1st Battalion 119th Field Artillery
Encyclopedia
The 1st Battalion, 119th Field Artillery is part of the Michigan Army National Guard
. Headquartered in Charlotte, Michigan
, it consists of three batteries and a support company: Battery A in Port Huron
, Battery B in Alma
, Battery C in Albion
, and an FSC Company in Augusta
. The 119th FA is accompanied by the 1st Battalion, 182nd Field Artillery (HIMARS) the only two field artillery units in Michigan
. Both are members of the 197th Fires Brigade (New Hampshire).
", the famed frontier unit of the French and Indian War
s of 1754. The Rangers, after the end of the war, left nearly 30 of their soldiers in Fort Detroit
, to serve as the nucleus of the militia there. The men, proud of their heritage gained while serving under Major Robert Rogers
, retained much of that unit's lore, legacy, and structure, including his famous standing orders.
Eventually, that unit became a full-sized infantry militia. Prior to the American Civil War
, this unit was blended with cavalry and artillery units, and served as part of the famed "Iron Brigade", taking part in every major battle east of the Mississippi River
, save Vicksburg
, during the war. Following the war, they served in the American west and along the Mexican Border
, firing in support of the famed 10th Cavalry Regiment (Buffalo Soldiers, an all-black cavalry unit) and hunting for Pancho Villa
under the command of General John J. Pershing
.
During the Spanish-American War
, the unit served in Cuba
, firing on the San Juan Heights during the famed charge of the 10th Cavalry and another famous unit, later-President
Theodore Roosevelt
's "Rough Riders
".
In World War I
, as part of the famous 32nd Infantry Division ("Red Arrow"), the unit fought in numerous campaigns and battles in France, culminating in their distinguished service at the Second Battle of the Marne
, when they and a handful of other American units routed the German counter-offensive, and brought an end to the war. The battalion was awarded the French Croix de guerre
for bravery and steadfast gallantry in action.
The 119th had been described once by General John "Black Jack" Pershing
as being "The legion of hell itself...disheveled and uncut, a rowdy and miscreant lot, who fight like demonic lions and drink like gods, but in all, no better men than to have with you in combat!" The reputation for unorthodox behavior, technical expertise, and astounding courage is echoed in the annals of military history, a proud heritage for the unit, who in 1996, took the name "Red Lions" from Pershing's comments and the lion on their crest which was taken from Ponce de Leon's ranch while serving on the Mexican border.
Prior to the United States' entry into World War II
, the 119th Field Artillery Regiment (155mm Gun)(Motorized) was inducted into federal service on 7 April 1941 in Lansing, Michigan, and arrived at Fort Knox, Kentucky, ten days later. It transferred to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, on 2 June 1941 and was assigned to the 72nd Field Artillery Brigade, XI Corps. On 8 February 1943 it was redesignated as HHB, 119th Field Artillery Group. The regiment's former 1st and 2nd Battalions were redesignated as the 978th and 979th Field Artillery Battalions (155mm Trac-D), respectively.
The 119th moved to Camp Young, California on 23 August 1943 and staged at Camp Myles Standish, Massachusetts, on 5 February 1944 until it departed the Boston Port of Embarkation on 27 February 1944. It arrived in England on 8 March 1944 and landed in France on 26 June 1944. The 119th crossed into Belgium on 8 September 1944 and into Holland on 13 September 1944, then entered Germany on 14 October 1944. By August 1945 the 119th was in Ostenburg, Germany. It returned to the United States, arriving at the Hampton Road (Virginia) Port of Embarkation on 16 November 1945 and was inactivated at Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia, on 16 November 1945. The 119th's campaign credits include Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe. During its tour in Europe the 119th reportedly distinguished itself for having fired more rounds in combat than any other Allied artillery unit in either the European or Pacific Theaters. Also the 119th saw action in both World Wars in hand-to-hand combat, winning them a distinguished honor of being called "The finest infantry unit in the artillery"!
"Korean War Order of Battle: United States, United Nations, and Communist Ground, Naval, and Air Forces, 1950–1953" by Gordon Rottman does not list the 978th or the 979th FA Battalions as having served in Korea, nor does it list the 119th FA as a regiment or group.
