206th Field Artillery Regiment: Difference between revisions

206th Field Artillery Regiment
206th Field Artillery Regiment, Coat of Arms
Active	1917-Present
Country	, United States
Branch	Arkansas Army National Guard
Garrison/HQ	Russellville, Arkansas
Nickname(s)	Aleutian
Motto(s)	Never Give Up
Equipment	M102 howitzer,105mm towed
Engagements	World War I *Streamer without Inscription World War II *Aleutian Islands Campaign *Rhineland *Central Europe Iraq Campaign
Insignia
Distinctive Unit Insignia
39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team shoulder sleeve insignia

The 206th Field Artillery Regiment is a United States artillery regiment, currently represented in the Arkansas Army National Guard by the 1st Battalion, 206th Field Artillery, Headquartered at Russellville, Arkansas.

In July 1916, the entire Arkansas National Guard was mobilized for federal service on the Mexican Border. The 3rd Arkansas Infantry was stationed near Deming, New Mexico, as part of support troops for General John J. Pershing’s expedition searching for Poncho Villa. The Arkansas troops were not engaged in Mexico and returned to Little Rock in March 1917.^[1] This mobilization of the National Guard along the Mexican Border was the training ground for many future leaders of the Arkansas National Guard. Many of the officers who led Arkansas National Guard units in the early years of World War I and World War II began their service on the Mexican border.

The United States declared war on Germany 6 April 1917. The 3rd Arkansas Infantry Regiment mobilized 5 August 1917 and was encamped around the new state capitol by 8 August 1917. After completing mobilization paperwork and physicals, the Regiment, along with the 1st and 2nd Arkansas Infantry Regiments, moved to Fort Roots, and then to Camp Pike on 24 April 1917. In mid-September the Arkansas units were notified that they were to be part of a newly created division, initially called the 18th but later named the 39th Division.^[2]

The 1st Regiment became the 153rd Infantry Regiment, the 2nd Regiment became the 142nd Field Artillery Regiment, and the 3rd Regiment was split between the 154th Infantry Regiment and 141st Machine Gun Battalion. The 141st Machine Gun Battalion was comprised of members of the former 3rd Battalion, 3rd Arkansas Infantry Regiment. .^[3]

The 3rd Arkansas moved to Camp Beauregard, Louisiana and mustered into Federal service 27 September – 18 October 1917, as the 141st Machine Gun Battalion, an element of the 39th Division.

The 141st was eventually deployed to Europe, near Chaumont, Department of Haute-Marne, France. Demobilized 13 January 1919 at Camp Beauregard, Louisiana.^[4]

After World War I, the Regiment was organized 24 November 1923 in the Arkansas National Guard as the 206th Artillery, Coast Artillery Corps, stationed as follows^[5]:

The 2nd Battalion was organized from elements of the 141st Machine Gun Battalion.^[6] It is through this organization that the 206th Field Artillery gains it's entitlement to campaign participation credit for WWI. The newly formed 206th Coast Artillery took it's coat of arms from Chaumont, one of the principal towns in the Department of Haute-Marne, France, where the 141st Machine Gun Battalion was stationed during World War I^[7]

The 206th Coast Artillery Regiment (CA) was inducted into Federal service 6 January 1941 at home stations as a part of a one year mobilization of the National Guard in preparation for World War II. Later the Regiment moved to Fort Bliss, Texas and conducted it's initial training.

The 206th (CA) competed with the 200th Coast Artillery (United States) from New Mexico to determine which would deploy to either the Philippine Islands or the Aleutian Islands. The Aleutians are an Island chain off the southwest coast of Alaska. The 200th CA was a former cavalry unit which had just been converted to coast artillery. The 206th CA actually provided cadre to assist with the training of the 200th CA, however many of the members of the 200th CA spoke fluent Spanish, which would be a great advantage in the Philippines.^[8] According to legend, the final determination was made by the flip of a Nickel. The 200th CA won the coin toss and was selected to deploy to the Philippine Islands. The 200th CA was decimated in the fall of the Philippine Islands and it's survivors participated in the Bataan Death March. To this day, members of the 206th traditionally offer the toast "To the Nickel" at all formal gatherings in memory of this fateful decision.^[9]

The 206th Coast Artillery Regiment was deployed to Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska and had been on station for approximately 4 months when the Japanese Navy attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941. In June 1942, as part of the Japanese Operations against Midway Island, the Japanese attacked the Aleutian Islands, beginning what would become known as the Aleutian Islands Campaign.

