89th Regional Readiness Command
89th Regional Support Command
The 89th Infantry Division was reactivated in 1947 with headquarters in Wichita, and redesignated the 89th Division (Training) in 1959. The unit was then redesignated the 89th United States Army Reserve Command (ARCOM) in 1973. Over one third of the 89th ARCOM was activated during the Desert Shield - Desert Storm crisis. From September 1990 through July 1991, 2,500 activated soldiers set aside civilian life, parted from their families and left home to serve their country.
The 89th Infantry Division, the Rolling W, was created as a Division at Camp Funston, Fort Riley, August 27, 1917 World War I: Deployed to France in 1918 - Campaign Credits: Lorraine, St. Mahiel and Meuse Argonne Post War. Official explanations say that this patch designated the "Middle West" Division, as it can, in one aspect be read as an "M", and in another, as a "W". The official explanation adds that the letter can also be read as a Greek sigma, the symbol of summation; and the circle implies the ability to exert force in any direction and to resist in any position. The unofficial explanation is that the "W" patch, created during World War I, pays tribute to the first three commanders of the 89th Division, Major Generals William Wright, Leonard Wood, and Frank Winn.
The Division was reactivated as part of the newly created Army Reserve in 1921. It was recalled to active service in 1942 at Camp Carson, Colo. - Designated as the 89th Light Division - Redesignated as the 89th Infantry Division in 1944.
The 89th Infantry Division landed in France at Le Havre, 21 January 1945, and engaged in several weeks of precombat training before moving up to the Sauer River into jump-off positions east of Echternach, 11 March 1945. The next day, the offensive began, and the 89th plunged across the Sauer in a rapid advance to and across the Moselle, 17 March. The offensive rolled on, and the Division crossed the Rhine, 26 March, between the towns of Kestert and Kaub. In April, the 89th attacked toward Eisenach, taking that town, 6 April. The next objective was Friedrichroda, core of the vaunted Nazi Redoubt in Thuringia. The city was secured by 8 April. The Division continued to move eastward toward the Mulde River, capturing Zwickau by the 17th of the month. The advance was halted, 23 April, and from then until VE-day, the Division saw only limited action, engaging in patrolling and general security. Three towns, Lossnitz, Aue, and Stollberg, were kept under constant pressure, but no attacks were launched.
Reactivated in 1947 with headquarters in Wichita - Redesignated the 89th Division (Training) in 1959 - Redesignated the 89th United States Army Reserve Command (ARCOM) in 1973.
In late 2003 all Regional Support Commands were re-designated to Regional Readiness Commands.
In its 2005 BRAC Recommendations, DoD recommended to realign the Wichita US Army Reserve Center by disestablishing the 89th Regional Readiness Command. This recommendation was part of a larger recommendation to re-engineer and streamline the Command and Control structure of the Army Reserves that would create the Northwest Regional Readiness Command at Fort McCoy, WI.
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