198th Americal Division

• Origins: The 198th Infantry Brigade was a component of the Americal Division (officially the 23rd Infantry Division) during the Vietnam War, activated on 24 June 1967 at Fort Hood, Texas. • Deployment: The brigade deployed to Vietnam in 1967, reinforcing the Americal Division in the I Corps Tactical Zone, operating primarily in the Quang Ngai and Quang Tin provinces. • Task Organization: The 198th included the 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry; 1st Battalion, 46th Infantry; 1st Battalion, 52nd Infantry; and the 5th Battalion, 46th Infantry. • Operation Wheeler/Wallowa: The 198th played a significant role in the joint Operation Wheeler/Wallowa (1967-1968), aimed at disrupting North Vietnamese Army infiltration in the region. • Battle of Kham Duc: In May 1968, elements of the 198th fought in the intense Battle of Kham Duc, one of the largest evacuations of American forces during the Vietnam War. • My Lai Massacre: The notorious My Lai Massacre (March 16, 1968), one of the darkest episodes of the Vietnam War, was perpetrated by members of Company C, 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry, which was attached to the 198th Brigade. • Decorations: The 198th and its subordinate units earned numerous unit citations and individual valor awards, including Distinguished Service Crosses and Silver Stars. • Combined Operations: The brigade often worked closely with South Vietnamese Army (ARVN) units, local militias, and U.S. Marine Corps units to secure territory and carry out pacification operations. • Casualties: The brigade sustained significant casualties during its Vietnam deployment, reflecting the intensity of combat operations in I Corps. • Deactivation: The 198th Infantry Brigade was inactivated along with the Americal Division on 29 November 1971 as U.S. forces withdrew from Vietnam.