A Japanese task force led by Admiral Kakuji Kakuta bombed Dutch Harbor on Unalaska Island twice, once on June 3 and again the following day.^[10]

^[11] The damage caused to the Dutch Harbor Naval facilities and nearby Fort Mears, including the destruction of gas storage facilities and the destruction of the Northwestern, a naval transport ship, were strategically insignificant. The significant outcomes of the battle were the discovery of a secret U.S. airbase in the Aleutian Islands, previously unknown to the Japanese, and the recovery of a Japanese Zero aircraft by U.S. forces following the battle. The Regiment sustained 7 killed in action during the bombing of Dutch Harbor.

Members of the 206th CA claimed credit for the shoot down of the Akutan Zero flown by flight petty officer, Tadayoshi Koga, which was captured intact following the battle and became the second flyable Zero acquired by the United States during the war. Following its capture the aircraft was repaired, and then flown by American test pilots. As a result of information gained during these tests American tacticians were able to devise tactics to defeat the Zero, which was the Imperial Japanese Navy's primary fighter plane throughout the war. The Akutan Zero has been described as "a prize almost beyond value to the United States".^[12]

Following the bombing, Admiral Kakuta utilized his invasion force to occupy the Islands of Attu and Kiska in the Aleutian Island chain. Attu was eventually retaken by U.S. and Canadian Forces on 29 May 1943 after a spectacular Bonsai Charge by Japanese Forces.^[13] Only 28 of the estimated 2500 Japanese defenders survived the battle. Kiska was retaken on 15 August 1943 by U.S. Forces, including the 153rd Infantry Regiment, Arkansas National Guard. ^[14] The Japanese had secretly abandoned Kiska only days before the invasion by U.S. Forces. The recapture of Kiska brought the Aleutian Islands Campaign to a close.

With the threat to the Aleutian Islands at an end, the Regiment was redeployed to Fort Bliss in March of 1944, deactivated and personnel were reassigned. The 1st Battalion was redesignated the 596th AAA (automatic weapons), but was broken up after a month and its personnel used as replacements. The 2nd Battalion was redesignated the 597th AAA (automatic weapons) and participated in the Central Europe and Rhineland campaigns. The 3rd Battalion, which was created in Alaska, was redesignated the 339th Searchlight Battalion but was disbanded in less than three months and its personnel used as replacements.^[15] Several hundred former members of the 206th became infantry replacements, most being assigned to the 86th Infantry Division (United States) and the 87th Infantry Division (United States).^[16]

After World War II the Regiment under went several consolidations and reorganizations described in the Regiment's lineage and honors certificate as follows:^[17]

The Headquarters and Headquarters Battery (HHB), 206th Coast Artillery was reconstituted 25 August 1945 in the Arkansas National Guard.

The 1st Battalion, 206th Coast Artillery, was reconstituted 25 August 1945 in the Arkansas National Guard and consolidated 21 October 1946 with the 437th Field Artillery Battalion (constituted 27 May 1946 in the Arkansas National Guard and assigned to the 39th Infantry Division) and the consolidated unit was designated as the 437 Field Artillery Battalion. The 437th FA was reorganized and federally recognized 26 November 1946 with headquarters at Hazen. The Battalion was ordered into active federal service 24 September 1957 at home stations, in support of the Little Rock Central High School Integration Crisis in Little Rock Arkansas. The 437th FA was released 22-24 October 1957 from active federal service and reverted to state control.

The 597th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion (formerly the 2nd Battalion, 206th Coast Artillery) was inactivated 12 December 1945 at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey. The 597th was consolidated 21 October 1946 with the 445th Field Artillery Battalion (constituted 27 May 1946 in the Arkansas National Guard and assigned to the 39th Infantry Division) and the consolidated unit was designated as the 445th Field Artillery Battalion. The 445th was reorganized and federally recognized 19 November 1946 with headquarters at Marianna, Arkansas. The Battalion was ordered into active federal service 24 September 1957 at home stations, in support of the Little Rock Central High School Integration Crisis in Little Rock Arkansas. The battalion was released 23 October 1957 from active federal service and reverted to state control.

The Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 206th Coast Artillery, and the 437th and 445th Field Artillery Battalions were consolidated 1 June 1959 with the 326th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion (organized and Federally recognized 22 June 1955 with Headquarters at West Memphis) to form the 206th Artillery, a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System, to consist of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions, elements of the 39th Infantry Division (United States).

