Arthur Oliver wrote on 2004-12-17 00:04:11.0
Comments: HERE IS A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE 3-115 FA (196th FA BN & 115th FA BN) TENNESSEE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD
The 3-115 FA is descended from the CHICKASAW GUARDS, a Memphis militia unit formed in 1874 by veterans and sons of veterans of the War Between the States. This unit became part of the famous First Tennessee Regiment of Infantry. In 1898 the First Tennessee was called into active service for duty in the Philippine Islands during the insurrection. The Militia Act of 1903 reorganized the volunteer state militias and converted them into the National Guard. In June of 1916, the FIRST TENNESSEE INFANTRY NGST (National Guard of the State of Tennessee) was called into federal service in response to the Mexican border trouble with Pancho Villa. Upon entry into World War I, the unit was reorganized as the 115th FIELD ARTILLERY REGIMENT, 30th INFANTRY DIVISION (the Old Hickory Division, named in honor of President Andrew Jackson because its units were from North Carolina and Tennessee) and was equipped with French 155mm howitzers.
WORLD WAR I
From September 12-19, 1918, the 115th FA Regiment fired in support of 30th DIVISION attacks in the SAINT MIHIEL Offensive, the largest American operation since the Civil War.
From September 26-November 11, 1918, the regiment fired in support of 30th DIVISION attacks in MEUSE-ARGONNE Offensive. This offensive broke the back of German resistance on the Western Front, and its success resulted in the Armistice that ended hostilities.
BETWEEN THE WORLD WARS
After WWI, the Regiment was reorganized in 1923. The Regimental Headquarters, HHB 1st Battalion, Service Battery and Battery B were located in Memphis. The 2nd Battalion was located in eastern Tennessee with HHB located in Clinton TN. From 1923 until 1932 the Regiment was horse-drawn and equipped with the French 75mm.
In January 1937, the Regiment was called out when the Mississippi River flooded the Delta. Guardsmen spent the next two months rescuing citizens, transporting the homeless to shelters, distributing Red Cross supplies and guarding property.
In March 1940, the 2nd Battalion was transferred to Memphis and most of its officers and personnel were drawn from the other 115th Regimental units already stationed there. On September 16, 1940, in anticipation of America becoming involved in the Second World War, the 115th FA Regiment was called into one year of active duty for training. The entire Regiment was mustered into service in Memphis, and local recruits were used to fill personnel shortages throughout the Regiment.
WORLD WAR II
In February 1942, as part of a general restructuring of the Army, the 115th FA Regiment was separated from the 30th Infantry Division, and the Regiment was split into two independent Field Artillery Battalions.
The 115th FA BN in WWII
The 1-115 FA was redesignated as the 115th FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION and was reorganized as a truck-drawn 105mm howitzer battalion.
The 115th FA BN landed on Omaha beach on July 2, 1944. It went into action as reinforcing the 66th INFANTRY DIVISION (US) as it cleared the FALAISE POCKET.
In September 1944 the 115th was attached to the FIRST ARMY (US) and supported it as it raced across France to the German border.
In December 1944 the 115th FA found itself a few miles northwest of Bastogne. It was one of only a handful of artillery units within range to fire in support of the 101st AIRBORNE DIVISIONs defense of that town during the BATTLE OF THE BULDGE.
In February 1945 the 115th FA continued in its mission of reinforcing the FIRST ARMY (US) and supported it as it began its RHINELAND CAMPAIGN to enter Germany.
The 115th FA remained in support of FIRST ARMY operations in and around Cologne until VE Day.
The 196th FA BN in WWII
The 2-115 FA was redesignated as the 196th FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION and was reorganized as a truck-drawn 105mm howitzer battalion.
The 196th FA BN landed on Utah beach on July 8, 1944 and was assigned to VII CORPS (US). The Battalion went into action the next day south of Carentan. The unit fired in support of the FIRST ARMY (US) breakthrough at ST. LO. It later reinforced V CORPS (US) as it attempted to close the FALAISE POCKET.
