User:Jharward/222nd Field Artillery (United States)

History of the 222nd Field Artillery

The history of the 222nd Field Artillery is a rich one, which traces its beginnings back to 1841. This information has been available in "bits and pieces" and many people have made attempts to record this history, most notably COL Hamilton Gardner who collected some of the information that follows. The recent history of this unit, however, is as steeped in tradition and accomplishment as is its more distant past, with the entire story being one of devoted and professional service to the United States in a wide variety of difficult circumstances.

The 222nd Field Artillery is the outgrowth of the Nauvoo Legion, organized February 3, 1844, as authorized by Illinois Legislature (of which Abraham Lincoln was a member) December 16, 1840. This legion was organized into two cohorts, one horse and one foot, and commanded by a Lieutenant General. The Legion grew to 1,492 men in 1841 and to 5,000 men in 1845, the later part of which year the Nauvoo Legion ceased to exist as such.

The disarming of the Nauvoo Legion as a part of the anti-Mormon sentiment evident in Illinois at this time was seen as a serious threat to the safety of the Mormon community, but was accomplished peacefully and in compliance with orders given by the leader of the Nauvoo Legion, Joseph Smith. Soon after the disarming of the Nauvoo Legion, the westward migration of the Mormons began, and it was during this time that the formation of the Mormon Battalion Occurred.

Mormon Battalion 1846-1847
The majority of the 400 men constituting the Mormon Battalion during the Mexican War were drawn from the Nauvoo Legion. President James K. Polk asked for this Battalion for service in California. Brigham Young was a supporter of this organization which was mustered into service July 16, 1846, at Council Bluffs. The Mormon battalion had five companies organized as follows: Company A, 104 men; Company B, 102 men; Company C, 104 men; Company D, 104 men; and Company E, 92 men. Officers were elected from these 506 men and were composed of Captain, First Lieutenant, Second Lieutenant and Third Lieutenant. This battalion, with all members Mormons except one, marched from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to San Diego, California, a distance of approximately 2,000 miles, and mustered out at Los Angeles, July 16, 1847. Many of these men were at Sutter's Fort when gold was discovered in California, which caused the 1849 Gold Rush.

The Nauvoo Legion Militia of Utah was the successor of the Mormon Battalion. The following units of the 222nd Field Artillery got credit for the Mexican War Service: Headquarters Battery, 222nd Field Artillery, Salt Lake City, Utah; Service Battery, Lehi, Utah; Battery A, Brigham City, Utah; Battery B, Ogden, Utah; Battery C, Spanish Fork, Utah; Second Battalion Headquarters Battery, Beaver, Utah; Battery D, Mt. Pleasant, Utah; Battery E, Richfield, Utah; Battery F, Cedar City, Utah; and Medical Department Detachment, Pleasant Grove, Utah.

Territorial Militia 1848-1870
The Vanguard of Mormon Pioneers, 147 in number, entered Salt Lake Valley July 24, 1847, followed by other companies. Utah was Mexican territory at that time and became United States property February 2, 1848, and was called the Provisional State of Deseret, Utah Territory, on September 9, 1850. Many Indian wars were fought at the forts that later became the towns where most of the units are now located. All able bodied citizens between the ages of 18 and 45 did belong to the Militia automatically, and existence of the Militia since that time has been continuous and unbroken. On February 5, 1852, the Militia was called by the governor against the Indians. The Legislative Assembly, among other things, provided for the Militia of the Territory of Utah It consisted of one Legion, to be known as the Nauvoo Legion. By the close of 1852, the Militia numbered over 2,000, 236 officers and 1,905 enlisted men. The Walker Indian War in 1852 sped up the installation of units. There was a reorganization of the State Militia in 1856, and it numbered more than 6,000 men in that year. Ten years later, due to the Black Hawk Indian War, the strength reached more than 12,000. There were 9,207 in the Infantry, 2,526 in the Calvary, 197 in the Artillery, and 113 in the Engineer and Ordinance. At this time, the Artillery had three battalions with one gun (Muzzle Loader) in each battery. In 1860, Ogden had at least one Brigade of Infantry, some Calvary and two or three Batteries of Artillery. Salt Lake City had about twice as many. By this time, nearly every town of the present 222nd Field Artillery had active units of the Militia.

During the Walker Indian War (1853), about 20 men were killed and an unknown number of Indians. Regimental Headquarters Battery, 222nd Field Artillery, Service Battery, First Battalion, 222nd Field Artillery of Lehi and Battery C, 222nd Field Artillery, Spanish Fork, got credit for service in this war.