During the Vietnam War, one team of forward observers went to Vietnam
, serving with a Long Range Recon Patrol in the Mekong River
area. In the United States, the 119th helped to respond to numerous natural disasters including the blizzards of 1968 and 1979, and also to many civil emergencies such as riots and disturbances.
In 2001, following the 11 September attacks by Al-Qaeda
on the United States, the unit sent almost 100 troops to immediate service at the U.S.-Canadian border on the Ambassador Bridge
in Detroit
and Blue Water Bridge
in Port Huron
. Those units set new records for seizures of contraband and arrests of wanted criminals and terror suspects. In six months on the Ambassador Bridge, they seized in excess of 20 million dollars (US) in illegal narcotic
s and contraband, stopped a child slavery
ring, arrested 46 fugitives, including three wanted by Interpol
, and more. Soldiers also worked in numerous airports, facilities, and elsewhere during the crisis, ensuring the people of Michigan
could sleep soundly at night.
In 2003, the unit dispatched over 150 soldiers to Guantanamo Bay
, Cuba, to serve as guards and security forces for the detainment facilities recently opened there. Again, in 2004, another 150 soldiers deployed for service at Abu Ghraib prison
in Iraq, where they set a series of distinguishing records:
In May 2010 the battalion fielded the advanced M777 howitzer (155 mm) and Command Post of the Future (CPOF) system. In late 2010 the battalion deployed as part of the 197th Fires Brigade in support of Operation New Dawn.
United States National Guard
The National Guard of the United States is a reserve military force composed of state National Guard militia members or units under federally recognized active or inactive armed force service for the United States. Militia members are citizen soldiers, meaning they work part time for the National...
. Headquartered in Charlotte, Michigan
Charlotte, Michigan
Charlotte is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 9,074. It is the county seat of Eaton County....
, it consists of three batteries and a support company: Battery A in Port Huron
Port Huron, Michigan
Port Huron is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of St. Clair County. The population was 30,184 at the 2010 census. The city is adjacent to Port Huron Township but is administratively autonomous. It is joined by the Blue Water Bridge over the St. Clair River to Sarnia,...
, Battery B in Alma
Alma, Michigan
Alma is the largest city in Gratiot County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 9,275 at the 2000 census. It was incorporated as the Village of Alma in 1872 and became a city in 1905....
, Battery C in Albion
Albion, Michigan
Albion is a city in Calhoun County in the south central region of the Lower Peninsula of the US state of Michigan. The population was 9,144 at the 2000 census and is part of the Battle Creek Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, and an FSC Company in Augusta
Augusta, Michigan
Augusta is a village in Kalamazoo County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 899 at the 2000 census. The village is mostly within Ross Township, though a small portion extends south into Charleston Township....
. The 119th FA is accompanied by the 1st Battalion, 182nd Field Artillery (HIMARS) the only two field artillery units in Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. Both are members of the 197th Fires Brigade (New Hampshire).
History
What would eventually become the 1st Battalion, 119th Field Artillery Regiment began with numerous other militia units, most notably with "Rogers' RangersRogers' Rangers
Rogers' Rangers was an independent company of colonial militia, attached to the British Army during the Seven Years War . The unit was informally trained by Major Robert Rogers as a rapidly deployable light infantry force tasked with reconnaissance and conducting special operations against distant...
", the famed frontier unit of the French and Indian War
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...
s of 1754. The Rangers, after the end of the war, left nearly 30 of their soldiers in Fort Detroit
Fort Detroit
Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit or Fort Détroit was a fort established by the French officer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac in 1701. The location of the former fort is now in the city of Detroit in the U.S...
, to serve as the nucleus of the militia there. The men, proud of their heritage gained while serving under Major Robert Rogers
Robert Rogers (soldier)
Robert Rogers was an American colonial frontiersman. Rogers served in the British army during both the French and Indian War and the American Revolution...
, retained much of that unit's lore, legacy, and structure, including his famous standing orders.
Eventually, that unit became a full-sized infantry militia. Prior to the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, this unit was blended with cavalry and artillery units, and served as part of the famed "Iron Brigade", taking part in every major battle east of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
, save Vicksburg
Battle of Vicksburg
The Siege of Vicksburg was the final major military action in the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War. In a series of maneuvers, Union Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and his Army of the Tennessee crossed the Mississippi River and drove the Confederate army of Lt. Gen. John C...
