56^th Brigade

New York Guard

History

The 56th Brigade New York Guard traces its beginnings to both the 56th NY Volunteer Infantry, which was formed in Newburgh, New York in the early days of the Civil War in 1861, under the command of COL Charles Van Wyck (photo left), and the 156th Field Artillery, which was federalized for service during World War I. As part of the New York Guard, the 56th Infantry was activated for state active duty during both World Wars. The New York Guard exceeded 20,000 personnel in 1945.

The 56th Brigade is one of five brigades within the New York Guard Army Division. Its area of operation includes the counties of Westchester, Rockland, Ulster, Sullivan, Orange, Dutchess and Putnam. Headquarters are maintained at the State Armory located at 955 Washington Avenue in Peekskill, NY.

The mission of the 56th Brigade includes support of the New York Army and Air National Guard, the New York Naval Militia and the New York State Office of Emergency Management, among other agencies. Personnel of the Brigade have assisted National Guard personnel activated for federal service, aided New York State during both natural and man-made disasters, supported the local and state emergency planning for the Indian Point Nuclear facility and provided support to range operations at the US Military Academy at West Point.

The Brigade was activated for service in the wake of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in NYC. Since 9/11, 56th Brigade teams have been put on active duty during the state of heightened alert for the 2004 Republican National Convention, have deployed to area military bases to assist National Guard units activated for Operation Iraqi Freedom, and continue to co-train with and augment local National Guard units.

The Brigade is commanded by COL Mike Hodges, US Army Retired, a graduate of the US Military Academy at West Point and a career Army officer. Among past Commanders were COL Barry Conroy, NYG, COL Robert MacDermant, NYG, and the late COL James Waterbury, NYG, from Highland Falls, New York. COL Waterbury was a decorated veteran of US Army, served with distinction in Vietnam and retired from the US Coast Guard.

The Distinctive Unit Insignia of the 56th Brigade can be traced from the 156th Field Artillery and the 56th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment. The insignia is a shield. Horizontally across the center, there is a narrow wavy edge band, upon which are the letters NYG in gold. The shield is then divided into four quarters. The upper left has a white background, with a red cross of St. George and dark blue cross of St. Andrew (X). These represent service in the American Revolution and the Civil War by its predecessors. The upper right quarter has a dark blue background with three taro leaves representing Spanish War service. The lower left shows its dark blue quarter with three Fleur-de-lis, representing three campaigns in France during World War I. A red lion fills the lower right quarter on gold, representing a campaign in Belgium during that first ‘Great War’.

Prepared by Allan F. Pogorzelski, Colonel, Infantry, NYSRL. Source information provided by LTC Edward Koffman, NYG and publications of the American Society of Military Insignia Collectors (ASMIC).