1st Battalion, 377th Field Artillery Regiment


The 1st Battalion, 377th Field Artillery Regiment, is an inactive M198 howitzer 155mm field artillery battalion of the United States Army. The battalion has seen service with the 101st Airborne Division during World War II and Vietnam, and deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan during the Global War on Terror. The battalion has been stationed with the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell; with the 18th Field Artillery Brigade and the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina; and with the 17th Field Artillery Brigade at Fort Lewis, Washington.

History

World War II

Battery A, 377th Field Artillery Regiment was constituted in the Organized Reserves at Oshkosh, Wisconsin in 1921. The battery was activated as Battery A, 377th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion on 16 August 1942, as part of the 101st Airborne Division. After initial training, the battery sailed to England, arriving in Liverpool on 18 October 1943. Based at Benham Valence, Berkshire, England, the battalion conducted additional training in preparation for Operation Overlord.
Battery A parachuted into Normandy on 6 June 1944. Most of the battery initially fought as infantrymen due to the loss of their howitzers. On 7 June 1944, 33 artillerymen from the battery, under the command of Lt Thomas Swirczynski captured 130 Germans near Hau-des-dunes. Other artillerymen from the battery served with other artillery units, manning salvaged US pieces and even captured German howitzers. By 14 June 1944, the battery was consolidated and re-armed with new howitzers landed over the Normandy beaches.
The battery conducted a second parachute assault on 19 September 1944. After landing and firing in support of the 1/506th PIR and 502nd PIR, the battery occupied near St Oedenrode, supporting the 501st PIR and 502nd PIR. In late November, the battery was moved to Camp Mourmelon, France, for refit.

Lineage & Honors

Lineage

Note: Official army lineage, updated 1 October 2007, does not list the Battery C award.

Heraldry

Distinctive Unit Insignia

Coat of Arms

Beret Flash

On a scarlet shield shaped embroidered device with a semi-circular base, 2 1/4 inches in height and 1 7/8 inches in width edged with a 1/8 inch scarlet border, three yellow pie sections radiating from the center configuring a "Y" and ending at the overedge stitching. The beret flash was approved on 9 Aug 2000.