Civil War 1861-1865
Companies A and B, First Utah Cavalry, Utah Militia, were organized from the First Division of the Nauvoo Legion for Civil War service and were returned to the same First Division on their return home from the Civil War. Utah troops marched to North Palarte, Nebraska, reaching Independence Rock May 20, 1862. Work consisted mostly of guarding telegraph lines, roads and battling with the Indians. This Black Indian War cost Utah $1,212,036.38 and not until 1917 did the United States Congress do anything about pensions for these soldiers. There were 70 white soldiers and 25 settlers killed in this service. The following 222nd Field Artillery Units got service credit; Battery E, Richfield, Battery D, Mt. Pleasant; Headquarters Battery, Salt Lake City; Battery C, Spanish Fork; Service Battery, Lehi; Battery F, Cedar City, and Headquarters Battery, Second Battalion, Beaver.

In 1887, Congress passed a law spending and terminating the Nauvoo Legion as an organization as a result of religious troubles. The Militia still existed, however; because of the old law, or Act, of February 5, 1852, and regulations of 1856, providing that the Territorial Militia was constituted and made up of all able-bodied men between the ages of 18 and 45 years of age. This was the Militia, whether organized or unorganized; therefore, the continuous existence of the Utah Militia was unbroken. In 1894, the Militia was recognized and since then has been called the Utah National Guard. Utah became the 45th state to join the Union on January 5, 1896. In the same year, the First State Legislature provided for the following: three batteries of Artillery, three troops of Cavalry, 16 companies of Infantry, one Signal Corps and one Hospital Company. The following were the beginning of the 222nd Field Artillery: Battery B, Ogden, formed April 14, 1894; Company C, Mt. Pleasant, formed April 14, 1894; Troop A, Spanish Fork, formed April 28, 1894; and Company A, Second Utah Infantry, Brigham City, formed April, 1894. This was followed by Troop A in 1921, and later the Artillery. Richfield organized Company K, First Utah Infantry, September 1894, and reorganized later as Company E, March 1907. Company E in turn was finally developed into Battery E, 222nd Field Artillery in 1926.

Mexican Border 1916
Utah sent the following units to the Mexican Border to take part in the search for Pancho Villa: First squadron Cavalry which consisted of Troop A, Salt Lake City, Troop B, Ogden, Troop C, Salt Lake City, Troop D, Manti, Utah, and the second Squadron which consisted of Troop E, Mt. Pleasant; Troop F, Salt Lake City, Troop G, Ephriam and Troop H, Logan and Brigham City. These units mustered out in 1916 and 1917, but were called in again for World War I. Service claimed for each of the following units: Battery B, Ogden; Regimental Headquarters Battery, Salt Lake City; and Battery D, Mt. Pleasant.

World War I 1917-1918
Units from the 222nd Field Artillery were designated as the Field Artillery for service in World War I. The wartime 145th Field Artillery arrived in France, September, 1918, and was stationed at Bordeaux, Camp De Souge, and had just finished training when the Armistice was signed. They returned to the United States in January, 1919, and mustered out later the same month. The Field Artillery was the only Utah unit in the war constituted out of the Utah National Guard. Credit for service in that war is given to the following: Battery B, Ogden; Regimental Headquarters Battery of Salt Lake City; and Battery D, Mt. Pleasant. Later the Cavalry Squadron was again organized: Troop A, Brigham City, 1920; Troop B, Ogden, 1919; and Troop C, Salt Lake City, 1919. This Squadron developed into the First Battalion Field Artillery, 75-mm.

Other organizations were: Battery A, February 9, 1925, Brigham City; Battery B, Ogden; Battery C, Lehi; and Headquarters Battery, Salt Lake City. The second Battalion, 222nd Field Artillery mustered in as follows: Battery D, Mt. Pleasant, April 10, 1926; Battery E, Richfield, April 12, 1926; and Battery F, Cedar City, April 14, 1926. The full Regiment was officially recognized as the 222nd Field Artillery April 26, 1926. Some transfers of the units were made with the Regiment. Headquarters Battery, Second Battalion, organized at Beaver, April 16, 1929; Medical Department Detachment at Pleasant Grove, March 30, 1929; Regimental Headquarters Battery in Salt Lake City, April 18, 1929; and Headquarters Battery, First Battalion at Garland. In 1930 and 75-mm, 222nd Field Artillery was changed from General Headquarters, tractor drawn, and allotted to the 65th Field Artillery Brigade, 40th Division. The battalion was then organized as the 2nd Battalion, 222nd Field Artillery Regiment, in August of 1930, with Headquarters Battery at Richfield, Utah.

