38th Sustainment Brigade The 38th Sustainment Brigade is a sustainment brigade of the United States Army National Guard in Indiana . The former 38th Division Support Command ( DISCOM ) , along with several other support units , transformed into the 38th Sustainment Brigade in 2007 . When this transformation began , the unit ' s headquarters shifted from Indianapolis , Indiana to Kokomo , Indiana . The 38th Infantry Division distinctive unit insignia was used by members of this unit until the current design was approved in May 2009 . Service history . The 38th Sustainment Brigade ’ s origins go back to the Mexican Border Crisis , as a combat arms company . The Indiana National Guard unit was organized and Federally recognized on June 3 , 1916 as Headquarters Company , 3rd Battalion , 2nd Infantry in Indianapolis . From June 28 through July 9 , 1916 , the unit was mustered into Federal service in support of Mexican Border service . After nearly eight months , they were mustered out of Federal service on February 21 – 26 , 1917 . Only several weeks later , they were again called upon and entered Federal service on March 25 , 1917 , for World War I . Upon arrival at Camp Shelby , Miss . , they were redesignated as Headquarters Company , 3rd Battalion , 152nd Infantry , a company of the 38th Division . The 38th Infantry Division arrived in Europe in October 1918 and was dispersed ( or “ skeletonized ” ) into units already fighting on the front line . After the Armistice was signed , they were demobilized March 8 , 1919 , at Camp Taylor , Kentucky After World War I , Hqtrs . Co . , 3rd Battalion , 152nd Infantry were reorganized and Federally recognized September 22 , 1921 , at Indianapolis . Subsequently , they went through two changes prior to World War II , including • Redesignated January 1 , 1922 as Headquarters Company , 1st Battalion , 151st Infantry • Reorganized and redesignated March 20 , 1934 as Headquarters Company , 151st Infantry Regiment . They were inducted into Federal service on January 17 , 1941 , at Indianapolis , for World War II . The 38th Division was also redesignated February 10 , 1942 , as 38th Infantry Division . The 38th Division conducted three years of training at Camp Shelby , Miss . , as their mission had changed from the European Theatre to the Pacific Theatre , subsequent to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor , Hawaii . The 38th departed for Hawaii , in January 1944 , for additional training , and security operations . The next stop was Oro Bay , New Guinea , for more jungle training and a few encounters with the Japanese , in which the unit quickly dispatched the enemy . From there the Division headed to Leyte , where they engaged in a fierce battle with the Japanese in December 1944 . The next landing , Luzon , was to be their assault landing , however ground troops in the area had already made the area safe , and they were met by Filipinos with baskets of food . The rest of the tour was more like Leyte . The 38th Infantry Division was assigned the M - 7 Operation , which was supposed to complete the eradication of the Japanese in the Philippine Peninsula and Islands in Manila Bay . This was to be conducted in five phases , which included clearing Highway 1 in the north , the Fort Stotsenburg area in the very south ( initiated by the landing at Mariveles ) , the Zambales Mountains between , and the Islands of Caraballo , Carabao , and El Fraille ( Fort Drum ) . Headquarters Company , 151st Infantry Regiment , was responsible for overseeing the missions of the 151st Infantry Regiment , which consisted of three battalions . The 151st , along with the 152nd and 149th Infantry Regiments , was involved in the clearing of Highway 1 . The battle , now called “ The Battle of Zig Zag Pass , ” was a bloody standstill between the Japanese and the 38th Division ’ s Infantry Regiments . The 38th Infantry Division prevailed . The 151st was also involved in the clearing of the Zambales Mountains , as well as the Island Operations . In February 1945 , the Philippine Peninsula was declared clear of the Japanese . Legend has it on this day General Douglas C . MacArthur declared the 38th Infantry Division , “ The Avengers of Bataan ” . The nickname stuck for five decades , and in 2011 , the Center of Military History granted the “ nickname ” as the 38th Infantry Divisions “ Distinctive Designation ” . Once Big Boy and Fat Man rained their devastation on Hiroshima and Nagasaki the Empire of Japan unconditionally surrendered . The Japanese on the Philippine Peninsula surrendered to the 38th Infantry Division . By June 1945 , the 38th Infantry Division had completed operations . By November 1945 , they had returned to the US through Camp Anza , Cal . , and then went home to Indiana . After World War II , National Guard units across the nation had to undergo Federal recognition inspections . For Headquarters Company 151st Infantry Regiment this occurred July 29 , 1947 , at Indianapolis . On February 1 , 1959 , Headquarters Company 151st Infantry Regiment was reorganized into a Combat Support element as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment , 38th Infantry Division Trains . The unit would undergo two more major reorganizations to become the sustainment element it is today . The first one occurred March 1 , 1963 , which reorganized and redesignated Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment , 38th Infantry Division Trains as Headquarters , Headquarters Company , 38th Infantry Division Support Command ( DISCOM ) . The maintenance aspect of sustainment was added when HHC 38th Infantry Division Support Command was consolidated with 38th Infantry Division Material Management Center on September 1 , 1993 . In May 2006 , HHC Division Support Command was ordered into active Federal service in support of the Global War on Terrorism , Operation Iraqi Freedom . This was the first time in Indiana National Guard history that a brigade - echelon unit was deployed with a female commander , Col . Marjorie Courtney . Under the name " Task Force Indy " – HHC DiSCOM served as the Garrison Command for Victory Base Complex in Baghdad . DiSCOM was released from active Federal service in November 2007 and reverted to state control . On September 1 , 2008 , HHC DiSCOM went from a “ Support ” element to a “ Sustainment ” element when it was expanded , reorganized , and redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company , 38th Sustainment Brigade . This reorganization would also make the 38th Sustainment Brigade a “ separate ” brigade ( not doctrinally aligned to a specific division ) . This status authorized the Brigade a new Shoulder Sleeve Insignia ( SSI ) , Distinctive Unit Insignia ( DUI ) and Motto . Drawing from their 38th Infantry Division roots , the brigade included elements of the 38th ID in both the DUI , and SSI , including the red and blue background on both the SSI and DUI , the cloverleaf on the DUI , and the three stripes on the SSI , which signify the three wars that the unit participated in as a part of the 38th ID ( WWI , WWII , and GWOT ) . The brigade also adopted the nickname , “ Avengers , ” which alludes back to the 38th ID ’ s distinctive designation , “ Avengers of Bataan . ” The Avengers were activated again for Federal Service in Support of Operation Enduring Freedom on August 26 , 2012 . Their mission was to perform sustainment operations throughout the Kuwait theatre and facilitate the drawdown of troops from Afghanistan . It would also be the first time in Indiana National Guard history that the commander and the command sergeant major were both female , Col . Deedra Thombleson and Cmd Sgt Maj Karolyn Peeler . In June 2013 the Brigade was relieved from its deployment to Kuwait , and demobilized through North Fort Hood , TX . They will be relieved by the 371st Sustainment Brigade ( United States ) , Ohio Army National Guard . Campaign Streamers . World War I Streamer without inscription World War II New Guinea Leyte Luzon ( with arrowhead ) Global War on Terrorism TBD Unit Decorations . Philippine Presidential Unit Citation , Streamer embroidered 17 OCTOBER 1944 TO 4 JULY 1945 Meritorious Unit Commendation , Streamer embroidered PHILIPPINE ISLANDS 1945