1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division

Subdivision of Minnesota National Guard, U.S. June 2015 June 2015 The 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division is an Armored Brigade Combat Team of the Minnesota Army National Guard. It is part of the 34th Infantry Division. 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division 34th 'Red Bull' Infantry Division SSI.svg 170 34th Infantry Division's shoulder sleeve insignia 1861 – present United States 25px United States Army National Guard Armor Brigade Rosemount, Minnesota "Attack, Attack, Attack!" "March of the Red Bull Legions" March of the Red Bull Legions.ogg Play Civil War Bull Run Peninsula Valley Antietam Fredericksburg Gettysburg Petersburg Virginia War with Spain Manila Philippine Insurrection Luzon San Isidro First World War Second World War Tunisia Naples-Foggia Anxio Rome-Arno North Apennines Po Valley War on terror Iraq War French Croix de Guerre with Palm Organized: 29 April 1861 COL Jon A. Jensen,COL Richard C. Nash center|120px Distinctive unit insignia LTC Michael Klaphake Early history thumb|Affidavit of C.M. Lockwood describing the history of Company B, 1st Minnesota Volunteers and the Stillwater Guards.|left The lineage of Headquarters, 1st ABCT, dates back to the American Civil War. A volunteer militia unit, the Stillwater Guards, had been enrolled into Minnesota's organized militia, and in 1861 was called to federal service as Company B, 1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment.St. Croix Valley Civil War Round Table, History of the First Regiment Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, 1861-1864, 2006, page 6 The 1st Minnesota Regiment was reorganized as 1st Battalion, Minnesota Volunteer Infantry in 1864. In February 1865, the battalion was again reformed as the 1st Minnesota Infantry Regiment. The regiment was mustered out in July 1865, following the end of the war.1st Brigade, 34th Infantry Division, Unit History https://web.archive.org/web/20120904195516/http://www.minnesotanationalguard.org/units/134BC/assets/1st_Brigade_Combat_Team_History.pdf 4 September 2012, 2010, page 1 Spanish–American War In 1883, the Minnesota National Guard organized a new Stillwater unit, Company K, 1st Infantry Regiment. This unit served in the Philippines during the Spanish–American War when the regiment was federalized as the 13th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry.Karl Irving Faust, Peter MacQueen, Campaigning in the Philippines, 1899, page 50 In 1912, Company K, 1st Infantry Regiment was re-designated Company K, 3rd Infantry Regiment. The unit was called to federal service in 1916 during the Pancho Villa Expedition. World War I Company K was called to federal service and reorganized in 1917 as Battery F, 125th Field Artillery. The 125th Field Artillery deployed to France and participated in World War I by providing individual replacements to other units. The regiment was demobilized at Camp Dodge, Iowa in 1919.U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, Hearing Record, Inquiry Into Satellite and Missile Programs], Part 2, Biographical sketch, Whitley C. Collins, 1958, page 1883 In 1921 a post-World War I reorganization of the National Guard caused Battery F to be reconfigured as Headquarters, 1st Battalion, 135th Infantry Regiment and Howitzer Company, 135th Infantry.National Guard Bureau, Official National Guard Register, 1922, page 25 World War II The 1st Battalion Headquarters was re-designated in 1925 as Company A, 135th Infantry, and in 1939 Howitzer Company was reorganized as Company D, 135th Infantry. Companies A and D were activated for World War II and served in the European Theater from February, 1941 to November, 1945.Allied Force Headquarters, A Partial History: 135th Infantry Regiment https://web.archive.org/web/20101211203739/http://34infdiv.org/history/135inf/4102.0103.txt 