32nd Field Artillery Regiment
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The 32nd Field Artillery Regiment is a distinguished and highly-decorated
field artillery Field artillery is a category of mobile artillery used to support armies in the field. These weapons are specialized for mobility, tactical proficiency, short range, long range, and extremely long range target engagement. Until the early 20t ...
regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, service and/or a specialisation. In Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of front-line soldiers, recruited or conscripted ...
of the
United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...
, first Constituted in 1918.


Lineage

Constituted in the Regular Army as the 32nd Field Artillery and assigned to the
11th Infantry Division (United States) The 11th Division, an infantry division of the United States Army, was activated twice during the First World War. During the Second World War the division was notionally reactivated as part of Fortitude South II. History World War I The 11th ...
5 July 1918.


Distinctive unit insignia

*Description A gold color metal and enamel device 1 3/16 inches 3.02 cm) in height consisting of the shield, crest and motto of the coat of arms. *Symbolism The shield is red for Artillery. The bordure is in the colors of the corps distinguishing flag to indicate Corps Artillery. The crest represents the West Coast, the present assignment of the regiment; and inasmuch as a demi-sun also has the appearance of a rising sun it may also represent the origin of the organization on the East Coast. *Background The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 32nd Field Artillery, Regular Army Inactive on 9 July 1937. It was redesignated for the 32nd Field Artillery Battalion on 2 January 1941. It was amended to change the motto on 7 May 1941. It was redesignated for the 32nd Artillery Regiment on 30 April 1958. It was amended to correct the description on 18 June 1958. It was amended to correct the unit designation from Regiment to Battalion on 20 February 1959. It was redesignated for the 32nd Artillery Regiment on 24 July 1959. The insignia was redesignated effective 1 September 1971, for the 32d Field Artillery Regiment.


Coat of arms


Blazon

*Shield Gules, a bordure compony Argent and Azure. *Crest On a wreath of the colors Argent and Gules a demi-sun in splendor triparted barwise Or, Tenné and Gules. Motto PROUD AMERICANS. *Symbolism *Shield The shield is red for Artillery. The bordure is in the colors of the corps distinguishing flag to indicate Corps Artillery. Crest The crest represents the West Coast, the present assignment of the regiment; and inasmuch as a demi-sun also has the appearance of a rising sun it may also represent the origin of the organization on the East Coast. *Background The coat of arms was originally approved for the 32nd Field Artillery, Regular Army Inactive on 9 July 1937. It was redesignated for the 32nd Field Artillery Battalion on 11 January 1941. It was amended to change the motto on 7 May 1941. It was redesignated for the 32nd Artillery Regiment on 30 April 1958. It was amended to correct the unit designation from Regiment to Battalion on 20 February 1959. It was redesignated for the 32nd Artillery Regiment on 24 July 1959. The insignia was redesignated effective 1 September 1971, for the 32d Field Artillery Regiment.


Battalions

The regiment consists of six battalions.


1st Battalion

The 1st Battalion 32nd Field Artillery Regiment "Proud Americans" was a Lance Missile battalion garrisoned at Fliegerhorst Kaserne in the Erlensee area of Hanau, West Germany from 1960 when it was activated as an Honest John unit. 1st Battalion later became a Lance battalion from 1974 through 1992 when it became part of 3rd Armored Division, V Corps and returned to Fort Sill to become a
Multiple Launch Rocket System A multiple rocket launcher (MRL) or multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) is a type of rocket artillery system that contains multiple launchers which are fixed to a single platform, and shoots its rocket ordnance in a fashion similar to a volle ...
(MLRS) unit which it remains today. 1/32 FA consisted of 5 Batteries: Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Headquarters, and Service Batteries, and was inactivated in 1992 as a Lance Missile unit and reactivated as a Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) unit. The unit patch worn was the 41st FA Brigade which was under V Corps Artillery until August 1991 when it joined 3rd Armored Division (Spearhead) and adopted its patch before returning to Fort Sill in 1992 to become a MLRS battalion.


