1st Battalion 22nd Infantry Inactivation 2014

1st Battalion 22nd Infantry

Inactivation of 1-22 Infantry

March 17, 2014

On March 17, 2014, the 1st Raider Brigade of the 4th Infantry Division transferred from a heavy Armored Brigade Combat Team
to a Stryker Brigade Combat Team. Part of that action was the inactivation and reflagging of 1-22 Infantry which became 4-9 Infantry.

The following is the notice posted in the 22nd Infantry Regiment Society Newsletter
announcing the inactivation of 1st Battalion:

1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry to be inactivated

As of this writing on 1 February 2014, 1-22 Infantry is slated to be inactivated on 17 March 2014 as part of the Army downsizing
by ten Brigade Combat Teams. Also scheduled for inactivation is our long-supporting artillery battalion, 4-42 Field Artillery.
Having to report this to all who served in 1-22 Infantry and 4-42 Field Artillery is a task I wish I didn't have to do.

I have talked to the current battalion commander, the brigade commander, and other active duty personnel in positions
to influence the decision and know that this is outside of our control. We will not be able to stop it. A strong case was made
over the past several months to keep our battalion active, but the reality of today's downsizing of the Army does not allow that.

Although I don't have any specifics on how decisions were made as to which units remained active in the Army and which
are slated to be inactivated, I do believe that they had a fair and consistent methodology and tried to keep at least one battalion active
from as many Regiments as possible under the downsized structure of the Army. For example, the 22nd Infantry Regiment will still
be active, with 2-22 Infantry remaining active as part of 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, NY, where they have been for a long time.

LTC Mick Mineni, CO of 1-22 for the past two months, has assured me that the transition of 1-22 IN to the new designation
of the unit will be done with respect and keeping the tradition of 1-22 alive. The current plan is for a 25 mile march to be conducted
at Fort Carson on Tuesday, 11 March, which will incorporate much of the history of 1-22 IN to give the Soldiers one last time
to reflect on the unit's history and accomplishments. Plans are also in place to make sure all the unit's historical memorabilia
and property is properly accounted for and stored until the unit is reactivated at some future date. Our 1-22 webmaster,
Michael Belis, and I, along with former 1-22 CO Mark Woempner are working with the unit to insure nothing of historical value is lost.

Once the inactivation of 1-22 Infantry is done on 17 March, the same Soldiers will stand up under the flag of their new unit -
the 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment "Manchus", and will begin training as part of a new 4ID Stryker brigade. The entire
1st Brigade Combat Team of the 4th Infantry Division will become a Stryker brigade instead of a mechanized combined arms brigade.

Many of you will say, what can we do to block this action. I truly believe that the decisions have been made and there is nothing
we could have done or can do to change it. What I do believe we all can do is contact your US Senator and Congressman
to express your concern about how our government is cutting the Army to a level that ignores the reality of the world situation today.
The problem, in my opinion, is much bigger than trying to save the battalions that we served with - our entire national defense is being exposed.

In 1946, when the 4ID and all our Regiments were inactivated at Camp Butner, NC, after their stellar action in WWII,
there was much sadness, as expressed in a letter written by our founder Chaplain Bill Boice. But, that sadness was shortlived.
In 1947, the 4ID and our Regiments were again reactivated and have served non-stop since then. I believe world events will,
before too many years, cause us to once again see our 1-22 IN and 4-42 FA colors called back onto the active rolls of the Army.
As we all know, the only constant is change.

P.S. LTC Mineni told me that they will continue to live the "Deeds not Words" motto of the 22nd Infantry Regiment -
he believes our motto describes well his view of how all people should act. And, the new motto that will come with the
4-9 Infantry Manchus is "Keep up the Fire" - something that we all need to do to support our one remaining active duty unit,
2-22 IN at Fort Drum.

Bob Babcock, DMOR

Lt. Col. Michael Mineni, commander, left, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division,
leads his battalion colors and Soldiers of Headquarters and Headquarters Company to the end of a “Manchu” 25-mile foot march, March 13, 2014.
The foot march marked the end of the battalion as 1st Bn., 22nd Inf. Reg. “Regulars” and signified the impending conversion
to 4th Bn., 9th Inf. Reg. “Manchus” Monday.

(Ed. The Battalion Colors and Guidon on the march are still those of 1st Battalion 22nd Infantry.)

(Photo by Staff Sgt. Craig Cantrell)

By Staff Sgt. Craig Cantrell

1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division

The “Regular” Battalion marked the unit’s conversion from 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment,
to 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, with a “Manchu” 25-mile foot march, March 12-13.

The event began the night of March 12 and carried on into the next day, culminating with a buckle ceremony.

“Last night, the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, stepped out for the last time under its colors, paying honors to everything
that this transition represents with a 25-mile foot march, where every company carried the battalion colors as a symbol of honor,”
said Command Sgt. Maj. Eric Volk, senior enlisted leader, 1st Bn., 22nd Inf. Reg.

The battalion transition is part of the 1st ABCT’s conversion to the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team.

Lt. Col. Michael Mineni, commander, 1st Bn., 22nd Inf. Reg., said his battalion has a proud history as Regulars
and would move forward with that pride as “Manchus.”

The Manchu Mile commemorates the 85-mile march the 9th Inf. Reg. made during the Boxer Rebellion in early July 1900,
from Taku Bar to Tientsin in Northern China, for its assault on Tientsin July 13, 1900. The Manchus immediately went
into action in an effort to rescue the besieged foreign diplomats and missionaries from insurgent Boxers. The regiment
earned the honorary title “Manchus,” reserved for the finest Chinese warriors.

“I have walked a lot of 25-milers in my day, and I have never seen Soldiers display as much heart and drive to complete a foot march,
be a part of a team, and earn the prestigious belt buckle,” said Volk.

The 9th Inf. Reg. boasts the distinction of being authorized a unique belt buckle from General Order No. 5, dated June 25, 1926,
that it earned during the Battle of Tientsin.

“It means a lot to me to honor the Regulars after four years of service, become a Manchu, and continue the heroic history
of this regiment,” said Sgt. Kevin Brandsasse, indirect fire infantryman, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Bn., 22nd Inf. Reg.

**********************

March 17, 2014
On left Executive Officer of 1-22 Infantry, on right LTC (Retired) Mark Woempner ,
former Commander of 1-22 Infantry in the Regimental Room of 1-22 Infantry
at Fort Carson, Colorado on the day of inactivation. All of the items displaying
the history of 1st Battalion and the 22nd Infantry Regiment which had been in the room
for the past five years had been packed for shipping to 2-22 Infantry at Fort Drum,
New York. Many of those items wil be displayed at Fort Drum, and the rest will be
sent to the Army Center of Military History for possible future use.

Photo by Bob Babcock

March 17, 2014
The final entries in the Daily Journal of 1-22 Infantry for March 17, 2014.
The last two entries are the signatures of LTC (Retired) Mark Woempner, Commander of 1-22 Infantry 2001-2003
and of Robert Babcock, 3rd Platoon Leader and Executive Officer of Company B 1/22 Infantry 1965-1967.
Those two entries signified the last activity of 1-22 Infantry, and the designation of the Battalion was marked out
at the top of the Journal and changed to 4-9 Infantry.

Photo by Bob Babcock

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