The 8th Field Artillery Regiment was first activated in 1916 from elements of the 5th, and 6th Field Artillery.
The regiment fought in World War I as part of the 7th Division. After the war, the regiment was stationed in Hawaii, and assigned to the Hawaiian Division.[10]
As part of the Army's reorganization in "triangular" infantry divisions in 1941, the regiment was reorganized and redesignated as the 8th Field Artillery Battalion, and reassigned to the 25th Infantry Division. The 8th Field Artillery Battalion fought in World War II and Korea with the 25th, earning 14 campaign streamers and seven unit awards.[10]
As part of the reorganization into pentomic divisions, the 8th Field Artillery Battalion was relieved from the 25th Infantry Division, reorganized and redesignated as the 8th Artillery, and assigned to the Department of the Army as a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System and, after 1981, under the U.S. Army Regimental System.[10]
The 1st Battalion, 8th Field Artillery Regiment was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division Artillery from 1957 – 1986, and served in Vietnam, earning 12 campaign streamers and four unit awards. From 1986 – 1997, the battalion remained attached to the 25th Infantry Division as a separate battalion.[11]
The 4th Battalion, 8th Field Artillery Regiment served as a separate reserve unit in Pittsburgh and Clearfield, Pennsylvania from 1959 – 1976, and then with the 157th Infantry Brigade until inactivation in 1991.[14]
The 6th Battalion, 8th Field Artillery Regiment served at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and in Korea from 1959 – 1963, and at Fort Carson, Colorado from 1967 – 1970. The battalion was assigned to the 7th Infantry Division (Light) at Fort Ord, California, from 1983 – 1993, including deployment to Honduras during Operation Golden Pheasant and Panama during Operation Just Cause.[16][17]
The 7th Battalion, 8th Field Artillery Regiment returned to active duty from 1962 – 1971, and served in Vietnam, earning 11 campaign streamers. It returned to active duty again from 1983 – 1995, serving with the 25th Infantry Division (Light) at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.[18]
Constituted 1 July 1916 in the Regular Army as the 8th Field Artillery
Organized 7 July 1916 at Fort Bliss, Texas
Assigned 6 December 1917 to the 7th Division
Relieved 1 March 1921 from assignment to the 7th Division and assigned to the Hawaiian Division
Reorganized and redesignated 1 October 1941 as the 8th Field Artillery Battalion; concurrently, relieved from assignment to the Hawaiian Division and assigned to the 25th Infantry Division
Relieved 1 February 1957 from assignment to the 25th Infantry Division; concurrently reorganized and redesignated as the 8th Artillery, a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System
Redesignated 1 September 1971 as the 8th Field Artillery
Withdrawn 1 October 1983 from the Combat Arms Regimental System and reorganized under the United States Army Regimental System[10]
Korean War: UN Defensive; UN Offensive; CCF intervention; First UN Counteroffensive; CCF Spring Offensive; UN Summer–Fall Offensive; Second Korean Winter; Korea, Summer–Fall 1952; Third Korean Winter; Korea, Summer 1953
A silver color metal and enamel device 1+5⁄32 inches (2.9 cm) in height overall consisting of the shield, crest and motto of the coat of arms.
Symbolism
This regiment was organized in 1916 at Fort Bliss, Texas, from the 5th and 6th Regiments of Field Artillery. Its birthplace and initial service on the Mexican border are shown on the crest, the lone star of Texas and the cactus. The regiment was in the 7th Division and was in training in Brittany shown by the ermine taken from the arms of that province. The numerical designation of the regiment is indicated by the eight divisions of the shield. The parent organizations are shown on the canton. The fishhook and star are from the arms of the 5th Field Artillery and represent that regiment's service in the 12th Corps at Gettysburg. The winged centaur is the crest of the 6th Field Artillery. Both the 5th and 6th saw service in Mexico in 1846-1847 as indicated by the color green. The motto is also a combination of those of the 5th and 6th Field Artillery Regiments.
Background
The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 8th Field Artillery Regiment on 19 January 1923. It was amended to correct the description on 6 December 1923. It was redesignated for the 8th Field Artillery Battalion on 8 April 1942. The insignia was redesignated for the 8th Artillery Regiment on 28 August 1957. It was redesignated for the 8th Field Artillery Regiment on 1 September 1971.
Shield: Bendy of eight ermine and Gules, on a canton per fess Or and Vert a fishhook eye to dexter barb to base Sable debruised by a mullet Argent fimbriated of the last and a winged centaur courant armed with a bow and arrow of the third.
Crest: On a wreath of the colors Argent and Gules a mullet of the first charged with a giant cactus Vert.
Symbolism
Shield: The regiment was in the 7th Division and was in training in Brittany shown by the ermine taken from the arms of that province. The numerical designation of the regiment is indicated by the eight divisions of the shield. The parent organizations are shown on the canton. The fishhook and star are from the arms of the 5th Field Artillery and represent that regiment's service in the 12th Corps at Gettysburg. The winged centaur is the crest of the 6th Field Artillery. Both the 5th and 6th saw service in Mexico in 1846-1847 as indicated by the color green.
Crest: This regiment was organized in 1916 at Fort Bliss, Texas, from the 5th and 6th Regiments of Field Artillery. Its birthplace and initial service on the Mexican border are shown on the crest, the lone star of Texas and the cactus.
