296th Brigade Support Battalion
Encyclopedia
The 296th Brigade Support Battalion (BSB) is a battalion
of the United States Army
is composed of four companies that support the operations of the 3/2 ID SBCT1. The companies are Headquarters & Headquarters Company (HHC), Alpha Company (A Co), Bravo Company (B Co), and Charlie Company (C Co).
The battalion supports the "Arrowhead Brigade" 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (3-2 Stryker), the Army's First Stryker Brigade Combat Team stationed at Ft. Lewis, Washington. The 296th Brigade Support Battalion (BSB) deploys by land, air, and or sea anywhere in the world to provide the 3-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team with health care and logistics support, including transportation, field-feeding, supply, and maintenance.
On 25 October 1951, the unit was allocated to the Regular Army and on 8 April 1954, reorganized and redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 296th Transportation Battalion. Inactivated 5 November 1955 in Korea, the unit was reactivated and redesignated 16 October 1989 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 296th Support Battalion, assigned to the 2d Infantry Division, in Korea. While stationed at Camp Edwards, Korea, in direct support of 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, the soldiers of the battalion provided support to units keeping watch on the Korean demilitarized zone. It was there that the battalion earned its nickname “Frontline Support.” Three years later, on 16 September 1992, the battalion was inactivated.
The 296th Forward Support Battalion was subsequently reactivated on 16 October 1995 at Fort Lewis, Washington, and on 15 September 2000 renamed the 296th Brigade Support Battalion (BSB) as part of the Interim Brigade Combat Team. On 7 February 2004, 296th BSB completed a transfer of authority from 101st Airborne Division in Mosul, Iraq, in support of combat operations in Samarrah, Mosul, Tal Afar, Al Kut and Taji. There the battalion supported the first combat deployment of the Army’s first Stryker Brigade. The soldiers of the battalion provided support to the Arrowhead Brigade conducting operations from the Iraq-Syria Border to the southern Iraq town of Al Kut.
On 4 November 2005, the battalion returned to Fort Lewis to prepare for future operations. On 30 July 2006, the 296th BSB completed a transfer of authority from the 172nd BSB, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team.
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
of the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
is composed of four companies that support the operations of the 3/2 ID SBCT1. The companies are Headquarters & Headquarters Company (HHC), Alpha Company (A Co), Bravo Company (B Co), and Charlie Company (C Co).
The battalion supports the "Arrowhead Brigade" 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (3-2 Stryker), the Army's First Stryker Brigade Combat Team stationed at Ft. Lewis, Washington. The 296th Brigade Support Battalion (BSB) deploys by land, air, and or sea anywhere in the world to provide the 3-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team with health care and logistics support, including transportation, field-feeding, supply, and maintenance.
History
The 296th Forward Support Battalion was constituted on 23 November 1944 in the Army of the United States as the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 296th Quartermaster Battalion, Mobile, and activated on 15 December 1944 at Camp Bowie, Texas. On 1 August 1946, following World War II, the battalion was converted and redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 296th Transportation Corps Truck Battalion. The unit was once again reorganized and redesignated on 17 October 1949, this time as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 296th Truck Battalion.On 25 October 1951, the unit was allocated to the Regular Army and on 8 April 1954, reorganized and redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 296th Transportation Battalion. Inactivated 5 November 1955 in Korea, the unit was reactivated and redesignated 16 October 1989 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 296th Support Battalion, assigned to the 2d Infantry Division, in Korea. While stationed at Camp Edwards, Korea, in direct support of 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, the soldiers of the battalion provided support to units keeping watch on the Korean demilitarized zone. It was there that the battalion earned its nickname “Frontline Support.” Three years later, on 16 September 1992, the battalion was inactivated.
The 296th Forward Support Battalion was subsequently reactivated on 16 October 1995 at Fort Lewis, Washington, and on 15 September 2000 renamed the 296th Brigade Support Battalion (BSB) as part of the Interim Brigade Combat Team. On 7 February 2004, 296th BSB completed a transfer of authority from 101st Airborne Division in Mosul, Iraq, in support of combat operations in Samarrah, Mosul, Tal Afar, Al Kut and Taji. There the battalion supported the first combat deployment of the Army’s first Stryker Brigade. The soldiers of the battalion provided support to the Arrowhead Brigade conducting operations from the Iraq-Syria Border to the southern Iraq town of Al Kut.
On 4 November 2005, the battalion returned to Fort Lewis to prepare for future operations. On 30 July 2006, the 296th BSB completed a transfer of authority from the 172nd BSB, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team.
Campaign participation credit
- Korean War
- CCF Spring Offensive
- U\UN Summer-Fall Offensive 1952
- Second Korean Winter
- Korea, Summer-Fall 1952
- Third Korean Winter
- Korea, Summer 1953
- Operation Iraqi Freedom
Decorations
- Valorous Unit Award
- 2 Meritorious Unit Commendation with Streamer
- Army Superior Unit Award
- 2 Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citations with Streamers
Coat of arms
The coat of arms was authorized for the 296th Support Battalion on 23 January 1990 by the Institute of Heraldry, United States Army. An amendment, dated 6 February 1990, changed slightly the description for the blazon of the crest. Note that a crest is authorized for units which are Active Army and have war/campaign service. The amended portion is seen below in bold lettering. The blazon and symbolism of the design are as follows:Shield
Gold/buff and red are the colors traditionally associated with U.S. Army Support Organizations. The chevron alludes to the motto, “Frontline Support”, symbolizing the thrust to support the frontline in combat. The annulet denotes speed and quick response in supplying aid and support, and refers to the accomplishments of the predecessor unit. The pale is representative of strength and resolution.Crest
The torri gate recalls the unit’s Korean War service, symbolized also by the taeguk embossed on the compass rose. The battalion’s post-World War II Services as the 296th Transportation Truck Battalion is represented by the gold wheel. The compass rose denotes worldwide service. Red stands for courage, gold for excellence. A distinctive unit insignia was authorized for the 296th Support Battalion on 23 January 1990 by the Institute or Heraldry, United States Army. The description and symbolism of the design are as follows:Description
A gold color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86 cm) in height overall, consisting of a shield blazoned: Per chevron or and gules, a pale interlaced with an annulet counterchanged. Attached below the shield a red scroll doubled and inscribed “FRONTLINE SUPPORT” in gold.Symbolism
Gold/buff and red are the colors traditionally associated with U.S. Army Support organizations. The chevron alludes to the motto, “Frontline Support”, symbolizing the thrust to support the front line in combat. The annulet denotes speed and quick response in supplying aid and support and refers to the accomplishments of the predecessor unit. The pale is representative of strength and resolution.Company functions
- A Co (Mad Dawgs) is the transportation unit
- B Co (Black Knights) is the maintenance unit
- C Co (Cobras) is the medical unit
- HHC (Outlaws) is the headquarters staff
See also
- Chaplain Major H. Timothy VakocTim VakocHenry Timothy "Tim" Vakoc was a Roman Catholic priest and a United States Army chaplain during the Iraq War, attaining the rank of major. Vakoc was the first U.S. military chaplain to die from wounds received in the Iraq War...
(first U.S. military chaplain to die from wounds received in the Iraq War and member of the 296th)