2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division
"The Iron Brigade"
The 2nd BCT continues to be the most versatile, most deployable, most successful Heavy Brigade in the US Army today, as it has proved time and again in places like Algeria, Kasserine Pass, Anzio, Iraq, Macedonia, Bosnia, Albania, and Kosovo. The Second Brigade stands ready for no-notice deployment to events within the European and Central Commands area of responsibility, with special training and preparation for peace enforcement and other multinational missions. The qualities of shock action, decisiveness, readiness, and generosity in victory which have been earned from the trails and triumphs of the past will assure success for "The Iron Brigade" in the future.
The Second Brigade of the First Armored Division was organized on 5 April 1942 at Fort Knox, Kentucky as Combat Command B. In those days, the soldiers of the Brigade, their tanks, and other fighting equipment were forged into the the spearhead for the action in World War Two. During Operation Torch, the Second Brigade deployed as part of the North African invasion force and was committed in the first armored fight of the war. Blooded during the landing at Algeria and the desert reaches of Bizente, Tunis, and Kasserine Pass, the young unit was forged into the decisive force that defeated Rommel's veteran Africa Corps. Following victory in the African continent, the Second Brigade fought as part of the U.S. Fifth Army's primary strike force in Italy. The fighting was bitter with the opposed beachheads at Anzio, a deadly stalemate at Monte Casino, and the tough defense of the Gothic Line.
After the war, the Brigade served briefly in Bavaria and then deactivated with the First Armored "Old Ironsides" Division. Five years later, in 1951, the Second Brigade was reactivated at FT. Hood , Texas. During the period of the Cold War, the Second Brigade was used to demonstrate U.S. resolve and capability. The unit deployed during the Cuban Missile Crisis, participating in amphibious exercises in Georgia designed to display U.S. commitment. With the deployment of the First Armored Division back to Germany in 1971, the Second Brigade took up Postions in northeast Bavaria. For the next two decades, it remained a key deterrent force against the Communist Bloc threat. By the end of the Cold War, new threats challenged the world and The Iron Brigade was once again part of our nations response.
On 16 August 1985, the Second Brigade was designated "The Iron Brigade". This historical commemoration brought together the legendary fighting spirit of the Civil War unit with the honor and distinctive service record of the Second Brigade, First Armored Division.
During the Febuary 1991 blitz of Operation Desert Storm in the Persian Gulf conflict, The Iron Brigade took on the toughest of the Iraqi forces. In eighty nine hours, the Second Brigade soldiers defeated the enemy at Al Busayyah, Al Rumaylah Airfield, and Medina Ridge. In post hostility operations, The Iron Brigade provided humanitarian aid to the war torn region. Since May 1995, the Iron Brigade was called upon to monitor and enforce the peace within the Balkans. TF 3-12 Infantry conducted Task Force Able Sentry peace keeping operations within Macedonia from May - November 1995, and returned for a second time from October 1997 - March 1998. In October 1995, The Second Brigade was alerted for peace enforcement duty in Bosnia - Herzegovina. The Brigade Combat Team deployed to the southern sector of Task Force Eagle from December 1995 - December 1996. The Brigade separated the warring factions and compelled Bosnian Seb, Muslim, and Croat compliance with the historic Dayton Peace Accords. Successful Brigade operations spanned the Central Region, from Hungary to the Balkans. In February 1998 the Second Brigade Combat Team was once again called to duty to serve in the Bosnia - Herzovina region as part of Operations Joint Guard and Forge. The Brigade ensured that the Dayton Peace Accord was upheld through October 1998.
The Second Brigade deployed to Albania in March 1999 to support Task Force Hawk during the air campaign against Serbia. The Brigade ensured stability in the region and security for Allied ground and air assets. In June 1999, the Brigade sent a Company Team forward with elements of the 82d Airborne Division into Kosovo during Task Force Falcon.
