3rd Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment
Encyclopedia
The 3rd Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment (3–319th AFAR) is a field artillery
battalion that is part of the 319th Field Artillery Regiment
and directly supports the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. Known as the "Gun Devils", 3–319th AFAR has participated in battles from World War I to the current day, and is one of the most highly decorated field artillery units in the United States Army
.
, the Battalion participated in three major offenses: St. Mihiel
, Meuse-Argonne
, and Lorraine
. In World War II
, the battalion participated in campaigns in North Africa
, Chuinzi Pass, Italy
, and the Battle of the Bulge
.
C Battery, 319th AFAR deployed to Vietnam in support of the 173rd Airborne Brigade
, becoming the first American artillery unit to fire artillery in the Vietnam War
.
In Operation Just Cause
, A Battery, 3–319th AFAR conducted a parachute drop of its howitzers, assisting in defeating the Panamanian Defense Forces.
3–319th AFAR supported the 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division during the Gulf War
. A few years later, C Battery, 3–319th deployed to Kosovo
.
The battalion deployed to Afghanistan
in 2005. The battalion has deployed twice to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, once in 2007 and again in 2009 with 1st Brigade Combat Team to Al Asad Airbase.
Organized 2 September 1917 at Camp Gordon, Georgia.
Demobilized 18 May 1919 at Camp Dix, New Jersey.
Reconstituted 24 June 1921 in the Organized Reserves as Battery C, 319th Field Artillery, an element of the 82d Division (later redesignated as the 82d Airborne Division).
Organized in January 1922 at Decatur, Georgia.
Reorganized and redesignated 13 February 1942 as Battery C, 319th Field Artillery Battalion.
Ordered into active military service 25 March 1942 and reorganized at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana. Reorganized and redesignated 15 August 1942 as Battery C, 319th Glider Field Artillery Battalion.
Reorganized and redesignated 15 December 1947 as Battery C, 319th Field Artillery Battalion. (Organized Reserves redesignated 25 March 1948 as the Organized Reserve Corps.)
Withdrawn 15 November 1948 from the Organized Reserve Corps and allotted to the Regular Army.
Reorganized and redesignated 15 December 1948 as Battery C, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Battalion.
Reorganized and redesignated 1 September 1957 as Battery C, 319th Field Artillery, an element of the 82d Airborne Division.
Relieved 24 June 1960 from assignment to the 82d Airborne Division and assigned to the 25th Infantry Division.
Relieved 1 July 1961 from assignment to the 25th Infantry Division.
Reorganized and redesignated 25 June 1963 as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 3d Battalion, 319th Artillery, and assigned to the 173d Airborne Brigade (organic elements constituted 26 March 1963 and activated 25 June 1963).
Redesignated 1 September 1971 as the 3d Battalion, 319th Field Artillery.
Relieved 14 January 1972 from assignment to the 173d Airborne Brigade and assigned to the 101st Airborne Division.
Relieved 2 October 1986 from assignment to the 101st Airborne Division and assigned to the 82d Airborne Division.
World War I
World War II
Vietnam
Armed Forces Expeditions
Southwest Asia
Battery B additionally entitled to Presidential Unit Citation (Navy), Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1966
Battery C additionally entitled to Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered TUY HOA
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....
battalion that is part of the 319th Field Artillery Regiment
319th Field Artillery Regiment (United States)
The 319th Field Artillery Regiment is a field artillery regiment of the United States Army which can trace its lineage back to 1917.-World War I:...
and directly supports the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. Known as the "Gun Devils", 3–319th AFAR has participated in battles from World War I to the current day, and is one of the most highly decorated field artillery units in 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...
.
Narrative
The 3rd Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment has its origins in C Battery, 319th Field Artillery. During World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, the Battalion participated in three major offenses: St. Mihiel
Battle of Saint-Mihiel
The Battle of Saint-Mihiel was a World War I battle fought between September 12–15, 1918, involving the American Expeditionary Force and 48,000 French troops under the command of U.S. general John J. Pershing against German positions...
, Meuse-Argonne
Meuse-Argonne Offensive
The Meuse-Argonne Offensive, or Maas-Argonne Offensive, also called the Battle of the Argonne Forest, was a part of the final Allied offensive of World War I that stretched along the entire western front.-Overview:...
, and Lorraine
Battle of Lorraine
The Battle of Lorraine was a battle of World War I fought in August 1914 between France and Germany. This followed Plan XVII, which proposed a French offensive through Lorraine and Alsace, and into Germany itself.- French Offensive :...
. In World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the battalion participated in campaigns in North Africa
North African campaign
During the Second World War, the North African Campaign took place in North Africa from 10 June 1940 to 13 May 1943. It included campaigns fought in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts and in Morocco and Algeria and Tunisia .The campaign was fought between the Allies and Axis powers, many of whom had...
