2nd Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment (United States)

The history of the 2nd Battalion, 153rd Infantry as an individual battalion really begins with the reorganization of the 39th Infantry Division in 1967 and the creation of the 39th Infantry Brigade (Separate). For history of the 2nd Battalion prior to 1967, see 153rd Infantry Regiment (United States) and 39th Infantry Division (United States).

In 1967 the 39th Infantry Division was reorganized and redesignated as the 39th Infantry Brigade (Separate) and in 1973 was paired with the US 101st Airborne Division as a training partner and became an air-assault brigade.

In 1994 the 39th was again reorganized and gained its designation as an "enhanced" brigade.

In 1999, the 39th became part of the 7th Infantry Division under the Army Integrated Division concept which paired National Guard and Reserve brigades with active duty headquarters and support units.[4]

In 2006 the 39th Brigade was reorganized as a brigade combat team under the United States Army's new modular design concept.

The 2nd Battalion, 153rd Infantry units conducted numerous overseas training rotations throughout the 1980s and early 1990s.

• 1981, Company A, 2–153 (Walnut Ridge and Piggott) conducts Annual Training in Great Britain with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers as part of the Volunteer Warrior/Hard Charger Exercise.
• 1988, Companies B and C, 2-153 IN conduct Annual Training in Great Britain as a part of Operation "Glo Worm/Rattlesnake", at Camp Crickhowell, Wales, hosted by members of the 5th Light Infantry English Citizen Soldiers.
• 1991, selected members of 2–153rd accompanied 1–153rd Infantry on a SOUTHCOM rotation to the Jungle Operations Training Center (JOTO) at Fort Sherman, Panama.
• 1992, Companies A, B and C, 2-153 conduct Annual Training in Honduras in three separate rotations.

[5]

Company B, 2nd Battalion, 153 Infantry, and Company B, 3rd Battalion, 153rd Infantry of the 39th BCT were activated for Operation Southern Watch, May through September 1999.[6] B/2-153 deployed to Kuwait and provided security at Patriot Missile Batteries during these deployments. The mission lasted a total of seven months, and was the first "pure" National Guard effort in the region. Company C, 1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry carried on the 39th's role in Operation Southern Watch when they replaced Company B, 2-153rd in September 1999.[7]

LTC Steve Womack and CSM Bill Hogue in front of the Task Force Headquarters, Egypt

On 10 October 2001, 2–153 IN "Gunslinger" was activated in support of the Global War on Terror.[8] Second Battalion was sent to Egypt in order to take over the Multinational Force and Observers mission, freeing up regular army infantry units to deploy to Afghanistan.

The 2-153's mission during the MFO was: "...to supervise the implementation of the security provisions of the Egyptian-Israeli Treaty of Peace and employ best efforts to prevent any violation of its terms." This mission was accomplished by carrying out four tasks: Operating checkpoints, observation posts and conducting reconnaissance patrols on the international border as well as within Zone C; verification of the terms of the peace treaty not less than twice a month; verification of the terms of the peace treaty within forty eight hours, upon the request of either party, and ensuring freedom of international marine navigation in the Strait of Tiran and access to the Gulf of Aqaba.

This was the first "pure" National Guard takeover of the MFO mission. 2-153rd deactivated on 11 October 2002.

Upon redeployment in 2005, the 39th Brigade immediately began a major reorganization that transformed the brigade from an enhanced separate brigade (eSB) to an infantry brigade combat team (IBCT) under the United States Army's new Modular Design. This redesign of the army was intended to make the force more easily deployable by making brigades more self-contained and less dependent on support organizations at the division level. Major changes for the 2nd Battalion, 153rd Infantry included the activation of a forward support company, Company F, 39th BSB. Along with this reorganization came a significant re-stationing of several units within the state of Arkansas.

After Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana in August 2005, members of the 2nd Battalion, 153rd Infantry were deployed to New Orleans by C-130s from the Little Rock Air Force Base to support the relief and recovery efforts there.[10] Under tactical control of the Louisiana National Guard, 2–153rd soldiers were given the mission of providing security and food and water to the citizens of Louisiana. Members of the 2–153rd IN and the 39th IBCT remained deployed in Louisiana until February 2006.

