26th Field Artillery Regiment (United States)
Encyclopedia
The 26th Field Artillery Regiment is an Field Artillery
regiment
of the United States Army
. first Constituted 5 July 1918 in the National Army (USA)
Organized 2 August 1918 at Camp McClellan
, Alabama
Demobilized 9 February 1919 at Camp McClellan, Alabama
Reconstituted 24 March 1923 in the Regular Army as the 26th Field Artillery
Assigned 22 July 1929 to the 5th Division
Relieved 1 January 1930 from assignment to the 5th Division and assigned to the 9th Division (later redesignated as the 9th Infantry Division)
Activated 1 August 1940 at Fort Bragg
, North Carolina
Reorganized and redesignated 1 October 1940 as the 26th Field Artillery Battalion
Inactivated 20 November 1946 in Germany
Activated 15 July 1947 at Fort Dix, New Jersey
Relieved 1 December 1957 from assignment to the 9th Infantry Division; concurrently, reorganized and redesignated as the 26th Artillery, a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System
Redesignated 1 September 1971 as the 26th Field Artillery
Withdrawn 16 June 1988 from the Combat Arms Regimental System and reorganized under the United States Army Regimental System
Redesignated 1 October 2005 as the 26th Field Artillery Regiment
A Gold color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86 cm) in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned: Gules, in front of a horseshoe Proper, a 75mm projectile Or. Attached below the shield a Red scroll inscribed “COURAGE AND ACTION” in Gold letters.
The shield is red for Artillery. The horseshoe and the projectile suggest the character of the Regiment.
The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 26th Field Artillery Regiment on 21 October 1938. It was amended to revise the description on 22 March 1939. The insignia was redesignated for the 26th Field Artillery Battalion on 30 November 1940. It was redesignated for the 26th Artillery Regiment on 14 April 1958. It was redesignated for the 26th Field Artillery Regiment effective 1 September 1971.
Gules, in front of a horseshoe Proper, a 75mm projectile Or.
On a wreath of the colors Or and Gules, issuing from an open wreath of two rushes of the first a lion rampant of the like crowned, armed and langued Sable surmounted in base by two mounts Vert, that on the dexter bearing a crescent of the first and that on the sinister a mullet interlaced of the like.
Motto
COURAGE AND ACTION.
The shield is red for Artillery. The horseshoe and the projectile suggest the character of the Regiment.
The lion with rushes is taken from the arms of the city of Dinant on the bank of the Meuse River. It refers to the unit’s World War II action in that area for which it was cited by the Belgian Army. Dinant is the bitterly contested point at which the 9th Division finally crossed the Meuse in force and established a secure bridgehead from which the enemy was pursued into Germany. The two hills bearing the crescent and the star for Algeria and French Morocco, refer to the unit’s initial combat experience, i.e., the assault landings in North Africa.
The coat of arms was originally approved for the 26th Field Artillery Regiment on 22 October 1938. It was amended to revise the blazon of the shield on 22 March 1939. The insignia was redesignated for the 26th Field Artillery Battalion on 30 November 1940. It was redesignated for the 26th Artillery Regiment on 14 April 1958. It was amended to add a crest on 2 September 1964. It was redesignated for the 26th Field Artillery Regiment effective 1 September 1971.
Vietnam: Counteroffensive, Phase II; Counteroffensive, Phase III; Tet Counteroffensive; Counteroffensive, Phase IV; Counteroffensive, Phase V; Counteroffensive, Phase VI; Tet 69/ Counteroffensive; Summer-Fall 1969; Winter-Spring 1970; Sanctuary Counteroffensive; Counteroffensive, Phase VII, Consolidation I
Presidential Unit Citation (Navy), Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1967
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Navy), Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1968
Belgian Fourragere 1940
Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action along the Meuse River
Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action in the Ardennes
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, long range, short range and extremely long range target engagement....
regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
of the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. first Constituted 5 July 1918 in the National Army (USA)
Lineage
Constituted 5 July 1918 in the National Army as the 26th Field Artillery and assigned to the 9th DivisionOrganized 2 August 1918 at Camp McClellan
Fort McClellan
Fort McClellan, originally Camp McClellan, was a United States Army post located adjacent to the city of Anniston, Alabama. During World War II, it was one of the largest U.S. Army installations, training an estimated half-million troops...
, Alabama
Demobilized 9 February 1919 at Camp McClellan, Alabama
Reconstituted 24 March 1923 in the Regular Army as the 26th Field Artillery
Assigned 22 July 1929 to the 5th Division
Relieved 1 January 1930 from assignment to the 5th Division and assigned to the 9th Division (later redesignated as the 9th Infantry Division)
Activated 1 August 1940 at Fort Bragg
Fort Bragg (North Carolina)
Fort Bragg is a major United States Army installation, in Cumberland and Hoke counties, North Carolina, U.S., mostly in Fayetteville but also partly in the town of Spring Lake. It was also a census-designated place in the 2010 census and had a population of 39,457. The fort is named for Confederate...
