Military unit
The 8th Field Artillery Regiment is a field artillery regiment of the United States Army first formed in 1916. The regiment served in World War I, World War II, and Korea, and regimental units have served in Vietnam, Honduras, Panama, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Currently organized as a parent regiment under the U.S. Army Regimental System, the regiment's only active component is the 2nd Battalion, 8th Field Artillery Regiment, currently assigned to the 1st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division and stationed at Fort Wainwright, Alaska.
History.
The 8th Field Artillery Regiment was first activated in 1916 from elements of the 5th, and 6th Field Artillery.
The regiment fought in World War I as part of the 7th Division. After the war, the regiment was stationed in Hawaii, and assigned to the Hawaiian Division.
As part of the Army's reorganization in "triangular" infantry divisions in 1941, the regiment was reorganized and redesignated as the 8th Field Artillery Battalion, and reassigned to the 25th Infantry Division. The 8th Field Artillery Battalion fought in World War II and Korea with the 25th, earning 14 campaign streamers and seven unit awards.
As part of the reorganization into pentomic divisions, the 8th Field Artillery Battalion was relieved from the 25th Infantry Division, reorganized and redesignated as the 8th Artillery, and assigned to the Department of the Army as a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System and, after 1981, under the U.S. Army Regimental System.
Further service by regimental elements.
The 1st Battalion, 8th Field Artillery Regiment was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division Artillery from 1957 – 1986, and served in Vietnam, earning 12 campaign streamers and four unit awards. From 1986 – 1997, the battalion remained attached to the 25th Infantry Division as a separate battalion.
The 2nd Battalion, 8th Field Artillery Regiment served with the 7th Infantry Division (United States) in Korea from 1957 – 1971, and at Fort Ord, California and Fort Lewis, Washington from 1975 – 1995. Reassigned to the 25th Infantry Division, and later to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division at both Fort Lewis, Washington and Fort Wainwright, Alaska, the battalion has deployed multiple times in the Global War on Terrorism.
The 3rd Battalion, 8th Field Artillery Regiment served as a reserve unit in the 81st Infantry Division at Macon, Georgia from 1959 – 1965. Activated in the Regular Army from 1983 – 1996, the battalion deployed to Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm with the 18th Field Artillery Brigade.
The 4th Battalion, 8th Field Artillery Regiment served as a separate reserve unit in Pittsburgh and Clearfield, Pennsylvania from 1959 – 1976, and then with the 157th Infantry Brigade until inactivation in 1991.
The 5th Battalion, 8th Field Artillery Regiment served as reserve unit with the 103rd Infantry Division at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from 1959 – 1963. Reactivated in the Regular Army from 1983 – 1996, the battalion deployed to Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm with the 18th Field Artillery Brigade.
The 6th Battalion, 8th Field Artillery Regiment served at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and in Korea from 1959 – 1963, and at Fort Carson, Colorado from 1967 – 1970. The battalion was assigned to the 7th Infantry Division (Light) at Fort Ord, California, from 1983 – 1993, including deployment to Honduras during Operation Golden Pheasant and Panama during Operation Just Cause.
The 7th Battalion, 8th Field Artillery Regiment returned to active duty from 1962 – 1971, and served in Vietnam, earning 11 campaign streamers. It returned to active duty again from 1983 – 1995, serving with the 25th Infantry Division (Light) at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.
The 8th Battalion, 8th Field Artillery Regiment served in Korea with the 2nd Infantry Division Artillery from 1983 – 1996.
*Afghanistan: Consolidation II; Consolidation III
*Iraq: Iraqi Governance; Iraqi Surge
Heraldry.
Distinctive unit insignia.
A silver color metal and enamel device 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.
References.
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