vietnam vet who has served in a variety of command and staff positions since 1970."

REFLAG RETURNS HISTORIC COLORS TO ARMY
By: Lt. Col. Randy Pullen
USARPAC Public Affairs

A ceremony at Fort Shafter Tuesday returned the colors of the Army's last combat brigade in Vietnam to the active rolls. The Training Support Brigade - Pacific was redesignated as the 196th Infantry Brigade during a ceremony on Palm Circle at 9:00 a.m., May 26.

The 196th Infantry Brigade was the last U.S. Army combat brigade to leave Vietnam. It departed on June 29, 1972.

The new 196th, headquartered at Fort Shafter, works with Reserve Component units in Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, American Samoa and Japan, to assist these units in staying trained and ready at all times. About one soldier in three of U.S. Army Pacific is in the Reserve Components. The focus of the 196th'straining support is on those more than 13,000 soldiers.

Although the redesignation adds no personnel to the unit nor changes its mission, it does return a great deal of history to the Army in the Pacific.

The 196th Infantry Brigade was first organized in 1921 as an element of the Army Reserve's 98th Infantry Division. Then, as now, its mission was to train soldiers. During World War II, the 98th Division arrived in Hawaii in April 1944 and was given the mission of defending Kauai and Maui initially; later it was made responsible for the defense of Oahu.

In May 1945, the division began intensive training in preparation for it role in the invasion of Japan but the war ended before the unit could leave Hawaii. It went to Japan for occupation duty, where it was inactivated in February 1946.

On September 10, 1965, the 196th Light Infantry Brigade was re-activated as an Active Army unit at Fort Devens, Mass. Intended for deployment to the Dominican Republic, the brigade was instead sent to Vietnam, arriving there in August 1966. The brigade earned 14 campaign streamers during its six years in Vietnam. Four of its members received the Medal of Honor for Vietnam action. One thousand of the "Charger" Brigade have their names engraved on the Vietnam Wall in Washington, DC. The brigade was inactivated at Oakland, Calif., on June 30, 1972.

The new 196th Infantry Brigade inherits the lineage, battle honors and colors of this history-rich unit. As part of the redesignation activities, the commander of the 196th who took it to Vietnam in 1966, retired Col. Francis Conaty, participated in the ceremony. Conaty, a veteran of combat in the Pacific during World War II, as well as multiple tours in Vietnam, assisted Lt. Gen.William M. Steele, commanding general of U.S. Army Pacific; Col. Randy Tucker, the current 196th commander; and 196th Command Sgt. Maj. Earl Cambra in unfurling the colors before an audience which included several 196th veterans from the Vietnam War.

Speaking to the soldiers of the new 196th, Conaty rendered a salute to them, both literally and with words.

"I salute you," Conaty said. "We'll be watching you, we old soldiers."

REFLAGGING CEREMONY
by: Ken McKenzie, Editor
196th Light Infantry Brigade Association

The 196th Association was notified of the reactivation of the 196th Infantry Brigade, and on short notice several of the officers and your editor made private arrangements to attend. The Army was extremely accomodating to us and treated us well during our visit to Hawaii. Special arrangements were made which allowed all of us to stay at the Hale Koa Hotel, at Fort Derussy on Wakiki Beach. Through our efforts, COL Conaty was invited to take part in the reflagging ceremony, in which he assisted in unfurling the Colors and transfered them to Col Tucker, the new Brigade Commander. COL Conaty formed the Brigade in 1965 and took it to Vietnam. He served as its commander twice during its duty in Vietnam. We are especially proud to have our Honorary President, and one of the founders of the 196th Association, be given this honor.

After the reflagging ceremony and reception, we were invited on a private tour of Pearl Harbor, and the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial, aboard the barge of the Commander of the Pacific Fleet.

Daniel Martinez, the curator of the Memorial for the U. S. Park Service, gave us a stirring narration as we passed sites of historic significance. We paused at the memorial for a moment of silence in tribute to those who lost their lives.

Following our return from the memorial, we attended a dinner at the U.S.S. Bowfin, a submarine memorial and museum, along with former and current members of the 196th Brigade. We were also given an informative overview of the Brigade's current mission and direction.

COL Tucker presented COL Conaty with several mementos, and presented each of the attending former members of the Brigade with plaques thanking them for their support.
In the future it will be nice to know that the proud traditions of the "Charger" Brigade will carry on. We welcome the new members of the 196th Infantry Brigade, and wish them well.