FORT BENNING, Ga., (June 17, 2015) -- The 198th Infantry Brigade Association will hold a reunion June 24-26 at Fort Benning.
The reunion is being held in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the United States entering the Vietnam War.
The 198th Infantry Brigade was formed as a part of the U.S. Army Reserve's 99th Division and was active for five years during the Vietnam War.
"Our unit went late October of '67," said Doug Giffin, a coordinator of the reunion. "At that time they put us in the Americal Division and we fought from 67 to 71."
As a part of the Americal Division, also known as the 23rd Infantry Division, the 198th fought in the Battle of Kham Duc, a major battle of the Tet Offensive.
"The 198th made history and we were in it. That's pretty significant," Giffin said.
In 2007 the brigade was reactivated at Fort Benning as an Infantry training brigade as a part of the Army's Infantry School.
Giffin said he heard the 198th was at Fort Benning and decided it would be a good idea to hold the reunion here.
"Fort Benning is a wonderful place to come because we were attached to that organization and we are proud of our Vietnam veterans," Giffin said.
While at Fort Benning the group plans to visit a few of the 198th classrooms.
"I would have loved someone walking into our classrooms and saying 'Hey, we were you 40 years ago,'" Giffin said.
Giffin and the others are also looking forward to having lunch with the current troops.
"That will be really exciting, because you can't believe how mess halls were 30 or 40 years ago," Giffin said as he recalled the slim choice between chocolate and white milk and the 'slopping' of meals onto metal trays.
Members of the 198th attending the reunion will observe a Turning Blue Ceremony, observe mortars range and other training, observe graduation of F Company, 2nd Battalion, 58th Infantry Regiment and tour Memorial Park, World War II Street, the Vietnam Memorial and the National Infantry Museum.
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