[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 30 (Thursday, March 17, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 17, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
           HONORING THE 2D BRIGADE, 70TH DIVISION (TRAINING)

                                 ______


                          HON. DALE E. KILDEE

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 17, 1994

  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today to 
pay tribute to a unit of our Armed Forces that has, for over 80 years, 
fought to maintain the security of our great Nation. The 2d Brigade, 
70th Division (Training) and its subordinate units have been actively 
working to preserve the liberty of Americans since 1917.
  The 70th Division traces its illustrious history back to 1917 when 
the 333d Regiment, the parent unit to the current 2d Brigade, 70th 
Division, was constituted on August 5, 1917, and organized on August 
25, 1917, at Camp Taylor, KY. The regiment saw limited action in World 
War I, with members of the regiment utilized primarily as replacements 
for other units. The regiment was demobilized in January 1919 at Camp 
Taylor.
  The 333d Regiment was reconstituted in June 1921 and ordered to 
active duty in October 1942 as an element of the 8th Division. During 
World War II, the regiment participated in three European campaigns; 
the Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace and the Central European campaigns. The 
regiment distinguished itself during the Battle of the Bulge, delaying 
the German 2d SS Panzer Division, which was on a collision course, with 
the American 2d Armored Division. After the war came to a close the 
333d remained on occupation duty until January 1946 when it returned to 
the United States and was deactivated.
  World War II also witnessed the establishment of the 70th Division 
which was constituted on January 18, 1943, and activated on June 15, 
1943, at Camp Adair OR. The unit designation, ``Trailblazers'' was 
adopted by the unit because the State of Oregon was celebrating the 
100th anniversary of the Old Oregon Trail at the time the 70th was 
formed.
  Then and today, members of the 70th Division wear a distinctive red, 
white, and green shoulder patch. The axe on the patch is a tribute to 
the pioneers who traveled the Oregon Trail to the Williamette Valley, 
the site of Camp Adair. The snowy mountain represents Oregon's Mount 
Hood and the green fir tree symbolizes the 91st Infantry Division--the 
Fir Tree Division--from which the commissioned and noncommissioned 
officers of the 70th Division were drawn prior to its activation.
  On October 11, 1945, after completing its World War II European 
occupation mission, the 70th Division was inactivated. The unit was 
reactivated on March 1, 1952, at Detroit, MI, as the Headquarters and 
Headquarters Company, 70th Division (Training). Livonia, MI, is the 
present location of 70th Division headquarters. The 1st Brigade is 
located in Inkster, MI. The 2d Brigade is based in Flint, MI, with a 
battalion located in Waterford, MI. The 3d and 4th Brigades are located 
in Fort Wayne and Camp Atterbury, IN, respectively. Finally, the 
Training Group is located in Fraser, MI.
  After World War II, the 333d Regiment was reorganized and 
redesignated in 1952 as the 333d Infantry Regiment, assigned to the 
70th Infantry Division. In 1961, the 1st and 3d Battalions of the 333d 
Regiment, moved to their present location at the Guy M. Wilson U.S. 
Army Reserve Center. The 2d Battalion was assigned to Pontiac, MI. The 
current mission of the 333d Regiment is to prepare and train soldiers 
to be fully ready combat soldiers by means of Infantry One Station Unit 
Training at Fort Benning, GA.
  In 1991, the 2d Battalion, 333d Regiment was activated in support of 
Operation Desert Storm. The battalion conducted refresher training for 
recently reactivated soldiers that had been discharged for 1 year or 
less.
  The 2d Brigade which consists of the 1st, 2d, and 3d Battalions of 
the 333d Regiment, was constituted on January 18, 1943, as the 
Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 883d Field Artillery Battalion, 
an element of the 70th Infantry Division at Camp Adair.
  It has been my pleasure to have the 2d Brigade housed within the 
Ninth Congressional District. At their invitation, I became a member of 
the employer support for the Guard and Reserves. We have worked 
together to foster a cooperative relationship between soldiers, their 
employers, and the Army Reserves.
  The community calls upon the 2d Brigade frequently to support various 
civic events. One such event is the annual flag raising ceremony that 
takes place on Veterans Day on the front lawn of the city hall in 
Flint. The brigade has always worked hard to fulfill requests for 
support from the community, usually providing us with more support than 
was requested. I consider them to be a valuable asset to the community 
and look forward to working with them in the years to come.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my fellow Members of the 103d 
Congress join me in saluting the soldiers of the 2d Brigade. It is my 
sincere privilege to represent this outstanding unit which has become 
an integral part of the Flint community.

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