101st Forward Support Battalion
"Guardians"
The mission of the 101st Forward Support Battalion is to provide all sustainment and health service support for the 1st Brigade Combat Team in support of Advisor Team Training at Fort Riley, Kansas.
The 101st Support Battalion has a rich and proud history that traces its lineage back to the formation of the 1st Infantry Division. The Battalion was organized at Menil-La-Tour, France, on 17 February 1918, during World War I, as the Motor Supply Train. It was redesignated as the 1st Supply Train in August 1918, and gave vital support to the 1st Division through 7 campaigns. The Supply Train redeployed from France on 21 August 1919 and arrived at Camp Taylor, Kentucky on 19 September 1919.
During World War II, the Battalion supported the 1st Infantry Division recieved streamers for the campaigns of Algeria-French Morocco, Tunisia, Sicily (with arrowhead indicating patricipation in the initial assault), northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe. Additionally the Battalion received a French Croix de Geurre with Palm, the French Fourragere, and the Belgin Fourragere.
On 2 January 1964, the 1st Infantry Division was reorganized under the Reorganization of Army Divisions (ROAD) concept to increase the Division's mobility and flexibility. The 1st Quartermaster Company was reorganized into the 1st Supply and Transportation Battalion. The 1st Supply and Transportation Battalion arrived in Vietnam on 19 October 1965 where it participated in 11 campaigns and earned 3 Meritorious Unit Commendations for the outstanding support it provided the 1st Infantry Division. On 15 April 1970 the Battalion returned to Fort Riley with the 1st Infantry Division.
In May 1985, the 1st Supply and Transportation Battalion was deactivated under the Army of Excellence Concept. The 1st Forward Support Battalion became the first battalion in the 1st Infantry Division to be given the mission of providing multi-functional combat service support to the 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division (Mechanized). On 1 May 1987, the 1st Forward Support Battalion was deactivated and the 101st Support Battalion was activated in its place. The mission was unchanged: provide dedicated combat service support to the 1st Brigade. The 101st Support Battalion received colors of the 1st Supply and Transportation Battalion and regained the proud history and traditions of that seasoned combat service support battalion.
In November 1990, the 101st Support Battalion was once again called to support combat operations in support of Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. The Battalion deployed to Saudi Arabia and provided supply, maintenance, and medical support to the 1st Brigade during combat operations in Southwest Asia. The battalion returned to Fort Riley on 10 May 1991.
In September 2003, the 101st Forward Support Battalion deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Battalion deployed to Kuwait in preparation to support combat operations in Iraq. The Battalion provided outstanding logistical support for over 12 months in Iraq. During the deployment, the 101st Forward Support Battalion, and the rest of the 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, were attached to elements of the 82nd Airborne Division.
In 2006 as part of the beginning of the transformation of the 1st Infantry Division (Mechanized) to the US Army's new modular force structure, the Division Support Command (DISCOM) was inactivated. While the 101st Forward Support Battalion did not immediately transition to the modular Brigade Support Battalion structure, it did become an integral part of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division (Mechanized).
In 2006 the entire 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division (Mechanized), including the 101st Forward Support Battalion, received a mission change and began restructuring in order to better train Military Transition Teams for their deployment. The 101st Forward Support Battaion provided various support services for this mission.
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