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Background: On December 5th (1967) the U. S. Army's 11th Light Infantry Brigade, based at historic Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, embarked on a two week voyage to the Republic of Vietnam aboard U. S. Navy troop ships.

Just 17 months after the 11th Brigade was reactivated (July 1, 1966) at Schofield Barracks to replace the 25th Infantry Division which had been deployed to Vietnam earlier last year, the unit found itself ordered to prepare for movement to the combat zone.

During the time between the receipt of orders and the actual move-out, the Brigade concerned itself primarily with preparation for overseas movement. Some tasks involved included the zeroing of weapons, the accumulation of special items of equipment such as jungle fatigues and boots, and the seemingly never-ending packing of everything from pencils to trucks.

Upon completion of the packing stage, the more than 4,000 men of the Brigade, as well as the unit's equipment were moved to the U. S. Army Transportation Center, Pier 40, in Honolulu, and readied for shipment.

Some of the soldiers' families were at the pier when the troop transport ships were ready to leave and hurried good-byes were said.

The soldiers arrived at Qui Nhon, South Vietnam, this morning (Vietnam time December 20), under the command of Brigadier General Andy A. Lipscomb, and will join the American Division presently in Vietnam.