196th Infantry Brigade ( United States ) The 196th Infantry Brigade ( " Chargers " ) , also known as the Charger Brigade was first formed on 24 June 1921 as part of the United States Army Reserve ' s 98th Division with the responsibility of training soldiers . World War II . During World War II , the 98th initially defended Kauai , Hawaii and Maui , Hawaii , and finally responsible for defending Oahu , Hawaii later in the war . The Division began intensive training in May 1945 to prepare for the invasion of Japan , but the war ended before they could depart Hawaii . However , the unit arrived in Japan for occupation duty as the 3rd Platoon , 98th Reconnaissance Troop Mechanized , of the 98th Infantry Division , where it eventually was inactivated on 16 February 1946 , in Charlotte , NC . Vietnam . 15 July 1966 – June 1972 . The 196th LIB was reactivated again in September 1965 at Fort Devens , where it was originally scheduled to be sent to the Dominican Republic , but was rushed to Vietnam on 15 July 1966 via transport ships , it was the first US Army infantry unit arriving on 14 August 1966 in Tay Ninh City , where it began combat operations in the western area of the III Corps Tactical Zone . The 196th conducted Operation Cedar Falls , Gadsden , Lancaster , Operation Junction City , Benton , and Operation Attleboro ( War Zone C of Tay Ninh Province ) , where it turned into a major action after a large enemy base camp was found on 19 October 1966 . In April 1967 , the 196th was selected , along with the 1st Brigade , 101st Airborne Division and the 3rd Brigade , 25th Infantry Division , to form a temporary division unit called Task Force Oregon , where it was moved to the I Corps Tactical Zone . The brigade became part of the 23rd Infantry Division ( the Americal Division ) on 25 September 1967 , and participated in Operation Wheeler / Wallowa , Golden Fleece , Fayette Canyon , Frederick Hill , Lamar Plain , Elk Canyon I , and Elk Canyon II . In early May 1968 , the 2 / 1 of the 196th was flown in to assist at the Battle of Kham Duc . On 29 November 1971 , the 196th became a separate temporary entity to safeguard this same area of operations . In April 1971 , the 196th moved to Da Nang to assist in port security duties , and finally left Vietnam on 29 June 1972 as the last combat brigade to leave in Vietnam . The brigade suffered 1 , 188 KIA , and 5 , 591 WIA in Vietnam . Operations as a separate Brigade ( 15 July 1966 – 25 September 1967 ) Operations as a part of the Americal Division ( 25 September 1967 – June 1972 ) Headquarters locations during the Vietnam War ORDER OF BATTLE Brigade Infantry & Brigade Artillery Brigade Reconnaissance Brigade Support Post Vietnam . On 26 May 1998 , the 196th was reactivated during a ceremony at Fort Shafter , Hawaii . The new brigade assists reserve units in Hawaii , Alaska , Guam , American Samoa , Arizona , and Saipan , as a Training Support Brigade , providing support to Reserve Component Forces throughout the Pacific area . Since 2001 , the 196th Infantry Brigade has trained nearly 10 , 000 Soldiers that deployed to support combat operations in Iraq , Afghanistan , Horn of Africa , and the Southern Philippines . The 196th Infantry Brigade also supports annual USARPAC and JCS Theater Security Cooperation Program ( TSCP ) exercises such as Balikatan , Cobra Gold , Yama Sakura , Talisman Saber , Garuda Shield , and Terminal Fury . The brigade also exercises training and readiness oversight ( TRO ) for the Hawaii , Guam , and Alaska Civil Support Teams . Annually the 196th Infantry Brigade conducts " Kaimalu O Hawaii " and " Konfitma " All Hazard CST Field Training Exercises in Hawaii and Saipan respectively . In 2007 , the 196th Infantry Brigade was awarded the Army Superior Unit Award for its support to the War on Terror in preparing RC units and Soldiers for combat duty . As of 2012 , the 196th Infantry Brigade consisted of :