, during the war. Following the war, they served in the American west and along the Mexican Border
United States–Mexico border
The United States–Mexico border is the international border between the United States and Mexico. It runs from Imperial Beach, California, and Tijuana, Baja California, in the west to Matamoros, Tamaulipas, and Brownsville, Texas, in the east, and traverses a variety of terrains, ranging from major...
, firing in support of the famed 10th Cavalry Regiment (Buffalo Soldiers, an all-black cavalry unit) and hunting for Pancho Villa
Pancho Villa
José Doroteo Arango Arámbula – better known by his pseudonym Francisco Villa or its hypocorism Pancho Villa – was one of the most prominent Mexican Revolutionary generals....
under the command of General John J. Pershing
John J. Pershing
John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing, GCB , was a general officer in the United States Army who led the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I...
.
During the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
, the unit served in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, firing on the San Juan Heights during the famed charge of the 10th Cavalry and another famous unit, later-President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
's "Rough Riders
Rough Riders
The Rough Riders is the name bestowed on the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry, one of three such regiments raised in 1898 for the Spanish-American War and the only one of the three to see action. The United States Army was weakened and left with little manpower after the American Civil War...
".
In World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, as part of the famous 32nd Infantry Division ("Red Arrow"), the unit fought in numerous campaigns and battles in France, culminating in their distinguished service at the Second Battle of the Marne
Second Battle of the Marne
The Second Battle of the Marne , or Battle of Reims was the last major German Spring Offensive on the Western Front during the First World War. The German attack failed when an Allied counterattack led by France overwhelmed the Germans, inflicting severe casualties...
, when they and a handful of other American units routed the German counter-offensive, and brought an end to the war. The battalion was awarded the French Croix de guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
for bravery and steadfast gallantry in action.
The 119th had been described once by General John "Black Jack" Pershing
John J. Pershing
John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing, GCB , was a general officer in the United States Army who led the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I...
as being "The legion of hell itself...disheveled and uncut, a rowdy and miscreant lot, who fight like demonic lions and drink like gods, but in all, no better men than to have with you in combat!" The reputation for unorthodox behavior, technical expertise, and astounding courage is echoed in the annals of military history, a proud heritage for the unit, who in 1996, took the name "Red Lions" from Pershing's comments and the lion on their crest which was taken from Ponce de Leon's ranch while serving on the Mexican border.
Prior to the United States' entry into World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the 119th Field Artillery Regiment (155mm Gun)(Motorized) was inducted into federal service on 7 April 1941 in Lansing, Michigan, and arrived at Fort Knox, Kentucky, ten days later. It transferred to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, on 2 June 1941 and was assigned to the 72nd Field Artillery Brigade, XI Corps. On 8 February 1943 it was redesignated as HHB, 119th Field Artillery Group. The regiment's former 1st and 2nd Battalions were redesignated as the 978th and 979th Field Artillery Battalions (155mm Trac-D), respectively.
The 119th moved to Camp Young, California on 23 August 1943 and staged at Camp Myles Standish, Massachusetts, on 5 February 1944 until it departed the Boston Port of Embarkation on 27 February 1944. It arrived in England on 8 March 1944 and landed in France on 26 June 1944. The 119th crossed into Belgium on 8 September 1944 and into Holland on 13 September 1944, then entered Germany on 14 October 1944. By August 1945 the 119th was in Ostenburg, Germany. It returned to the United States, arriving at the Hampton Road (Virginia) Port of Embarkation on 16 November 1945 and was inactivated at Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia, on 16 November 1945. The 119th's campaign credits include Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe. During its tour in Europe the 119th reportedly distinguished itself for having fired more rounds in combat than any other Allied artillery unit in either the European or Pacific Theaters. Also the 119th saw action in both World Wars in hand-to-hand combat, winning them a distinguished honor of being called "The finest infantry unit in the artillery"!
"Korean War Order of Battle: United States, United Nations, and Communist Ground, Naval, and Air Forces, 1950–1953" by Gordon Rottman does not list the 978th or the 979th FA Battalions as having served in Korea, nor does it list the 119th FA as a regiment or group.