The 206th Artillery was reorganized 1 May 1963 to consist of the 2d and 3d Battalions, elements of the 39th Infantry Division.

1 December 1967 the 39th Division was reorganized to become the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (United States), the 206th Artillery was also re-organized to consist of the 5th Battalion, with headquarters in West Memphis, Arkansas.

The 206th Field Artilery was reorganized 30 September 1996 to consist of the 1st Battalion, with headquarters in Russellville, Arkansas. ^[18]

The 1-206th FA received an alert for mobilization in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom on 28 July 2003. The 1-206th was inducted into Federal service 12 October 2003, at home stations. The Battalion learned that it would be deployed along with the rest of the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (United States), as an element of the 1st Cavalry Division (United States). At this time the 1st Battalion adopted the nick name "Aleutian" as the unit's fixed call sign. The unit underwent training at Fort Hood, Texas for three months of intensive training in Force Protection, Convoy Security, Route Clearance and Urban Operations. The 1-206th FA became the first Army unit to field and conduct artillery live fire exercises with the new ANGYK-57 Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS). Each Battery conducted two days of artillery live fire training during post mobilization training. At this time the 1-206th FA received the attachment of Battery A, 1st Battalion, 103rd Field Artillery, Rhode Island National Guard.^[19] The 1-206th FA had arrived at mobilization station approximately 80 soldiers short of it's required strength, most vacancies being in the Fire Support Teams. The National Guard Bureau supplied this shortage by activating A/1-103rd and attaching it to 1-206th for deployment. A/1-103rd FA quickly became known as the "Rhody" Battery. While the 1-206th was at Fort Hood, the Battalion Commander, Battalion Operations Officer, and three Battery Commanders accompanied the Brigade Staff and other Battalion Commanders and Staff on a Pre-Deployment Site Survey (PDSS) to Iraq. The commanders spent 10 days traveling to the Baghdad Area of Operations, being hosted by the 16th Engineer Battalion (United States), 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division (United States).

In late January 2004 the 1-206th FA moved to the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) at Fort Polk, Louisiana for a Mission Rehearsal Exercise to validate the Brigade Training for the deployment. While at Fort Polk the 39th Brigade Staff was informed by the 1st Calvary Division that due to a scheduling gap and the need to assume responsibility of the Base defense operations center at Camp Taji, Iraq, the Brigade would have to deploy one battalion approximately three weeks ahead of the rest of the Brigade. The 39th Brigade selected the 1-206th to assume this mission and the battalion was prioritized on the brigade's movement plan. The Advance Party of the 1-206th FA departed Fort Polk on 28 February 2004.^[20] Due to a mechanical break down in route the advance party arrived in Kuwait on 8 March 2004. By this time the 1-206th had been officially designated as the Division Main Effort, with orders to conduct pre-combat checks and rehearsals and move to Camp Taji, Iraq via ground convoy as quickly as possible.

The 1-206th conducted the 300 mile road march from Camp New York, Kuwait to Camp Taji, Iraq 15 March - 17 March 2005, moving over 150 vehicles and over 450 soldiers with no serious incidents or injuries. The Battalion was the first element of the 39th Brigade and the 1st Cavalry Division Main Body, to cross in to Iraq. ^[21]. The Battalion named its base operations order for the defense of Camp Taji and field artillery support to the 39th IBCT, Operation Dutch Harbor in deference to the Regiment's World War II heritage. Upon arriving at Camp Taji, the Battalion learned that the force which they were to relieve was substantially larger than origionally believed. The 1st Armor Division had actually directed the 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division to relieve the Division Artillery of the 4th Infantry Division of responsibility for the security of Camp Taji on approximately 1 February 2004. 3rd Brigade, 1st Armor Division deployed the 4th Battalion, 1st Field Artillery, 70th Engineer Battalion and elements of the 1 Battalion, 64th Armor to Camp Taji. In addition to conducting Base Defense Operations, 3rd BCT had actually assumed responsibility for patrolling a large area surrounding Camp Taji as well as escorting Explosive Ordnance Disposal Teams on route clearance missions.

The 1-206th FA relieved the 3rd BCT, 1st Armor Division on 24 March 2004 ^[22]and conducted it's first fire mission in combat on that afternoon. The Battalion Quick Reaction Force, comprised of the Battalion Survey Section, the Brigade Combat Observation Laser Teams (COLT) and one platoon from Battery A, 1-206th FA assumed responsibilities for reacting to distress calls from convoys and escorting EOD teams operating along Main Supply Route (MSR) Tampa (Iraqi Highway 1) which ran north to south for 26 Kilometers through the battalion's area of operations.

