Global Information119th Field Artillery Regiment information
| 119th Field Artillery Regiment | |
|---|---|
 Coat of arms | |
| Active | 6 November 1911–present |
| Country | United States |
| Allegiance | Michigan |
| Branch | Michigan National Guard |
| Type | Field artillery |
| Role | Indirect and counter—battery fire |
| Size | Over 200 |
| Part of | 272nd Regional Support Group, Michigan National Guard |
| Headquarters | Lansing, Michigan |
| Nickname(s) | Red Lions |
| Motto(s) | Viam Praeparamus (We Prepare the Way) |
| Regiment colors | Scarlett and Yellow |
| Artillery Weapons | M777 howitzer |
| Engagements |
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| Decorations |
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| Campaign streamers | World War I
World War II
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| Insignia | |
| Distinctive unit insignia |  |
| U.S. Field Artillery Regiments | ||||
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The 119th Field Artillery Regiment (119th FA), nicknamed the "Red Lions", is a Parent Field Artillery Regiment of the United States Army Regimental System (USARS) in the Michigan Army National Guard.[1] The headquarters of the 119th Field Artillery Regiment is in Lansing, Michigan, and its principal training ground is at Camp Grayling, Michigan, the largest National Guard training center in the country.[2] The Headquarters Battery of the current 119th Field Artillery Regiment can trace its history all the way back to the First Battle of Bull Run in 1861, during the American Civil War.[3] The history of the 119th Field Artillery Regiment as an entire regiment began on 6 November 1911 when it was organized as the 1st Battalion, Field Artillery in the Michigan National Guard.[4]
The 119th Field Artillery Regiment saw its first action in battle when it was deployed to the Lorraine Region of France in 1918 during the First World War.[5] The 119th Field Artillery Regiment was in combat for five months and supported seven American infantry divisions, the 3rd, 26th, 28th, 32nd, 77th, 79th, and the 89th and also executed a fire support mission for the 1st Moroccan Infantry Division. The 119th Field Artillery Regiment was involved in several major offensives during World War I. General Charles Mangin, commander of the French Tenth Army, awarded the 119th Field Artillery Regiment with the Croix de Guerre with a silver star for their distinguished service in battle during the Aisne–Marne and Oise–Aisne campaigns.[6][3] The Headquarters Battery was awarded an additional Croix de Guerre with Palm, the highest order to be awarded during World War I.[3] The 119th Field Artillery Regiment also participated in the final Meuse–Argonne offensive that drove the German Army to defeat.[3]
After World War I, the 119th Field Artillery Regiment was called upon to help maintain the peace during the 1936 Auto Workers strike in Flint, Michigan.[7] When the Allies invaded Normandy during World War II, the 119th Field Artillery Regiment landed in France shortly thereafter and was involved through to the end of the war.[8] In 1967, the 119th Field Artillery Regiment was called upon to help maintain law and order in Detroit, Michigan during the riots of 1967.[1][9] After the 11 September attacks, the 119th Field Artillery Regiment was thrust into the role of security as they assisted in searching trucks crossing the Canada–United States border in Detroit and Port Huron, Michigan.[10][11] When the United States Army was short military police units as a result of the War on Terror, the 119th Field Artillery Regiment was deployed to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base for eleven months to provide security at Camp Delta.[10] The 119th Field Artillery provided a 21-gun salute at the state funeral for former President Gerald Ford.[10]
- ^ a b McKenney (2010), p. 1095.
- ^ Michigan National Guard (2019).
- ^ a b c d McKenney (2010), p. 1096.
- ^ McKenney (2010), p. 1094.
- ^ Center of Military History (Divisions) (1987), p. 121.
- ^ DMVA (World War 1) (2019).
- ^ Clay (2010b), p. 810.
- ^ Stanton (2006), p. 355.
- ^ DMVA (Detroit) (2019).
- ^ a b c Heaton (2019).
- ^ Shea (2003).