11 December 2010, 1941, page 1 Korean War In 1946, the 135th Infantry was moved from the 35th Infantry Division to the 47th, and Companies A and D were reorganized as Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 135th Infantry and Antitank Company, 135th Infantry.Minnesota national Guard, This Day in History, 19 June 1946 https://web.archive.org/web/20120518012036/http://www.minnesotanationalguard.org/history/this_month.php 18 May 2012, 2006 In 1948, Antitank Company was re-designated Heavy Mortar Company, 135th Infantry.John B. Wilson, Armies, Corps, Divisions, and Separate Brigades, 1999, pages 337-338 In 1951 Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion and Heavy Mortar Company were called to federal service with the 135th Infantry, which was organized with the 45th Infantry Division during the Korean War. They were released from federal service in 1954.Gordon L. Rottman, Korean War Order of Battle, 2002, page 179 Late 20th century 300px|thumb|Soldiers and leaders of the 1-94th Cavalry Regiment, a squadron of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, gathered at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, April 3, to case their colors as the 1/34th BCT prepares to leave country and go back to Minnesota. In 1959, the 1st Battalion Headquarters and Heavy Mortar Company were consolidated as Headquarters Company, 1st Battle Group, 135th Infantry Regiment, 47th Infantry Division.Timothy Aumiller, Infantry Division Components of the US Army, 2004, page 119 The 1st Battle Group Headquarters was reconfigured in 1963 as Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 135th Infantry. In 1968, the 1st Battalion Headquarters was re-designated Headquarters, 1st Brigade, 47th Infantry Division. In 1991, the 47th Division was reflagged as the 34th Division, and the 1st Brigade, including its Headquarters, was reallocated to the 34th Infantry Division.Cedar Rapids-Iowa City Gazette, Cone's 'Red Bull' Painting Destined for Prints, 26 December 2007 21st century Since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, units and individuals of 1st Brigade, 34th Division have participated in operations including homeland defense missions, the war in Iraq and the War in Afghanistan. In 2005, the Army's conversion to modular brigades led to 1st Brigade's reorganization as 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team.Grand Forks Herald, Coming Home, The Minnesota National Guard's 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, Have Earned Their Welcome Home, 22 July 2007 The Brigade deployed to Iraq for Operation Iraq Freedom from March 2006 to July 2007. The BCT completed six months of training before deploying to Iraq from September 2005 to March 2006 at Camp Shelby, MS, this was the longest continuous deployment of any US military unit during OIF.Guard unit recognized for record deployment https://www.nationalguard.mil/News/Article-View/Article/573070/guard-unit-recognized-for-record-deployment/ 2024-10-04 National Guard en-US From 2009 to 2012 the 1st ABCT deployed to Southwest Asia and conducted security operations in Kuwait and Iraq as part of Operation New Dawn.Tim Post, Minnesota Public Radio, Another big Iraq deployment for Minnesota Guard, 11 December 2008WDAY, More Minn. National Guard Red Bulls Coming Home, 5 February 2010Travis Tomford, Minnesota National Guard, Kuwait: Minnesota Army National Guard Members Supporting the Drawdown, 8 December 2011 thumb|2023, in France, Exercice Orion 23 In 2017, 1/34th ABCT was planned to be in the Ready state for deployment, having spent two years preparing for its National Training Center rotation 16–07.United States Army, Two years of hard work pays off for Soldiers at National Training Center (July 5, 2016) As of 2020, 1/34 ABCT was once again sent to the National Training Center in