11th Infantry Brigade

11th Infantry Brigade
11th Brigade shoulder sleeve insignia
Active	1917–1921 1967–1971
Country	United States
Allegiance	United States Army
Branch	Active Duty
Type	Infantry Brigade
Role	Light Infantry
Size	Brigade
Engagements	World War I Vietnam
Insignia
Distinctive Unit Insignia

The 11th Infantry Brigade (Light) was an infantry brigade of the United States Army. It was first formed as part of the United States Army's 6th Division during World War I. It is best known for its service with the 23rd Infantry Division (Americal) in the Vietnam War. It was active from 1967 through 1971. The brigade is known for its responsibility in the infamous My Lai Massacre and many of its former servicemen were interviewed in the iconic documentary Four Hours in My Lai.

History

World War 1

Activated: November 1917

Elements:

• 51st Infantry Regiment
• 52nd Infantry Regiment
• 16th Machine-Gun Battalion
• 11th Field Artillery Battalion

Overseas: June 1918 Days of combat: 43 Returned to U.S.: June 1919 Deactivated: 30 September 1921 at Camp Grant, Illinois

Brigade Headquarters was inactive through World War II after the US Army reorganized its Divisions from 2 brigades of 2 regiments (the Square Division), into one of 3 regiments with no brigades (the Triangular Division) concept.

Vietnam

The brigade was organized as a separate Infantry Brigade at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii as the first element of the 6th Infantry Division. The 6th Infantry Division was scheduled to be activated for deployment to Vietnam but Secretary of Defense McNamara cancelled its activation. The 11th Infantry Brigade was deployed, and during the Vietnam War served in the United States Army's 23rd Infantry Division (called the Americal Division). Elements of the Brigade were responsible for the My Lai massacre where members of the brigade's 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment murdered between 340 and 500 civilians in 1968.

ORDER OF BATTLE

• Headquarters & Headquarters Company
• 3rd Battalion, 1st Infantry
• 4th Battalion, 3rd Infantry
• 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry
• 4th Battalion, 21st Infantry
• 6th Battalion, 11th Artillery
• 6th Support Battalion
• 6th Engineer Company
• Troop E, 1st Cavalry

References

• Summers, Harry G. Historical Atlas of the Vietnam War. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company.
• "The Brigade: A History, Its Organization and Employment in the US Army"