77th Field Artillery Regiment (United States)
Encyclopedia
The 77th Field Artillery Regiment is an Field Artillery
regiment
of the United States Army
. first Constituted 1916 in the Regular Army.
Organized 23 May-11 June 1917 at Fort Ethan Allen
, Vermont
Converted and redesignated 1 November 1917 as the 77th Field Artillery
Assigned 19 November 1917 to the 4th Division
Inactivated 21 September 1921 at Camp Lewis
, Washington
Relieved 24 March 1923 from assignment to the 4th Division and assigned to the 7th Division
Relieved 1 January 1930 from assignment to the 7th Division and assigned to the 4th Division
(1st Battalion activated 1 January 1935 at Fort Sill
, Oklahoma)
Activated (less 1st Battalion) 1 November 1935 at Fort D. A. Russell
, Texas
Relieved 16 October 1939 from assignment to the 4th Division
Regiment broken up 24 February 1944 and its elements reorganized and redesignated as follows: Headquarters and Headquarters Battery as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 77th Field Artillery Group; 1st and 2d Battalions as the 634th and 631st Field Artillery Battalions, respectively
After 24 February 1944 the above units underwent changes as follows:
Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 77th Field Artillery Group, inactivated 25 September 1945 in Italy
Activated 27 August 1951 at Fort Sill, Oklahoma
Inactivated 25 September 1956 at Fort Sill, Oklahoma
634th Field Artillery Battalion redesignated 15 May 1945 as the 77th Field Artillery Battalion
Inactivated 4 January 1946 at Camp Kilmer
, New Jersey
Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 77th Field Artillery Battalion, redesignated 1 August 1946 as the 77th Field Artillery Battery and activated at Fort Winfield Scott, California (organic elements of the 77th Field Artillery Battalion concurrently disbanded)
77th Field Artillery Battery inactivated 25 November 1946 at Fort Winfield Scott, California
Redesignated 19 March 1948 as the 77th Armored Field Artillery Battery
Redesignated 1 February 1949 as the 77th Field Artillery Battery and activated in Austria
Inactivated 31 July 1955 in Austria
Redesignated 20 December 1956 as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 634th Field Artillery Rocket Battalion (organic elements of former 77th Field Artillery Battalion concurrently reconstituted as elements of the 634th Field Artillery Rocket Battalion) Battalion activated 1 January 1957 at Fort Hood, Texas
Inactivated 26 June 1958 at Fort Hood, Texas
631st Field Artillery Battalion inactivated 8 September 1945 in Italy
Redesignated 4 November 1946 as the 85th Field Artillery Battalion
Assigned 1 July 1948 to the 10th Infantry Division and activated at Fort Riley, Kansas
Inactivated 1 July 1957 in Germany and relieved from assignment to the 10th Infantry Division
Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 77th Field Artillery Group; 634th Field Artillery Rocket Battalion; and the 85th Field Artillery Battalion consolidated 27 June 1958 to form the 77th Artillery, a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System
Redesignated 1 September 1971 as the 77th Field Artillery
Withdrawn 17 August 1986 from the Combat Arms Regimental System and reorganized under the United States Army Regimental System
Redesignated 1 October 2005 as the 77th Field Artillery Regiment
A Gold color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86 cm) in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned as follows: Gules, five fleurs-de-lis, three and two, Or; on a chief dovetailed at the last a prickly pear cactus Proper; and attached below the shield a Gold scroll inscribed “EN GARDE” in Red.
The shield is red for artillery. The yellow dovetailed chief symbolizes the formation of the organization from cavalry. The cactus indicates service as cavalry on the Mexican border. The five fleurs-de-lis signify the five major engagements in France in World War I as artillery.
The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 77th Field Artillery Regiment on 10 December 1929. It was redesignated for the 634th Field Artillery Battalion on 28 July 1944. It was redesignated for the 77th Artillery Regiment on 16 December 1958. It was redesignated effective 1 September 1971, for the 77th Field Artillery Regiment. The insignia was amended to update and clarify the description and symbolism on 12 August 1985.
Gules, five fleurs-de-lis, three and two, Or; on a chief dovetailed of the last a prickly pear cactus Proper.