In June 2006 the 39th Brigade began deploying troops along the southwest border with Mexico as part of Operation Jump Start. The brigade manned two sectors of the border around Lordsburg, New Mexico and near Deming, New Mexico. Unit members occupied observation posts and reported activity along the border the United States Border Patrol.[11] Various battalions within the 39th Brigade were tasked with supplying volunteer companies during this period. While serving in Operation Jump Start members of the battalion were able to begin preparing for the 39th Brigade's second deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. It is ironic that the 1st Arkansas Infantry, the parent unit of the 153rd Infantry Regiment was stationed in these same areas of New Mexico ninety years earlier during General "Black Jack" Pershing's punitive Mexican Expedition against Pancho Villa.

The 2nd Battalion, 153rd Infantry received an alert for a deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in April 2007.[12] Members of the battalion had been home almost exactly two years since demobilizing after OIF II. This deployment would be dramatically different from the battalion's first deployment to OIF. Instead of deploying as an infantry battalion, the 2–153rd was tasked with filling five Unit Requests for Forces (URFs). These taskings involved supplying Convoy Security Companies to escort logistical convoys in Iraq.[13] Additionally, Instead of an eighteen-month mobilization, with twelve months actually deployed to Iraq like the first tour, this mobilization would be for a total of twelve months, with approximately ten months being deployed to the combat theater.

The 2–153rd was placed on duty in October 2007 to prepare for its deployment to Iraq while still under state control. It began a ninety-day pre-mobilization training period at Chaffee Maneuver Training Center (CMTC) on 1 October 2007.[14] This allowed the unit to perform certain tasks in Arkansas and allowed unit members to be closer to their families for a longer period of time. The battalion was placed in federal service in January 2008 and trained at Camp Shelby, Mississippi until it deployed beginning in March 2008 to Iraq.

Upon reaching its final destinations, the 2–153rd fell under the Tactical Command (TACON) of Regular Army units, primarily the 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary). The 39th IBCT retained Administrative Command (ADCON) of all brigade elements. 2–153rd was stationed in Al Asad Airbase, Iraq and was organized as a Convoy Security Battalion. The battalion provided convoy security to Theater Sustainment Convoys using the Jordan Line of Communications from Trebil to Al Asad and Forward Operating Base TQ. The unit conducted seventy six, Combat Logistical Patrols, each lasting four to six days, while driving over 1,587,000 miles. 2–153rd experience one casualty during OIF 07-08 when an escort vehicle was accidentally struck while providing security at an intersection by one of the escorted vehicles.

• 
  LTC Robert H. James
• 
  LTC Harold L. Gwatney[17]
• 
  LTC E. Franklin Montgomery
• 
  LTC Durwood F. Harris
• 
  LTC James D. Anderson
• 
  LTC Edgar B. Sharp, Jr.
• 
  LTC William F. Sherman
• 
  LTC James H. Long
• 
  LTC Billy D. Paige
• 
  LTC Billy F. Gualt
• 
  LTC William D. Young
• 
  LTC Lawrence M. Stewart
• 
  LTC Alvin R. Williams
• 
  LTC James H. Montgomery
• 
  LTC Edward W. "Bo" Whitaker, Jr.
• 
  LTC Alvie L. Keaster
• 
  LTC Roger L. McCellan
• 
  LTC Stephen A. Womack
• 
  LTC Kirk E. Van Pelt
• 
  LTC Cary A. Shillcutt
• 
  LTC John M. "Mickey" Stewart
• 
  LTC Christopher S. Stanger
• 
  LTC Jonathan M. Stubbs
• 
  LTC Todd A. Spafford
• 
  LTC Olen C. Bridges
• 
  LTC Slade A. McPherson
• 
  LTC Harold D. Williams

• 1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment (United States)
• Arkansas State Guard and the Spanish-American War
• Arkansas National Guard during World War I
• Arkansas National Guard and World War II
• Arkansas Army National Guard and the Cold War
• Arkansas National Guard and the integration of Central High School
• Arkansas Army National Guard and the Global War on Terrorism

• Global Security.org (outdated)
• 39th BCT (outdated)
• Fallen Arkansans
• National Guard Bureau, General Officer Management Office, Biography of MAJOR GENERAL RONALD S. CHASTAIN
• Secretary of State Official Press Release
• 153rd Infantry at the Institute of Heraldry