Ft. Irwin, CA to become certified for deployment. This was an extra challenge due to the 2020 COVID-19 global outbreak but the brigade still excelled in their training. Leaders 22em Commandershttps://mnmilarchive.libraryhost.com/repositories/2/digital_objects/32 Minnesota National Guard Staff Lineages Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum 7 May 2026 17 May 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260517142129/https://mnmilarchive.libraryhost.com/repositories/2/digital_objects/32 dead LTC Michael Klaphake, 2024 – present 2024 Minnesota National Guard Annual Report https://mn.gov/mnng/assets/2024-2025_MNNG_Annual_Report_web_tcm1229-730697.pdf mn.gov Minnesota National Guard 15 May 2026 LTC Charles "Chip" Rankin, 2021 – 2023 2021 Minnesota National Guard Annual Report https://mn.gov/mnng/assets/2021-MNNG-Annual-Report-W2_tcm1229-730694.pdf mn.gov Minnesota National Guard 15 May 2026 COL Timothy T. Kemp, 2018 – 2020 2018 Minnesota National Guard Annual Report Minnesota National Guard 29 2020 Minnesota National Guard Annual Report Minnesota National Guard 32 COL Charles G. Kemper IV, 2016 – 2018 2016 Minnesota National Guard Annual Report Minnesota National Guard 20 COL Robert W. Intress, 2014 – 2016 2014 Minnesota National Guard Annual Report Minnesota National Guard 20 COL Jon A. Jensen, 2012 – 2014 2012 Minnesota National Guard Annual Report Minnesota National Guard 12 COL Eric D. Kerska, 2009 – 2012 COL Kevin G. Gutknecht, 2008 – 2009 COL David J. Elicerio, 2004 – 2007 18 January 2007 Guard commander: Army goofed https://www.newspapers.com/image/250631348/ Minneapolis MN Star Tribune live 6 June 2026 COL Joseph P. Kelly, 2003 – 2004 COL Bert Whittington, Jr., 2002 – 2003 COL Nicholas Ostapenko, 1999 – 2002 COL Richard C. Nash, 1997 – 1999 COL Terry Dorenbush, 1994 – 1997 COL Larry W. Shellito, 1992 – 1994 COL Jack Schlukebier, 1990 – 1992 COL Ron L. Hein, 1987 – 1990 COL Clayton A. Hovda, 1985 – 1987 COL Gerald W. Forslund, 1983 – 1985 COL John Larson, 1981 – 1983 COL Joseph A. Forberg, 1979 – 1981 COL Allan R. Meixner, 1978 – 1979 COL Edward W. Waldon, 1975 – 1978 COL James G. Sieben, 1973 – 1975 COL Robert G. Walker, 1972 – 1973 COL Arnold C. Anderson, 1970 – 1972 COL Russel Williams, 1968 – 1970 Command Sergeants Majorhttps://mnmilarchive.libraryhost.com/repositories/2/digital_objects/32 Minnesota National Guard Staff Lineages Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum 7 May 2026 17 May 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260517142129/https://mnmilarchive.libraryhost.com/repositories/2/digital_objects/32 dead CSM Jim Perez, 2025 – present 2025 Minnesota National Guard Annual Report https://mn.gov/mnng/assets/260114_MNNG-AR25_SPREADS-1_tcm1229-730698.pdf mn.gov Minnesota National Guard 15 May 2026 CSM Benjamin Schieber, 2023 – 2024 2023 Minnesota National Guard Annual Report https://mn.gov/mnng/assets/2023_Minnesota_National_Guard_Annual_Report_Web-1_tcm1229-730696.pdf mn.gov Minnesota National Guard 15 May 2026 CSM Rian Hofstad, 2021 – 2022 2022 Minnesota National Guard Annual Report https://mn.gov/mnng/assets/2022-Minnesota-National-Guard-Annual-Report-web-version_tcm1229-730695.pdf mn.gov Minnesota National Guard 15 May 2026 CSM Matt Erickson, 2020 CSM Marcus L. Erickson, 2018 – 2019 2019 Minnesota National Guard Annual Report Minnesota National Guard 33 CSM Joseph J. Hjelmstad, 2015 – 2018 20 September 2018 Minnesota National Guard Red Bulls deploy to the Middle East https://www.newspapers.com/image/1332046071/ Fergus Falls MN Daily Journal Media live 6 June 2026 CSM John M. Lepowski, 2012 – 2015 CSM Paul E. Herr, 2007 – 2012 CSM Douglas L. Julin, 2002 – 2007 CSM Steven D. Rannenberg, 1998 – 2002 CSM Robert Boone Campaign participation credit Civil War – Bull Run, Peninsula, Valley, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Petersburg, Virginia in 