165th Infantry Brigade (United States)

165th Infantry Brigade (United States)
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Unit name	165th Infantry Brigade
Dates	1917–1919; 1942–1945; 1962–1971
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army
Type	Infantry
Size	Brigade
Battles	World War I, World War II, Vietnam War

165th Infantry Brigade (United States). The 165th Infantry Brigade is a former United States Army infantry brigade with a history spanning three major conflicts of the 20th century. Initially formed for service in World War I, it was later reactivated during World War II and again during the Vietnam War. Throughout its service, the brigade was assigned to several notable divisions, including the 83rd Infantry Division and the 5th Infantry Division, participating in campaigns across Europe and Southeast Asia.

History

The brigade was first constituted in the National Army in November 1917 as part of the 83rd Infantry Division at Camp Sherman. It deployed to France in 1918, where it served as a depot and training brigade, supplying replacement soldiers to front-line units like the American Expeditionary Forces during the final campaigns of World War I. Following the Armistice of 11 November 1918, the brigade returned to the United States and was inactivated at Camp Dix in 1919. It was reactivated in December 1942 at Camp Atterbury as an element of the 5th Infantry Division, training for combat in the European Theater. The brigade was inactivated in 1945 after the Allied victory, only to be reactivated again in 1962 at Fort Carson as a separate brigade combat team for service in the Vietnam War.

Organization

During its initial activation, the brigade's core infantry regiments were the 329th and 330th Infantry Regiments, supported by the 323rd Machine Gun Battalion. In its World War II iteration under the 5th Infantry Division, it commanded the 2nd and 10th Infantry Regiments. As a separate brigade in the 1960s, its structure evolved into a modernized brigade combat team, comprising two infantry battalions, an armored cavalry squadron, a field artillery battalion, and supporting engineer, signal corps, and military intelligence companies. This flexible organization was designed for independent operations and reflected the Pentagon's Reorganization Objective Army Division concepts of the era.

Commanders

Notable commanders of the brigade include Brigadier General William R. D. Crump during its World War I service. In the World War II era, leadership fell to officers such as Brigadier General A. Donald Cameron. During its Vietnam-era activation, the brigade was commanded by several distinguished officers, including Colonel James S. Timothy, who later served as Commandant of Cadets at the United States Military Academy. The succession of commanders ensured the unit met the rigorous standards of the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command and the demands of combat in different theaters.

Campaigns and decorations

The brigade's service is recognized through several campaign streamers and unit awards. In World War II, as part of the 5th Infantry Division, it participated in the Normandy campaign, the Battle of Metz, the Ardennes Offensive, and the Central Europe campaign, contributing to the Liberation of France and the advance into Germany. For its actions, the brigade and its subordinate units were authorized to display campaign credits for Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe. During the Vietnam War, the brigade earned campaign participation credit for the Vietnam Counteroffensive Phase VI, the Tet 1969 Counteroffensive, and the Summer-Fall 1969 campaigns, operating primarily in the I Corps Tactical Zone.

Legacy and lineage

The lineage and honors of the 165th Infantry Brigade are preserved by the United States Army Center of Military History. While the brigade itself was inactivated for the final time at Fort Carson in 1971, its historical legacy is carried on by successor units within the United States Army Reserve and the Army National Guard. The brigade's distinct periods of service exemplify the evolving structure of the United States Army from the Great War through the Cold War, and its campaign history remains a part of the institutional memory of divisions like the 83rd and the 5th Infantry Division.

Category:Infantry brigades of the United States Army Category:Military units and formations established in 1917