The Dallas Morning News February 13, 2004
Brigade's Long, Proud History
BASED: Little Rock, Ark.
NICKNAME: The Arkansas Brigade
WHAT IT IS: About 3,400 National Guard members from 47 communities in Arkansas. It's augmented by an infantry battalion from an Oregon National Guard unit and hundreds of National Guard soldiers who volunteered for duty.
TOTAL STRENGTH: About 4,600 personnel MISSION: Since 1994, it has been designated as a light infantry brigade and integrated with active-duty regular Army infantry divisions, training to deploy 90 days after mobilization.
HISTORY: Began as the 39th Infantry Division in 1917. During World War II, it was activated and saw service in the Aleutian Islands. After the war, it returned to Guard status and formed as the 39th Brigade after the division was reorganized into the Army National Guard in December 1967. Elements of the 39th Brigade have mobilized for overseas tours four times since 1998: Bosnia, 1998; Saudi Arabia, 1999; Kuwait, 1999; and part of a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Egypt, 2001.
CITIZEN-SOLDIERS: The brigade's officers and soldiers may be designated by the governor to respond to floods, tornadoes, forest fires and ice storms. Various units of the brigade have provided support for anti-drug programs for Arkansas law enforcement.
SOURCES: 39th Brigade, Army National Guard, GlobalSecurity.org
© Copyright 2004, The Dallas Morning News