2nd Battalion

The 2nd Battery, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment, the "Proud Americans", has existed, off and on, since 1918. It has participated in
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, Vietnam, and the current War on Terrorism. In 2006, 2nd Battery, 32nd Field Artillery was activated as part of 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division at Ft. Riley, Kansas. The battalion deployed to Baghdad, Iraq in February 2007 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) 07-08 as part of "The Surge." From February 2007 - April 2008, 2-32FA conducted infantry and security operations in southeast Mansour, Baghdad and established and manned Joint Security Station (JSS) Torch with Iraqi Defense & Police forces with support offered by a Maine Army National Guard unit out of Brewer, Maine lead by Captain Lyons: B. Co., 3-172nd INF(MTN).


Pre-World War II

Organized at
Camp Meade Camp George G. Meade near Middletown, Pennsylvania, was a camp established and subsequently abandoned by the U.S. Volunteers during the Spanish–American War. History Camp Meade was established August 24, 1898, and soon thereafter was occupi ...
,
Maryland Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to ...
, in 1918, the 32nd Field Artillery Regiment was in training at the end of
World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
. Inactivated without deploying, the battalion remained inactive until October 1940, when 2nd Battery, 7th Field Artillery redesignated as the 32nd Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Infantry Division.


World War II

On 8 November 1942, the Proud Americans claimed the first artillery round fired by US artillery against enemies in
Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...
and
North Africa North Africa, or Northern Africa is a region encompassing the northern portion of the African continent. There is no singularly accepted scope for the region, and it is sometimes defined as stretching from the Atlantic shores of Mauritania in ...
. Later, the battalion would see action at
Kasserine Kasserine ( ar, القصرين, al-Qasrīn, Tunisian Arabic: ڨصرين ') is the capital city of the Kasserine Governorate, in west-central Tunisia. It is situated below Jebel ech Chambi ( جبل الشعانبي), Tunisia's highest mountain. It ...
and El Guettar. In 1944, the 32nd Field Artillery was the first complete artillery unit in action on
Omaha Beach Omaha Beach was one of five beach landing sectors designated for the amphibious assault component of operation Overlord during the Second World War. On June 6, 1944, the Allies invaded German-occupied France with the Normandy landings. "Omaha" r ...
and is credited with the first Allied field artillery round fired during the invasion. Advancing across Europe, the battalion continued its trend of firsts by being credited with the first rounds fired onto
German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...
soil. * Presidential Unit Citation, World War II, Streamer embroidered EL GUETTAR * French Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War II, Streamer embroidered KASSERINE * French Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War II, Streamer embroidered NORMANDY *French Croix de Guerre, World War II, Fourragere *Belgian Fourragere 1940 *Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action at Mons *Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action at Eupen-Malmedy Following occupation duty and a return to the United States in 1955, the battalion was again de-activated, this time furling its colors at
Fort Riley Fort Riley is a United States Army installation located in North Central Kansas, on the Kansas River, also known as the Kaw, between Junction City and Manhattan. The Fort Riley Military Reservation covers 101,733 acres (41,170 ha) in Gear ...
,
Kansas Kansas () is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its capital is Topeka, and its largest city is Wichita. Kansas is a landlocked state bordered by Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the ...
.


Vietnam

In 1963, 2nd Battalion, 32nd Artillery, now a 175 mm
self-propelled howitzer Self-propelled artillery (also called locomotive artillery) is artillery equipped with its own propulsion system to move toward its firing position. Within the terminology are the self-propelled gun, self-propelled howitzer, self-propelled mo ...
unit, activated at
Fort Sill Fort Sill is a United States Army post north of Lawton, Oklahoma, about 85 miles (136.8 km) southwest of Oklahoma City. It covers almost . The fort was first built during the Indian Wars. It is designated as a National Historic Landmark ...
,
Oklahoma Oklahoma (; Choctaw language, Choctaw: ; chr, ᎣᎧᎳᎰᎹ, ''Okalahoma'' ) is a U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the nor ...
. Two years later, another deployment, this time to
Vietnam Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southeast Asia, at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of and population of 96 million, making i ...
, led to six more years of overseas duty, over 400,000 rounds fired, two
Valorous Unit Award The Valorous Unit Award (VUA) is the second highest United States Army unit decoration which may be bestowed upon an Army unit after the Presidential Unit Citation (PUC). The VUA is awarded by the United States Army to units of the United State ...
s, three Battery-level
Valorous Unit Award The Valorous Unit Award (VUA) is the second highest United States Army unit decoration which may be bestowed upon an Army unit after the Presidential Unit Citation (PUC). The VUA is awarded by the United States Army to units of the United State ...
s, two Meritorious Unit Awards, and several unit awards from the Republic of Vietnam. *Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered CU CHI DISTRICT *Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered TAY NINH PROVINCE *
Meritorious Unit Commendation The Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC; pronounced ''muck'') is a mid-level unit award of the United States Armed Forces. The U.S. Army awards units the Army MUC for exceptionally meritorious conduct in performance of outstanding achievement or s ...
(Army), Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1965–1966 *Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1968–1969 *
Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm The Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross also known as the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross or Vietnam Cross of Gallantry ( vi, Anh-Dũng Bội-Tinh) is a military decoration of the former Government of South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam). The medal wa ...
, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1965–1968 *Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1968–1970 *Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1970–1971 *Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1971 *
Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal The Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Medal ( vi, Dân-Vụ Bội-Tinh) also known as the Vietnam Civil Actions Medal or Civil Actions Medal, is a military decoration of the former South Vietnamese government (1955–75). The medal was created ...
, First Class, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1965–1971 Battery A additionally entitled to: *Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered TAY NINH PROVINCE 1970 *Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered FISH HOOK Battery B additionally entitled to: *Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered FISH HOOK