1861, Virginia in 1862, Virginia in 1863, Virginia in 1864, Virginia in 1865 War With Spain – Manila Philippine Insurrection – Luzon, San Isidoro World War I World War II – Tunisia, Naples-Foggia, Anzio, Rome-Arno, North Apennines, Po ValleyJohn B. Wilson, Armies, Corps, Divisions, and Separate Brigades, 1999, pages 337–38 Decorations Streamer without inscription (World War I) French Croix de Guerre with Palm (World War II) Streamer embroidered BELVEDERE (World War II)Minnesota National Guard, History, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team https://web.archive.org/web/20141218012103/http://www.minnesotanationalguard.org/units/134BC/history.php 18 December 2014, accessed 25 June 2013 Structure Headquarters, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team (MN ARNG)http://www.minnesotanationalguard.org/units/unit_template.php?unit=134bc Minnesota National Guard Units 25 June 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130801192229/http://www.minnesotanationalguard.org/units/unit_template.php?unit=134bc 1 August 2013 dead dmy-all2018-09-10 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division https://minnesotanationalguard.ng.mil/1abct/ 2020-08-08 Minnesota National Guard en-US Headquarters and Headquarters Company, in Rosemount, Minnesota 30x30px1st Squadron, 94th Cavalry Regiment (Armored Recon), in Duluth, Minnesota1st Squadron, 94th Cavalry http://www.minnesotanationalguard.org/units/unit_template.php?unit=psst0 Minnesota National Guard 20 June 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20120807135242/http://www.minnesotanationalguard.org/units/unit_template.php?unit=PSST0 7 August 2012 dead dmy-all 28x28px1st Battalion, 145th Armor Regiment of the Ohio Army National Guard1st Battalion, 145th Armor Regiment http://www.minnesotanationalguard.org/units/unit_template.php?unit=134bc 23 September 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150925052534/http://www.minnesotanationalguard.org/units/unit_template.php?unit=134bc 25 September 2015 dead dmy-allhttp://www.minnesotanationalguard.org/units/134BC/assets/1-34%20ABCT%20Unit%20Overview_19SEP14.pdf 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division Unit Overview 26 December 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304091910/http://www.minnesotanationalguard.org/units/134BC/assets/1-34%20ABCT%20Unit%20Overview_19SEP14.pdf 4 March 2016 dead 25x25px1st Battalion, 194th Armor Regiment, in Brainerd, Minnesota1st Combined Arms Battalion, 194th Armor Regiment http://www.minnesotanationalguard.org/units/unit_template.php?unit=x4tt0 Minnesota National Guard 21 June 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20140227041154/http://www.minnesotanationalguard.org/units/unit_template.php?unit=X4TT0 27 February 2014 dead dmy-all 28x28px2nd Battalion, 136th Infantry Regiment, in Moorhead, Minnesota 28x28px1st Battalion, 125th Field Artillery Regiment, in New Ulm, Minnesota.1st Battalion, 125th Field Artillery http://www.minnesotanationalguard.org/units/unit_template.php?unit=PU1T0 Minnesota National Guard 21 June 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20180116135406/http://www.minnesotanationalguard.org/units/unit_template.php?unit=PU1T0 16 January 2018 dead dmy-all 27x27px334th Brigade Engineer Battalion, in Stillwater, Minnesota 26x26px134th Brigade Support Battalion, at Camp Ripley134th Brigade Support Battalion http://www.minnesotanationalguard.org/134bsb/ Minnesota National Guard 13 May 2015 28 May 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210528020103/https://www.minnesotanationalguard.org/134bsb/ dead References External resources 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team https://web.archive.org/web/20180809122342/http://www.minnesotanationalguard.org/1abct/ 9 August 2018 at Minnesota National Guard Infantry 034 01 Infantry 034 01 Armor 034 01 1