In August 1944 the 196th was attached to the FRENCH SECOND ARMORED DIVISION to support its attack to liberate PARIS. On 25 August 1944, the 196th FA became the first US ARMY unit to enter the newly liberated French capital.
In September 1944 the Battalion was attached to the 5th ARMORED DIVISION (US) and supported it as it raced across France to the Belgium border.
In November 1944 the Battalion was attached to the 4th INFANTRY DIVISION (US) and provided supporting fires during the battle in the HURTGEN FOREST.
In December 1944 the Battalion was attached to the 99th INFANTRY DIVISION (US) and provided supporting fires during the BATTLE OF THE BULDGE.
On February 2, 1945 the Battalion entered Germany and continued its support of ARMY operations in the V CORPS (US) zone.
On April 30, 1945 the Battalion entered Czechoslovakia where it remained until VE Day.
THE KOREAN WAR
On March 20, 1947, the Memphis veterans of the old 115th FA Regiment were reformed into the 196th FA Battalion and were equipped with 155mm howitzers. In August 1950, the unit was called into federal service as a response to the North Korean invasion of South Korea.
The Battalion landed in PUSAN on February 19, 1951, one of the first National Guard artillery units deployed to Korea fight in that conflict. The Battalion then moved north to fire in support of X CORPS (US) operations.
During the month of April 1951, the Battalion was attached to the 7th INFANTRY DIVISION as X CORPS attempted to halt the CHINESE COMMUNIST FORCES (CCF) SPRING OFFENSIVE.
From 1-19 May 1951, the Battalion was heavily involved in providing supporting fires to the 2nd INFANTRY DIVISION as it fought off one of the largest CCF attacks of the war. The CCF attack was aimed at breaking the X CORPS defensive line in the vicinity of the PUNCHBOWL.
From the middle of May through July 1951, the Battalion supported the 3rd INFANTRY DIVISION and later elements of the 1st MARINE DIVISION during the UNITED NATIONS (UN) COUNTEROFFENSIVE.
For the remainder of the war, the Battalion was heavily involved in providing supporting fires throughout the X CORPS sector to help fight off repeated attempts by CCF to penetrate the UN defensive lines.
During its tour of combat in Korea, the 196th FA Battalion was awarded three Presidential Unit Citations (two Navy and one Army) and two Republic of Korea Presidential Citations, making it the most decorated National Guard unit to fight in the Korean War.
AFTER THE KOREAN WAR
In March 1954, the Battalion was reconstituted in Memphis and again organized as part of the Tennessee Army National Guard.
In November 1959, the Battalion changed its unit designation to the 3rd Battalion 115th Field Artillery and was issued the M7 105mm self-propelled howitzer. In 1966, these guns were replaced with the M109 155mm self-propelled howitzer.
The 3-115 FA was not called-up during the Vietnam War. However, in April 1968, the Battalion was called out by the Governor during the civil disturbance that took place in Memphis following the murder of DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING.
The Battalion was again called out by the Governor during the summer of 1978 when the MEMPHIS POLICE AND FIRE UNIONS instructed their members to walk off their jobs. This call-up was significant in that never before had a National Guard unit been forced to provide both police and fire protection to a community.
In 2000, the 3-115 FA fielded the M109A6 PALADIN 155mm self-propelled howitzer, the most technically advanced cannon artillery system in the world.
Following the terrorist attacks against the United States on 11 SEPTEMBER 2001, the Battalion was partially mobilized to provide additional security at the Memphis International Airport.
In June 2002, the Battalion deployed to the NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER, Fort Irwin, California, to conduct maneuvers with the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment from Knoxville, Tennessee. The deployment of the 3-115 FA and the 278th ACR was the largest deployment of Tennessee Guardsmen since WWII.
Following the NTC deployment, the Battalion was mobilized in August 2002 for a year of active duty to help provide force protection to certain strategic facilities in the eastern United States. The deployment was part of a nationwide mobilization of National Guard units to provide Homeland Defense during the WAR AGAINST TERRORISM. The 3rd Battalion 115th Field Artillery is currently one of the principal cannon battalions in the 196th Field Artillery Brigade, Tennessee Army National Guard, the largest artillery Brigade in the free world.
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