On a wreath of the colors, Or and Gules, a mount Vert supporting a falcon Proper.
Motto
EN GARDE (On Guard).
The shield is red for artillery. The yellow dovetailed chief symbolizes the formation of the organization from cavalry. The cactus indicates service as cavalry on the Mexican border. The five fleurs-de-lis signify the five major engagements in France in World War I as artillery.
The crest is taken from the arms of Montfaucon, as most of the 77th Field Artillery was there when the Armistice was signed.
The coat of arms was originally approved for the 77th Field Artillery Regiment on 10 December 1929. It was redesignated for the 634th Field Artillery Battalion on 28 July 1944. It was redesignated for the 77th Artillery Regiment on 16 December 1958. It was redesignated effective 1 September 1971, for the 77th Field Artillery Regiment. The insignia was amended to clarify the symbolism on 12 August 1985.
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 Constituted 1916 in the Regular Army.
Lineage
Constituted 1 July 1916 in the Regular Army as the 19th CavalryOrganized 23 May-11 June 1917 at Fort Ethan Allen
Fort Ethan Allen
Fort Ethan Allen was a U.S. army installation in Vermont, named for American Revolutionary War figure Ethan Allen. First serving as a cavalry post in 1894, today it is the center of a designated national historic district straddling the town line between Colchester and Essex...
, Vermont
Converted and redesignated 1 November 1917 as the 77th Field Artillery
Assigned 19 November 1917 to the 4th Division
Inactivated 21 September 1921 at Camp Lewis
Camp Lewis
Camp Lewis may refer to:* Joint Base Lewis-McChord* Camp Lewis, part of the Northern New Jersey Council of the Boy Scouts of America* Camp Lewis , a former U.S. Army camp in Montana...
, Washington
Relieved 24 March 1923 from assignment to the 4th Division and assigned to the 7th Division
Relieved 1 January 1930 from assignment to the 7th Division and assigned to the 4th Division
(1st Battalion activated 1 January 1935 at Fort Sill
Fort Sill
Fort Sill is a United States Army post near Lawton, Oklahoma, about 85 miles southwest of Oklahoma City.Today, Fort Sill remains the only active Army installation of all the forts on the South Plains built during the Indian Wars...
, Oklahoma)
Activated (less 1st Battalion) 1 November 1935 at Fort D. A. Russell
Fort D. A. Russell
Fort D.A. Russell was the name of two United States Military posts:*Fort D.A. Russell , Cheyenne, Wyoming*Fort D.A. Russell , Marfa, Texas...
, Texas
Relieved 16 October 1939 from assignment to the 4th Division
Regiment broken up 24 February 1944 and its elements reorganized and redesignated as follows: Headquarters and Headquarters Battery as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 77th Field Artillery Group; 1st and 2d Battalions as the 634th and 631st Field Artillery Battalions, respectively
After 24 February 1944 the above units underwent changes as follows:
Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 77th Field Artillery Group, inactivated 25 September 1945 in Italy
Activated 27 August 1951 at Fort Sill, Oklahoma
Inactivated 25 September 1956 at Fort Sill, Oklahoma
634th Field Artillery Battalion redesignated 15 May 1945 as the 77th Field Artillery Battalion
Inactivated 4 January 1946 at Camp Kilmer
Camp Kilmer
Camp Kilmer, New Jersey is a former United States Army camp that was activated in June 1942 as a staging area and part of an installation of the New York Port of Embarkation. The camp was organized as part of the Army Service Forces Transportation Corps. Troops were quartered at Camp Kilmer in...
