Special Troops

Note: As a result of the reorganization of the 25th Infantry Division in 2005 three Special Troops Battalions were activated. See History of Special Troops for an understanding of the past and present roles of Special Troops in U.S.Army Divisions.

Distinctive
Unit Insignia
Unit Designation
Motto
First Assigned to Unit History
Special Trps Bn. Special Troops Battalion,
25th Infantry Division
“Strike With Honor”
12 October 1943 Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Special Troops Battalion, 25th Infantry Division was first constituted 12 October 1943 as Headquarters, Special Troops, 25th Infantry Division and activated in New Zealand on 21 January 1944. Headquarters, Special Troops had the mission of providing administrative support to the separate combat support and combat service support companies of the Tropic Lightning. These were the Division Headquarters Company, the Military Police Platoon, the 25th Signal Company, the 25th Quartermaster Company, the 725th Ordnance Company and the 25th Division Band. In WW II, Headquarters, Special Troops participated in the Luzon Campaign and received a Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. On 20 March 1949, Headquarters, Special Troops was inactivated in Osaka, Japan. It was concurrently reorganized and redesignated as the 25th Replacement Company and activated in Osaka on 25 September 1949. The replacement company mission was to process incoming and outgoing divisional personnel. The 25th Replacement Company participated in all ten campaigns of the Korean War and was awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation and two awards of the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation. On 1 February 1957 the 25th Replacement Company was reorganized and redesignated as the 25th Administration Company. The company had a wide-range of the responsibility in support to division elements. These included personnel, finance, staff judge advocate, chaplain, information, postal and special services. The 25th Admin arrived in Vietnam on 30 March 1966 and was based at Cu Chi. The Company participated in all twelve Vietnam campaigns receiving three awards of the Meritorious Unit Citation, two awards of the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry and the Civil Action Honor Medal. On 21 April 1972 the 25th Administration Company was redesignated and reorganized as the 25th Adjutant General Company. The 25th Division Band was assigned to the company and the company’s mission was reduced to Adjutant General Corps duties. The 25th Adjutant General Company was inactivated on 16 July 1986 at Schofield Barracks. On 16 November 2005, the 25th Adjutant General Company was reorganized and redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), Special Troops Battalion, 25th Infantry Division and activated at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. In addition to the HHC, the battalion consists of a signal company and the division band. The mission of the battalion is to support Headquarters, 25th Infantry Division. On 15 January 2010 the Special Troops Battalion, 25th Infantry Division was inactivated. Personnel and equipment of the battalion were transferred to the Division’s Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion.
Special Trps Bn. 3rd Bde Special Troops Battalion,
3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division
“By Courage And Arms”
21 June 1963 Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division was first constituted and organized in 1921 as Headquarters Company, 195th Infantry Brigade, 98th Division at Albany, NY. In 1942 it was reorganized and redesignated as the 98th Reconnaissance Troop (less 3rd Platoon) and ordered into Federal service. The 98th Infantry Division initially served from April 1944 to May 1945 as the defense force for the Hawaiian Islands. After V-J Day, the 98th Division was sent to Japan for occupation duty. Inactivated in1946, the 98th Reconnaissance Troop was reactivated in the Organized Reserves in 1947. It was redesignated as the 98th Reconnaissance Company and then disbanded 1 May 1959. Concurrently reconstituted (less 3rd Platoon) in the Regular Army as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 195th Infantry Brigade. It was redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Brigade 25th Infantry Division on 21 June 1963. The 3rd Brigade was sent to Pleiku, Vietnam by a massive airlift named Operation Blue Light from 28 December 1965 to 17 January 1966. Under the operational control of I Field Force, the 3rd Brigade composed of the 1/14th Infantry, 1/35th Infantry, 2/35th Infantry, 2/9th Artillery, 1/69th Armor and Troop C, 3/4th Cavalry operated along the Cambodian border. In April 1967 the 3rd Brigade was attached to Task Force Oregon and engaged Viet Cong units in Quang Ngai Province receiving a Valorous Unit Award. On 1 August 1967 Headquarters Company, 3rd Brigade less personnel and equipment rejoined the 25th Division and was based at Dau Tieng. The 3rd Brigade assumed command of the former 3rd Brigade, 4th Division units, the 2/12th Infantry, 2/22nd Infantry (Mechanized), and 3/22nd Infantry. The 2/14th Infantry replaced 3/22nd Infantry in Feb. 1970. The 3rd Brigade received credit for twelve Vietnam campaigns. On 8 December 1970 it returned to Schofield Barracks less personnel and equipment and was inactivated on 24 July 1972. The 3rd Brigade was reactivated on 16 November 1985 at Schofield Barracks. The Brigade was composed of the 2nd Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, and 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment. The 3rd Brigade Combat Team served a one year tour of duty in Afghanistan from April 2004 -April 2005. The brigade was organized as Task Force (TF) Bronco. It included the 2-5 Infantry, 2-35 Infantry, 3-7 Field Artillery and the 3-4 Cavalry. All of these units were also organized as task forces. TF Bronco was based at Kandahar Airfield and was responsible for security and stability operations for the Regional Command South. On 16 November 2005, Headquarters Company, 3rd Brigade was reorganized and redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team on 16 November 2005. (Organic battalion elements constituted and activated).
Special Trps Bn. 4th Bde Special Troops Battalion (Airborne),
4th Brigade (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division
“Duco Undique” (“Influence Everywhere”)
6 December 1969 Special Troops Battalion (Airborne), 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division was first constituted as Headquarters Company, 4th Brigade, 25th Infantry Division and activated at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii on 6 December 1969. The mission of the 4th Brigade, 25th Infantry Division was to serve as the strategic reserve for contingencies in the Pacific area other than Vietnam. The 4th Brigade was composed of the 2nd Battalion, 5th Infantry, 3rd Battalion, 14th Infantry, 3rd Battalion, 27th Infantry, 5th Battalion, 13th Artillery, Troop H, 10th Cavalry, 76th Engineer Company and the 425th Support Battalion. Upon the return of the 25th Infantry Division from Vietnam the 4th Brigade was inactivated on 15 December 1970. On 16 October 2005, Headquarters Company, 4th Brigade was reorganized and redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Special Troops Battalion (Airborne), 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division and activated at Fort Richardson, Alaska (Organic battalion elements constituted and activated).