U.S. 41st Field Artillery Brigade
Encyclopedia
The 41st Fires Brigade ("Railgunners") is a field artillery
brigade
of the United States Army
based in Fort Hood, Texas
. It is a subordinate unit of III Corps.
formation activated near the end of World War I
.
The 41st Artillery was formed on 26 August 1918, at Fort Monroe
, Virginia. Several months later the unit was demobilized. On 15 January 1921, the colors were transferred to the Pacific Theater, where the 41st Artillery was re-constituted as the Hawaiian Railway Battalion. On 1 July 1924, the unit was re-designated as the 41st Coast Artillery and remained in Hawaii until its deactivation on 30 June 1931.
On 21 April 1942, the 41st Coast Artillery was re-activated, this time at Fort Hase, Hawaii, where it served until 25 May 1944. It was awarded the Asiatic Pacific Streamer for its role in World War II. At that time, it was retired from the rolls of the regular Army and incorporated into the Hawaiian Department.
On 28 June 1950, Headquarters Battery, 41st Coast Artillery was reconstituted as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 41st Field Artillery Group and was inactivated 18 January 1952 at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
In April 1967, the 41st Field Artillery Group deployed to the Republic of Vietnam, where it earned nine campaign streamer
s. On 15 November 1969, the Group was inactivated and its colors returned to the United States.
On 15 March 1972, the 41st Field Artillery Group was re-activated in Babenhausen
, West Germany. The unit was re-designated as the 41st Field Artillery Brigade on 16 June 1982, and was assigned to V Corps Artillery. In 2003, the brigade deployed with V Corps to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Following their service in Iraq, the unit was inactivated on 15 July 2005. The 41st Fires Brigade was reactivated at Fort Hood, Texas on 16 April 2007 taking over the units of the inactivated 4th Fires Brigade.
Slightly more than one year later, the 41st Fires Brigade was called upon again to provide its battlefield expertise to the Wasit Province of Iraq. The Brigade established itself on the battlefield and began the process of providing security and stabilization to the people of Iraq. After 14 months, the brigade fulfilled its mission.
A tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) battery will be added to the Brigade in the future.
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....
brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
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...
based in Fort Hood, Texas
Fort Hood, Texas
Fort Hood is a United States military post located outside of Killeen, Texas. The post is named after Confederate General John Bell Hood. It islocated halfway between Austin and Waco, about from each, within the U.S. state of Texas....
. It is a subordinate unit of III Corps.
History
The 41st Fires Brigade traces its lineage back to the 41st Artillery Regiment (Coast Artillery Corps), a static coastal artilleryCoastal artillery
Coastal artillery is the branch of armed forces concerned with operating anti-ship artillery or fixed gun batteries in coastal fortifications....
formation activated near the end of World War I
World 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 41st Artillery was formed on 26 August 1918, at Fort Monroe
Fort Monroe
Fort Monroe was a military installation in Hampton, Virginia—at Old Point Comfort, the southern tip of the Virginia Peninsula...
, Virginia. Several months later the unit was demobilized. On 15 January 1921, the colors were transferred to the Pacific Theater, where the 41st Artillery was re-constituted as the Hawaiian Railway Battalion. On 1 July 1924, the unit was re-designated as the 41st Coast Artillery and remained in Hawaii until its deactivation on 30 June 1931.
On 21 April 1942, the 41st Coast Artillery was re-activated, this time at Fort Hase, Hawaii, where it served until 25 May 1944. It was awarded the Asiatic Pacific Streamer for its role in World War II. At that time, it was retired from the rolls of the regular Army and incorporated into the Hawaiian Department.
On 28 June 1950, Headquarters Battery, 41st Coast Artillery was reconstituted as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 41st Field Artillery Group and was inactivated 18 January 1952 at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
In April 1967, the 41st Field Artillery Group deployed to the Republic of Vietnam, where it earned nine campaign streamer
Campaign streamer
Campaign streamers are decorations attached to military flags to recognize particular achievements or events of a military unit or service. Attached to the headpiece of the assigned flag, the streamer often is an inscribed ribbon with the name and date denoting participation in a particular battle,...
s. On 15 November 1969, the Group was inactivated and its colors returned to the United States.
On 15 March 1972, the 41st Field Artillery Group was re-activated in Babenhausen
Babenhausen
Babenhausen is a town in the Darmstadt-Dieburg district, in Hesse, Germany.-Geography:It is situated on the river Gersprenz, 25 km southeast of Frankfurt, and 14 km west of Aschaffenburg. South of its general borders, the mountain range of the Odenwald is situated about 15 km away...
