1st Brigade Combat Team

Brigade Information

Combat Brigade

Name	Phone	From U.S.
CSM	730-2763	011-82 31 869-2763
S1	730-2760	011-82 31 869-2760
S3	730-2829	011-82 31 869-2829

Mission

1HBCT trains and maintains to always be ready to “fight tonight” to deter aggression on the Korean peninsula and if deterrence fails, to defeat any aggressor against the ROK-US alliance.

History

Formed almost thirty years ago, 1st Brigade is a relatively young unit. Its organic battalions have a rich past. 1st Brigade became an armor brigade on 16 October 1978 when the 2nd Battalion, 72nd Armor Regiment rejoined 1st Battalion, replacing 31st Infantry Regiment (Mechanized). The 1/31st Inf. (M) lived on the DMZ at Camp Greaves from 1971 – 1975, and Camp Stanley from 1975-1978. They were called “Bearcats”, “DMZ Police” and “Imjin Scouts”. On 16 August 1992, the Brigade became a Triple Threat Heavy-Light Force when the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment was assigned to the Brigade. On 1 January 1994, the 1st Battalion, 72nd Armor Regiment replaced 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment to make the iron brigade a Triple-Threat Heavy Force. Here is a history of their involvement in the shaping of the 1st Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, hailed as the “Iron Brigade.”

The 2-9th Infantry “Manchu” were the first element of the Indianhead Division to touch Korean soil when they arrived at the Korean port city of Pusan on 31 July 1950. The Manchus were immediately placed on line in defense of the Pusan Perimeter and received their baptism by fire in the battle of the Nakton Bulge. The regiment took massive casualties throughout 1950 and 1951 before regrouping and playing leading roles in the attacks on Heartbreak Ridge, Old Baldy, and Pork Chop Hill, helping to break the back of the Chinese Offensive.

On June 25th, 1950, North Korea launched a massive surprise attack against our allied in the South. Garryowen soon found itself in a desperate fight against the communist human waves in the Pusan Perimeter. The 4-7th regiment was instrumental in turning the tide of the war and distinguished itself throughout the next three years, including a 116 mile advance into North Korea.

“1st Tank” 1-72nd”s actions during the Korean conflict at places such as Heartbreak Ridge, Old Baldy and the Punchbowl heralded its tradition. Three presidential unit citations grace its colors for performances at Hong’‘chon, Yongsan, and Kapyong. 1-72’‘s actions during the defense of the Naktong River Line added two Korean Presidential Unit citations and a streamer for superior performance. The battalion’‘s battle credits include the U.N. defenses, the first U.N. counter-offensive, the Summer-Fall of 1952, the Third Korean Winter and the Korean Summer of 1953.

In October 1950, while MacArthur landed at Inchon, 2-72 led the breakout from the Pusan perimeter, driving the enemy north. It distinguished itself at the battles of Hong’‘chon, Yongsan and Kapyong, earning four distinguished unit citations. After bloody retrograde battles, 2-72 fought to a stalemate with the Chinese Army. Names such as Punch Bowl, Old Baldy, and Heartbreak Ridge still echo in its turrets.

1-15 Field Artillery landed at Pusan and fired the first artillery round in support of 2ID in August 1950. The artillerymen of the 15th Field artillery helped stem the tide against the Chinese that were threatening the Division. In the Bloody Ridge Campaign of August 1951, the Unit set a new record for light battalions, firing 14,425 rounds in a 24 hour period.

During the Korean conflict the 2-ENG battalion built upon its proud tradition of selfless service by helping to restore peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. The 2d Engineers supported the 2d Infantry Division during its initial landing in Pusan and through its spearhead drive north to the Yalu River. The battalion fought as the division’‘s rear guart at Kunu-ri on November 30th, 1950 and was overrun and all but destroyed. The battalion commander ordered the colors be burned to prevent their capture by Chinese Communist Forces. The battalion was reconstituted and fought the remainder of the conflict with distinction, earning a total of ten campaign streamers.

On July 10th, 1950, the 302nd battalion was alerted for immediate shipment to the Far East Command. Platoons of the Ambulance and Clearing Companies were attached to the three Infantry Regiments in the 2d Infantry Division. The battalion participated in the Korean Conflict from 1950 through the early part of 1954.

The 1st BDE “Iron Brigade” stayed true to its legacy of ferocity as it distinguished itself throughout the Korean War, participating in campaigns beginning with the UN Defensive, through the campaign of the Korean Summer, 1953, For its actions in defense of freedom, the Brigade was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation and two Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citations.