2nd Chemical Battalion (United States)
| 2nd Chemical Battalion | |
|---|---|
Coat of arms
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| Active | 1918 - 19 (1st activation) 1929 (2nd activation) 1942 – 46 1949 – 55 1958 – 73 1981–present |
| Country | United States of America |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Type | Chemical |
| Role | smoke generation (deactivated) mass casualty decontamination, hazardous materials response, and CBRNe reconnaissance |
| Garrison/HQ | Fort Hood, Texas |
| Nickname(s) |
Red Dragons ”Hell Fire Boys” (1st Gas Rgt) |
| Equipment | 4 inch Stokes Mortar |
| Engagements | Aisne-Marne, St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne Offensive |
| Insignia | |
| Distinctive unit insignia |  |
The 2nd Chemical Battalion is a United States Army chemical unit stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, United States, and is part of the 48th Chemical Brigade. The battalion can trace its lineage from the 30th Engineer Regiment (Gas and Flame) and has served in World War I, World War II, Korean War, Operation Desert Storm, and Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
The 2nd Chemical Battalion currently consists of the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 44th Chemical Company, and 181st Chemical Company at Fort Hood, Texas, and the 21st Chemical Company at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Originally constituted as the 30 Engineer Regiment (Gas and Flame) which was activated on 15 August 1917 at Camp American University, Washington, D.C. The general staff of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) decided to establish a Gas Service, part of which would be an offensive gas regiment. Born out of this decision was War Department General Order 108, dated 15 August 1917, which authorized and established the offensive gas regiments, the first of which was designated the 30th Engineer Regiment. Shortly thereafter, General Order 31 from the General Headquarters of the AEF officially activated the Gas Service Section with Colonel Amos Fries in command.
The 30th Engineer Regiment served in France during World War I equipped with the 4 inch Stokes Mortar. On 13 July 1918, it was redesignated as the 1st Gas Regiment and following the end of World War I, the regiment was disbanded on 28 February 1919 at Camp Kendrick, New Jersey. Later reraised on 24 February 1920 at Edgewood Arsenal, Maryland, it was redesignated on 5 February 1929 as the 1st Chemical Regiment and deactivated in 1935 and disbanded on 12 March 1942. The men and equipment were transferred to the 2nd Separate Chemical Battalion, which was activated on 13 March, excluding B and C companies as well as a medical detachment. Those companies were officially activated at Fort Bragg, North Carolina on 1 April 1942. The battalion arrived at Hampton Roads Port of Embarkation, Virginia on 4 June 1943 for transport to North Africa.
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