[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6911]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              IN RECOGNITION OF THE 199TH INFANTRY BRIGADE

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 23, 2016

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
the 199th Infantry Brigade unit of Fort Benning for their 
accomplishments in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam war. The 50th 
anniversary of the activation of this courageous and noble unit is on 
June 1, 2016.
  The 199th Infantry Brigade, also known as the Redcatchers, was 
reactivated on June 1, 1966 at Fort Benning, Georgia as the only 
``separate'' and ``light'' infantry brigade to serve in Southeast Asia 
during the Vietnam war. It also became the first integrated combat 
command in the history of the United States Army when Frederic E. 
Davison was named Brigade Commander on September 1, 1968. He went on to 
become the first African American to be promoted to Major General in 
the Army and commanded the 8th Infantry Division and the Military 
District of Washington. General Davison was the first African American 
to command a combat brigade, a division, and the Military District of 
Washington, in addition to being the first African American to attend 
and graduate from the Army War College. The members of 199th Infantry 
Brigade were truly groundbreaking in the way they helped to integrate 
the U.S. Army.
  The Redcatchers were a distinguished and honorable brigade that 
received many merits. The brigade earned several unit awards including 
the Presidential Unit Citation, Valorous Unit Award, the Meritorious 
Unit Commendation, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, 
and the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal. Four members of 
the brigade were awarded the Medal of Honor, including Captain Angelo 
J. Liteky, a battalion chaplain, for his actions in saving the lives of 
wounded soldiers. Brigade General William R. Bond was the only 
commanding general killed in ground combat in the Vietnam War.
  The 199th Infantry Brigade was disbanded in 1970 but on June 27, 
2007, the 11th Infantry Regiment was redesignated as the 199th Infantry 
Brigade at Fort Benning, Georgia. Today, the Brigade is responsible for 
the Infantry and Armor Branch Basic Officer Leadership Courses. The 
Brigade trains all the maneuver company commanders for all of the U.S. 
Army combat formations. In addition, the Brigade is responsible for the 
International Military Student Office, the Directorate of Training, and 
the Maneuver Center of Excellence Band.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in recognizing the 
members of the 199th Infantry Brigade for their steadfast courage and 
commitment to serving our country during the Vietnam war. The 
Redcatchers made significant contributions in safeguarding our 
liberties fifty years ago and we honor their outstanding valor and 
patriotic service that has helped make America the great nation it is 
today.

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