8th Field Artillery Regiment (United States)
Encyclopedia
The 8th Field Artillery Regiment is a Field Artillery
regiment
of the United States Army
first formed in 1916
A silver color metal and enamel device 1 5/32 inches (2.94 cm) in height overall consisting of the shield, crest and motto of the coat of arms.
This regiment was organized in 1916 at Fort Bliss
, Texas, from the 5th and 6th Regiments of Field Artillery. Its birthplace and initial service on the Mexican border are shown on the crest, the lone star of Texas and the cactus. The regiment was in the 7th Division and was in training in Brittany
shown by the ermine taken from the arms of that province. The numerical designation of the regiment is indicated by the eight divisions of the shield. The parent organizations are shown on the canton. The fishhook and star are from the arms of the 5th Field Artillery and represent that regiment’s service in the 12th Corps at Gettysburg. The winged centaur is the crest of the 6th Field Artillery. Both the 5th and 6th saw service in Mexico in 1846-1847 as indicated by the color green. The motto is also a combination of those of the 5th and 6th Field Artillery Regiments.
The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 8th Field Artillery Regiment on 19 January 1923. It was amended to correct the description on 6 December 1923. It was redesignated for the 8th Field Artillery Battalion on 8 April 1942. The insignia was redesignated for the 8th Artillery Regiment on 28 August 1957. It was redesignated for the 8th Field Artillery Regiment on 1 September 1971.
Bendy of eight ermine and Gules, on a canton per fess Or and Vert a fishhook eye to dexter barb to base Sable debruised by a mullet Argent fimbriated of the last and a winged centaur courant armed with a bow and arrow of the third.
On a wreath of the colors Argent and Gules a mullet of the first charged with a giant cactus Vert.
The regiment was in the 7th Division and was in training in Brittany shown by the ermine taken from the arms of that province. The numerical designation of the regiment is indicated by the eight divisions of the shield. The parent organizations are shown on the canton. The fishhook and star are from the arms of the 5th Field Artillery and represent that regiment’s service in the 12th Corps at Gettysburg. The winged centaur is the crest of the 6th Field Artillery. Both the 5th and 6th saw service in Mexico in 1846-1847 as indicated by the color green.
This regiment was organized in 1916 at Fort Bliss, Texas, from the 5th and 6th Regiments of Field Artillery. Its birthplace and initial service on the Mexican border are shown on the crest, the lone star of Texas and the cactus.
The motto is also a combination of those of the 5th and 6th Field Artillery Regiments.
Background
The coat of arms was originally approved for the 8th Field Artillery Regiment on 14 June 1920. It was amended to correct the blazon on 11 October 1921. It was redesignated for the 8th Field Artillery Battalion on 7 April 1942. The insignia was redesignated for the 8th Artillery Regiment on 28 August 1957. It was redesignated for the 8th Field Artillery Regiment on 1 September 1971.
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 formed in 1916
History
The 8th Field Artillery Regiment was first activated in 1916 from elements of the 5th, and 6th Field Artillery.Distinctive Unit Insignia
- Description
A silver color metal and enamel device 1 5/32 inches (2.94 cm) in height overall consisting of the shield, crest and motto of the coat of arms.
- Symbolism
This regiment was organized in 1916 at Fort Bliss
Fort Bliss
Fort Bliss is a United States Army post in the U.S. states of New Mexico and Texas. With an area of about , it is the Army's second-largest installation behind the adjacent White Sands Missile Range. It is FORSCOM's largest installation, and has the Army's largest Maneuver Area behind the...
, Texas, from the 5th and 6th Regiments of Field Artillery. Its birthplace and initial service on the Mexican border are shown on the crest, the lone star of Texas and the cactus. The regiment was in the 7th Division and was in training in Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
shown by the ermine taken from the arms of that province. The numerical designation of the regiment is indicated by the eight divisions of the shield. The parent organizations are shown on the canton. The fishhook and star are from the arms of the 5th Field Artillery and represent that regiment’s service in the 12th Corps at Gettysburg. The winged centaur is the crest of the 6th Field Artillery. Both the 5th and 6th saw service in Mexico in 1846-1847 as indicated by the color green. The motto is also a combination of those of the 5th and 6th Field Artillery Regiments.
- Background
The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 8th Field Artillery Regiment on 19 January 1923. It was amended to correct the description on 6 December 1923. It was redesignated for the 8th Field Artillery Battalion on 8 April 1942. The insignia was redesignated for the 8th Artillery Regiment on 28 August 1957. It was redesignated for the 8th Field Artillery Regiment on 1 September 1971.
Blazon
- Shield
Bendy of eight ermine and Gules, on a canton per fess Or and Vert a fishhook eye to dexter barb to base Sable debruised by a mullet Argent fimbriated of the last and a winged centaur courant armed with a bow and arrow of the third.
- Crest
On a wreath of the colors Argent and Gules a mullet of the first charged with a giant cactus Vert.
- Symbolism
- Shield
The regiment was in the 7th Division and was in training in Brittany shown by the ermine taken from the arms of that province. The numerical designation of the regiment is indicated by the eight divisions of the shield. The parent organizations are shown on the canton. The fishhook and star are from the arms of the 5th Field Artillery and represent that regiment’s service in the 12th Corps at Gettysburg. The winged centaur is the crest of the 6th Field Artillery. Both the 5th and 6th saw service in Mexico in 1846-1847 as indicated by the color green.
- Crest
This regiment was organized in 1916 at Fort Bliss, Texas, from the 5th and 6th Regiments of Field Artillery. Its birthplace and initial service on the Mexican border are shown on the crest, the lone star of Texas and the cactus.
- Motto
The motto is also a combination of those of the 5th and 6th Field Artillery Regiments.
Background
The coat of arms was originally approved for the 8th Field Artillery Regiment on 14 June 1920. It was amended to correct the blazon on 11 October 1921. It was redesignated for the 8th Field Artillery Battalion on 7 April 1942. The insignia was redesignated for the 8th Artillery Regiment on 28 August 1957. It was redesignated for the 8th Field Artillery Regiment on 1 September 1971.
Current configuration
- 1st Battalion 8th Field Artillery Regiment (United States)
- 2nd Battalion 8th Field Artillery Regiment http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/fa/0008fa02bn.htm
- 3rd Battalion 8th Field Artillery Regiment
- 4th Battalion 8th Field Artillery Regiment
- 5th Battalion 8th Field Artillery Regiment
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...