522nd Military Intelligence Battalion bids farewell to Wiesbaden

By Ila DermanoskiOctober 15, 2021

Lt. Col.  Christian Gregoire and Command Sgt. Maj. Kenneth Farley prepare the 522nd Military Intelligence Battalion Colors for casing. The ceremony was held Oct. 15, 2021 at Clay Kaserne in Wiesbaden, Germany.
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Col. Christian Gregoire and Command Sgt. Maj. Kenneth Farley prepare the 522nd Military Intelligence Battalion Colors for casing. The ceremony was held Oct. 15, 2021 at Clay Kaserne in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Photo Credit: Ila Dermanoski) VIEW ORIGINAL
Soldiers from the 522nd Military Intelligence Battalion prepare for the casing of colors on Oct. 15, 2021 on Clay Kaserne in Wiesbaden, Germany.
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers from the 522nd Military Intelligence Battalion prepare for the casing of colors on Oct. 15, 2021 on Clay Kaserne in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Photo Credit: Ila Dermanoski) VIEW ORIGINAL

WIESBADEN, Germany – The 522nd Military Intelligence Battalion, 207th Military Intelligence Brigade (Theater), cased their colors Oct. 15, during a ceremony on Clay Kaserne’s Allen Field.

Traditionally, the unit colors, along with their flag and streamers -- symbolize a unit’s lineage, identity and honors.

The 522nd was constituted on Sept. 1, 1950 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and has since operated in Korea, twice in Germany and Fort Hood, Texas. The 522nd was instrumental in providing critical intelligence during numerous Korean War campaigns, as well as during the Cold War. More recently, during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, the 522nd actively participated in the defense of Saudi Arabia, and the liberation of Kuwait.

Before the ceremony today, the Equalizers last cased their colors when the unit inactivated on Jan. 15, 1996 at Fort Hood, Texas.

On Mar. 24, 2016, the 522nd MIB activated in Wiesbaden as part of the 207th MI Brigade (Theater) to support United States Africa Command.

Today, the casing was a symbol of the unit’s historic relocation from Germany to Italy. The colors will travel with battalion leaders to be unfurled at Caserma Ederle, in Vicenza, where the 522nd will consolidate with their parent unit, the 207th MIB-T, in support of the Southern European Task Force and AFRICOM.

Lt. Col. Christian Gregoire, the 522nd MI BN Commander said proudly, “They said it couldn’t be done. We received the order to execute this relocation five months ago. We conquered hurdles like changes of command for the Brigade and Battalion, the summer move cycle, and a surge of COVID in the community – but we did it!”