, North Carolina
Reorganized and redesignated 1 October 1940 as the 26th Field Artillery Battalion
Inactivated 20 November 1946 in Germany
Activated 15 July 1947 at Fort Dix, New Jersey
Relieved 1 December 1957 from assignment to the 9th Infantry Division; concurrently, reorganized and redesignated as the 26th Artillery, a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System
Redesignated 1 September 1971 as the 26th Field Artillery
Withdrawn 16 June 1988 from the Combat Arms Regimental System and reorganized under the United States Army Regimental System
Redesignated 1 October 2005 as the 26th Field Artillery Regiment
Distinctive Unit Insignia
- Description
A Gold color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86 cm) in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned: Gules, in front of a horseshoe Proper, a 75mm projectile Or. Attached below the shield a Red scroll inscribed “COURAGE AND ACTION” in Gold letters.
- Symbolism
The shield is red for Artillery. The horseshoe and the projectile suggest the character of the Regiment.
- Background
The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 26th Field Artillery Regiment on 21 October 1938. It was amended to revise the description on 22 March 1939. The insignia was redesignated for the 26th Field Artillery Battalion on 30 November 1940. It was redesignated for the 26th Artillery Regiment on 14 April 1958. It was redesignated for the 26th Field Artillery Regiment effective 1 September 1971.
Blazon
- Shield
Gules, in front of a horseshoe Proper, a 75mm projectile Or.
- Crest
On a wreath of the colors Or and Gules, issuing from an open wreath of two rushes of the first a lion rampant of the like crowned, armed and langued Sable surmounted in base by two mounts Vert, that on the dexter bearing a crescent of the first and that on the sinister a mullet interlaced of the like.
Motto
COURAGE AND ACTION.
- Symbolism
- Shield
The shield is red for Artillery. The horseshoe and the projectile suggest the character of the Regiment.
- Crest
The lion with rushes is taken from the arms of the city of Dinant on the bank of the Meuse River. It refers to the unit’s World War II action in that area for which it was cited by the Belgian Army. Dinant is the bitterly contested point at which the 9th Division finally crossed the Meuse in force and established a secure bridgehead from which the enemy was pursued into Germany. The two hills bearing the crescent and the star for Algeria and French Morocco, refer to the unit’s initial combat experience, i.e., the assault landings in North Africa.
- Background
The coat of arms was originally approved for the 26th Field Artillery Regiment on 22 October 1938. It was amended to revise the blazon of the shield on 22 March 1939. The insignia was redesignated for the 26th Field Artillery Battalion on 30 November 1940. It was redesignated for the 26th Artillery Regiment on 14 April 1958. It was amended to add a crest on 2 September 1964. It was redesignated for the 26th Field Artillery Regiment effective 1 September 1971.
Current configuration
- Battery A, 26th Field Artillery Regiment
- Battery B, 26th Field Artillery Regiment
- Battery C, 26th Field Artillery Regiment
- Battery D, 26th Field Artillery Regiment
- Battery F, 26th Field Artillery Regiment
- Battery H, 26th Field Artillery Regiment
- 1st Battalion 26th Field Artillery Regiment (United States)
- 2nd Battalion 26th Field Artillery Regiment (United States)
- 3rd Battalion 26th Field Artillery Regiment (United States)
- 4th Battalion 26th Field Artillery Regiment (United States)
- 5th Battalion 26th Field Artillery Regiment (United States)
- 6th Battalion 26th Field Artillery Regiment (United States)
Campaign Participation Credit
World War II: Algeria-French Morocco (with arrowhead), Tunisia, Sicily, Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Central EuropeVietnam: Counteroffensive, Phase II; Counteroffensive, Phase III; Tet Counteroffensive; Counteroffensive, Phase IV; Counteroffensive, Phase V; Counteroffensive, Phase VI; Tet 69/ Counteroffensive; Summer-Fall 1969; Winter-Spring 1970; Sanctuary Counteroffensive; Counteroffensive, Phase VII, Consolidation I
Decorations
Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered BINH THUAN PROVINCEPresidential Unit Citation (Navy), Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1967
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Navy), Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1968
Belgian Fourragere 1940
Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action along the Meuse River
Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action in the Ardennes
See also
- Field Artillery Branch (United States)
- U.S. Army Coast Artillery CorpsU.S. Army Coast Artillery CorpsThe U.S. Army Coast Artillery Corps was a Corps level organization responsible for coastal and harbor defense of the United States between 1901 and 1950.-History:...
- Coats of arms of U.S. Artillery RegimentsCoats of arms of U.S. Artillery RegimentsCoats of arms of US Artillery Regiments are heraldic emblems associated with field artillery, air defense artillery, and coast artillery regiments in the US Army...