Active 1917–present Branch Army | Country United States Garrison/HQ Grafenwoehr | |
Type Airborne field artillery Equipment M119A3 howitzer, M777A2 howitzer | ||
The 4th Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment (4-319 AFAR) is the field artillery battalion that is part the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team. Nicknamed "The King of the Herd", 4–319 AFAR has participated in battles from World War I to the current day.
Contents
History
The 4th Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment (4-319 AFAR), "King of the Herd," was activated on June 8, 2006 from elements of D Battery, 319th Field Artillery and 1st Battalion, 33rd Field Artillery at Warner Barracks in Bamberg, Germany and assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team (ABCT).
Under the U.S. Army Regimental System, the battalion traces its lineage to Battery D, 319th Field Artillery Regiment, which was originally constituted August 5, 1917 and assigned to the 82nd Division. It was organized and activated September 9, 1917 at Camp Gordon, Georgia and arrived in France in late 1917. The 319th Field Artillery participated in three major campaigns during World War I. At the conclusion of the war, the 82nd Division returned home and was demobilized on May 18, 1919.
The battalion was reorganized and redesignated the 319th Field Artillery Battalion (FAB) in 1942 and was ordered into active federal service on March 25, 1942. As part of this reorganization, Battery D was absorbed into Battery A. On August 15, 1942, the 319th FAB was reorganized and redesignated as the 319th Glider Field Artillery Battalion (GFAB). The 319th GFAB participated in all six World War II campaigns of the 82nd Airborne Division, including assault landings in Normandy and the Netherlands. The 319th GFAB was awarded two Presidential Unit Citations and two French Croix de Guerre with palm.
From 1957 until 1964, the reconstituted Battery D, 319th served in the pentomic 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Battery D was inactive from 1964 until 1988, when it was activated in Italy. Then known as "Delta Battery," it provided direct support to the 3rd Airborne Battalion Combat Team, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment; to the 1st Airborne Battalion Combat Team, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment; and finally to the 173rd Airborne Brigade.
Operation Provide Comfort
Following the March 1991 cease fire, Battery D, 319th Field Artillery deployed with the 3rd Airborne Battalion Combat Team, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment to Turkey and northern Iraq for Operation Provide Comfort.
Operation Iraqi Freedom I
On 26 March 2003, D/319, as part of 173rd Airborne Brigade, conducted a parachute assault on Bashur Drop Zone in northern Iraq. The battery operated in northern Iraq from March 2003 until February 2004, before re-deploying to Italy.
Operation Enduring Freedom VI
From February 2005 to February 2006, D/319 AFAR deployed to OEF VI, providing fire support to forces throughout Regional Command East.
In June 2006, Battery D, 319th AFAR was reorganized and redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery (HHB), 4-319 AFAR, with two organic firing batteries (Battery A, 4-319 AFAR and Battery B, 4-319 AFAR) concurrently constituted and activated. Since activation, 4-319 AFAR has deployed three times to Afghanistan.
Operation Enduring Freedom VIII
Less than a year after its formation as a battalion, 4-319 deployed to Afghanistan again, earning the Meritorious Unit Commendation for service from 27 May 2007 to 1 June 2008, while providing fire support to combat operations in Nangahar, Nuristan, Kunar, and Laghman provinces in Regional Command East.
Operation Enduring Freedom X
From November 2009 until November 2010, 4-319 returned to Regional Command East with the 173rd Airborne Brigade, again receiving the Meritorious Unit Commendation for combat operations in Wardak and Logar provinces. The battalion was led by then, COL David Sink and had many victories.
Operation Enduring Freedom XIII
The 4-319 AFAR also returned to Wardak and Logar for OEF XIII from 2012 to 2013.
Lineage
Campaign participation credits
Note: The published Army lineage shows War on Terrorism "Campaigns to be determined" as of 12 April 2007. Comparison of the battalion's deployment dates with the War on Terrorism campaigns estimates that the battalion will be credited with participation in the six campaigns listed.
Decorations
Note: Separately cited decorations are not listed in the official lineage, updated 12 April 2007, posted by the Center for Military History.
Distinctive unit insignia
319th Field Artillery Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia
Coat of arms
319th Field Artillery Regiment Coat of Arms