Military Infantry Brigade Patches History1

Information extracted from the book "US ARMY PATCHES"  by Barry Jason Stein

USED BY PERMISSION

1st Inf Bde

The numerical designation of the brigade is indicated by an arabic number one and commemorates former service with the First Infantry Division.  After World War II service as an airborne brigade, the First Brigade was reactivated as an infantry brigade from 1958 to 1962.

Campaigns:  World War I (Montdidier-Noyon, Aisne-Marne, St.-Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, Lorraine 1917, Lorraine 1918, Picardy 1918), Vietnam (Defense, Counteroffensive, Counter- offensive, Tet 69/Counteroffensive, Summer-Fall 1969, Winter-Spring 1970), Southwest Asia (Defense of Saudi Arabia, Liberation and Defense of Kuwait).

Decorations:  Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, (streamer embroidered Vietnam 1965 - 1968), Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, (streamer embroidered Vietnam 1969 - 1970), Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal -- First Class (streamer embroidered Vietnam 1965 - 1970).

2nd Inf Bde (Abn)

Re-designated:  Second Infantry Brigade.  Worn from:  29 May 1958 - 1962.

The bayonets indicate that the organization is an infantry unit, while the nebuly division is representative of clouds and indicates that the organization was airborne.

Campaigns:  World War I (Montdidier-Noyon, Aisne-Marne, St.-Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, Lorraine, Picardy), World War II (Normandy).

11th Inf Bde

Constituted 16 November 1917 in the Regular Army as an element of the Sixth Division and organized in December 1917 at Camp Forest, Georgia.  The sweeping prongs simulate the elements of the unit in attack.

Campaigns:  World War I (Meuse-Argonne, Alsace 1918), Vietnam (Counteroffensive Phases II/IV/V/VI/VII, Tet and Tet/69 Counteroffensives, Summer-Fall 1969, Winter-Spring 1970, Sanctuary Counteroffensive, Consolidation I).

Decorations:  Republic of Vietnam Crosses of Gallantry with Palm (streamers embroidered Vietnam 1968 - 1969; Vietnam 1969 - 1970; and Vietnam 1970).

29th Inf Bde

Constituted 15 September 1953 in the Hawaii Army National Guard as the 120th Signal Support Company; organized and federally recognized  January at Honolulu.  Converted and re-designated in January 1959 as the Twenty-ninth Infantry Brigade.  Inducted into active federal service May 1968.  The puloulou, ancient Hawaiian symbol for protection, is adapted from the Hawaiian coat of arms.  The bars, from the Hawaiian flag, are wavy to suggest the state's "overseas" location from the continental United States.  Red, white, and blue are the national colors.

29th Inf Bde2

Constituted 15 September 1953 in the Hawaii Army National Guard as the 120th Signal Support Company; organized and federally recognized in January 1954 at Honolulu.  Converted and re-designated in January 1959 as the Twenty-ninth Infantry Brigade.  Inducted into active federal service May 1968.  The blue cross is suggested by Hawaii's nickname, "crossroads of the Pacific," and the barbed ends represent the protective mission of the brigade.  The red and blue conjoined bars in conjunction with the white appear on the Hawaiian flag and also on the Hawaiian coat of arms.  The bars, from the Hawaiian flag, are wavy to suggest the state's "overseas" location from the continental United States.

32nd Inf Bde

36th Inf Bde

The white star on a blue field was suggested by the first official flag of the Republic of Texas, adopted in May 1836 from the design of Lorenzo de Zavala, a native of San Antonio, Texas.  To this has been added red rays, which allude to the courage of all Texans who have fought gallantly in all wars since 1826, and a red border, which refers to the blood shed in protecting not only the liberties of the United States but the liberties of all.

Campaigns:  World War II (Naples-Foggia, Anzio, Rome-Arno, Southern France, Ardennes-Alsace, Rhineland, Central Europe).

Decorations:  Presidential Unit Citation -- Army (streamer embroidered Riviera), French Croix de Guerre with Palm -- World War II (streamer embroidered Vosges).

39th Inf Bde

The Thirty-ninth Division was organized with troops from Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi at Camp Beauregard, Louisiana in August 1917.  It was reconstituted in May 1946 into the National Guard as the Thirty-ninth Infantry Division; reorganized and re-designated in December 1967 as the Thirty-ninth Infantry Brigade.  The Bowie knife refers to Arkansas, the Bowie State, home of the brigade.  The Bowie knife, a weapon used for close fighting and implying hand-to-hand combat, is also indicative of the aggressive spirit of infantry.  The lozenge or diamond refers the diamond field in Arkansas, the only one in North America.

Campaigns:  World War I.

41st Inf Bde

The Forty-first Division was the predecessor of this brigade.  The Forty-first was organized in September 1917 at Camp Greene, North Carolina.  The insignia design was approved in 1966.  Elements of the brigade were from Oregon and Washington, and the two spears, ancient weapons of combat, resemble falling trees.  Timber is a major industry in both states.  The wavy line suggests the Columbia River, the water boundary between the states of Oregon and Washington.

Campaigns:  World War I, World War II (New Guinea, Luzon, Southern Philippines).

Decorations:  Philippine Presidential Unit Citation (streamer embroidered 17 October 1944 - 4 July 1945).

48th Inf Bde

Light blue is for infantry, representing the basic arm of the brigade.  Scarlet, white, and blue are the colors in the state flag of Georgia; the armor yellow and artillery scarlet are representative of total strength through the added support of armor and artillery.  The lightning bolt characterizes the mobility and effectiveness of the combined forces.

Campaigns:  Indian Wars (Seminoles), Civil War (Peninsula, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Appomattox), World War I (Champagne-Marne, Aisne-Marne, St.-Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, Lorraine 1918, Champagne 1918), World War II (Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe).

Decorations:  Presidential Unit Citation -- Army (streamer embroidered Hurtgen Forest), Meritorious Unit Commendation -- Army (streamer embroidered European Theater), French Croix de Guerre with Palm -- World War II (streamer embroidered France), Luxembourg Croix de Guerre (streamer embroidered Luxembourg), Belgian Fourragere 1940, cited in the order of the Day of the Belgian army for action in Belgium, cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian army for action in the Ardennes.