2nd Battalion, 321st Field Artillery Regiment

Last updated
1st Battalion, 321st Field Artillery Regiment
321FARegtCOA.jpg
Coat of arms
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States
BranchArmy
Type Field artillery
Sizebattalion
Garrison/HQinactive
Motto(s)"Noli Me Tangere" (Don’t Tread On Me)
Insignia
Distinctive unit insignia
321 FA Rgt DUI.jpg
Beret flash
Former US Army 2nd Batalion-321st Field Artillery Regiment Beret Flash.svg

The 2nd Battalion, 321st Field Artillery Regiment (2-321 FAR) is an inactive field artillery battalion of the United States Army. The battalion served in World War I, World War II, Vietnam and the Global War on Terrorism with the 82nd Airborne and 101st Airborne Divisions. The battalion was inactivated in 2014 as part of force reductions.

Contents

History

World War I

2-321 FAR traces its lineage to Battery B, 321st Field Artillery, which organized on 2 September 1917 at Camp Gordon, Georgia. After training at Camp Gordon until May 1918, the battery shipped to France, and participated with the regiment in the St. Mihiel, Meuse Argonne and Lorraine 1918 campaigns. Following the Armistice, the battery redeployed to the United States and was demobilized at Camp Dix, New Jersey in May 1919.

Interwar

World War II

Early Cold War

Vietnam

The 3d Brigade, 82d Airborne Division, with 2-321 AFAR attached from the Division Artillery, was alerted to deploy to Vietnam on 12 February 1968. The battalion commander was LTC Howard C. Jelinek. At the time of notification, the battalion was at 50% strength, but received 211 "fillers" from within the 82d Division Artillery over the 16 hours following the deployment notification and deployed at 100% strength of 458 personnel (39 officers, 2 warrant officers and 416 enlisted personnel). Elements of the battalion deployed over the next two weeks. Battery A deployed with Task Force (TF) Privette (2d Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment [2-505 PIR]), arriving at Chu Lai between 16 and 19 February 1968. Battery C followed as part of TF Carpenter (1-508 PIR), arriving between 19 and 21 February 1968. The battalion headquarters controlled TF Jelinek, arriving from 21–23 February 1968, and Battery B deployed with TF Jameson (1-505 PIR), arriving 23–26 February 1968. The last aircraft in the brigade arrived at 0800hrs on 27 February 1968. Upon arrival in Vietnam, the battalion conducted in-country orientation training at the 23d Americal Division Combat Training Center under the operational control of the 1st Battalion, 14th Field Artillery. During the 6 days of training, Battery C was credited with the brigade’s first kill on 28 February 1968. Battery A provided direct support to 2-505 PIR from Fire Base Fat City, and then moved north by air with 2-505 PIR and established a fire base in Phu Bai base defense perimeter. Battery B provided direct support to 1-505 PIR from Fire Base Fat City, and Battery C provided direct support to 1-508 PIR from Landing Zone (LZ) Gator. On 2 March 1968, the battalion (less Battery A) began preparations to move north to Hue/Phu Bai. The brigade (less 2-505 PIR) departed Chu Lai by road in three serials, on 3, 4 and 6 March 1968. Each serial stopped at Da Nang overnight and arrived at Hue/Phu Bai on 4, 5 and 7 March 1968 without enemy contact. Upon arrival in Hue/Phu Bai, the brigade began development of Camp Rodriguez at map coordinates YD817147. Beginning 9 March 1968, the brigade conducted Operation Carentan I. The battalion counter-mortar radar supported from Camp Rodriguez. Battery A occupied FSB Panther in support of 2-505 PIR. Battery B supported 1-505 PIR from FSB Mongoose. When the brigade’s area of operations expanded ((on 29 March 1968??)), Battery B moved to FSB Sally. On 28 March 1968, Battery C received 20 rounds of 122mm rockets, wounding one man and damaging two ¼-ton trucks. The rocket fire ceased when the battalion fired its counter-rocket program and the radar siting. On 30 March 1968, Battery B received 8 rounds of 82mm mortar, wounding three men and damaging the mess tent. Again, the fire ceased in response to the battalion’s counter-mortar fire. On 3 April, Battery C moved by road to FSB Geronimo in order to support 1-508 PIR in Area of Operations (AO) Bass. Battery A provided support from FSB Sally, supporting 1-501 PIR (attached to the brigade from the 101st Airborne Division) from 28 March – 15 April 1968. From deployment through 30 April 1968, the battalion fired 21,564 rounds during 1,437 missions. [1]

