72nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team ( United States ) The 72nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team is a unit of the Texas Army National Guard and is subordinate to the 36th Infantry Division . Early history . The 72nd Infantry Brigade was organized at Camp Bowie , Texas , in July , 1917 . A unit of the 36th Infantry Division , the 72nd Brigade included the 3rd and 4th Texas Infantry Regiments . These regiment s served on the Mexico - United States border during the Pancho Villa Expedition , and then were organized and federalized for World War I as the 133rd Machine Gun Battalion , and 143rd and 144th Infantry Regiments . World War I . The 72nd Brigade arrived in France in July , 1918 , and took part in the Meuse - Argonne Offensive of September , October and November which led to the German surrender . In early 1919 the 72nd Brigade was mustered out at Camp Bowie . Post World War I . When the National Guard was reorganized following passage of the National Defense Act of 1920 , the 36th Infantry Division was continued as a Texas National Guard organization , with the 72nd Brigade as a subordinate command . The Army discontinued machine gun battalions , and the 72nd Brigade consisted of the 143rd and 144th Infantry Regiments . World War II . The 36th Division , including the 72nd Brigade , was federalized in 1940 for service during World War II . A 1942 restructuring led to the Army discontinuing the use of brigade headquarters in favor of regiments reporting directly to the division headquarters , and Headquarters , 72nd Brigade was inactivated , though its regiments continued as part of the 36th Infantry Division , and saw combat in North Africa , Italy , and France , as well as in the Pacific Theater . Post World War II and Cold War . Following World War II the National Guard ’ s reorganization included the fielding of several Armored divisions in anticipation of tank warfare against the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics to defend Western Europe . One of these Armored divisions , the 49th , was allocated to Texas and formed around what had been the 72nd Infantry Brigade . The 49th Armored Division continued in service until 1968 , and was activated during the 1961 Berlin crisis . A 1968 National Guard reorganization led to the inactivation of the 49th Armored Division and the reactivation of the 72nd Infantry Brigade . In 1973 another reorganization caused the reactivation of the 49th Armored Division and inactivation of the 72nd Infantry Brigade . The 49th Armored Division was inactivated and reflagged as the 36th Infantry Division in 2004 , and the 72nd Brigade was reactivated . In 2005 and 2006 the Army ’ s conversion to modular brigades included the 72nd Brigade ’ s reorganization as an Infantry Brigade Combat Team . Global War on Terror . 72nd Infantry Brigade soldiers and units have carried out numerous active duty missions as part of the Global War on Terrorism , including activations and deployments for Operations Noble Eagle , Enduring Freedom , Iraqi Freedom and . 3rd Battalion , 141st Infantry served in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2001 as part of the Stabilization Force . In 2005 - 2006 , 800 Soldiers of 3d Battalion , 141st Infantry Regiment , 72d Brigade , 36th Infantry Division deployed to Afghanistan for combat operations . The Battalion was attached to the 504th Infantry Regiment of the 82d Airborne Division . The 72nd Brigade served in Iraq in 2010 , providing security details and mentoring members of the Iraqi Army and Police as they assumed full responsibility for security at Iraq ’ s borders and within the country . Task organization . As of 2013 the 72nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team ’ s task organization includes :