The Battalion was originally scheduled to be relieved of responsibility for patrolling the area of operations around Camp Taji by the 2nd Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment (2-7 CAV) on 9 April 2004, but the relief had to be delayed until 12 April 2004 due to the fact that the Heavy Equipment Transport System(HETS) transporting the M2/M3 Bradley Fighting Vehicles belonging to 2-7 CAV were delayed in transit by attacks against the 39th IBCT Main Body Convoys south of Baghdad. After the arrival of the 2-7 CAV and the remainder of the 39th BCT main body, 1-206th FA provided fires in support of 39th Brigade Combat Team Operations; served as the Base Defense Operations Center; conducted Convoy and VIP Escort; and, Trained, Equipped and Organized the 307th Iraqi National Guard Battalion. The Battalion's AN/TPQ-36 Firefinder radar Section was in placed at Camp Taji to provide early warning and detection of insurgent fires against the 1st Cavalry Division. The 1-206th was augmented with one AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder radar from C Battery (Target Acquisition) 1-21st FA, 1st Cavalry Division Artillery.^[23]

In August 2004, 1-206th FA was notified by 39th BCT that 2-7 CAV was being detached from Multi National Division Baghdad (MND-B)to Multi National Division-South (MND-S) as part of the Battle of Najaf (2004) and 1st Battalion was ordered to assume responsibility for AO Ghost, the former 2-7 Area of Operations around Camp Taji. The Task Force 1-206th FA received the attachment of 1st Platoon, Alpha Troop, 2-7 CAV; B Company (-), 2-162 IN (Oregon National Guard); 1st Platoon/239th Engineering Company; D Company 307th Iraqi Army Battalion (with assigned Military Assistance Training Team from 2-7 CAV); a Civil Affairs Team; and, a Coalition Partner Special Forces unit located at Camp Taji. Operation Aleutian Fury began at 1600 on 09 August 2004^[24]and ended at 0900 on 17 September 2004 when the 1-206th FA was relieved by the 2-7 CAV returning from the Najaf Operation.^[25] The key to the Battalion's success in reducing Improvised Explosive Device attacks against Coalition Convoys on MSR Tamp during this period of time was an aggressive campaign to search suspected cache sights along the MSR utilizing the ability the motorized infantry from B/2-162 IN, the Coalition Special Forces Platoon and the 307th Iraqi Army Battalion to enter areas previously inaccessible by the M3 Bradleys and M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tanks of 2-7 CAV.^[26] During this time the 1st Battalion, now known as Task Force Aleutian, suffered three causalities, all from attached units. SPC Brandon R Sapp, 1st Platoon, A Troop, 2-7 CAV was killed on 15 August 2004 when an IED exploded under the Bradley Fighting Vehicle that he was driving. SGT Eisenburg and SSG Wisenburg died on 13 September 2004 when and IED exploded under their HMMWV north of Camp Taji.

After being relieved by 2-7 CAV, the 1-206th FA retained control of an area of operations south of Camp Taji. On 3 October 2004 the battalion suffered two additional causalities when SSG Christopher Potts (Battery A, 1-103rd FA) and SGT Russell "Doc" Collier were killed in a fire fight with insurgents near the village of Musurraf, south of Camp Taji along the Tigris River. SGT Collier was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for his actions when he moved forward under heavy enemy fire in order to render aid to SSG Potts who had shot while attempting to silence an enemy automatic weapon.^[27] SSG Potts was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal with V Device for his actions that day.^[28]

On 5 October 2004 the 1st Battalion launched Operation Aleutian Providence, the Battalion's largest operation of the deployment to retake Musurraf village and capture individuals responsible for the ambush of SSG Potts and SGT Collier. The Battalion was reinforced for this operation by one platoon of B/2-162 INF and the Coalition Partner Special Forces Platoon located at Camp Taji. The operation was conducted as a joint operation with the 307th Iraqi Army Battalion. The operation resulted in the discovery of a massive weapons cache and improvised explosive device manufacturing facility which was described as the largest uncovered in Multi-National Division Baghdad at that time.^[29]

