123rd Main Support Battalion
The 123rd provides direct support (DS) maintenance and supply, transportation and combat health support (CHS) to divisional units operating in the Division Rear Area (DRA). The MSB also provides field services, when properly augmented. MSB provides reinforcing direct support to the Forward Support Battalions (FSB) and the Aviation Support Battalion (ASB).
The 123rd Main Support Battalion (MSB) Was originally activated on 1 January 1942 at Fort Knox, Kentucky, as the maintenance battalion of the First Armored Division. In November of that same year, after extensive training in the United States and Ireland, the 123rd landed in North Africa; beginning the famous history of "Old Ironsides" and the 123rd Maintenance Battalion. The battalion participated in campaigns in Algeria, French-Morocco, and Tunisia. The battalion continued its vital support of "Old Ironsides" as it fought its way through Italy, participating in the Naples-Foggia, Anzio, Rome-Arno, North Apennines, and PO Valley campaigns. It was during the Rome-Arno campaign in 1944 that the battalion was cited for meritorious service in support of military operations, and received the meritorious unit citation.
The cessation of hostilities in 1945 found the battalion operating in support of "Old Ironsides" in Northern Italy. From its start in North Africa through Italy, the outstanding support rendered by the 123rd Maintenance Battalion was a major factor in the many victorious battles fought by the First Armored Division.
On 19 April 1946, after the occupation of Italy, the 123rd was returned to Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, and was inactivated along with the First Armored Division.
With the outbreak of the Korean Conflict in 1950 and the reactivation of "Old Ironsides" on 7 March 1951 at Fort Hood, Texas, the 123rd Maintenance Battalion was again called upon to support the Division. The battalion continued in this role until 23 December 1957 when at Fort Polk, Louisiana, due to the reduction of the Frirst Armored Division to a combat command, the 123rd was inactivated less Company B, which remained in support of the command.
On 34 February 1962, because of serious world tensions, "Old Ironsides" was again reactivated as a complete division at Fort Hood; resulting in the 123rd Maintenance Battalion being reactivated and assigned its traditional role of maintenance support to the division.
The battalion remained at Fort Hood until the First Armored Division moved to Germany to replace the Fourth Armored Division in the Spring of 1971, and as a consequence the 123rd Maintenance Battalion returned to Europe for the first time since World War II.
Due to reorganization of support units in the early 80's, the 123rd Maintenance Battalion was inactivated on 15 December 1984. On 1 May 1987, the battalion was reactivated as the 123rd Main Support Battalion and in December 1990, deployed and served with distinction in support of the First Armored Division during Desert Storm. Upon return from Southwest Asia, the battalion inactivated on 22 November 1991 at Monteith Barracks-Feurth, Germany. On 8 January 1992, the 123rd Main Support Battalion was reactivated.
In December 1995 the 123rd Main Support Battalion deployed to the former Yugoslavia for Operation Joint Endeavor, to support "Old Ironsides" in peace keeping operations that ended the fighting in the region. The battalion received the superior unit citation for its world class support of the First Armored Division in Bosnia. The Battalion Returned to Dexheim, Germany in December 1996 and continues to provide support to First Armored Division Units deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina.