During the Vietnam War, one team of forward observers went to Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, serving with a Long Range Recon Patrol in the Mekong River
Mekong
The Mekong is a river that runs through China, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. It is the world's 10th-longest river and the 7th-longest in Asia. Its estimated length is , and it drains an area of , discharging of water annually....
area. In the United States, the 119th helped to respond to numerous natural disasters including the blizzards of 1968 and 1979, and also to many civil emergencies such as riots and disturbances.
In 2001, following the 11 September attacks by Al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda is a global broad-based militant Islamist terrorist organization founded by Osama bin Laden sometime between August 1988 and late 1989. It operates as a network comprising both a multinational, stateless army and a radical Sunni Muslim movement calling for global Jihad...
on the United States, the unit sent almost 100 troops to immediate service at the U.S.-Canadian border on the Ambassador Bridge
Ambassador Bridge
The Ambassador Bridge is a suspension bridge that connects Detroit, Michigan, in the United States, with Windsor, Ontario, in Canada. It is the busiest international border crossing in North America in terms of trade volume: more than 25 percent of all merchandise trade between the United States...
in Detroit
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
and Blue Water Bridge
Blue Water Bridge
The Blue Water Bridge is a twin-span international bridge across the St. Clair River that links Port Huron, Michigan, USA and Sarnia, Ontario, Canada...
in Port Huron
Port Huron, Michigan
Port Huron is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of St. Clair County. The population was 30,184 at the 2010 census. The city is adjacent to Port Huron Township but is administratively autonomous. It is joined by the Blue Water Bridge over the St. Clair River to Sarnia,...
. Those units set new records for seizures of contraband and arrests of wanted criminals and terror suspects. In six months on the Ambassador Bridge, they seized in excess of 20 million dollars (US) in illegal narcotic
Narcotic
The term narcotic originally referred medically to any psychoactive compound with any sleep-inducing properties. In the United States of America it has since become associated with opioids, commonly morphine and heroin and their derivatives, such as hydrocodone. The term is, today, imprecisely...
s and contraband, stopped a child slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
ring, arrested 46 fugitives, including three wanted by Interpol
Interpol
Interpol, whose full name is the International Criminal Police Organization – INTERPOL, is an organization facilitating international police cooperation...
, and more. Soldiers also worked in numerous airports, facilities, and elsewhere during the crisis, ensuring the people of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
could sleep soundly at night.
In 2003, the unit dispatched over 150 soldiers to Guantanamo Bay
Guantanamo Bay Naval Base
Guantanamo Bay Naval Base is located on of land and water at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba which the United States leased for use as a coaling station following the Cuban-American Treaty of 1903. The base is located on the shore of Guantánamo Bay at the southeastern end of Cuba. It is the oldest overseas...
, Cuba, to serve as guards and security forces for the detainment facilities recently opened there. Again, in 2004, another 150 soldiers deployed for service at Abu Ghraib prison
Abu Ghraib prison
The Baghdad Central Prison, formerly known as Abu Ghraib prison is in Abu Ghraib, an Iraqi city 32 km west of Baghdad. It was built by British contractors in the 1950s....
in Iraq, where they set a series of distinguishing records:
- They repelled the largest attack on a U.S. military base or installation since the Vietnam WarVietnam WarThe Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, together with the U.S. Marine Corps and other military personnel stationed at the base, on the night of 2005-04-02 and the following morning in the Battle of Abu GhraibBattle of Abu GhraibThe Battle of Abu Ghraib refers to an April 2, 2005 attack on United States forces at Abu Ghraib prison, which consisted of heavy mortar and rocket fire, under which armed insurgents attacked with grenades, small arms, and two vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices . The U.S...
.
- Also 119th sent 40 plus soldiers in support once again of Operation Iraqi Freedom attached to the 182nd Field Artillery's Alpha battery for a 15 month deployment which encompasses travelling over 500,000 miles as a unit protecting convoys and route security.
- They processed and provided security, custody, and control for over 20,000 detainees in one year, a record never before matched by any Allied facility of its type.
In May 2010 the battalion fielded the advanced M777 howitzer (155 mm) and Command Post of the Future (CPOF) system. In late 2010 the battalion deployed as part of the 197th Fires Brigade in support of Operation New Dawn.