On approximately 1 November 2004 the 1-206th FA was ordered by 39th BCT to resume responsibility for AO Ghost, the Area of Operations assigned to 2-7 CAV due to that unit's impending tasking to take part in the in Operation Al-Fajr, Second Battle of Fallujah, Iraq. 1st Battalion received the attachment of 2-7 CAV, B Company (-) 2-162 IN (Oregon National Guard), 1st Platoon/239th Engineering Company, D Company 307th Iraqi Army Battalion with assigned Military Assistance Training Team from 2-7 CAV, a Civil Affairs Team and a Coalition Partner Special Forces unit located at Camp Taji, in order to conduct this Economy of Force Mission. This was essentially the same task organization from Operation Aleutian Fury, with the major exception of the M3 Bradley Fighting Vehicles of 1st Platoon, A/2-7 CAV which were assigned elsewhere in the 39th BCT's area of operations in the northeastern part of Baghdad. The 1-206th experienced its most significant fighting of the deployment during this period. Insurgent forces escaping from the siege of Fallujah infiltrated into the city of Tarimayah, Iraq in the northeaster corner of AO Ghost. These displaced insurgents focused their efforts on interdicting Coalition supply convoys moving along MSR Tamp from Balad Air Base and Logistics Support Area Anaconda south to Baghdad and west to support the fighting around Fallujah. As the fighting ebbed and flowed during this period, the 1-206th was additionally reinforced with two platoons from E Troop, 151 CAV, and one platoon from B Company, 3-153 IN.

Route Clearance Operation from 1-206th encounter multiple complex ambushes along MSR Tampa during this period, especially in the area around Mushada, Iraq, in the northern part of AO Ghost. On 14 November 2004, a patrol of 307th Iraqi National Guard Soldiers with an adviser team from 1st Battalion, 206th Field Artillery led by CPT John Vanlandingham, and an escort platoon from B Company, 3-153 IN was ambushed north of Mushada. CPT Vanlandingham received the Silver Star medal for his actions to save several wounded Iraqi Army Soldiers who had become separated from the Patrol during the Ambush.^[30]

1-206th FA was reinforced during one fight in this period by a section of M2 Bradleys belonging to the 1-69th Infantry Regiment (United States) , New York National Guard, which was deploy as part of the 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Louisiana National Guard. A platoon from B/2-162 IN had four of it's five vehicles disabled by a complex ambush in the city of Mushada, while this platoon was being refitted with M1114s requisitioned from the 39th BCT Commander, the BCT Deputy Commander and the BCT S3, the 1-206th asked for assistance from the 1-69th, which supplied the two M2 Bradleys to help clear this complex ambush site. This was notable because the 1-69th had just arrived at Camp Taji and the M2s were in the process of being downloaded from their Heavy Equipment Transport System (HETS) carriers at the time of the request. 1-69th eventually conducted a Relief in Place with 1-206th, assuming responsibility for a vast area of operations which stretched from just west of MSR Tamp westward to the boundary with the 1st Marine Expeditionary Forces, just east of Fallujah.

1-206th FA was relieved by the 2-7 CAV at the close of the Fallujah Campaign on 28 November 2004.^[31] The 1-206th FA retained an area west of Camp Taji, in addition to an area south of Camp Taji as its area of operations in addition to conducting Base Defense, providing Counter Fire Operations and Convoy Escorts.

During OIF II, the 1-206th FA was equipped with the M102 howitzer, a Vietnam War era, 105mm, towed Howitzer. The battalion fired over 1500 rounds in 154 fire missions in support of 39th BCT Combat Operations. The 1-206th FA was the only U.S. Army unit to deploy the M102 Howitzer to Iraq. The Battalion was also equipped with the M114 "Up-Armored" HMMWV which were utilized for Patrolling and Convoy Escorts. The 1-206th was reinforced by two M109A6 Paladin Howitzers from 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery, which assisted with counterfire missions beyond the range of the 1-206th FA's howitzers.^[32] The Paladin could range targets out to 30 kilometers from Camp Taji, while the M102 howitzers could only range targets to 11 Kilometers.

Two key events in the life of the new Iraqi Republic occurred during the deployment of the 1-206th FA, the return to Iraqi sovereignty in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1546 on 28 June 2004, and the first Iraqi National Elections on 30 January 2005. On approximately 23 January 2005, 1-206th FA received orders to detach Battery A, to 2nd Battalion, 153rd Infantry, in order to provide security to polling sites in support of the Iraqi National Elections. Battery A reverted to battalion control on 31 January 2009.^[33]

The 1-206th FA transferred responsibility for Based Defense Operations at Camp Taji, Iraq and the surrounding battle space to 4th Battalion, 1st Field Artillery, and element of 3rd BCT, 1AD, assigned to 3rd Infantry Division (United States) on 5 March 2005 ^[34] 4-1 FA and the 3rd BCT/1AD are the same organizations that the 1-206th FA relieved in March of 2004. 3rd BCT/1AD had only 10 months at home between deployments in support of OIF I and OIF III.

