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15th
FA Regiment History Repeats Itself
©
Dan Gillotti, Historian, 15th
FA Regt.
June 2003
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In
1941, the 15th FA Regiment was stationed at Ft Sam Houston, Texas as part
of the 2nd Infantry Division.
The US Army was experimenting with different techniques of
delivering combat forces to a battle zone including Airborne and Air
Assault capabilities.
The 15th FA Regiment was an integral part of those tests. |
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Troops
practicing Air Assault operations in 1941 at Brooks Army Airfield,
Texas, 1941
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Troops
practicing air loading using Dummy aircraft mockup at Brooks Army
Airfield, Texas, 1941
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Troops
loading 75mm Pack Howitzers to test Air Assault techniques at Brooks
Army Airfield, Texas, 1941
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Photo
credits: 2nd ID Museum and LTC Jim Miller
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| History
tells us that both Airborne and Air Assault (in the form of Glider-borne
troops) were used with some degree of success during WW-II on several
major operations.
And the 15th FA Regiment had a small part in some of the concepts
tested.
We also know from our history the 15th FA Bn did their part in
both WW-II and the Korean War.
Then in the late 1950s the US Army went back to a
Regimental-based system while combining Field Artillery, Coast Artillery
and Air Defense Artillery into a single branch named “Artillery”.
The era of Artillery collar insignia displaying crossed-cannons
horizontally and a missile vertically was born.
On
14 June 1958, the 1st Bn, 15th FA was Activated and assigned to the 2nd
Infantry Division at Ft Benning Georgia.
In 1964, the 1st Bn, 15th FA was designated to serve as part of
the 11th Air Assault Division (AAD) (Test) to provide Direct Support
Artillery Fire to one of the Maneuver Brigades.
Here was 15th FA Regimental history repeating itself as once
again the concept of delivering men and equipment to the battlefield via
Air Assault techniques was being tested.
This time using helicopters instead of fixed-wing aircraft.
At that time the 1st Bn, 15th FA was under the command of LTC
Lloyd J. Picou.
On
1 July 1965, the colors of the 1st Cavalry Division stationed in Korea
were swapped with the 2nd Infantry Division at Ft Benning, Georgia.
As part of this event the 1st Bn, 15th FA was reflagged as the
1st Bn, 77th FA.
The Officers and men of the 1st Bn, 15th FA presented LTC Picou
with a gift comprised of a large wooden folder measuring 16”X21”.
Hand-painted on the cover was a 15th FA Regimental Crest flanked
by a 2nd Infantry Division patch and an 11th AAD patch. |
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1-15th FA
Presentation Folder given to LTC Lloyd J. Picou
before unit was reflagged as 1st Bn, 77th Artillery,
1st Air Cavalry Division, 1 July 1965.
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Photo
credit: 2nd ID Museum and LTC Jim Miller
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| Across
the top was painted the name of “LTC Lloyd J. Picou” and across the
bottom was painted “1st Bn, 15th Artillery” with the name “SSG
Quiller” painted in very small letters.
We assume SSG Quiller was the artist who painted the cover.
The inside cover contains the signatures of several members of
the 1st Bn, 15th FA.
Next, the folder contains “Presentation Guidons” for HHB, A
& B Batteries made from heavy double-layered silk approximately
13”x15”, with very ornate gold fringe on the edges of each guidon. |
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HHB, 1st Bn,
15th Artillery Guidon in Presentation Folder
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A Btry, 1st
Bn, 15th Artillery Guidon in Presentation Folder
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B Btry, 1st
Bn, 15th Artillery Guidon in Presentation Folder
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Photo
credits: 2nd ID Museum and LTC Jim Miller
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Presentation Folder is part of the 15th FA memorabilia in the collection
of Dan Gillotti.
History shows the 1st Bn, 15th FA has been stationed on the DMZ
In Korea staring a 1 million-man strong North Korean Army in the eye
continuously since 1 July 1965.
The 1st Bn, 15th FA is well-led, highly trained and motivated,
and fully prepared to carry out their war-fighting mission should the
need arise.
Allons!
(Lets Go!)
Dan Gillotti, Historian 15th FA Regt.
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