Inactive years, Desert Storm and drawdown

Inactivated at Fort Lewis in 1972, the battalion spent 15 years on the inactive roll until its activation on 16 August 1987 as a member of the 42d FA Brigade. The battalion was equipped with
Lance A lance is a spear designed to be used by a mounted warrior or cavalry soldier ( lancer). In ancient and medieval warfare, it evolved into the leading weapon in cavalry charges, and was unsuited for throwing or for repeated thrusting, unlike si ...
missiles until 1989, when the battalion was inactivated once again. In 1990 the battalion was activated in Giessen, Germany as the first active ATACMS capable
MLRS A multiple rocket launcher (MRL) or multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) is a type of rocket artillery system that contains multiple launchers which are fixed to a single platform, and shoots its rocket ordnance in a fashion similar to a voll ...
unit. When
USAREUR United States Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF) is an Army Service Component Command (ASCC) /Theater Army responsible for directing United States Army operations throughout the U.S. European Command (EUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (AFRICO ...
was tasked with providing units for deployment for
Desert Shield The Gulf War was a 1990–1991 armed campaign waged by a Coalition of the Gulf War, 35-country military coalition in response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Spearheaded by the United States, the coalition's efforts against Ba'athist Iraq, ...
it was decided that the battalion and its ATACMS capability should remain in Germany as a strategic theater-level deterrent to the Soviets. However, a select number of soldiers from the battalion were attached to other deploying MLRS units to bring them up to 100% strength. After
Desert Storm The Gulf War was a 1990–1991 armed campaign waged by a 35-country military coalition in response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Spearheaded by the United States, the coalition's efforts against Iraq were carried out in two key phases: ...
, the unit was reassigned to 41st FA Brigade. After the reunification of Germany and the collapse of the Soviet Union, the battalion cased its colors once again, on 15 December 1993 in Giessen, Germany.


