Brigade history preserved for next generation of 'Dragons'

When the 1st Infantry Division's 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team inactivated in June, the Soldiers, weapons and vehicles assigned to the brigade found new homes.

But what would become of the history and legacy of the "Dragon" brigade?

That was the question asked by former 4th IBCT Soldier Capt. Jeremy L. Labrie. He, along with the remaining members of the brigade tasked with completing the inactivation, produced a time capsule filled with the Dragon's story to be opened the next time the brigade is called to breathe fire.

It wasn't a simple task.

"I couldn't find an actual, bona-fide time capsule," Labrie said.

Labrie, who is now transitioning to his Captain Career Course at Fort Lee, Virginia, eventually commissioned a silver canister to house documents, hard drives and newspaper clippings from the brigade's history. He and the remaining members of the brigade paid for the capsule and its inscriptions -- their Dragon logo, the brigade's dates of activation (Jan. 12, 2006 to June 15, 2015) and the names of every Soldier who died in combat during that time.

"We went through a lot of discussion about where to put it," said Lt. Col. Joseph M. Colacicco, former commander of 701st BSB and provisional commander during its inactivation process. "The handoff went very well, and we gave it to the right guy."

On Sept. 25, Colacicco formally presented the Dragon time capsule to Darrell "Buddy" Wallace, former senior noncommissioned officer for the 1st Inf. Div. and executive director of the Society of the 1st Infantry Division.

"When folks don't know what to do with something at the 'Big Red One,' it kind of filters toward me, and then I get in touch with Paul Herbert (executive director of the First Division Museum at Cantigny)," Wallace said.

Wallace said he would approach former leaders of the Dragon brigade to add their own thoughts and experiences to the capsule before bringing it to Herbert for safekeeping at the museum. The cylinder already contains a letter from Col. Peter G. Minalga, the last commander of the 4th IBCT and current chief of staff for the 1st Inf. Div.

"By doing things like this, the next leadership team that comes in when the pull 4th Brigade back up will ask 'Where do I start?'" Wallace said. "You start right here.

"It's going to give that next group of warriors, not a starting point, but a continuation point."

The 4th IBCT's inactivation was first announced in July 2013 as part of the Army's ongoing restructuring process. Since 2006, the brigade deployed twice to Iraq and once to Afghanistan.

Related Links:

1st Infantry Division on Facebook

Society of the 1st Infantry Division

First Division Museum at Cantigny