The 1-206th FA departed Camp Taji 4 March through 10 March in route to Doha Kuwait via air and ground convoy. The main body departed Kuwait on 16 March 2005 ^[35] and redeployed to Fort Sill, OK, for demobilization.

The 1-206th Battalion received an alert for a second deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in April of 2007. The Battalion began a 90 day Pre-Mobilization Training Period on Title 32 Active Duty with in the State of Arkansas on 1 October 1007. The Battalion mobilized at Home Stations and began movement to Camp Shelby, Mississippi for Post Mobilization Training on 2 January 2008. The Battalion was designated as a Security Forces Battalion with 697 soldiers task organized as follows:

Headquarters and Headquarter Service Battery designated as a 42 man Rear Area Operations Center and assigned to the 4th Infantry Division to provide the Garrison Command Staff for Camp Taji, Iraq.

Battery A, 1-206th FA was organized as a Convoy Security Company, with 131 soldiers and was subsequently assigned to Convoy Security Duty at Camp Liberty, Iraq, in support of the 168th Brigade Support Battalion, and element of the 1st Sustainment Brigade, 16 Expeditionary Sustainment Command.

Battery B, 1-206th FA was organized as a Convoy Security Company, with 131 soldiers and was subsequently assigned to Convoy Security Duty at Camp Taji Iraq, in support of the 165th Corps Sustainment Support Battalion, from the Louisiana National Guard, an element of the 1st Sustainment Brigade, 16 Sustainment Command (Expeditionary).

Company G, 39th BSB, the Battalion's Forward Support Company, was organized as a Convoy Security Company, with 131 soldiers and was subsequently assigned to Convoy Security Duty at Camp Taji Iraq, in support of the 165th Corps Sustainment Support Battalion, from the Louisiana National Guard, an element of the 1st Sustainment Brigade, 16 Expeditionary Sustainment Command.

The 1-206th FA also received the attachment of the 1123rd Transportation Company, formally of the 871st Troop Command for the deployment. The 1123rd was organized as a Force Protection Company with 131 soldiers and was subsequently assigned to the 1-152 Cavalry Squadron, an element of the 1st Sustainment Brigade, 16 Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), in order to asst with Base Defense Operations at Camp Taji, Iraq.

Finnaly the 1-206th FA also received the attachment of the 1038th Horizontal Construction Battalion formally of the 875th Engineer Battalion. The 1038th was organized as a Force Protection Company with 131 soldiers and was subsequently assigned to the 1-152 Cavalry Squadron, an element of the 1st Sustainment Brigade, 16 Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), in order to asst with Base Defense Operations at Camp Taji, Iraq.

The most significant combat actions of the second deployment of the 1-206th to Iraq occurred when Batteries A and B and Company G were tasked to escort convoy's of concrete barriers to Baghdad during the Siege of Sadr City. The "Clear, Hold, Build Concept" as it was employed in Sadar City involved cordoning several city blocks by emplacing 12-14 foot tall concrete barriers around the area to be sealed off. These barriers weighed several tons each, so an entire convoy might move only 30-40 barriers. The Convoy Escort Team would escort the civilian trucks hauling the barriers from Camp Taji or Camp Liberty to Sadar City, and then provide security on the site for up to six hours while cranes lifted and emplaced each barriers. These missions often came under small arms fire and the threat of Improvised Explosive Devices was constant. The units of the 1-206th, while attached to the 1st Sustainment Brigade, emplaced hundreds of barriers as part of the effort to pacify this volatile area of Baghdad.

The 1-206th FA suffered no killed in action during this second deployment, although Battery B had one Killed in Action from an attached Active Duty Unit. SGT Jose Ulloa, of 515th Transportation Company was killed on 8 August 2008 went the MRAP that he was riding in was struck by an Improvised Explosive Device during a Convoy Security Mission in Sadar City, Baghdad. ^[36] SGT Ulloa's platoon was attached to Battery B as a Convoy Security Platoon at the time of his death.

The battalion demobilized at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, 23 December 2008.