, New Jersey
Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 77th Field Artillery Battalion, redesignated 1 August 1946 as the 77th Field Artillery Battery and activated at Fort Winfield Scott, California (organic elements of the 77th Field Artillery Battalion concurrently disbanded)
77th Field Artillery Battery inactivated 25 November 1946 at Fort Winfield Scott, California
Redesignated 19 March 1948 as the 77th Armored Field Artillery Battery
Redesignated 1 February 1949 as the 77th Field Artillery Battery and activated in Austria
Inactivated 31 July 1955 in Austria
Redesignated 20 December 1956 as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 634th Field Artillery Rocket Battalion (organic elements of former 77th Field Artillery Battalion concurrently reconstituted as elements of the 634th Field Artillery Rocket Battalion) Battalion activated 1 January 1957 at Fort Hood, Texas
Inactivated 26 June 1958 at Fort Hood, Texas
631st Field Artillery Battalion inactivated 8 September 1945 in Italy
Redesignated 4 November 1946 as the 85th Field Artillery Battalion
Assigned 1 July 1948 to the 10th Infantry Division and activated at Fort Riley, Kansas
Inactivated 1 July 1957 in Germany and relieved from assignment to the 10th Infantry Division
Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 77th Field Artillery Group; 634th Field Artillery Rocket Battalion; and the 85th Field Artillery Battalion consolidated 27 June 1958 to form the 77th Artillery, a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System
Redesignated 1 September 1971 as the 77th Field Artillery
Withdrawn 17 August 1986 from the Combat Arms Regimental System and reorganized under the United States Army Regimental System
Redesignated 1 October 2005 as the 77th Field Artillery Regiment
Distinctive Unit Insignia
- Description
A Gold color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86 cm) in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned as follows: Gules, five fleurs-de-lis, three and two, Or; on a chief dovetailed at the last a prickly pear cactus Proper; and attached below the shield a Gold scroll inscribed “EN GARDE” in Red.
- Symbolism
The shield is red for artillery. The yellow dovetailed chief symbolizes the formation of the organization from cavalry. The cactus indicates service as cavalry on the Mexican border. The five fleurs-de-lis signify the five major engagements in France in World War I as artillery.
- Background
The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 77th Field Artillery Regiment on 10 December 1929. It was redesignated for the 634th Field Artillery Battalion on 28 July 1944. It was redesignated for the 77th Artillery Regiment on 16 December 1958. It was redesignated effective 1 September 1971, for the 77th Field Artillery Regiment. The insignia was amended to update and clarify the description and symbolism on 12 August 1985.
Blazon
- Shield
Gules, five fleurs-de-lis, three and two, Or; on a chief dovetailed of the last a prickly pear cactus Proper.
- Crest
On a wreath of the colors, Or and Gules, a mount Vert supporting a falcon Proper.
Motto
EN GARDE (On Guard).
-
- Symbolism
- Shield
The shield is red for artillery. The yellow dovetailed chief symbolizes the formation of the organization from cavalry. The cactus indicates service as cavalry on the Mexican border. The five fleurs-de-lis signify the five major engagements in France in World War I as artillery.
- Crest
The crest is taken from the arms of Montfaucon, as most of the 77th Field Artillery was there when the Armistice was signed.
- Background
The coat of arms was originally approved for the 77th Field Artillery Regiment on 10 December 1929. It was redesignated for the 634th Field Artillery Battalion on 28 July 1944. It was redesignated for the 77th Artillery Regiment on 16 December 1958. It was redesignated effective 1 September 1971, for the 77th Field Artillery Regiment. The insignia was amended to clarify the symbolism on 12 August 1985.
Current configuration
- 1st Battalion 77th Field Artillery Regiment (United States) http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/fa/0077fa01bn.htm
- 2nd Battalion 77th Field Artillery Regiment (United States)http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/fa/0077fa02bn.htm
- 3rd Battalion 77th Field Artillery Regiment (United States)
- 4th Battalion 77th Field Artillery Regiment (United States)
- 5th Battalion 77th Field Artillery Regiment (United States)
- 6th Battalion 77th Field Artillery Regiment (United States)
Campaign Participation Credit
- World War I: Aisne-Marne; St. Mihiel; Meuse-Argonne; Champagne 1918; Lorraine 1918
- World War II: Sicily (with arrowhead); Naples-Foggia; Anzio; Rome-Arno; Southern France (with arrowhead); North Apennines; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe; Po Valley
- Vietnam: Defense; Counteroffensive; 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; Sanctuary Counteroffensive; Counteroffensive, Phase VII; Consolidation I; Consolidation II
- War on Terrorism: Global War on Terrorism; Iraq
Decorations
- Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered PLEIKU PROVINCE
- Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered SUOI TRE
- Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered FISH HOOK
- Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1971
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...
External links
- http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/fa/default.htm
- http://www.77fa.org/