Modern

Activated 16 January 2006 at Fort Riley, Kansas. From February 2007 until April 2008, the 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery, Task Force Patriot, as part of the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Dragon Brigade), 1st Infantry Division (United States) served in northwest
Baghdad Baghdad (; ar, بَغْدَاد , ) is the capital of Iraq and the second-largest city in the Arab world after Cairo. It is located on the Tigris near the ruins of the ancient city of Babylon and the Sassanid Persian capital of Ctesiphon ...
where it conducted dismounted
infantry Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and marine i ...
operations to secure the populace and defeat extremist,
insurgent An insurgency is a violent, armed rebellion against authority waged by small, lightly armed bands who practice guerrilla warfare from primarily rural base areas. The key descriptive feature of insurgency is its asymmetric warfare, asymmetric na ...
, and
criminal In ordinary language, a crime is an unlawful act punishable by a state or other authority. The term ''crime'' does not, in modern criminal law, have any simple and universally accepted definition,Farmer, Lindsay: "Crime, definitions of", in Can ...
threats to security. For this deployment, the Battalion was awarded the following VUA: Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered BAGHDAD 2007-2008 From 2009 until 2010, the 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery, Task Force Patriot, as part of the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Dragon Brigade), 1st Infantry Division (United States) served in Tikrit, Iraq where it continued to conduct dismounted
infantry Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and marine i ...
operations to secure the populace and defeat extremist,
insurgent An insurgency is a violent, armed rebellion against authority waged by small, lightly armed bands who practice guerrilla warfare from primarily rural base areas. The key descriptive feature of insurgency is its asymmetric warfare, asymmetric na ...
, and
criminal In ordinary language, a crime is an unlawful act punishable by a state or other authority. The term ''crime'' does not, in modern criminal law, have any simple and universally accepted definition,Farmer, Lindsay: "Crime, definitions of", in Can ...
threats to security. 2/32 was the last combat unit to leave Iraq at the conclusion of Operation Iraqi Freedom. For this deployment, the Battalion was awarded the following MUC: Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered IRAQ 2009-2010 From May 2012 until February 2013, the 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery, Task Force Dragon, as part of the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division served in RC East
Afghanistan Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,; prs, امارت اسلامی افغانستان is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is bordere ...
,
Paktika Paktika (Pashto/Dari: ) is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan, located in the eastern part of the country. Forming part of the larger Loya Paktia region, Paktika has a population of about 789,000, mostly ethnic Pashtuns. The town of Sharana ...
province, where the unit conducted counter-fire operations to guarantee security for the populace along the
Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...
border and cease
Taliban The Taliban (; ps, طالبان, ṭālibān, lit=students or 'seekers'), which also refers to itself by its state (polity), state name, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, is a Deobandi Islamic fundamentalism, Islamic fundamentalist, m ...
, Haqqani,
insurgent An insurgency is a violent, armed rebellion against authority waged by small, lightly armed bands who practice guerrilla warfare from primarily rural base areas. The key descriptive feature of insurgency is its asymmetric warfare, asymmetric na ...
, networks and activity. The unit also participated and started the first training of
Afghan National Army Afghan may refer to: *Something of or related to Afghanistan, a country in Southern-Central Asia * Afghans, people or citizens of Afghanistan, typically of any ethnicity **Afghan (ethnonym), the historic term applied strictly to people of the Pas ...
artillery Artillery is a class of heavy military ranged weapons that launch munitions far beyond the range and power of infantry firearms. Early artillery development focused on the ability to breach defensive walls and fortifications during siege ...
units in
Paktika Paktika (Pashto/Dari: ) is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan, located in the eastern part of the country. Forming part of the larger Loya Paktia region, Paktika has a population of about 789,000, mostly ethnic Pashtuns. The town of Sharana ...
. These efforts allowed the ANA to fire their first autonomous combat missions in support of their own troops engaged with
insurgent An insurgency is a violent, armed rebellion against authority waged by small, lightly armed bands who practice guerrilla warfare from primarily rural base areas. The key descriptive feature of insurgency is its asymmetric warfare, asymmetric na ...
activities. The 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery, were able to conduct join fire missions with the ANA D-30 units. The 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery, also continued their tradition of "firsts" with the first rounds fired for the 1st Infantry Division in Afghanistan. For this deployment, the Battalion was once again awarded the MUC, perpetuating a multi-generational record of stellar military achievement: Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered AFGHANISTAN 2012-2013 In 2015, the 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment replaced
2nd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment The 2nd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment (2-320th FAR) is an inactive field artillery battalion of the United States Army. The battalion has been assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, 11th Airborne Division and 101st Airborne Division. ...
to become the
101st Airborne Division The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) ("Screaming Eagles") is a light infantry division of the United States Army that specializes in air assault operations. It can plan, coordinate, and execute multiple battalion-size air assault operati ...
's
air assault Air assault is the movement of ground-based military forces by vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft—such as the helicopter—to seize and hold key terrain which has not been fully secured, and to directly engage enemy forces behind e ...
artillery unit for the 1st Infantry Brigade Combat Team.


See also

*
Field Artillery Branch (United States) The Field Artillery Branch is a combat arms branch of the United States Army that is responsible for field artillery. Historical background The U.S. Army Field Artillery branch traces its origins to 17 November 1775 when the Continental Congres ...


References


Further reading

* *


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:32 Field Artillery Regiment 101st Airborne Division 1918 establishments in Maryland 032 Military units and formations established in 1918