32nd Infantry Brigade

• Origins: The 32nd Infantry Brigade traces its lineage to the famed 32nd "Red Arrow" Division, a storied unit from World War I and II. • Red Arrow Symbol: The brigade’s distinctive red arrow insignia symbolizes its ability to pierce every enemy line it faced during World War I. • World War I Service: Soldiers from the 32nd Division saw heavy combat in France, earning the nickname "Les Terribles" from the French for their fierce fighting spirit. • World War II Pacific Theater: The 32nd Infantry Division fought for 654 days in combat, more than any other U.S. Army division during the war, especially in New Guinea and the Philippines. • Reorganization: After WWII, the division was inactivated and later reorganized into the 32nd Infantry Brigade, continuing the Red Arrow legacy within the National Guard. • Cold War Role: During the Cold War, the brigade was on alert as a major component of the Wisconsin Army National Guard, ready to deploy against the Warsaw Pact if needed. • Bosnia Deployment: Elements of the brigade participated in peacekeeping operations in Bosnia as part of Operation Joint Forge in the late 1990s. • Iraq War Service: The 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team was mobilized and deployed to Iraq in 2009, marking one of the largest deployments for the Wisconsin National Guard since WWII. • Modern Structure: The brigade is now known as the 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT), a modular, rapidly deployable unit equipped for diverse missions including combat and humanitarian assistance. • Community Ties: The brigade maintains strong connections with Wisconsin communities, often participating in local events, disaster responses, and maintaining a tradition of citizen-soldiery.