ABOUT 199th Light Infantry Brigade
- Vietnam War Activation: The 199th Light Infantry Brigade, also known as the "Redcatchers," was activated on 1 June 1966 at Fort Benning, Georgia, specifically for service in the Vietnam War.
- Distinctive Shoulder Patch: The brigade's shoulder sleeve insignia features a red bayonet, symbolizing offensive infantry action, on a white background with a blue border.
- Rapid Deployment: The 199th was one of the first major American combat units to deploy to Vietnam, arriving in December 1966 and setting up base operations near Long Binh.
- Counterinsurgency Role: The brigade specialized in counterinsurgency, patrolling, search and destroy missions, and pacification operations near Saigon and in the III Corps Tactical Zone.
- Tet Offensive Action: During the 1968 Tet Offensive, elements of the 199th helped defend Saigon, engaging in intense urban combat and helping to repel enemy forces from the city.
- Medal of Honor Recipients: Two soldiers from the brigade, Specialist Four Robert C. Murray and Sergeant First Class Eugene Ashley Jr., were awarded the Medal of Honor for their heroic actions during the Vietnam War.
- Operation Uniontown: The brigade participated in Operation Uniontown, which focused on securing the vital area around Long Binh and Bien Hoa, protecting key U.S. installations.
- Heavy Combat Losses: The 199th suffered significant casualties during its Vietnam deployment, with over 750 men killed in action and more than 4,000 wounded.
- Deactivation and Legacy: The brigade returned to the United States and was inactivated on 15 October 1970, but its veterans remain active, holding annual reunions and maintaining a strong unit association.
- Redcatcher Nickname: The "Redcatcher" nickname reflected the unit’s mission to "catch" or defeat communist (red) forces, and this identity is still proudly upheld by veterans and in commemorations today.