The Red Bulls

4/1 Long Knife

4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division "Long Knife Brigade"

The 4th Brigade Combat Team (Long Knife Brigade) is a combined arms Brigade of the 1st Cavalry Division. Its major equipment includes M1A2SEP Tanks, M2A2 & M3A2 ODS Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles, M109A6 Paladin Howitzers, and M1151 Up-armored Humvees.

The 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division was activated in a ceremony held 18 October 2005 at Noel Field at Fort Bliss, Texas. The 4th BCT was one of several new units activated throughout the Army as part of the total Army transformation process. During the ceremony, the unit colors were passed to Col. Stephen Twitty, who assumed command of the 4th BCT, also known as the "Long Knife" Brigade.

On the one year anniversary of the 4th BCT activation, the unit conducted a color casing ceremony to prepare for its deployment to Iraq. The brigade combat team minus 2-12 Cavalry arrived in Ninawa Province in October and November 2006. 2-12 Cavalry deployed to Baghdad to augment 1st Cavalry Division efforts in the capital city of Iraq. The 4th BCT assumed responsibility of Ninawa province from the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division December 9, 2006. The brigade headquarters was based in Mosul, Ninawa's provincial capital. The brigade's mission was to build capable Iraqi security forces and to conduct counter insurgency operations to neutralize anti-Iraqi forces. The brigade transferred authority to the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment in December 2007 and completed redeployment operations following their 14-month deployment.

In March 2008, the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Cobras) from the 4th Infantry Division became the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division at Cooper Field on Fort Hood, Texas. The former Long Knife Brigade reflagged to the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, "Highlanders."

Under the 4 BCT's second commander, Colonel Philip Battaglia, the brigade deployed in June 2008 to southern Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 08-10. As part of the Multi-National Division-Center, the 4th BCT trained and mentored the 10th Iraqi Army Division, 3 Provincial Police Forces and Iraq Border Patrol units along the Iran-Iraq border in the provinces of Muthanna, Dhi Qar and Maysan. The brigade's operational environment was roughly the size of South Carolina, had 2.8 million citizens and included Iraq's fourth-largest city, Nasiriyah. While the 4 BCT was located at Contingency Operating Base Adder in Dhi Qar province, the unit deployed 3 battalions to the Maysan province where it built 2 bases and several ports of entry along the Iraq-Iran border. 2-7 Cavalry "Garryowen" occupied FOB Garryowen and operated in northern Maysan province while 1-9 Cavalry "Head Hunters" and 5-82 Field Artillery "Black Dragons" occupied FOB Hunter in southern Maysan province. The brigade's other 3 battalions were based at COB Adder. The 2-12 Cavalry "Thunderhorse" partnered with Iraqi units in Muthanna and Dhi Qar provinces. The 27th BSB "Rough Riders" provided support across the brigade's operational environment. The brigade's 4th Special Troops Battalion "Spartans" provided enablers and performed garrison and base defense operations at COB Adder. During its one-year deployment, the 4 BCT served as higher headquarters for 3 Romanian battalions: the 151st Infantry Battalion "Black Wolves," the 341st Infantry Battalion "White Sharks," and the 26th Infantry Battalion "Red Scorpions." These Romanian units were an integral part of the BCT's success through their partnership with the 10th Iraqi Army Division Special Forces and combat patrols in Dhi Qar province. In addition to the Iraqi Security Forces, the 4 BCT also partnered with the provincial reconstruction teams in each of its three provinces to improve the Iraqi people's quality of life in southern Iraq. The unit provided logistics, movement and security support to the PRTs to allow them to improve the governance and economic conditions in the 3 provinces. The 4 BCT worked with the Iraqi Security Forces to seize over 10,000 dangerous munitions and apprehend dozens of criminals in the Maysan marshes to improve the security situation in southern Iraq. 2-7 CAV worked with the Iraqi Police in Majar al Kabir to capture the criminals responsible for murdering 6 British Military Police in November 2004. The brigade also worked with the Iraqi Security Forces to provide successful security to Iraq's provincial elections in January 2009. During the 4 BCT's tour, the 10th Iraqi Army Division conducted Operation "Lion's Roar," a combined live-fire exercise in Maysan province in April 2009 – the first of its kind in the Iraqi Army. The exercise integrated U.S. enablers and demonstrated the capability and lethality of the Iraqi Army. During the final month of the brigade's rotation in May 2009, it transitioned the security responsibility of the historic Ziggurat at Ur to the Iraqi Security Forces. Previously, the Ziggurat was inside the perimeter of COB Adder in Dhi Qar province. The structure is one of the world's oldest historical archeological sites and a treasure of the Iraqi people.

