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Arctic Legionaries

Feb-24-2005 » Filed Under: 172nd SBCT

by CPT Andy Hierstetter

Effective 14 February 2005, Task Force 2-1 of Fort Wainwright adopted the special designation "Arctic Legionaries," replacing "Cold Steel," a nickname dating back to Vietnam. An official special designation is a "nickname," granted to a military organization authorized by the Center of Military History and is recognized through a certificate signed by the Secretary of the Army. TF 2-1 Infantry is the only full strength, active duty unit of the 1st Infantry Regiment which is one of the oldest Army Regiments, originating in 1791.

During a routine scrub of historical records, TF 2-1 discovered an unsigned memorandum, dated 1967, requesting the Special Designation "Legionaries". Seemingly, a perfect fit for the newly designated combined arms Stryker Brigade Task Force, 2-1 immediately prepared a new request along with the original 1967 document. On 24 January 2005, Colonel Michael H. Shields, Commander, 172nd Stryker Brigade and Brigadier General James T. Hirai, Commander, U.S. Army Alaska approved Task Force 2-1's request for designation as "Arctic Legionaries".

The significance of "Legionaries" dates back to 1791, following two defeats to Native American forces on the frontier in 1791, Congress authorized the Army to be formed into the Legion of the United States. Legion is a term that began to be used again in Europe to denote a combined arms force (cavalry, artillery, and infantry). The Legion was broken down into four Sub-Legions, under the command of Major General Anthony Wayne. TF 2-1 and the 1st Infantry Regiment originate from the 2nd Sub-Legion. An excerpt from the Regiment's history displays the success of the combined arms legion:

"General Anthony Wayne and the Legion proved themselves on August 20, 1794, in the Battle of Fallen Timbers. In this battle, the Legion stood their ground against the Indians and finally drove them from their cover amid fallen trees with a bayonet charge. Once exposed, the Indians were ridden down by Wayne’s dragoon cavalrymen."


The addition of "Arctic" commemorates the Task Force's membership in the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team; the Army's only brigade trained and equipped to fight in an arctic environment.

TF 2-1 Battalion Commander, LTC Charles R. Webster states, "The change is necessary...our unit is built around the Infantryman, but we are not a pure infantry battalion...we are combined arms task force, complete with Infantry, Calvary, and Artillery". The organizational change took effect on 4 March 2004, when 2-1 Infantry became a Stryker Infantry Task Force under the 172nd Stryker Infantry Brigade. The Task Force consists of a Headquarters Company and three combined arms Stryker Infantry Companies, each equipped with a Calvary platoon, or MGS platoon (Mobile Gun System) and organic mortars with two 60MM and two 120MM mortars.

Most soldiers are happy about the change and understand the historical linkage. Staff Sergeant, Raymond Rijkse Senior Human Resources Sergeant states, "Bringing the name, Legionaries, back to our Regiment reestablishes a sense of continuity with our past military traditions. Our last combat tour was Vietnam and with our upcoming deployment, it’s only appropriate that the 1st Infantry Regiment goes back into battle with its original name." Even long time Cold Steel veterans approve. Sergeant Major James McClelland, S-3 Operations states, "The Cold Steel nickname had absolutely nothing to do with this unit's history, whereas the Arctic Legion name ties us to our past as a Legion in the 1790s and was the nickname of this unit through the Vietnam era.

Soldiers of TF 2-1 "Arctic Legion," will forge new chapters in the Regiment's long and vaunted history as they aggressively train and prepare for a deployment in support of the Global War on Terrorism.


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