23rd Chemical Battalion
The 23rd Chemical Battalion is the only forward deployed U.S. chemical battalion in the world. Organized into a headquarters and headquarters detachment and five decontamination companies, it has a wartime strength of 588. Of those, approximately 50 percent are U.S. soldiers and 50 percent are Korean Augmentees to the United States Army (KATUSA) soldiers. In addition, twenty-six full-time Korea Service Corps personnel and 76 part-time members of the Korea Service Corps, who are mobilized for training at minimum of one week per quarter, contribute to the mission accomplishment of the battalion. The battalion is responsible for decontamination operations throughout the Republic of Korea south of the 2nd Infantry Division sector.
KATUSA soldiers make up over 50 percent of the company personnel in the 23d Chemical Battalion. They form the bulk of the decontamination soldiers and also serve as administrative clerks, company supply soldiers, maintenance soldiers and drivers. This unique manning authorization makes the 23d Chemical Battalion the first of its kind in the free world. The combination of U.S. soldiers, KATUSA soldiers and full time Korean Service Corps personnel makes the battalion a truly combined national force. The motto of the battalion "Two Joined as One" reflects the combined nation status of the 23d Chemical Battalion. This motto is echoed by the battalion soldiers in Hangul with a loud "Moong Chi Ja" (together)!
The 23rd Chemical Battalion activated on 27 May 1944 in Bristol, England as a Smoke Generator Battalion under 1st Army. During the Normandy invasion, the Battalion provided smoke support on land and sea. The Battalion was inactivated on 12 November 1945 from the European Theater after earning five campaign streamers. Reactivated on 1 February 1949 at the Army Chemical Center, Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland the unit was re-designed the 4th Chemical Smoke Generator Battalion. During the Korean War the Battalion provided smoke support to the United Nations Command adding ten campaign streamers to its unit colors. On 4 March 1954 the Battalion was redesignated the 4th Chemical Battalion and restationed to the Federal Republic of Germany. On 15 June 1959 the Battalion inactivated.
On 18 September 1988, the Battalion reactivated as the 23rd Chemical Battalion under the 20th Support Group of the 19th Theater Army Area Command. In January 1992 the Battalion was moved from the Song-So Site to its present location on Camp Carroll. The 23rd Chemical Battalion was ordered to reorganize in October 1997. This reorganization included the activation of four Corps/Theater Army Chemical Companies. Activation of all companies was completed in April 1999.
Eighth US Army announced on December 17, 2004, that the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment (HHD), 23rd Chemical Battalion and two chemical companies had completed their relocation from Korea to Fort Lewis, WA, as the final phase of the chemical decontamination mission transfer to the ROK Army. According to the statement, the transfer of the chemical decontamination mission from the U.S. military to the ROK military had been completed in Aug. 2004 with the US military to eventually transfer 10 missions to the ROK military as part of the Strategic Policy Initiative (SPI) mutually agreed to by both nations.