Motto: The motto is also a combination of those of the 5th and 6th Field Artillery Regiments.
Background: The coat of arms was originally approved for the 8th Field Artillery Regiment on 14 June 1920. It was amended to correct the blazon on 11 October 1921. It was redesignated for the 8th Field Artillery Battalion on 7 April 1942. The insignia was redesignated for the 8th Artillery Regiment on 28 August 1957. It was redesignated for the 8th Field Artillery Regiment on 1 September 1971.
^McKenney, Janice E. (2010). "1st Battalion, 8th Field Artillery". Field Artillery Part 1. Army Lineage Series CMH Pub 60-11-1. United States Army Center of Military History. pp. 371.
^McKenney, Janice E. (2010). "2d Battalion, 8th Field Artillery". Field Artillery Part 1. Army Lineage Series CMH Pub 60-11-1. United States Army Center of Military History. pp. 373.
^McKenney, Janice E. (2010). "3d Battalion, 8th Field Artillery". Field Artillery Part 1. Army Lineage Series CMH Pub 60-11-1. United States Army Center of Military History. pp. 375.
^McKenney, Janice E. (2010). "4th Battalion, 8th Field Artillery". Field Artillery Part 1. Army Lineage Series CMH Pub 60-11-1. United States Army Center of Military History. pp. 379.
^McKenney, Janice E. (2010). "5th Battalion, 8th Field Artillery". Field Artillery Part 1. Army Lineage Series CMH Pub 60-11-1. United States Army Center of Military History. pp. 371.
^McKenney, Janice E. (2010). "6th Battalion, 8th Field Artillery". Field Artillery Part 1. Army Lineage Series CMH Pub 60-11-1. United States Army Center of Military History. pp. 381.
^McKenney, Janice E. (2010). "7th Battalion, 8th Field Artillery". Field Artillery Part 1. Army Lineage Series CMH Pub 60-11-1. United States Army Center of Military History. pp. 383.
^McKenney, Janice E. (2010). "8th Battalion, 8th Field Artillery". Field Artillery Part 1. Army Lineage Series CMH Pub 60-11-1. United States Army Center of Military History. pp. 385.
^ abcdMcKenney, Janice E. (2010). "8th Field Artillery". Field Artillery Part 1. Army Lineage Series CMH Pub 60-11-1. United States Army Center of Military History. pp. 368-369.
^McKenney, Janice E. (2010). "1st Battalion, 8th Field Artillery". Field Artillery Part 1. Army Lineage Series CMH Pub 60-11-1. United States Army Center of Military History. pp. 371-372.
^McKenney, Janice E. (2010). "2d Battalion, 8th Field Artillery". Field Artillery Part 1. Army Lineage Series CMH Pub 60-11-1. United States Army Center of Military History. pp. 373-374.
^McKenney, Janice E. (2010). "3d Battalion, 8th Field Artillery". Field Artillery Part 1. Army Lineage Series CMH Pub 60-11-1. United States Army Center of Military History. pp. 375-376.
^McKenney, Janice E. (2010). "4th Battalion, 8th Field Artillery". Field Artillery Part 1. Army Lineage Series CMH Pub 60-11-1. United States Army Center of Military History. pp. 377-378
^McKenney, Janice E. (2010). "5th Battalion, 8th Field Artillery". Field Artillery Part 1. Army Lineage Series CMH Pub 60-11-1. United States Army Center of Military History. pp. 379-380.
^McKenney, Janice E. (2010). "6th Battalion, 8th Field Artillery". Field Artillery Part 1. Army Lineage Series CMH Pub 60-11-1. United States Army Center of Military History. pp. 3781-382.
^McKenney, Janice E. (2010). "7th Battalion, 8th Field Artillery". Field Artillery Part 1. Army Lineage Series CMH Pubn 60-11-1. United States Army Center of Military History. pp. 383-384.
^McKenney, Janice E. (2010). "8th Battalion, 8th Field Artillery". Field Artillery Part 1. Army Lineage Series CMH Pub 60-11-1. United States Army Center of Military History. pp. 385-386.
^ abc2-8 FA History. U.S. Army, 26 Apr. 2016, <www.army.mil/article/166806/>
United States Army
Field artillery
Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered TAEGU (8th Field artillery Battalion [less Battery C] cited; da GO 49, 1951)
Presidential Unit Citation (Navy), Streamer embroidered WONJU-HWACHON (8th Field artillery Battalion cited; da GO 38, 1957)
Valorous Unit award, Streamer embroidered CU CHI DISTRICT (1st Battalion, 8th artillery, cited; da GO 20, 1967)
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1967–1968 (7th Battalion, 8th artillery, cited; da GO 17, 1969)
Navy Unit Commendation, Streamer embroidered PANMUNJOM (8th Field artillery Battalion cited; da GO 38, 1957)
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered 17 OCTOBER 1944 TO 4 JULY 1945 (25th infantry division cited; da GO 47, 1950)
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered MASAN–CHINJU (8th Field artillery Battalion cited; da GO 35, 1951)
This article incorporates public domain material from 8th Field Artillery Regiment. United States Army Institute of Heraldry.