, Chuinzi Pass, Italy
Italian Campaign (World War II)
The Italian Campaign of World War II was the name of Allied operations in and around Italy, from 1943 to the end of the war in Europe. Joint Allied Forces Headquarters AFHQ was operationally responsible for all Allied land forces in the Mediterranean theatre, and it planned and commanded the...
, and the Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
.
C Battery, 319th AFAR deployed to Vietnam in support of the 173rd Airborne Brigade
173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team
The 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team is an airborne infantry brigade combat team of the United States Army based in Vicenza, Italy...
, becoming the first American artillery unit to fire artillery in the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
.
In Operation Just Cause
United States invasion of Panama
The United States Invasion of Panama, code-named Operation Just Cause, was the invasion of Panama by the United States in December 1989. It occurred during the administration of U.S. President George H. W...
, A Battery, 3–319th AFAR conducted a parachute drop of its howitzers, assisting in defeating the Panamanian Defense Forces.
3–319th AFAR supported the 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division during the Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
. A few years later, C Battery, 3–319th deployed to Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
.
The battalion deployed to Afghanistan
War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, as the armed forces of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Afghan United Front launched Operation Enduring Freedom...
in 2005. The battalion has deployed twice to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, once in 2007 and again in 2009 with 1st Brigade Combat Team to Al Asad Airbase.
Lineage
Constituted 5 August 1917 in the National Army as Battery C, 319th Field Artillery, an element of the 82d Division.Organized 2 September 1917 at Camp Gordon, Georgia.
Demobilized 18 May 1919 at Camp Dix, New Jersey.
Reconstituted 24 June 1921 in the Organized Reserves as Battery C, 319th Field Artillery, an element of the 82d Division (later redesignated as the 82d Airborne Division).
Organized in January 1922 at Decatur, Georgia.
Reorganized and redesignated 13 February 1942 as Battery C, 319th Field Artillery Battalion.
Ordered into active military service 25 March 1942 and reorganized at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana. Reorganized and redesignated 15 August 1942 as Battery C, 319th Glider Field Artillery Battalion.
Reorganized and redesignated 15 December 1947 as Battery C, 319th Field Artillery Battalion. (Organized Reserves redesignated 25 March 1948 as the Organized Reserve Corps.)
Withdrawn 15 November 1948 from the Organized Reserve Corps and allotted to the Regular Army.
Reorganized and redesignated 15 December 1948 as Battery C, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Battalion.
Reorganized and redesignated 1 September 1957 as Battery C, 319th Field Artillery, an element of the 82d Airborne Division.
Relieved 24 June 1960 from assignment to the 82d Airborne Division and assigned to the 25th Infantry Division.
Relieved 1 July 1961 from assignment to the 25th Infantry Division.
Reorganized and redesignated 25 June 1963 as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 3d Battalion, 319th Artillery, and assigned to the 173d Airborne Brigade (organic elements constituted 26 March 1963 and activated 25 June 1963).
Redesignated 1 September 1971 as the 3d Battalion, 319th Field Artillery.
Relieved 14 January 1972 from assignment to the 173d Airborne Brigade and assigned to the 101st Airborne Division.
Relieved 2 October 1986 from assignment to the 101st Airborne Division and assigned to the 82d Airborne Division.
Campaign Participation Credits
All campaign credits are earned creditsWorld War I
- St. Mihiel
- Meuse Argonne
- Lorraine 1918
World War II
- Sicily
- Naples Foggia
- Normandy with arrowhead)
- Rhineland (with arrowhead)
- Ardennes Alsace
- Central Europe
Vietnam
- Defense
- Counteroffensive
- 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
Armed Forces Expeditions
- Panama (with arrowhead)
Southwest Asia
- Defense of Saudi Arabia
- Liberation and Defense of Kuwait
- Cease-Fire
Decorations
- Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered CHIUNZI PASS
- Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered STE. MERE EGLISE
- Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered DAK TO
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1965 1967
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered SOUTHWEST ASIA
- Army Superior Unit Award, Streamer embroidered 1983
- French Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War II, Streamer embroidered STE. MERE EGLISE
- French Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War II, Streamer embroidered COTENTIN
- French Croix de Guerre, World War II, Fourragere
- Military Order of William (Degree of the Knight of the Fourth Class) Streamer embroidered NIJMEGEN 1944
- Netherlands Orange Lanyard
- Belgian Fourragere 1940
- Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action at St. Vith
- Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action in the Ardennes
- Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action in Belgium and Germany
- Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1965 1970
- Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1970 1971
Battery B additionally entitled to Presidential Unit Citation (Navy), Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1966
Battery C additionally entitled to Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered TUY HOA