2nd Brigade - 1st Cavalry Division
The history of the 2d Blackjack Brigade can be traced back to 29 August 1917, when it was constituted in the Regular Army as Headquarters, 2d Cavalry Brigade. The Brigade's first service was largely a saga of rough riding, patrolling the Mexican border and constant training. On 20 August 1921, the Brigade became a member of the 1st Cavalry Division as the Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 2d Cavalry Brigade. At that time, subordinate units consisted of the 2nd Machine Gun Squadron, 7th and 8th Cavalry Regiments.
In February 1943 2d Brigade was alerted for an overseas assignment as a dismounted infantry unit assigned to the Pacific theater. The Blackjack Brigade participated in many Pacific campaigns to include Leyte, Luzon and Los Negros, and culminated its participation in World War II as part of the army of occupation in Japan in 1949. Converted and redesignated as the 2d Constabulary Brigade, it was moved around the world as an element of the United States Constabulary Brigade in Germany. The brigade served in Germany until it was inactivated in 1951.
On 15 July 1963, the 2d Brigade was converted and reactivated in Korea where it served until its colors were transferred to Fort Benning, Georgia. There it became the 2d Brigade of the 1st Cavalry Division and went to Vietnam in 1965 as part of the Army's first airmobile division. Within 90 days, the 2d Brigade was back in combat as a part of the first fully committed division of the Vietnam War.
In September 1965, the 2d consisted of three infantry battalions, the 1st and 2d Battalions, 5th Cavalry and 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry. The brigade's combat participation continued with such major battles as "Operation Paul Revere II" and "Operation Toan Thang II" in late 1968.
In 1971, the 2d Brigade returned with the 1st Cavalry Division from Vietnam to its current home at Fort Hood, Texas. In October 1986 the Blackjack Brigade was organized under the Combined Arms Maneuver Battalion Concept with its current set of subordinate battalions.
In October 1990, the 2d Brigade arrived in Saudi Arabia as part of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. On 20 February 1991, the Blackjack Brigade launched the first ground strike into Iraq with "Operation Knight Strike".
In August 1995, the Blackjack Brigade Combat Team (BCT) deployed to Kuwait on 48 hours notice for "Operation Intrinsic Action" in response to aggressive actions by Iraq.
The BCT returned to Fort Hood following extremely successful coalition training in November 1995.
From 1995 to 1998 the Blackjack Brigade deployed to four NTC Rotations and Foal Eagle 97 where, as the first fully modernized Brigade in the Army, it was the first U.S. Army unit to deploy the M1A2 tank and the M88A2 (Hercules) recovery vehicle outside the continental United States.
In March 1999, the Blackjack Brigade deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina as part of SFOR Five. Black Jack Brigade conducted a relief in place with the 1st Iron Horse Brigade in order to maintain peace and stability in Bosnia-Herzegovina. During a critical period involving the Brcko Implementation Decision and the air war against the Former Republic of Yugoslavia, Blackjack soldiers displayed constant vigilance and professionalism maintaining peace and stability.
In October 1999, the brigade returned to Ft Hood. Black Jack Brigade was called upon once again to be America's Vanguard as it maintained 7 month's of DRB status for the 1st Cavalry Division.
In Nov 2001, the Black Jack Combat Team (BCT) deployed to Kuwait as a participant in "Operation Enduring Freedom" as a direct response from the 11 Sept 01 terrorist attacks on the United States. The BCT aggressively expanded the base of operations from one to three Kabals in response to the 11 Sept 01. The BCT returned to Fort Hood on 4 Apr 02 following an outstanding deployment.
Operation Iraqi Freedom
The Black Jack Combat Team stood combat ready when the order to prepare to deploy for "Operation Iraqi Freedom" was given. Black Jack was integral in assisting the 4th Infantry Division deploy to Iraq as well as preparing our soldiers and equipment to deploy to Iraq. The Brigade stood down for the Iraq deployment in April 2003 and soon followed this mission with an NTC rotation in July 03.
The Black Jack Brigade Combat Team deployed once again to the Middle East. The Black Jack Combat Team deployed to Iraq for a year long tour of duty in early 2004.
In what has become almost a nightly ritual, Soldiers from Alpha Company, 1-5 Cavalry Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, nicknamed the "Annihilators", lined up their vehicles on a quiet side street of the sleepy town, Abu Ghurayb, just before initiating a cordon and search mission late 17 March 2004. This time though, they were part of a huge, division-wide operation called "Iron Promise" designed to catch insurgents, former regime sympathizers and foreign fighters or at least put them all on the run. "We are going to exploit insurgent threats in hopes of gathering more intelligence on people and weapons caches," Capt. Joseph C. James, personnel officer and Public Affairs Officer for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2-12 Cavalry Battalion, also known as Thunderhorse, of the 2nd BCT, 1CD, said. "We will be part of a division-wide, coordinated and simultaneous sweep." As Alpha Company rolled out to their destination, elements of all 2nd BCT's battalions as well as 1st Armor Division assets also moved into position. In all, over 3000 Soldiers from the 2nd BCT marched the streets to visit local Iraqis in their homes.
Supplies for improvised explosive devices and other contraband weapons were found by soldiers in Bravo Company, 91st Engineer Battalion during a cordon and search mission at a house in the Ghazaliya area of Baghdad on March 17th at approximately 1 am. The mission was conducted 12 hours after the company had received the information on the suspected presence of contraband as well as three men who had intent to harm US forces, according to First. Lt. Jeff Wells, third platoon leader for Bravo Company. "We received time-sensitive information we had to act on that night," said Wells. "Once we got the information on the house we conducted a recon mission and then showed the photos to our intelligence source, a local Iraqi man." "Tonight it was my platoon's responsibility to conduct the recon," he added. "Our source confirmed the house we took photos of was not the right house, but he was willing to come to the area and point out the exact house."
The Soldiers of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, had hoped to be on their way back to Fort Hood, Texas, by the end of October 2004. But it was announced Oct. 4 that the unit, which arrived in January, will fulfill a full 12-month tour. The brigade made their final haul from their trailers on Camp Black Jack to Camp Striker Oct. 23, a tent city three miles from their former home. At Striker, the brigade continued operations. In doing this, they made way for the 256th "Tiger" Brigade Combat Team; a Louisiana National Guard infantry brigade whose advance party had recently arrived. As Black Jack moved from their homes of over nine months and into much different facilities, they still must stay mission capable. To do this, all the battalions moved their headquarters first, and then the brigade headquarters followed. If getting moved to a different location and taking on a new area of responsibility isn't enough, the Blackjacks are also passing on their old area of operations to a brigade which is just arriving in Iraq. The new group is eager to learn and they ask a lot of questions and they are learning a lot. Introducing a fresh group to a new area also reminded the Black Jack brigade members of how they were when they first arrived in Iraq, and how far they have come in their time here.