The 2-321 began May 1968 supporting Operation Delaware, with batteries at FSBs Boyd (Battery A) and Geronimo (Battery B), and at Camp Rodriguez (Battery C). On 3 May 1968, Battery B moved by road from FSB Geronimo to Camp Rodriguez, and Battery C moved from Camp Rodriguez to FSB Birmingham. On 26 May 1968, the battalion stood down for reorganization and training because of personnel rotation. The training emphasized FDC and FO procedures and airmobile operations. On 3 July 1968, Battery B conducted an artillery raid by air from FSB Panther II to FSB Panther III, fired 1000 rounds on suspected enemy positions and returned to FSB Panther II. On 9 July 1968, the battalion fired a preparation on LZ Green before it was occupied and developed into a battalion observation post. On 13 July 1968, the battalion, reinforced with medium and heavy artillery, conducted a one-hour prep of LZ Leach before elements of 1st Brigade assaulted the LZ. On 23 July 1968, Battery A moved by air from FSB Boyd to FSB Veghel. On 31 July 1968, Battery B moved by air from FSB Panther III to FSB Boyd. [2]

The battalion began August 1968 with its headquarters at Camp Eagle, Battery A remained at FSB Veghel, Battery B at FSB Boyd, and Battery C at FSB Georgia. On 19 August 1968, Battery C moved by air from FSB Georgia to FSB Birmingham as part of the end of Operation SOMERSET PLAIN in the A Shau Valley. On 22 August 1968, Battery A moved by air to FSB Panther III to support operations in the southern part of 3d Brigade’s area of operations. On 23 August, Battery B moved by air from FSB Boyd to FSB Brick. On 3 September 1968, Battery B moved by air from FSB Brick to FSB Greer, and was replaced at FSB Brick by Battery C from FSB Birmingham. On 9 September 1968, Battery C moved from FSB Brick to FSB Boyd. On 10 September 1968, Battery A moved from FSB Panther III to FSB Birmingham. On 12 September 1968, Battery A moved from FSB Birmingham to Camp Eagle to prepare to move to III Corps with 3d Brigade. On 1 October 1968, Battery C deployed from Camp Eagle to III Corps. On 12 October 1968, Battery B moved from FSB Greer to FSB Anzio, then on 14 October moved to Phu Bai to join the rest of the battalion in III Corps. [3]

February 1969 opened with Headquarters and Headquarters Battery at FSB Copperhead, along with Battery C, 3-197 Artillery in general support of the brigade. Battery A occupied FSB All American, Battery B FSB June and Battery C FSB Harrison. On 4 February 1969, Battery B moved by road to FSB Odessa in support of 2-505 Infantry. On 11 February, Battery B moved by helicopter to FSB Joe, continuing in support of 2-505. On 14 February 1969, Battery B moved by C-130 to Tan Son Nhut Air Force Base, and then by road to FSB Harrison to relieve Battery C. Battery C then displaced by road to FSB Hardcore. On 17 March 1969, Battery A moved to FSB Tracy by road. Battery C moved by helicopter to FSB Keene on 27 March 1969, and then on to FSB Hardcore on 29 March 1969. [4]

