What is first Battalion 82 Field Artillery?

Answer 1

The 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery was first constituted in the Regular Army as Troop A and B, 24th Cavalry on 3 June 1916. Almost exactly one year later, on 5 June 1917, it was activated as Troop A and B, 24th Cavalry at Fort D. A. Russell, WY.


On 1 November 1917, Troops A and B, 24th Cavalry were consolidated and redesignated as Battery A, 82nd Field Artillery and assigned to the 15th Cavalry Division. The unit first saw action in operations across the Rio Grande River. On 9 September 1921, the 82nd Field Artillery was assigned to the newly organized 1st Cavalry Division and became its sole artillery regiment. The Dragons became known as the "Flying Horse Artillery" during service with the 1st Cavalry Division in the Southwest along the border with Mexico. Between that date and WWII, the unit accomplished two other reorganizations and redesignations.


The unit deployed to the Pacific Theater in WWII with the 1st Cavalry Division and saw action in New Guinea, the Bismark Archipelago, Leyte and Dazon.


Following WWII, the battalion performed occupational duty in Japan and was one of the first units to arrive in Korea in 1950. The unit was credited with seven campaign streamers in the Korean War. On 15 October 1950, it was deactivated and relieved from assignment to the 1st Cavalry Division.



On 1 June 1958, the unit was reoutfitted as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Missile Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery and was activated on 24 June 1958 in Italy. The battalion was deactivated in Italy on 20 April 1964.



On 31 October 1967, the battalion was redesignated as the 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery. It was activated on 10 January 1968 at Fort Lewis, WA, and assigned to the 23rd Infantry Division, the American Division. The unit was later assigned to Vietnam in October 1968.



The 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery was reorganized at Fort Bragg, NC on 30 November 1971, by Headquarters, Third US Army and was attached to the XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery. The battalion underwent another reorganization during the summer of 1972 when it converted from a self-propelled to a 155mm, M114A1, towed howitzer battalion.



Redesignated once again, on 21 June 1975, as the 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery, the unit became a self-propelled 155mm, M109A1 Howitzer Battalion and was assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, TX. As of mid-2001, the unit is a M109A6 (Paladin) Howitzer Battalion.



The Soldiers from Battery C of the 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment are familiar with Paladin Howitzers. Firing them was their main mission, until they arrived at Camp War Eagle in March 2004. Here they found themselves in the midst of a dynamic battlefield. For the 1-82 FA this means less field artillery, and more light infantry. To support the 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment of the 1st Cavalry Division in the dangerous Al Thawra District of Baghdad, the 1-82 FA has begun conducting dismounted foot patrols in a area the Soldiers call "Squaretown." From Squaretown, insurgent forces have launched mortar attacks and the Soldiers are concerned about weapons being transported through the area near the outskirts of Camp War Eagle. The patrols and traffic control points Charlie Rock conducts in the area will deter insurgent activity. The infantry tactics used on foot patrols might make some Soldiers recall their days in basic training. But for the Iraqi National Guard (ING) troops who are with them, it's their first exposure to many infantry tactics. The 'Charlie Rock' Soldiers always bring ING Soldiers with them on dismounted patrols and other combat missions.