TABLE 28
Maneuver Elements Assigned to Divisions and Brigades in Vietnam
30 June 1969
| Battalions | |||||
| Division/Brigade | Inf | Mech Inf | Mod Inf | Armor | Total |
| 1st Cavalry Division | 9 | 9 | |||
| 1st Infantry Division | 2 | 7 | 9 | ||
| 4th Infantry Division | 1 | 8 | 1 | 10 | |
| 1st Brigade, 5th Infantry Division | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | |
| 9th Infantry Division | 2 | 1 | 7 | 10 | |
| 23d Infantry Division | 11 | 11 | |||
| 25th Infantry Division | 3 | 6 | 1 | 10 | |
| 1st Brigade, 82d Airborne Division | 3 | 3 | |||
| 101st Airborne Division | 10 | 10 | |||
| 173d Airborne Brigade | 4 | * | 4 | ||
| 199th Infantry Brigade | 4 | 4 | |||
| Total | 2 | 8 | 70 | 3 | 83 |
* A company.
Divisions and Brigades in Other Commands
The Army directed its major effort in the mid- and late- 1960s toward Vietnam, and divisions and brigades in other commands supported that endeavor. All active duty divisions and brigades in the United States furnished units or men for service in Vietnam, and as a result most fell below combat-ready status. Ultimately the maneuver element mix in the 1st and 2d Armored Divisions was reduced to four tank and four mechanized infantry battalions, which was considerably below the prototype of six tank and five infantry battalions. To maintain them as fully manned armored divisions, the Army designated one mechanized infantry and two armor battalions from the National Guard as "round-out" units for each, Round-out units maintained a close association with their designated divisions, even taking annual field training with them, but were not on active federal service.[1]
Although the Army did not withdraw any divisions from Europe for service in Vietnam, U.S. Army, Europe, also contributed to the combat effort, As already noted, the cadre for the 199th Infantry Brigade had come from Europe. Beginning in February 1966 the Army levied the command in Europe for officers and enlisted personnel with specific skills, particularly junior grade and noncommissioned officers, Within a year 1,800 soldiers a month were departing for duty in Vietnam to meet the levy. This drain on the European forces severely affected unit leadership and the readiness of the remaining forces.[2]