World War II 1941-1945
In February of 1941 the 3rd Battalion consolidated with the 1st and 2nd Battalions to form the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 222nd Field Artillery Regiment. In March of 1941, eight months before the beginning of World War II, the 2nd Battalion, 222nd Field Artillery Regiment, was inducted into federal service and sent to San Luis Obispo, California. At this time, the Battalion was redesignated as the 1st Battalion, 204th Field Artillery Regiment. Again in March 1943 with the Army streamlining its units, it was redesignated as the Field Artillery Battalion. The Battalion took part in campaigns in Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe. On the 29th of November, 1945, the 204th was inactivated at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey.

On March 14, 1947, the 204th Field Artillery Battalion was reorganized and redesignated as the 213th Armored Field Artillery Battalion, Utah National Guard, with headquarters at Richfield, Utah. The five Batteries were designated as follows:

To better centralize the Battalion headquarters, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery at Richfield and Battery A in Cedar City exchanged unit designations in December, 1947.

During the period of 1947 to 1950, the 213th was attached to the 145th Field Artillery Group, Utah National Guard, and participated in regular National Guard training assemblies and encampments.

Korean War 1950-1954
After the outbreak of hostilities in Korea, the 213th was alerted for active duty and was inducted into federal service on August 19, 1950. An advance party left for Fort Lewis, Washington, the new station of the Battalion, on August 24, 1950. Upon arrival at Fort Lewis, the Battalion began an intensive training program in preparation for the combat service that was to come.

The Battalion was moved to Far East Command in January 1951, arriving in Yokohama, Japan, aboard the US MTS General M C Meigs after a 14-day voyage from Seattle. The Battalion departed the following day for Korea still aboard the M C Meigs, arriving in Pusan, Korea, February 15, 1951. For the next two months, the Battalion underwent further training, reorganization and testing as a 105 mm Self-Propelled Battalion.

At 1833 hours, April 22, 1951, Baker Battery fired the first of 240,496 rounds that were to be fired by the 213th during the Korean conflict.

In October 1951, the 213th was converted from a 105 mm Self-Propelled Battalion to a Towed 155 mm Battalion. From December 1951 until the middle of March 1952, the 213th remained in tactical position supporting the area formerly identified as the Eastern Perimeter of the "Old Iron Triangle" extending from Kumwha to Kumsong. For their impressive performance in the successful attack out of perimeter, Headquarters Battery and A Battery were awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation. The awards were presented on January 25, 1952, by Major General Wyman, Commanding General of IX Corps. The citation for this action reads as follows:

Korean Presidential Unit Citation
HEADQUARTERS AND HEADQUARTERS BATTERY (less Personnel Section), and BATTERY A, 213th ARMORED FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION, are cited for outstanding performance of duty and extraordinary heroism in action against the enemy near Sanghong-jong-ni, Korea, on 26 and 27 May 1951/on 26 May. These batteries in conjunction with Batteries B and C were assigned the mission of providing artillery support for the 213th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, which was engaged in the offensive, as the attacking infantry moved forward in an attempt to trap the hostile force, the artillery units were left without protection. During the night, a force of approximately 4,000 enemy soldiers, which had been encircled by the friendly infantry, attempted to break out of its trap and rejoin the main body of the enemy army. The only escape route open to them led directly through the valley occupied by HEADQUARTERS AND HEADQUARTERS BATTERY AND BATTERY A. During the early morning hours of 27 May, the hostile force suddenly opened fire on these two units. All available men from both batteries were immediately deployed in defensive positions. The enemy fought fiercely to break their way through the valley but, despite the necessity of hand-to-hand combat, the artillerymen held their ground which enabled their comrades to continue firing missions in support of the distant infantry. At dawn, the enemy attacks abated and the men of HEADQUARTERS AND HEADQUARTERS BATTERY and BATTERY A organized a combat patrol, using a SELF-PROPELLED 105mm Howitzer as a tank. Driving down the valley, the friendly patrol engaged the enemy, destroying numerous machine-gun emplacements and inflicting many casualties among the hostile troops. The scattered engagements continued for several hours until the enemy finally withdrew. In the area defended, there were approximately 350 enemy dead and wounded. The retreating enemy force then attempted to climb the surrounding slopes but they were immediately subjected to an intense artillery barrage. This devastating fire caused the hostile troops to turn back and surrender to the artillery units. HEADQUARTERS AND HEADQUARTERS BATTERY and BATTERY A, 213th ARMORED FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION, displayed such unshakable determination and gallantry in accomplishing their mission under extremely difficult and hazardous conditions as to set them apart and above other units participating in the action. The extraordinary heroism displayed by the members of these units reflects great credit on them selves and upholds the highest traditions of the military service of the United States. BY COMMAND OF GENERAL VAN FLEET