From August to October 1969, HSB remained at FSB Copperhead. Battery A, with priority of fires to 1-505 PIR, occupied FSB Barbara until 15 August, then moved to FSB All American I until 10 September, then FSB All American II. Battery B, with priority of fires to 2-505 PIR, occupied FSB Harrison until 28 September. On 18 August 1969, Battery B fired in support of B/1-505, and was credited with one VC killed by artillery. On 28 September, Battery B moved to FSB Barbara until 15 October, and then moved to FSB Copperhead for standdown and re-deployed on 29 October. Battery C, with priority of fires to 1-508 PIR, occupied FSB Hardcore I until 15 August, then FSB Barbara until 28 September, then FSB Harrison until 1 October, then FSB Hardcore II. The unit began standdown for redeployment on 1 November 1969. Throughout the quarter, the battalion fired 66,525 rounds during 7,225 missions, and was credited with 16 enemy killed by artillery. [5]

Later Cold War

Following redeployment from Vietnam, 2-321 continued to serve as a direct support battalion in the 82nd Airborne Division Artillery. In 1986, the battalion was inactivated and reflagged as 3-319 AFAR in conjunction with the implementation of the U.S. Army Regimental System.

Global War on Terror

As part of the transformation of the Army into modular brigade combat teams, 2-321 was reactivated as the 4th BCT, 82nd ABN's organic field artillery battalion. 2-321 deployed to Afghanistan three times, for OEF VII (2007-2008), OEF X (2009-2010), and OEF XII (2012). As part of force reductions, 2-321 was inactivated on 14 May 2014.

Lineage & Honors

Lineage

(Organized Reserves redesignated 25 March 1948 as the Organized Reserve Corps)

Campaign Participation Credit

Note: The published US Army lineage lists no War on Terrorism campaigns, as of 17 August 2006. Comparison of the battalion's deployment dates with War on Terrorism campaigns estimates that the battalion is entitled to credit for participation in the 3 campaigns listed.

Decorations

Batteries A and B each additionally entitled to:
  • Valorous Unit Award ribbon.svg Valorous Unit Award for HUE and SAIGON [6]

Heraldry

Distinctive unit insignia

321st Field Artillery Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia

Coat of arms

321st Field Artillery Regiment Coat of Arms

See also

Related Research Articles

82nd Airborne Division Active duty airborne infantry division of the US Army

The 82nd Airborne Division is an airborne infantry division of the United States Army specializing in parachute assault operations into denied areas with a U.S. Department of Defense requirement to "respond to crisis contingencies anywhere in the world within 18 hours". Based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, the 82nd Airborne Division is part of the XVIII Airborne Corps. The 82nd Airborne Division is the U.S. Army's most strategically mobile division.

4th Battalion, 42nd Field Artillery Regiment (United States) Military unit

The 4th Battalion, 42nd Field Artillery Regiment nicknamed the Straight Arrows—was a field artillery battalion in the United States Army. The Regimental motto is Festina Lente.

508th Infantry Regiment (United States) Military unit

The 508th Infantry Regiment is an airborne infantry regiment of the United States Army, first formed in October 1942 during World War II. The 508th is a parent regiment under the U.S. Army Regimental System, and two battalions from the regiment are currently active: the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment is assigned to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, and the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment is assigned to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. The regiment served in combat during World War II, and regimental elements have served in combat in the Dominican Republic, Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, Iraq and Afghanistan.

505th Infantry Regiment (United States) Military unit

The 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, originally the 505th Infantry Regiment, is an airborne infantry regiment of the United States Army, one of four infantry regiments of the 82nd Airborne Division of the United States Army, with a long and distinguished history.

1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment US military unit

The 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment is the field artillery battalion assigned to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division. The battalion has been assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, 11th Airborne Division and 101st Airborne Division. The battalion has participated in World War I, World War II, Operation Power Pack, Operation Urgent Fury, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Inherent Resolve.

18th Field Artillery Brigade Military unit

The 18th Field Artillery Brigade is the XVIII Airborne Corps field artillery brigade, based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

3rd Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment Military unit

The 3rd Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment is the field artillery battalion that 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's mission is "3-319th AFAR stands ready to deploy worldwide within 18 hours of notification, execute a parachute assault and conduct full-spectrum operations. Specifically, the battalion will provide responsive lethal and nonlethal fires in support of forcible entry and airfield seizure, and integrate and synchronize the effects of fires to achieve the 1BCT commander's intent."

