SAIGON (AP)-- The U.S. Command announced Friday that the remaining elements
of the 199th Infantry Brigade have been pulled from active duty as part of
President Nixon's fourth-phase cutback of 50,000 troops.
     "Major units of the brigade will be reduced in Vietnam to color-bearing
detachments which will be returned to Ft. Benning, Ga., next month where the
brigade will be inactivated," the commander said.  "Smaller brigade units
will be inactivated in Vietnam."
     Only those troops in the brigade who have completed 10 months or more
of their 12-month tour will return to the United States.  Those with less time
will be reassigned to other units in Vietnam.
     The last major units pulled from active duty included the Brigade
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, the 2nd Battalion, 40th Artillary, and
the 7th Composite Service Support Battalion.
     Units scheduled for deactivation in Vietnam include the 313th Signal
Company, the 152nd Military Police Platoon, the 40th Public Information
Detachment, and the 44th Military History Detachment.
     The brigade arrived in Vietnam in December 1966 and participated
in the heaviest fighting of the war during the Communist command's Tet
offensive in 1968.  Units of the brigade also took part in the American
offensive into Cambodia last May and June.
     The deactivation of the brigade will reduce U.S. strength in Vietnam
by 4,815 men.  Under Nixon's fourth-phase redeployment program, the 
authorized American strength in Vietnam will be cut to 384,000 by Oct. 15.
Current strength is 395,000.

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