Historic 72nd deactivates in ceremony

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Soldiers of the 72nd Field Artillery Brigade stand in formation beneath “The Ultimate Weapon” statue during the unit’s deactivation ceremony held June 12, 2015 at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. Col. John Lange presided over the ceremony as the unit’s final commander before its Soldiers transitioned into the base’s 174th Combined Arms Training Brigade. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Katherine Tereyama)

Historic 72nd deactivates in ceremony

Col. John Lange, 72nd Field Artillery Brigade commander, and the 72nd’s Command Sgt. Maj. Stephen Bower, case the colors during the unit’s deactivation ceremony held June 12, 2015 at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. As part of First Army’s Operation Bold Shift, 72nd FA Bde Soldiers are transitioning into the 174th Combined Arms Training Brigade, whose mission is now to provide Reserve and Guard Soldiers pre-mobilization training targeted to their mission at their home station. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Katherine Tereyama)

Historic 72nd deactivates in ceremony

Published July 1, 2015
By Staff Sgt. Katherine Tereyama
Joint Base Public Affairs

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- "The Ultimate Weapon" - the infantryman - stands tall and bronze over a formation of hundreds of Soldiers, sweltering in the heat of the day as the unit they have shed blood, sweat and tears for in the past, closes yet another chapter in its history.

The 72nd Field Artillery Brigade deactivated in a ceremony held at Sharp Field here, with Col. John Lange presiding over the ceremony as the unit's final commander before its Soldiers transitioned into the base's 174th Combined Arms Training Brigade.

The "Ultimate Weapon" served as a fitting monument to overlook the deactivation of the brigade, which mobilized and demobilized nearly 200,000 service members who served as "The Ultimate Weapons" for deployments throughout the past decade.

"I am proud of what this brigade has accomplished in the last two momentous years," said Lange, referring to his time as commander. "I am hopeful that each one of us who has served in the brigade is proud of our contributions to this great Army and nation. You should be - you earned it.

"Thank you all from the bottom of my heart."

The unit has a long and rich history, dating back to 1917, when it was constituted at then-Camp Dix. The unit went on to participate in several major battles in both world wars, including at Meuse-Argonne, Saint Mihiel and Lorraine. It was reactivated in 1956 to support operations during the Cold War.

The unit reactivated and returned to then-Fort Dix in 2006. While here at the joint base, the 72nd supported First Army's mobilization mission by providing mobilization and demobilization support to more than 2,300 units and nearly 200,000 personnel from all services.

As part of First Army's Operation Bold Shift, 72nd FA Bde Soldiers are transitioning into the 174th Combined Arms Training Brigade, whose mission is now to provide Reserve and Guard Soldiers pre-mobilization training targeted to their mission at their home station.

With the units now consolidated, 174th Soldiers will continue to provide support to a new round of "Ultimate Weapons."

"As the last commander of the brigade in this chapter, I am proud beyond measure to say 'I am a Soldier and I served in the 72nd Field Artillery Brigade,'" Lange concluded.