In October 1952, when the Chinese launched a large scale assault on White Horse Mountain, a critical terrain feature, in the ROK Division area, the 213th provided outstanding observation and a tremendous volume of fire in the face of heavy enemy shelling. The exemplary performance of the 213th in surmounting heavy hostile fire to provide more than 26,000 rounds of 155 mm Artillery support greatly contributed to the defeat of five enemy regiments, resulting in over 9,000 enemy casualties.

The 213th spent March, April, and May, 1953, training personnel in the techniques and functions of the 240 mm Howitzer, and in May the Battalion was converted from the 155 mm Howitzer to the heavier 240 mm Howitzer.

The Battalion moved back on line in June, 1953, between the "Iron Triangle" cities of Kumwha and Chorwon, and at 1842 hours July 27, 1953, the gun crew of Number One Gun of B Battery rammed and fired the final round of 240 mm, 496 rounds fired by the Battalion prior to the cessation of hostilities.

After the signing of the Armistice and until late in 1954, the Battalion was engaged in training programs designed to maintain a constant state of battle readiness.

The Field Artillery Battalion earned battle participation credits for the following campaigns during the Korean operations: First Un Counteroffensive, Chinese Communist Forces Spring Offensive, UN Summer Fall Offensive, Second Korean Winter, Korean Summer and Fall 1952, Third Korean Winter, Korean Summer Fall 1953.

On October 28, 1954, the 213th Field Artillery Battalion was returned to the Utah National Guard.

Korea 1954-1976
Even though the unit designation of the 213th remained in Korea until 1954, the men of the unit returned to Southern Utah where the Armored Field Artillery Battalion (National Guard of the United States) was federally recognized October 5, 1953, with Headquarters at Cedar City, Utah. On December 1, 1953, the Battalion was reorganized as the 222nd Field Artillery Battalion and given federal recognition in the home stations of the former Armored Field Battalion (NGUS).

On July l, 1959, the 222nd Field Artillery was reconstituted and consolidated with the 222nd and 213th Field Artillery Battalions to form the 222nd Artillery, a parent regiment under the Combat Army Regimental System, to consist of the 1st and 2nd Howitzer Battalions. During March 1959, the Battalion was engaged in Exercise Big Slam/Puerto Pine which was an air movement of men and equipment to the Caribbean area in response to the Cuban Missile crisis. The Battalion was airlifted from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, to Puerto Rico where the Battalion underwent training exercises at the Salinas Training Area using equipment provided by the Puerto Rico National Guard. The Battalion received a letter of appreciation from General Bruce Clark, Commanding General of the Continental Army Command in which he stated: "I trust you share with me a feeling of accomplishment since this is the first time a National Guard unit has participated in an exercise of this type. This fact symbolizes our One Army concept to a high degree. Please accept my thanks for a job well done. "

In 1961, Battery C in Fillmore was divided with a detachment being formed in Cedar City, and in 1968, the detachment was returned to Fillmore, and the Battery Headquarters was moved to Manti.

The 222nd Field Artillery was reorganized as the 1st and 2nd Battalions (dropping the designation Howitzer), on April 30, 1964 and was reorganized again December 1, 1967, dropping the 1st Battalion, leaving the 2nd Battalion, 222nd Artillery in existence. On March 8, 1972, the redesignation of the 222nd Artillery as the 222nd Field Artillery was accomplished and has remained as such to the present.

The Battalion was then assigned to the 45th Field Artillery Brigade Oklahoma Army National Guard with Headquarters in Enid, Oklahoma. This Field Artillery Brigade was assigned to III Corps Artillery, Ft. Sill Ok.

World War I:

 * Streamer without inscription

World War II:

 * Normandy
 * Northern France
 * Rhineland
 * Ardennas-Alsace
 * Central Europe
 * Bismarck Archipelago
 * Luzon (with arrowhead)
 * Southern Phillippines

Korean War:

 * First UN counteroffensive
 * CCF Spring offensive
 * UN summer-fall offensive
 * Second Korean winter
 * Korea, summer-fall 1952
 * Third Korean winter
 * Korea, summer 1953