In May 1927 the 206th Coast Artillery's Capt. Harry Smith was commended by the Little Rock Chamber of Commerce for breaking up the a mob that had rioted after a Ku Klux Klan staged lynching in the city. ^[37]

The 206th Coast Artillery was called to state active duty to support the citizens of eastern Arkansas during the Arkansas River Floods of 1927 and 1937. ^[38] The Regiment was responsible for setting up to refugee camps and providing relief to throusands of suvivors. Colonel Robertson directed the 1927 relief operations in the Marianna area from the towboat St. Augustine.^[39]

The 437 Field Artillery Battalion and the 445th Field Artillery Battalions were ordered into active Federal service 24 September 1957 at home stations, in support of the Little Rock Central High School Integration Crisis in Little Rock Arkansas; The 437 Field Artillery Battalion was released 22-24 October 1957 from active Federal service and reverted to state control, the 445th Field Artillery Battalion was released 23 October 1957 from active Federal service and reverted to state control.

The 5th Battalion, 206th FA was deployed to the Republic of Honduras in the summer of 1988 and again in the summer of 1990 in order to provide training with the Honduran Army. This was part of a larger deployment of National Guard troops into the region in order to help strengthen ties during a period of Marxist activity in Central America.

In October 2001, the 1st Battalion deployed a 70 man detachment of Battery C to secure the Arkansas Nuclear One power plant at Russellville, Arkansas in wake of the 11 September 2001 Terrorist Attacks. Members of the 206th were on duty at the site for approximately 3 months.^[40]

In September 2005, the 1st Battalion was activated in support of Hurricane Katrina to provide Hurricane relief to the residents of Louisiana. Members of the 206th served in Louisiana until February 2006.

In December 2006, the 1st Battalion deployed a 70 man detachment of Headquarters and Headquarters Battery for service on the South West Border in support of Operation Jump Start^[41], serving there until the 1st Battalion received it’s alert for mobilization in support of OIF 08-09.

Most recently the 1st Battalion activated a 50 man County Recovery Team under state control in order to support Ice Storm Recovery Operations^[42] in Sharp County, Arkansas, 30 January 2009 to 6 February 2009.

• Staff Sergeant Christopher Potts, Battery A, 1-103rd Field Artillery, Killed in Action, Musurraf, Iraq, 3 October 2004

• Sergeant Russell Collier, Headquarters and Headquarters Service Battery, Killed in Action, Musurraf, Iraq, 3 October 2004

• Private Claude H. Biggs, Battery F, Killed in Action, Dutch Harbor, Alaska, 3 June 1942

• Private Allen C. Collier, Jr., HQ Battery, 2nd Battalion, Dutch Harbor, Alaska, Killed in Action, 3 June 1942

• Private James E. Harrington, Battery E, Killed in Action, Dutch Harbor, Alaska, 3 June 1942

• Private Hugh Bryan Timberlake, Battery B, Killed in Action, Dutch Harbor, Alaska, 3 June 1942

• Private James R. Wiles, Battery C, Killed in Action, Dutch Harbor, Alaska, 3 June 1942

• Private Charles W. Hill, Battery F, Killed in Action, Dutch Harbor, Alaska, 4 June 1942

• Private Ambrose D. Regalia, Battery F, Killed in Action, Dutch Harbor, Alaska, 4 June 1942

This monument includes the names of several former 206th Coast Artillery Members who were Killed in Action with other units after the break up of the 206th Coast Artillery Regiment in 1944.

Kenneth Burkhart

Clifford Cloud

Joseph J. Eble

John H. Franklin

Charles Hutton

Cletis Jeffers

Fred Johnson

James Lemmer

Owen "H" Lynch

Carl Neal

Ray Shreeve

Frank Sweeney

Roy Wiles (probably the same as Pvt. James R. Wiles listed as KIA from Dutch Harbor)

Streamer without inscription

Aleutian Islands 1942-1943

Rhineland 1944-1945

Central Europe 1945

Iraq Campaign Streamer

Combat Action Streamer (Pending)

SOUTHWEST ASIA

Defense of Saudi Arabia 1990-1991

Liberation and Defense of Kuwait 1991

Cease-Fire 1991-1995

Silver Ban with out inscription

EAME

Naples-Foggia 1943-1944

Rome-Arno 1944

Southern France 1944 (with Arrow Head)

Rhineland 1944-1945

Central Europe 1945

1st U.N. Counter Offensive 1951

CCF Spring Offensive 1951

U.N. Summer-Fall Offensive 1951

Second Korean Winter 1951-1952

Korea Summer-Fall, 1952

Third Korean Winter 1952-1953

Korea Summer 1953

Headquarters and Headquarters Battery (Russellville), 1st Battalion, additionally entitled to:^[48]

• Meritorious Unit Citation, 1991

B Battery (Dardanelle and Paris), 1st Battalion, additionally entitled to:^[49]:

• Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
• Steamer Embroidered Korea 1951-1952

1917-1918, Unknown

1918-1923, Major Charles S. Garrett^[50]

1924-1944, COL Elgin C. Robinson

1967-1969, LTC Paul B. Benham

1969-1972, LTC John B. Webb, Jr.

