272nd Chemical Company

The mission of the 272nd Chemical Company is to provide Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) Reconnaissance and Decontamination Operations as well as Smoke Operations.

The 272nd Chemical Company was originally formed on 20 August 1981 as the 272nd Chemical Company, Massachusetts Army National Guard and assigned to the 26th "Yankee" Infantry Division. It was organized and federally recognized on 1 October 1981 in Lexington, MA.

The unit reorganized on 1 October 1985 as a Heavy Division Chemical Company; on 1 October 1987 with the addition of Mechanized Vehicles and a Smoke Platoon; on 1 October 1989 with additional Mechanized equipment for the Smoke Platoon; and on 1 October 1992 when it was reassigned to the 42nd Infantry Division.

On October, 2005 the 272th Chemcial Company returned from its deployment to Kuwait and Iraq along with the 18th Airborne Corps and 42nd ID. Their deployment was in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III. The 272th served under the 3/13 Field Artillery ("Red Dragons"). During their deployment most of the soldiers of the 272th were stationed at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Summerall from January-October of 2005. A detachment that included 4th Platoon and a squad from 2nd Platoon was based at FOB Speicher. In August, a large group relocated to Butler Range Complex. At all three locations, the soldiers of the 272 provided security for their respective bases.