The 120th Infantry Brigade is an AC/RC unit based at Fort Hood, Texas.
The unit falls under command of First Army, Division West and is responsible for training selected United States Army Reserve & National Guard units in Texas & the South-Western U.S.
Constituted 26 March 1943 in the Army of the United States as Headquarters, 3d Armored Infantry Group
Activated 31 March 1943 at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas
Reorganized and redesignated 30 March 1943 as Headquarters, 3d Armored Group
Reorganized and redesignated 14 September 1943 as Headquarters, 12th Tank Group
Reorganized and redesignated 13 December 1943 as Headquarters, 12th Armored Group
Inactivated 20 October 1945 at Camp Gruber, Oklahoma
Disbanded 2 July 1952
Reconstituted 24 October 1997 in the Regular Army as Headquarters, 120th Infantry Brigade, and activated at Fort Sam Houston, Texas
Inactivated 16 October 1999 at Fort Sam Houston, Texas
Activated 1 December 2006 at Fort Sam Houston, Texas
During World War II, Headquarters, 12th Armored Group was attached to the 9th Armored Division to reinforce Combat Command R. The unit participated in the Siege of Bastogne under the command of the 101st Airborne Division and received the Presidential Unit Citation for participation in that battle.
The unit was formerly designated as 2nd Brigade, 75th Infantry Division. The brigade is a subordinate unit of U.S. First Army In 2006, as part of the Army's Transformation Plan, the 2nd Brigade, 75th Division was reflagged as the 120th Infantry Brigade. In September 2008, the unit was relocated from Fort Sam Houston to Fort Hood, TX.
The unit is composed of:
Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 120th Infantry Brigade
3rd Battalion, 289th Infantry Regiment (CS/CSS) Beaumont, Texas
1st Battalion, 382nd Infantry Regiment (CS/CSS)
2nd Battalion, 382nd Infantry Regiment (CS/CSS)
3rd Battalion, 382nd Infantry Regiment (CS/CSS)
2nd Battalion, 393rd Infantry Regiment Fort Hood, Texas
2nd Battalion, 395th Field Artillery Regiment Fort Hood, Texas
Distinctive unit insignia: The dark blue, the color traditionally used by the Infantry unit, denotes the Presidential Unit Citation awarded to the unit. The arched band refers to the unit’s World War II campaign in the Battle of the Bulge. The caltrops represent the defensive success by the Allies to protect Bastogne, Belgium from the German Army. The field of Gutte de Sang symbolizes the Battle of Ardennes, Siege of Bastogne, one of the bloodiest conflicts during World War II.
Shoulder sleeve insignia: The flag blue of the shoulder sleeve insignia is the color traditionally associated with Infantry units. The embattled pale suggests tank tracks, denoting the 120th Infantry’s lineage as an armored unit. Red symbolizes the Brigade’s striking capabilities. The bayonet signifies close combat, illustrating the Brigade’s mission.