1972-1974, LTC Wendall Workman

1974-1976, LTC Oliver W. Myers

1976-1979, LTC Leon R. Camp

1979-1982, LTC Ken O. McClanahan

1982-1984, David G. Dodd

1984-1987, LTC Roy L. Rowe

1987-1989, LTC Anderson H. "Andy" Williams III

1989-1990, LTC William D. Wofford

1990-1993, LTC Norman J. Cox

1993-1995, LTC Nathanial McGee

1995-1996, LTC John L. Brackin

1996-1997, LTC John L. Brackin

1997-1999, LTC David Duncan

1999-2002, LTC Randel C. Westenhaven

2002-2005, LTC Keith A. Klemmer

2005-2007, LTC Paul Caviness

2007-2010, LTC Damon N. Cluck

Description: A Gold color metal and enamel device 1 inch (2.54 cm) in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned: Per fess Gules and Azure, an escarbuncle Or. Attached below the shield a Gold scroll inscribed “NEVER GIVE UP” in Red letters.

Symbolism: Scarlet and blue were the colors of Machine Gun Battalions during World War I and refer to the service of the 141st Machine Gun Battalion which became a part of the regiment when it was originally organized. The scarlet is also the color used for Artillery. The escarbuncle is taken from the coat of arms of Chaumont, one of the principal towns in the Department of Haute-Marne, France, where the 141st Machine Gun Battalion was stationed during World War I.

Background: The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 206th Coast Artillery (AA) on 14 January 1930. It was redesignated for the 206th Artillery Regiment on 12 May 1970. The insignia was redesignated for the 206th Field Artillery Regiment on 19 July 1972.

Blazon: Shield: Per fess Gules and Azure, an escarbuncle Or.

Crest: That for the regiments and separate battalions of the Arkansas Army National Guard: On a wreath of the colors Or and Gules above two sprays of apple blossoms Proper a diamond Argent charged with four mullets Azure, one in upper point and three in lower, within a bordure of the last, bearing twenty-five mullets of the second.

Motto: NEVER GIVE UP.

Symbolism: Shield: Scarlet and blue were the colors of Machine Gun Battalions during World War I and refer to the service of the 141st Machine Gun Battalion which became a part of the regiment when it was originally organized. The scarlet is also the color used for Artillery. The escarbuncle is taken from the coat of arms of Chaumont, one of the principal towns in the Department of Haute-Marne, France, where the 141st Machine Gun Battalion was stationed during World War I.

Crest: The crest is that of the Arkansas Army National Guard.

Background: The coat of arms was originally approved for the 206th Coast Artillery (AA) on 14 January 1930. It was redesignated for the 206th Artillery Regiment on 12 May 1970. The insignia was redesignated for the 206th Field Artillery Regiment on 19 July 1972.

The 1-206th Field Artillery is currently scheduled to conduct New Equipment Training on the M119A2 howitzer during Annual Traning 2010 at Camp Grayling, Michigan.

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Global Security.org, military, library, news, 2004, September, Soldiers Uncover Weapons Cache and Get Information on Recent Attacks, 1st Cavalry Division, By 1st Lt. Chris Heathscott, 39th BCT Public Affairs Officer. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2004/09/mil-040920-1cav02.htm

Global Security.org, Military, Library, News, October, 2004, Tragedy leads 39th Brigade Combat Team to caches, by By 1st Lt. Chris J. Heathscott 39th BCT Public Affairs Officer. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2004/10/mil-041018-arnews01.htm

History Animated, A New Look at Military History, The Battle for the Aleutians (c) Cagney 2009. http://www.historyanimated.com/Aleutians.html

The Institute of Heraldry website. Coat of Arms, 206th Field Artillery. http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/FA/206FieldArtilleryRegiment.htm

Rhode Island National Guard, 103rd Field Artillery Regiment, headquarters and Headquarters Service Battery. http://states.ng.mil/sites/RI/army/43mp/103fabn/default.aspx

United States Navy Combat Narrative, The Aleutian Islands Campaign, June 1942-August 1943, Naval Historical Center. http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-CN-Aleutians.html