, West Germany. The unit was re-designated as the 41st Field Artillery Brigade on 16 June 1982, and was assigned to V Corps Artillery. In 2003, the brigade deployed with V Corps to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Following their service in Iraq, the unit was inactivated on 15 July 2005. The 41st Fires Brigade was reactivated at Fort Hood, Texas on 16 April 2007 taking over the units of the inactivated 4th Fires Brigade.
Slightly more than one year later, the 41st Fires Brigade was called upon again to provide its battlefield expertise to the Wasit Province of Iraq. The Brigade established itself on the battlefield and began the process of providing security and stabilization to the people of Iraq. After 14 months, the brigade fulfilled its mission.
Current Structure
The 41st Fires Brigade is currently composed of:- 1st Battalion, 21st Field Artillery Regiment1st Battalion, 21st Field Artillery RegimentThe 1st Battalion, 21st Field Artillery Regiment is a field artillery battalion of the United States Army based in Fort Hood, Texas. It is a subordinate unit of the 41st Fires Brigade .-History:...
(M270A1 MLRSM270 Multiple Launch Rocket SystemThe M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System is an armored, self-propelled, multiple rocket launcher; a type of rocket artillery.Since the first M270s were delivered to the U.S. Army in 1983, the MLRS has been adopted by several NATO countries. Some 1,300 M270 systems have been manufactured in the...
)- Headquarters and Headquarters Battery
- Alpha Battery
- Bravo Battery
- Charlie Battery
- 575th Forward Support Company
- 2d Battalion, 20th Field Artillery (United States)|2nd Battalion, 20th Field Artillery Regiment]] (M270A1 MLRSM270 Multiple Launch Rocket SystemThe M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System is an armored, self-propelled, multiple rocket launcher; a type of rocket artillery.Since the first M270s were delivered to the U.S. Army in 1983, the MLRS has been adopted by several NATO countries. Some 1,300 M270 systems have been manufactured in the...
)- Headquarters and Headquarters Battery
- Alpha Battery
- Bravo Battery
- Charlie Battery
- 67th Forward Support Company
- 589th Support Battalion589th Support BattalionThe 589th Brigade Support Battalion was originally constituted 31 July 1944 in the Army of the United States as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 589th Quartermaster Battalion, Mobile...
(United States)|589th Brigade Support Battalion]]- Headquarters and Headquarters CompanyHeadquarters and Headquarters CompanyIn United States Army units, a headquarters and headquarters company is a company sized military unit, found at the battalion level and higher. In identifying a specific headquarters unit, it is usually referred to by its abbreviation as an HHC...
- A Company (Supply, Transport, Ammo, Petro., & H2O)
- B Company (Maintenance)
- Headquarters and Headquarters Company
- A Battery, 26th Field Artillery Regiment (Target AcquisitionTarget AcquisitionIn the military, target acquisition denotes any process that provides detailed information about enemy forces and locates them with sufficient accuracy to permit continued monitoring or attacking it....
Battery) - 324th Signal Company
A tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) battery will be added to the Brigade in the future.
Commanders
Ranks indicated are the highest ranks held by the individual, not necessarily the rank held at time of command.41st FA Group
- COL S.H. Wheeler 1967
- COL Archibald V. Arnold 1969
- COL Homer W. Kiefer, Jr. 1973–1975
- COL Charles Hoenstine 1976–1977
- COL Edward J. Stein, Jr. Dec 1977 – July 1979
41st FA Brigade
- LTG August M. Cianciolo July 1979 – May 1982
- MG Fred F. Marty May 1982 – September 1984
- COL Craig H. Leyda 1984
- COL James H. Chapman 1986 – 1988
- COL David A. Schulte 1988 – 1990
- COL George E. Newman III 1990 – 1991
- COL James R. Chambless 1992 – 1994
- LTG Michael D. Maples August 1994 – June 1996
- COL Stephen M. Seay July 1996 – August 1998
- COL Michael T. Hayes August 1998 – July 2000
- COL Jackson L. Flake III July 2000 – July 2002
- COL Charles C. Otterstedt III July 2002 – July 2004
- COL Gary D. Langford July 2004 – July 2005
- COL Richard M. Francey, Jr. April 2007 – Oct. 2009
- COL John Thomson, III Oct. 2009 – August 2011
- COL William McRae August 2011 - Present
Honors & Decorations
- Campaign Participation Credit
- World War II: Asiatic-Pacific Theater, streamer without inscription;
- 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
- Bosnia Herzegovina: Support of IFOR and SFOR, 1995–1996
- War on Terrorism: Campaigns to be determined
- Decorations
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), for SOUTHWEST ASIA 2003
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), for VIETNAM 1967–1968
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), for VIETNAM 1968–1969
- Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, for VIETNAM 1967–1969