2nd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment

World War I

The 2-320th FAR's beginnings can be traced back to America's entry into the First World War. As part of the nation’s mobilization, 2-320th was constituted, organized and activated in August 1917 as Battery B, 320th Field Artillery (B/320th FA). As part of the original 82nd Division, B/320th FA played a key role at Lorraine, St. Mihiel, and the Meuse Argonne region in France. Following the Armistice, the 320th FA demobilized, only to be reconstituted in June 1921 as part of the United States Organized Reserves.

World War II

In August 1942, when the 82nd Infantry Division was converted to an airborne division, the 320th FA (including B/320th) was reorganized and redesignated as the 320th Glider Field Artillery Battalion (GFAB). As part of the 82nd Airborne Division, the 320th GFAB fought in a number of hot spots. First, the 320th GFAB was part of the campaign in Sicily, acting in reserve. The unit first saw action at the Volturno River on the Italian mainland. The crucial Normandy invasion was the next stop for the 320th GFAB. Under difficult conditions, the unit helped make the invasion a success. As a result of the 320th’s actions during Operation Overlord, the unit was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. The 320th GFAB next fought in Operation Market Garden and then the Battle of the Bulge when the Germans attempted their last-ditch offensive. The 320th GFAB then fought and played a role in the final push through the Rhineland to defeat Germany. Upon the war’s end the unit completed its duties in Europe as part of the post-war occupation in Berlin.

Post-World War II

After the war, the 320th GFAB went through a number of transitions. It was inactivated on 15 December 1948 and relieved from assignment to the 82nd Airborne Division on 14 December 1950. On 1 August 1951 it was reorganized and redesignated as the 320th Airborne Field Artillery Battalion (AFAB), and activated at Fort Benning, Georgia.

Post-Korean War

During the 1950s, the 320th FA served as the field artillery battalion of the separate 508th Airborne Regimental Combat Team. When the Army eliminated infantry regiments and battalions from division and organized under the Pentomic structure, the 320th Field Artillery was reorganized as a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System. B/320th FA was assigned to the 11th Airborne Division in Germany. B/320th FA was inactivated on 1 July 1958 in Germany when the 11th Airborne was inactivated and replaced by the 24th Infantry Division. B/320th FA were redesignated on 15 November 1962 as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 2nd Battalion, 320th Artillery, and assigned to the 101st Airborne Division (organic elements concurrently constituted).

Gulf War

2-320 FAR next saw action in the Middle East from 1990 until 1991. As a part of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), the battalion was part of the massive US force that drove the Iraqi Army from Kuwait.

Lineage

Constituted 5 August 1917 in the National Army as Battery B, 320th Field Artillery, an element of the 82d Division

Organized 29 August 1917 at Camp Gordon, Georgia

Demobilized 12 May 1919 at Camp Dix, New Jersey

Reconstituted 24 June 1921 in the Organized Reserves as Battery B, 320th Field Artillery, an element of the 82d Division (later redesignated as the 82d Airborne Division)

Organized in December 1921 at Columbia, South Carolina

Reorganized and redesignated 13 February 1942 as Battery B, 320th Field Artillery Battalion

Ordered into active military service 25 March 1942 and reorganized at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana

Reorganized and redesignated 15 August 1942 as Battery B, 320th Glider Field Artillery Battalion

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

Withdrawn 15 November 1948 from the Organized Reserve Corps and allotted to the Regular Army

Inactivated 15 December 1948 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina

(320th Glider Field Artillery Battalion relieved 14 December 1950 from assignment to the 82d Airborne Division)

Redesignated 1 August 1951 as Battery B, 320th Airborne Field Artillery Battalion, and activated at Fort Benning, Georgia

Reorganized and redesignated 1 March 1957 as Battery B, 320th Artillery, and assigned to the 11th Airborne Division

Inactivated 1 July 1958 in Germany and relieved from assignment to the 11th Airborne Division

Redesignated 15 November 1962 as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 2d Battalion, 320th Artillery, and assigned to the 101st Airborne Division (organic elements concurrently constituted)

Battalion activated 3 December 1962 at Fort Campbell, Kentucky

Redesignated 1 September 1971 as the 2d Battalion, 320th Field Artillery

Relieved 16 September 2004 from assignment to the 101st Airborne Division and assigned to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division

Campaign Participation Credit

World War I: St. Mihiel; Meuse-Argonne; Lorraine 1918

World War II: Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Normandy (with arrowhead); Rhineland (with arrowhead); Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe

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

Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait

War on Terrorism

Afghanistan:

Iraq: Iraqi Governance

Note: The published Army lineage, dated 30 June 2010, shows only Iraqi Governance in the War on Terrorism. Comparison of the battalion's deployment dates with the War on Terrorism campaigns estimates that the battalion will be credited with participation in the additional campaigns listed.

Decorations

Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered STE. MERE EGLISE

Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered DAK TO

Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered TUY HOA

Meritorius Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1965-1966

Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered IRAQ 2003

Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered IRAQ 2007-2008

Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered AFGHANISTAN 2010-2011

French Crois de Guerre with Palm, World War II, Streamer embroidered STE. MERE EGLISE

French Crois de Guerre with Palm, World War II, Streamer embroidered COTENTIN

French Crois de Guerre, World War II Fourrragere

Military Order of William (Degree of the Knight of the Fourth Class), Streamer embroidered NIJMEGEN 1944

Netherlands Orange Lanyard

Belgian Fourragere 1940

Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action in the Ardennes

Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action in Belgium

Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1968-1969

Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1971

Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1968-1970

Battery A additionally entitled to:

Note: Separately cited decorations are not post to the official lineage by the Center for Military History.

Distinctive unit insignia

320th Field Artillery Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia

Coat of arms

320th Field Artillery Regiment Coat of Arms