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3/3 Sledgehammer

3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division "Sledgehammer"

Sledgehammer's Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/3hbct3id

Sledgehammer's news page: http://www.hammerpao.com/

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2010

2009

12th CAB TF Diablo

2/4 Warhorse

2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division "The Warhorse Brigade"

Unit Website: http://www.carson.army.mil/units/4id-2bctfwd/
Wikipedia: 4th Infantry Division (United States)

The 2nd Brigade of the 4th Infantry Division one of the brigades under the command and control of the 34th Red Bull Infantry Division in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 2nd Brigade Operates in the Multinational Division Center Area of Operations.

The "Warhorse" Brigade, Fourth Infantry Division (Mechanized) was constituted on 19 November, 1917, in the Regular Army as Headquarters, Seventh Infantry Brigade, an element of the Fourth Division. It was then organized in December 1917 at Camp Greene, North Carolina.

The Brigade served valiantly during World War I and earned battlefield streamers for its participation in the Aisne-Marne, Saint Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, Champagne-1918, and Lorraine-1918 Campaigns.

After its service in World War I, the Brigade was reorganized and redesignated in March 1921 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Seventh Infantry Brigade. The unit was inactivated on 21 September, 1921, at Camp Lewis, Washington; redesignated on 23 March, 1925, as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Seventh Brigade; relieved on 15 August, 1927, from assignment to the Fourth Division and assigned to the Seventh Division; relieved on 1 October, 1933, from assignment to the Seventh Division and assigned to the Fourth Division; redesignated on 24 August, 1936, as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Seventh Infantry Brigade; and disbanded on 16 October, 1939.

The Brigade was reconstituted on 21 August, 1963, in the Regular Army as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Second Brigade, Fourth Infantry Division and activated on 1 October, 1963, at Fort Lewis, Washington. During the Vietnam War, the Second Brigade received battlefield streamers for participation in eleven combat campaigns, including Counteroffensive, Phase Two; Counteroffensive, Phase Three; Tet Counteroffensive; Counteroffensive, Phase Four, Counteroffensive, Phase Five; Counteroffensive, Phase Six; Tet 69 / Counteroffensive; Summer-Fall 1969; Winter-Spring 1970; Sanctuary Counteroffensive; and Counteroffensive, Phase Eight.

After the Vietnam War, the Brigade fought the rest of the Cold War while stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado, until it was inactivated in 1989. Subsequently reactivated on 15 December, 1995, at Fort Hood, Texas, the brigade led the Army's Force XXI experimentation and validation, shaping the force of the Twenty-First Century.

In March 2003, the 2nd Brigade of the 4th Infantry Division deployed to the Middle East in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The units of the brigade crossed the border into Iraq in the early dawn hours of 14 April, 2004, leading the 4th Infantry Division north from Kuwait; in it’s first combat operations since the Vietnam War. The brigade moved up Highway 1 thru Baghdad, Taji, and on to Saddam Hussein’s hometown of Tikrit, destroying resistance from Iraqi forces. The 2nd Brigade secured and held multiple airfields, and military complexes for later use by follow-on forces as far north as K2 Airfield near Bayji.

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4/1 Highlanders

4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division "Highlanders"

4th BCT was organized in 2005 at Fort Bliss, Texas. It was originally part of the 1st Cavalry Division. The brigade reflagged to the 1st Armored Division on March 4, 2008.

The 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division —nicknamed “Highlander”— is a Heavy Brigade Combat Team brigade of the 1st Armored Division, United States Army with base of operations at Fort Bliss, Texas.

The entire brigade deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in May 2009. The brigade is the proof of principle unit for the Advise and Assist Brigade concept also know as Brigade Combat Team-Stability (BCT-S/BCT-A). The 4th BCT, 1AD will focus on Security Force Assistance during the deployment.

The unit will operate in Southern Iraq in the provinces of Al Muthanna, Dhi Qar, and Maysan.

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2010

2009

41st Fires Brigade

41st Fires Brigade "Railgunners"

Unit Website: http://www.41stfiresbrigade.com
Wikipedia: 41st Fires Brigade (United_States)

The 41st Fires Brigade is one of the brigades under the command and control of the 34th Red Bull Infantry Division in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 41st Fires Brigade operates in the Multinational Division Center Area of Operations.

The 41st Fires Brigade traces its lineage back to the 41st Artillery Regiment (Coast Artillery Corps), a static coastal artillery formation activated near the end of World War I^.

The 41st Artillery was formed on 26 August 1918, at Fort Monroe, Virginia. Several months later the unit was demobilized. On 15 January 1921, the colors were transferred to the Pacific Theater, where the 41st Artillery was re-constituted as the Hawaiian Railway Battalion. On 1 July 1924, the unit was re-designated as the 41st Coast Artillery and remained in Hawaii until its deactivation on 30 June 1931.

