Photo By Sgt. Logan Ubaldo Lechuga | 90th Sustainment Brigade soldiers pose for a photo with the historic quadrangle at...... read more read more
SAN ANTONIO—The 90th Sustainment Brigade’s “Task Force Tough ‘Ombres” is the latest chapter in a legacy that has come full circle, starting at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, in 1917 with World War I, and continuing with the unit’s return to its birthplace to become the first Army Reserve brigade to serve on the southern border mission, October 2024 to November 2025.
Although famous for its D-Day victories in World War II, the 90th Infantry Division was formed for WWI and underwent many reorganizations over the years to finally become the 90th SB, a unit based in North Little Rock, Arkansas, that preserves tradition with the original division’s nickname, “Tough ‘Ombres,” and the same iconic “TO” patch.
“The 90th Sustainment Brigade was selected to command and control over 2,300 soldiers to protect the territorial integrity of the United States by gaining 100% operational control of the U.S. southern border,” said Task Force Tough ‘Ombres commander, Col. Robin E. Ernstrom. “Our soldiers have been on this deployment for over a year and are proud every day to protect our homeland.”
Task Force Tough ‘Ombres began its southern border deployment at Fort Bliss, Texas, but relocated to Fort Sam Houston in April 2025 to occupy buildings near the 90th ID’s original 1917 home.
Ernstrom stated the 90th SB is the first U.S. Army Reserve brigade headquarters to assume command and control of 1,954 miles of the U.S. southern border. In October 2024, the brigade assumed command of units along the border from San Diego, California, to Brownsville, Texas. Its area of responsibility shifted between Del Rio, Texas, and Brownsville in March 2025 when Joint Task Force-Southern Border assumed authority over the southern border mission from Joint Task Force-North.
Army Reserve, active Army, and Army National Guard units from twelve states served under the brigade on the southern border. It also partnered with U.S. Border Patrol, the Mexican military, and other military branches to conduct enhanced detection and monitoring, patrols, brush clearing and barrier emplacements.
“Our mission demonstrated how the U.S. Army Reserve and the Army National Guard components can work together, sharing best practices and lessons learned to continually improve the readiness of future units mobilized in support of the southern border mission,” said Ernstrom. “We also improved our partnership with the 47th Mexican Military Zone and the 8th Mexican Military Zone by sharing intelligence, conducting operational meetings, and executing deliberate mirrored patrols in support of our named operations.”
Even within the 90th SB’s southern border task force, there was a unique partnership between soldiers who were organic to the unit’s home station in North Little Rock and soldiers who joined the unit for the mission.
Staff Sgt. Colby Keeling, an intelligence analyst for Task Force Tough ‘Ombres, said he’s proud to wear the unit patch for the rich history it represents. He’s been in the 90th SB for several years and has twice represented the Tough ‘Ombres at D-Day celebrations in Normandy, France.
Keeling saw firsthand where the 90th ID landed at Utah Beach in WWII and the impact it made on Europe. He said French children are taught about the Tough ‘Ombres in school, and civilians in France frequently recognize the unit patch.
“We kept the name and kept the patch because of tradition,” said Keeling. “Because it’s got so much historic value.”
The “TO” patch originally referred to “Texas and Oklahoma” because the original 90th ID soldiers came from those two states, but WWII changed the patch’s meaning when Gen. George Patton nicknamed the unit’s soldiers “Tough ‘Ombres.”
Patton’s great-granddaughter recognized the patch Keeling was wearing during a D-Day celebration and invited him to Camp Patton, a memorial site in Normandy, and he said it is well known in Patton’s family that the famous general celebrated the unit after its WWII success, in which it captured six Nazi divisions.
“It’s nice to know that, not only did the Tough ‘Ombres do something that made a huge impact in history, but we’re still making an impact now,” said Keeling. “Brig. Gen. Tomika Seaberry, former commanding general of the 4th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, said that she picked us specifically because we had historic mission success, so she wanted us to step up and do it again.”
Capt. Edward Yi, the task force battle captain, agrees with Keeling that the unit achieved mission success. According to Yi and Keeling, illegal activity at the border dropped significantly under the Tough ‘Ombres’ watch, and conditions improved north of the border. They both mentioned how well their teams adapted and completed jobs they were trained to do after extensive changes JTF-SB implemented in April.
Yi has not been in the 90th SB for as long as Keeling, but prior to the deployment, he learned about the unit history by visiting its museum in North Little Rock.
Soldiers serving on the border mission have had opportunities to witness more Tough ‘Ombres history in San Antonio. The 90th ID has a place in Fort Sam Houston’s museum, and the Texas Memorial Highway System recognizes a portion of U.S. Highway 90 in San Antonio as “90th Infantry Division Highway.” Across from the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, granite monuments stand in front of the Stilwell Reserve Center to commemorate the Tough ‘Ombres’ service in the Persian Gulf War, at which time the unit was known as the 90th Army Reserve Command.
“I am proud to wear the 90th patch for the southern border mission,” said Yi. “I think it’s a monumental time for the 90th to come back to Fort Sam Houston, the site of its proud history.”
Staff Sgt. Tammy Harrell, a human resources specialist with the task force, mentioned she visited the unit museum four times, and she’s witnessed retired soldiers visit the museum in North Little Rock in remembrance of their service.
“Seeing their sense of pride, and learning about the missions they participated in,” said Harrell, “I can understand why this Tough ‘Ombres patch means a lot to the service members who came before me.”
Harrell’s role in the southern border deployment was vital. She coordinated soldiers’ arrivals and departures, making sure their records, benefits, assignments and awards were handled correctly. She ensured soldiers from 21 units received proper mission details prior to arriving at each of their locations.
Harrell said her experiences with Task Force Tough ‘Ombres have become memories she wants to share with her family and future generations.
“It’s a full-circle moment to come back to San Antonio, and we’re the first reserve unit to be over the border mission,” said Harrell. “It falls in line with the character of what the Tough ‘Ombres stand for, adding to the legacy. That we are part of a history-making unit. We can carry that with us.”
| Date Taken: | 11.13.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 11.16.2025 17:09 |
| Story ID: | 551237 |
| Location: | SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, US |
| Hometown: | JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, TEXAS, US |
| Hometown: | NORTH LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS, US |
| Web Views: | 299 |
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