Col. Doyle Gillis, Jr. commander of the Virginia Beach-based 329th Regional Support Group and Command Sgt. Maj. E. Tim Miller, command sergeant major of the 329th RSG conduct a ceremony on Nov. 3, 2018 at Fort Pickett, Virginia, to mark their transition to wearing the former patch of the 54th Field Artillery Brigade as their official brigade shoulder sleeve insignia. The ceremony included Col. K. Weedon Gallagher, who relinquished command of the 329th RSG to Gillis at a ceremony Sept. 9, 2018. Gallagher served as the catalyst behind the patch transition when he served as the commander of the 329th RSG between July 2015 and September 2018.
“Soldiers in our formation are aware that we are standing in the shadow of veterans and heroes of the 29th Infantry Division’s Artillery Brigade who served through both World Wars,” said Gallagher. “Soldiers are now carrying that legend forward into the Global War on Terrorism, proudly bearing the 54th Field Artillery Brigade patch.”
The ceremony begun with Gillis presenting Gallagher the patch who was recently selected to succeed Brig. Gen. Paul Griffin as the Virginia National Guard’s Assistant Adjutant General for the Army Strategic Initiatives. Gallagher and Miller then took turns donning the 54th Field Artillery Brigade patch. Immediately following, Gillis and Miller led the repatching for the battalion leadership which included the Virginia Beach-based 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, the Gate City-based 1030th Transportation Battalion, and the Petersburg-based 276th Engineer Battalion.
The ceremony also included the repatching ceremony that included members of the 529th CSSB who have received a mobilization order to enter federal active duty service for duty in the Middle East as part of Operation Inherent Resolve. The 529th CSSB soldiers are conducting pre-mobilization training at Fort Pickett as they are preparing to operate as a mission command headquarters with the task of planning and executing logistics support for U.S. and coalition forces in the Central Command area of operations. The ceremony concluded with members of the 329th RSG staff receiving their 54th Field Artillery Brigade patch.
Virginia Army National Guard leaders honored the 54th Field Artillery Brigade Aug. 12, 2017, at Camp Pendleton in Virginia Beach, Virginia, during the observation of the unit’s 100th anniversary. The 54th Field Artillery Brigade was constituted in July 1917 and assigned to the 29th Infantry Division and saw service in World War I and II. The lineage continued for decades as one of Virginia’s field artillery units until it was re-designated as the 329th Regional Support Group in September 2008. Read more about the historical lineage of the 54th at https://go.usa.gov/xPvft.
“I am honored to once again wear the 54th patch,” said Gillis as he earned the 54th patch due to a previous combat deployment. “It is a constant reminder of the long and proud heritage with which the 329th RSG is associated.”
Allowing official wear of the 54th Field Artillery Brigade patch allows downtrace units to wear the new patch as their combat patch in future federal combat oversees missions that are designated combat zones.