2nd Chemical Battalion (United States)

2nd Chemical Battalion
Coat of Arms
Active1918–1919
1929
1942–1946
1949–1955
1958–1973
1981–present
Country United States
Branch U.S. Army
TypeChemical
Rolesmoke generation (deactivated) mass casualty decontamination, hazardous materials response, and CBRNE reconnaissance
Garrison/HQFort Cavazos, Texas
Nickname(s)Red Dragons
“Hell Fire Boys” (1st Gas Rgt)
Motto(s)2nd to None!
Equipment4 inch Stokes Mortar
EngagementsAisne-Marne, St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne Offensive
Commanders
Current
commander
Lieutenant Colonel Theodore Demaria
Command Sergeant MajorCommand Sergeant Major
Insignia
Distinctive unit insignia

The 2nd Chemical Battalion is a United States Army chemical unit stationed at Fort Cavazos, 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 Operation Iraqi Freedom.[1]

The 2nd Chemical Battalion currently (June 2019) consists of the Headquarters and Headquarters Company (Hellfire), 68th Chemical Company (Responders) and 181st Chemical Company (Double Dragons) at Fort Cavazos, Texas, the 172nd Chemical Company (Gladiators) at Fort Riley, Kansas and the 63rd Chemical Company (Dragon Masters) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky/Tennessee. The unit is sometimes incorrectly referred to as the "2D CBRN Battalion" where CBRN stands for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear. However the correct designation for the unit is "2D Chemical Battalion (CBRN)."[1][2]

  1. ^ a b U.S. Army Center of Military History https://history.army.mil/index.html Updated June 19, 2008 Accessed June 15, 2019
  2. ^ Army Regulation AR 220-5 paragraph 2-3 (d) 15 April 2003