319th Field Artillery Regiment Military unit

The 319th Field Artillery Regiment, more commonly referred to as the 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, is a parent regiment in the U.S. Army Regimental System. Four battalions of the regiment are currently active. The first three battalions 1st Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment are in the 82nd Airborne Division and the 4th Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment is in the 173rd Airborne Brigade.

25th Field Artillery Regiment US military unit

The 25th Field Artillery Regiment is a field artillery regiment of the United States Army, first constituted 5 July 1918 in the National Army (USA). Although the regiment did not see action during World War I, elements participated in World War II, Vietnam, Panama, the Gulf War, and the Global War on Terrorism. Currently the regiment one active battalion, a towed light artillery units equipped with the M119A3 105mm Howitzer and the M777A2 155mm Howitzer. The 5th Battalion is assigned to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division at Fort Polk, Louisiana. The 4th Battalion was inactivated on 14 August 2014.

320th Field Artillery Regiment US military unit

The 320th Field Artillery Regiment is a field artillery regiment of the United States Army. A parent regiment under the U.S. Army Regimental System, the 320th FAR currently has two active elements in the 101st Airborne Division : 1st Battalion, 320th FAR "Top Guns" in 2nd Brigade Combat Team; and 3rd Battalion, 320th FAR "Red Knight Rakkasans" in 3rd Brigade Combat Team. The regiment served with the 82nd Airborne Division during World Wars I and II, and regimental elements have served with the 82nd and 101st Airborne Division, the 193rd Infantry Brigade and the Berlin Brigade, and conducted combat operations in the Dominican Republic, Vietnam, Grenada, Operations Desert Shield and Storm, and the Global War on Terror.

321st Field Artillery Regiment US military unit

The 321st Field Artillery Regiment is a field artillery regiment of the United States Army. A parent regiment under the U.S. Army Regimental System, the 321st FAR currently has one active battalion, the 3rd Battalion, 321st FAR, assigned to the 18th Field Artillery Brigade at Fort Bragg, NC. The battalion is equipped with M142 HIMARS.
The regiment served with the 82nd Division during World War I and with the 101st Airborne Division during World War II. Elements of the regiment have served with the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions in Vietnam, and with the 82nd Airborne Division and 18th Field Artillery Brigade during the Global War on Terrorism.

The 377th Field Artillery Regiment is a field artillery regiment of the United States Army. A parent regiment under the U.S. Army Regimental System, the regiment's 2nd Battalion, 377th Field Artillery Regiment is assigned to the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division. Elements of the regiment have also served with the 101st Airborne Division and 82nd Airborne Division, and have seen service in World War II, Vietnam, and in both Iraq and Afghanistan during the Global War on Terror. The 1st and 3rd Battalions as well as Batteries D and E are Inactive.

The 2nd Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment is the field artillery battalion that is assigned to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. Nicknamed "Black Falcons", 2–319 AFAR has participated in battles from World War I to the current day.

The 82nd Airborne Division Artillery (DIVARTY) is the divisional artillery command for the 82nd Airborne Division of the United States Army, stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. It was organized in 1917, during World War I, was inactivated in 2006 as part of the transformation to modular brigade combat teams, and was reactivated in 2014.

3rd Battalion, 321st Field Artillery Regiment US army unit

The 3rd Battalion, 321st Field Artillery Regiment is an artillery battalion, assigned to the 18th Field Artillery Brigade, part of the US Army XVIII Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg, NC. The battalion has served in World War I, World War II, and the Global War on Terror. The battalion is equipped with M142 HIMARS rocket launchers.

4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division

The 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division is an inactive Airborne Brigade of the United States Army. The brigade was active from 1968-1969, and from 2006-2014. The brigade conducted three rotations to Afghanistan, in 2007 and 2008, 2009 and 2010, and 2012. The brigade's two infantry battalions deployed for a fourth time in 2013-2014, and became part of other BCTs in the division upon their redeployment.

