Country USA Type Air Defense Artillery | Role Active Air Defense | |
 | ||
Active 1918–19, 1933–45, 1951–53, 1961–81 | ||
The 38th Air Defense Artillery Brigade is an inactivated United States Army unit which provided air defense for South Korea. Based at Osan Air Base from 25 May 1961 until 31 July 1981, its last assignment was as a major subordinate command in the Eighth United States Army. It was initially formed as the 38th Artillery Brigade in 1918.
Contents
World War I
The unit was constituted in June 1918 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 38th Artillery Brigade in Camp Eustis, Virginia (now Fort Eustis). The unit later sailed to Brest, France and was assigned to Services and Supply. It remained there until the end of World War I when it returned to the United States for demobilization at Fort Monroe, Virginia in February 1919.
Fourteen years later, in October 1933, the unit was reconstituted as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 38th Coastal Artillery Brigade.
World War II
At the time of the United States' entry into World War II, the 38th Coastal Artillery Brigade was located in Camp Stewart, Georgia, (now Fort Stewart) and was deployed in the European Theater. It underwent another reorganization in September 1943, when it became Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 38th Anti-Aircraft Brigade. The 38th Anti-Aircraft Brigade earned a Battle credit and Campaign streamer for participation in the Ardennes-Alsace campaign. At the end of the war (1945), the 38th Anti-Aircraft Brigade was inactivated in Germany.
Cold War
The brigade was re-activated in March 1951 at Fort Bliss, Texas, where it remained until inactivation in May 1953. At that time, the unit's personnel and equipment were transferred to the new 1st Guided Missile Brigade.
The unit was re-designated as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 38th Artillery Brigade (Air Defense) on 20 March 1961, and with the assignment of air defense battalions and missile systems was activated in the Pacific area. The brigade was under the operational control of Commander, United States Air Force In South Korea and had operational command and control of U.S. and South Korean air defense forces in Korea.
On 15 March 1972, the brigade was re-designated 38th Air Defense Artillery Brigade by way of the U.S. Army Combat Arms Regimental System. The brigade headquarters, along with the headquarters of the 314th Air Division and the Republic of Korea (ROK) Air Force were collocated at Osan Air Base.
"On 15 July [1981] the 1st Bn, 2nd ADA was inactivated and its HAWK missile systems and associated equipment turned over on a cost-free basis to the ROKA (Republic of Korea Army) under the Compensatory Equipment Transfer Program (See page 160) [not shown]. The only remaining firing unit, 2n Bn, 71st ADA (71st Air Defense Artillery Regiment), whose sector covers the northern reaches of the ROK (South Korea), was reassigned on 16 July [1981] to the US Army Elm [sic], Combined Field Army [] (ROK/US), pending transfer of its weapon/equipment and missions to ROKA in mid-1982. On 31 July 1981, following over 20 years of air defense coverage for the ROK, the 38th ADA Brigade's headquarters was inactivated at Osan AB. An enormously important task bearing directly on the security environment of the Korean Peninsula had been successfully completed." Subsequently, The 38th Air Defense Artillery Brigade earned the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award on 18 March 1982
Inactivation ceremony brochure
Structure
At the time of its inactivation, the brigade comprised the following units:
Shoulder sleeve insignia
Centered vertically on a shield 2 inches (5.08 cm) in width and 2 3/4 inches (6.99 cm) in height divided from upper left to lower right the upper portion red and the lower yellow with a 1/8 inch (.32 cm) border, a white gauntleted fist grasping a lightning bolt yellow above and red below.
The partition line represents the division of the Korean Peninsula by the DMZ. The gauntlet represents the protection offered by the Brigade, the lightning bolt the swift retaliation against any hostile air attack. The colors, red and yellow, are for the Air Defense Artillery.
The shoulder sleeve insignia was originally approved for the 38th Artillery Brigade on 2 June 1961. It was redesignated for the 38th Air Defense Artillery Brigade on 3 April 1972. (TIOH Dwg. No. A-1-281)
Distinctive unit insignia
A gold color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86 cm) in height consisting of Yang Ying symbol in the colors of the Republic of Korea surmounted by a gold fleur-de-lis with the center stem extending over the top and behind a gold scroll at base inscribed in black "BY VALOR AND POWER."
Scarlet and gold are for Air Defense Artillery and the fleur-de-lis and blue are used to represent France and denote the unit’s service there during World War I. The Yang Ying symbol or Taeguk is from the Korean flag and refers to the organization’s service during that war, while the silhouette of the device simulates a helmet and alludes to the unit’s origin and descent from the 38th Coast Artillery which had a helmet on its badge.
The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 38th Artillery Brigade on 7 February 1967. It was redesignated for the 38th Air Defense Artillery Brigade on 3 April 1972.
Notable members
Lt. Gen. Kevin T. Campbell
Lt. Gen. Larry J. Dodgen
Laurie York Erskine
Gen. Lyman L. Lemnitzer
Lt. Gen. John Taylor Lewis