On 21 April 1942, the 41st Coast Artillery was re-activated, this time at Fort Hase, Hawaii, where it served until 25 May 1944. It was awarded the Asiatic Pacific Streamer for its role in World War II. At that time, it was retired from the rolls of the regular Army and incorporated into the Hawaiian Department.

On 28 June 1950, Headquarters Battery, 41st Coast Artillery was reconstituted as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 41st Field Artillery Group and was inactivated 18 January 1952 at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

In April 1967, the 41st Field Artillery Group deployed to the Republic of Vietnam, where it earned nine campaign streamers. On 15 November 1969, the Group was inactivated and its colors returned to the United States.

On 15 March 1972, the 41st Field Artillery Group was re-activated in Babenhausen, West Germany. The unit was re-designated as the 41st Field Artillery Brigade on 16 June 1982, and was assigned to V Corps Artillery. In 2003, the brigade deployed with V Corps to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Following their service in Iraq, the unit was inactivated on 15 July 2005. The 41st Fires Brigade was reactivated at Fort Hood, Texas on 16 April 2007.

In 2003, the brigade deployed with V Corps to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Following their service in Iraq, the unit was inactivated on 15 July 2005. On 28 March 2006, the unit was re-dsignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 41st Fires Brigade and was reactivated at Fort Hood, Texas on 16 April 2007.

Slightly more than one year later, the 41st Fires Brigade was called upon again to provide its battlefield expertise to the Wasit Province of Iraq. The Brigade established itself on the battlefield and began the process of providing security and stabilization to the people of Iraq. After 14 months, the brigade fulfilled its mission by setting a trademark of excellence that will be appreciated by all Iraqis in the years to follow.

The 41st Fires Brigade includes the Brigade Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 21st Field Artillery, 2nd Battalion, 20th Field Artillery, 589th Brigade Support Battalion, Alpha 26th Target Acquisition Battery, and 324th Network Signal Company.

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172nd Blackhawk

172nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team "Blackhawk"

Unit Website: http://www.172infantry.army.mil/#history
Wikipedia: 172nd Infantry Brigade

The 172nd Infantry Brigade is one of the brigades under the command and control of the 34th Red Bull Infantry Division in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 172nd Infantry Brigade operates in the Multinational Division Center Area of Operations.

The 172nd Infantry Brigade (Mechanized) (Separate) is an infantry brigade of the United States Army headquartered at Schweinfurt, Germany. An Active duty separate brigade, it is part of United States Army Europe and currently one of only two active duty, separate combat brigades in the U.S. Army.

First activated in 1917, the brigade was deployed to France during World War I and used to reinforce front line units. It would later be converted to a reconnaissance unit that was deployed during World War II and saw a several months of combat in the European Theater. Most recently, the brigade has served a tour of duty in Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2005 until 2006. Its infamous 16 month deployment was one of the longest deployments for a unit serving in that campaign, and the most time deployed for any U.S. unit since the Vietnam War.

The unit has been activated and deactivated numerous times, and has also seen several redesignations, serving as one of the first Brigade Combat Teams before it was deactivated in 2006, then reactivated in 2008.

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17th Fires Brigade

17th Fires Brigade "Thunderbolt"

The 17th Fires Brigade is an artillery brigade in the United States Army. It is currently based in Fort Lewis Washington and supports I Corps.

The 17th Fires Brigade began as the 17th Field Artillery Brigade part of the 17th Division at Camp Bowie, Texas on July 31, 1918. It demobilized on February 1919 after World War I.

The 17th Field Artillery Brigade activated again at Fort Sill January 1943. During World War II the 17th Field Artillery Brigade participated in Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe.

The 17th Field Artillery deployed to Iraq in 2003, 2005 and again in 2009 as a brigade under the command of the 34th Red Bull Infantry Division.

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2010

2009

28th Infantry Division

28th Infantry Division "Task Force Keystone"

The 28th Infantry Division is a unit of the Army National Guard and is the oldest division-sized unit in the armed forces of the United States. The division was officially established in 1879 and was later redesignated as the 28th Division in 1917, after the entry of America into the First World War. See World War I. It continues its service today as part of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard.

It is nicknamed the "Keystone Division," as it was formed from units of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard; Pennsylvania is known as the "Keystone State." It was also nicknamed the "Bloody Bucket" division by German forces during the Second World War due to its red insignia. The 28th is the first National Guard division to field the Stryker infantry fighting vehicle, as part of the Army's modern transformation.

Soldiers of the Combat Aviation Brigade, 28th Infantry Division began mobilization on January 29, 2009 for OIF 09-11. Over 2,000 soldiers from multiple states completed validation training at Fort Sill, OK before moving into Camp Buehring, Kuwait. Throughout the opening days of May 2009, these soldiers flew into multiple FOBs across Iraq with the majority of the brigade being station in Tallil, Al Kut, and Basrah.

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