Photo By Staff Sgt. Christopher Moore | Col. John Burk, commander of the 158th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, is presented with...... read more read more
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PAPAGO PARK MILITARY RESERVATION, Ariz. – The Headquarters and Headquarters Company from the 158th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade and the 158th Brigade Support Battalion, with the Arizona Army National Guard, as well as several former Bushmasters and family members, participated in an activation ceremony at Bushmaster Field, here, Jan. 8.
Effective Sept. 1, 2010, the brigade was reorganized and designated as the HHC 158th MEB. Today, during the activation ceremony, the 158th MEB was finally recognized with its new designation.
“The activation ceremony serves two purposes,” said Maj. Margaret Bielenberg, the personnel officer-in-charge for the 158th MEB. “First, it affords the commander the opportunity to assess the readiness and discipline of the soldiers. Second, the formal uncasing of the brigade colors marks a defining point to commemorate the continuation of the unit’s history, lineage and honors.”
Besides the unit getting its official colors, they also donned the newly designed and approved unit patch, said Sgt. Roger Bemis, the 158th MEB public affairs specialist.
“Today we acknowledge the lineage and honors of the 158th MEB with a new soldier sleeve insignia, which is rich in symbolism and history,” Bielenberg said during her speech.
The patch contains the deadly bushmaster snake, which is native to the jungles of Central America, curled around a machete, symbolic of service in the Canal Zone, all encased inside a shield. A blue background was added to signify the original unit designation of infantry.
“I feel good about being here today,” said Manuel Felix, a former Bushmaster and rifleman in the 158th Infantry, who trained in the swamps of Panama during his service. “I feel like I am passing the torch to these soldiers and being here today brings back many memories.”
The unit was first constituted June 3, 1916, in the Arizona National Guard as the supply company, 1st Regiment Infantry. Throughout its existence, the unit has gone through many changes and participated in various wars and campaigns.
“This is an exciting day and I’m glad to be a part of such a historic unit that is almost a century old,” said Col. John Burk, brigade commander of the 158th MEB. “This ceremony allows us to remember the military history of the unit and show the continuity of the unit and the battles it was in.”
The unit participation credits include World War I, World War II, the American theater in New Guinea with Arrowhead, Luzon with Arrowhead and the global war on terrorism.
“The unit is most famous for its participation in the Pacific during World War II and really showed how capable the National Guard could be,” Burk said.
The unit’s decorations include the Philippines Presidential Unit Citation 1944-1945, and the Meritorious Unit Citation in March 11, 2006, for their service and support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
This award was added to the unit’s lineage and honor by putting the streamer on their brigade flag.
“The unit provided outstanding support and measurable improvements in life support, quality of life, and safety and force protection for coalition forces and civilians,” Bielenberg said.
| Date Taken: | 01.08.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 03.04.2012 19:17 |
| Story ID: | 84711 |
| Location: | PHOENIX, AZ, US |
| Web Views: | 1,380 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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