101st Chemical Company (United States)

The 101st Chemical Company is a dual-purpose smoke/light decontamination chemical unit of the United States Army, based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The unit's mission is to provide nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) decontamination and large area smoke support to the United States Army or United States Marine Corps(USMC). The 101st Chemical Company is one of only two dual-purpose chemical companies stationed on Fort Bragg, the other being the 21st Chemical Company, which is assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division.

History

Lineage

101st Chemical Impregnating Company

*The 101st Chemical Impregnating Company was formed on June 21 1942 as a company in the Army of the United States.
*This company was activated 11 July 1942 at Edgewood Arsenal, Maryland.
*It was redesignated as the 101st Chemical Processing Company on September 20 1943.
*The 101st Chemical Processing Company was inactivated 30 November 1945 in the Philippine Islands.
*August 16 1983, consolidated with the 101st Chemical Detachment and the unit reorganized and redesignated as the 101st Chemical Company. cite web |url=http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/chem/101cmco.htm |title= Lineage And Honors Information - 101st Chemical Company|accessdate=2008-05-24]

101st Chemical Detachment

*Constituted 18 April 1967 in the Regular Army as the 101st Chemical Detachment
*Activated 25 August 1967 at Fort Riley, Kansas
*Inactivated 18 December 1967 at Fort Riley, Kansas
*Activated 16 September 1979 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina
*Consolidated 16 August 1983 with the 101st Chemical Impregnating Company and consolidated unit reorganized and redesignated as the 101st Chemical Company

Activity

The unit deployed to Grenada in October 1983 as part of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Force. The 101st Chemical Company received the Grenada Campaign Streamer. In August 1990, the company deployed to Saudi Arabia as part of the XVIII Airborne Corps for Operation Desert Shield. The company conducted biological and chemical sustainment training for the Corps. During Operation Desert Storm, the company was attached to XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery to provide thorough decontamination support. 101st Chemical Company platoons established decontamination sites along main supply routes and in the area of operations.

During September 1992, the company deployed to Homestead, Florida for humanitarian relief operations in support of Operation Hurricane Andrew Relief. In January, 1993, the company participated in Operation Safe Removal, the recovery and evacuation of World War I chemical munitions in Washington, D.C. During this operation, the company provided personnel and equipment decontamination support for the US Army Chemical and Biological Defense Agency.

In July 1995, the company completed its conversion from heavy decontamination to dual purpose. It met its E-date on 16 September 1995 and was redesignated 101st Chemical Company (S/D).

The 101st Chemical Company was the first U.S. Army chemical company to be deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. In October 2001, the company deployed chemical platoons to locations in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar. The unit provided decontamination support for ARCENT-Qatar, ARCENT-Kuwait, and the 384th Aerial Expeditionary Group.

In September 2002, the company deployed 1st platoon in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The platoon provided decontamination support to ARCENT-Kuwait and CJTF-CM.

In January 2003, the company deployed to Kuwait and Qatar in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. In March 2003, the 101st Chemical Company provided operational decontamination, thorough decontamination, patient decontamination, NBC logistical support, and infantry support to the I Marine Expeditionary Force in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. As the most forward deployed chemical company, the 101st Chemical Company directly supported the 1st Marine Division’s liberation of Iraq.

As of 2006, the 101st Chemical Company is deployed again in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. They are stationed at multiple locations throughout Kuwait.

Unit awards

Campaign Participation Credit

Decorations

Notes