143rd Regional Support Group
Mission:
Deploy to provide contingency and expeditionary base operations support, with responsibilities for managing facilities, providing administrative and logistical support of Soldier services, and ensuring the security of personnel and facilities on a base camp. The RSG provides mission command of assigned units during homeland security, homeland defense, and civil support missions within the United States, to include managing the reception, staging, onward movement, and integration of supporting forces.
Location:
Middletown
Units:
118th Multifunctional Medical Battalion
143rd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion
192nd Engineer Battalion
History:
Pre-World War II
Constituted 19 October 1920 and federally activated 21 March 1925 as a National Guard Division in Connecticut, Maine, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
World War II
Activated: 24 February 1941.
Overseas: 1 October 1942.
Campaigns: New Guinea, Northern Solomons, Luzon.
Distinguished Unit Citations: 5.
Awards: MH-2 ; DSC-40 ; DSM-2 ; SS-736 ; LM-53; SM-51 ; BSM-2,496 ; AM-27.
Commanders:
Maj. Gen. Morris B. Payne (February-August 1941)
Maj. Gen. John H. Hester (August 1941-July 1943)
Maj. Gen. Leonard F. Wing (August 1943 to inactivation).
Returned to U. S.: 19 October 1945.
Inactivated: 26 October 1945. (See National Guard.)
Combat Chronicle
The 43d Infantry Division landed in New Zealand on 23 October 1942. The 172d Regiment arrived at Espiritu Santo, 26 October. The Division moved to Noumea, New Caledonia, in November and to Guadalcanal, 17 February 1943. Russell Islands were occupied without opposition, 21 February, and training continued. Elements landed on Vangunu and Rendova Islands against minor resistance, 30 June, but the enemy fought fiercely before relinquishing Munda and its airfield, 5 August. Vela Cela and Baanga were taken easily, but the Japanese resisted stubbornly on Arundel Island before withdrawing, 22 September. After training at Munda, the 43d moved to Guadalcanal and thence to New Zealand for rest and rehabilitation. On 19 July 1944, the Division assumed defensive positions at Aitape, engaged in patrols and reconnaissance at Tadji and along the Drinumor River, 25 July, and took the offensive, 8 August 1944, ending organized resistance on the 25th. On 9 January 1945, the 43d made an assault landing in the San Fabian area, Lingayen Gulf, Luzon. Under enemy fire, the Division secured the beachhead and fought into the Lingayen Plain by 12 February. The offensive was resumed against the enemy north and west of Fort Stotsenburg, 27 February. After ending Japanese resistance in the Zambales Mountains, the 43d swung south against the Shimbu Line. On 6 May 1945, the attack continued in the Bulucan area. Ipo Dam was secured and enemy opposition smashed in the Ipo area, 19 May. Mopping-up activities continued until 30 June 1945. The Division left Manila, 7 13 September, for occupation duty in Japan until it left for home.
Korea
The 43rd's Headquarters and Headquarters Company was federally activated on 5 September 1950 while the rest of the division was federally activated on 15 September 1952 at Hartford and deployed to Germany during the Korean War period as part of a large federal activation and posturing of troops to deter aggression in eastern Europe. The unit was released from active federal service on 15 June 1954.
Cold War
On 16 December 1967, the unit was reorganized and redesignated as the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 43rd Brigade, 26th Infantry Division.
Pre-Global War on Terror
Reorganized and redesignated as the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 143rd Area Support Group on 30 September 1997.
Global War on Terror
The unit deployed to Iraq as the 143rd Area Support Group and later deployed to Afghanistan and later Jordan as the 143rd Regional Support Group
General
Nickname: Winged Victory Division. Shoulder patch: A khaki-bordered red quatrefoil, on which is imposed a black grapeleaf.