Structure of the 4th Mechanized Division during the 1980s?

PV2 Abbott Shaull — Sun, 04 Jan 2015 14:33:48 -0500

I have general grasp of who and what was where toward the tail end of the of the Cold War in General for Regular, National Guard, and Reserve units of the U.S. Army. On thing that has always struck me odd, in the time period is the 4th Mechanized Division. I mean during the entire time, it is the only Mechanized, Armored, and Light Infantry Division(s) in the U.S. Army that was based in the U.S. that didn't seem to have well document Round-Out National Guard unit. I have also read somewhere that one Brigade was deployed forward in Germany under the Command of 8th Mechanized Division(?). In either case, it just seems odd, since in all the other cases looking at the 1st Cavalry, 2nd Armored, 1st Mechanized, 5th Mechanized, 24th Mechanized, 9th Motorized (test bed), 6th Light, 7th Light, 10th Mountain, and 25th Light Divisions. Each of these Divisions had one things in common, only 2/3rds of the their combat assets were under the direct command of the Division Commander at the time at the same base(s). Granted with the 2nd Armored and 1st Mechanized their last element was Active duty and posted Forward Brigade in Europe, while the other relied on so called Round-Out National Guard/Reservist Brigade to fill rest of the Division.

I have always wonder if the 4th Division had all units Active, if so were they all based at Fort Carson in Colorado, or did they have Brigade in Forward Brigade status, but under control of some Division instead of being considered Separate? Just wondering since I alway wonder about things like that.