1st Battalion, 377th Field Artillery Regiment Military unit

The 1st Battalion, 377th Field Artillery Regiment, is an inactive M198 howitzer 155mm field artillery battalion of the United States Army. The battalion has seen service with the 101st Airborne Division during World War II and Vietnam, and deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan during the Global War on Terror. The battalion has been stationed with the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell; with the 18th Field Artillery Brigade and the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina; and with the 17th Field Artillery Brigade at Fort Lewis, Washington.

1st Battalion, 321st Field Artillery Regiment Inactive US army unit

The 1st Battalion, 321st Field Artillery Regiment is an inactive field artillery battalion of the United States Army. The battalion served in World War I, World War II, Vietnam and the Global War on Terror with the 82nd Airborne and 101st Airborne Divisions, and with the 18th Field Artillery Brigade. The battalion was officially inactivated in March 2014, and its firing batteries were distributed throughout the 82nd Airborne Division.

101st Airborne Division Artillery Military unit

The 101st Airborne Division Artillery (DIVARTY) is the force fires headquarters for the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. The DIVARTY has served with the division in World War II, Vietnam, Operations Desert Shield and Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and in peacetime at Camp Breckinridge and Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and Fort Jackson, South Carolina. The DIVARTY was inactivated in 2005 as part of transformation to modular brigade combat teams, but was reactivated on 16 October 2014 to provide fire support coordination and mission command for the training and readiness of field artillery units across the division.

3rd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment Military unit

The 3rd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment is a Field Artillery Branch battalion assigned to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division. The battalion has been assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, 11th Airborne Division and 101st Airborne Division. The battalion has participated in World War I, World War II, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

References

  1. ↑ Headquarters, 3rd Brigade 82nd Airborne Division. Operational Report of 3d Brigade, 82d Airborne Division for period Ending 30 April 1968. 12 May 1968. Web. Accessed 9 April 14. <http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/392622.pdf>.
  2. ↑ Headquarters, 101st Air Cavalry Division Artillery. Operational Report - Lessons Learned, 1 May 1968 – 31 July 1968. 15 August 1968. Web. Accessed 14 April 2014. <http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/395081.pdf Archived 2015-09-24 at the Wayback Machine >.
  3. ↑ Headquarters, 101st Airborne Division Artillery. Operational Report - Lessons Learned 1 August 1968-31 October 1968. 1 November 1968. Web. Accessed 15 April 2014. <http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/500019.pdf Archived 2015-09-24 at the Wayback Machine >.
  4. ↑ Headquarters, 3d Brigade, 82d Airborne Division. Operational Report – Lessons Learned, 1 February 1969 - 30 April 1969. 15 May 1969; Web. Accessed 30 October 2015. < http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/504592.pdf>.
  5. ↑ Headquarters, 3d Brigade, 82d Airborne Division. Operational Report-Lessons Learned of 3d Brigade, 82d Airborne Division for the Period 1 August 1969 to 31 October 1969. 20 November 1969. Web. Accessed 10 April 2014. <http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/508165.pdf>.
  6. 1 2 3 Lineage and Honors Information: 2d Battalion, 321st Field Artillery Regiment. United States Army Center for Military History. 17 August 2006. Web. Accessed 30 October 2015. <http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/fa/0321fa02bn.htm Archived 2015-09-24 at the Wayback Machine >. PD-icon.svgThis article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  7. ↑ Jimenez, Sgt. Juan F. 'Fury Brigade' legacy comes to an end. Paraglide. 29 May 2014. Web. Accessed 31 October 2015.<>.
  8. ↑ "Afghanistan Campaign Medal or Iraq Campaign Medal." The Adjutant General Directorate (TAGD). United States Army Human Resources Command. 6 August 2015. Web, accessed 12 October 2015. <https://www.hrc.army.mil/TAGD/Afghanistan%20Campaign%20Medal%20or%20Iraq%20Campaign%20Medal> Archived September 11, 2015, at the Wayback Machine .
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.