1st Battalion - 194th Field Artillery Regiment
The 1st Battalion 194th Field Artillery was originally formed on 26 February 1943 from two other units - the 2nd Battalion 125th Field Artillery Regiment and the 1st Battalion 185th Field Artillery Regiment. Both of these units were part of the 34th Infantry Division, which was half from Minnesota and half from Iowa. This newly formed artillery battalion was equipped with 155 mm howitzers with a General Support (GS) mission to the 34th Infantry Division. Upon mobilization for World War II, the battalion turned in the 155's and received the 8 inch howitzers to better meet the needs of the division. The original motto of the 1st Battalion 194th Field Artillery was "Faithful, Formidable, and Fiery!". This motto was a composite taken from both the 2-125 FA ("Faithful") and the 1-185 FA (Formidable and Fiery). The original unit crest was also different from what it is today. It too was a composite of these two organizations, reflecting symbols of the Minnesota and Iowa National Guard.
The 1st Battalion 194th Field Artillery has a rich and proud history with regards to its involvement in the second World War. All in all the battalion fired a total of 92,165 artillery rounds and its soldiers received numerous awards and decorations during World War II. A total of 5 Silver Stars, 2 Legions of Merit, 54 Bronze Stars, 10 Air Medals including 22 clusters, and 140 Purple Hearts were awarded to its soldiers. Below is a brief timeline which depicts the significant historical events that the battalion encountered.
Shortly after World War II, the 1st Battalion 194th Field Artillery received its federal recognition as a National Guard unit in the State of Iowa and attached to the 34th National Guard Division. The battalion exchanged its 8 inch howitzers for tractor drawn 155 mm howitzers under the Table of Organizational Equipment (TOE) 6-336N. Although the battalion campaigned in the second World War, all honors were inherited by the 556th Field Artillery Battalion of Eastern Iowa, organic to the 34th National Guard Division.
Until October of 1954 the 1-194 FA utilized the motto and insignia of the 556th Field Artillery. After this date, the battalion adopted its current coat of arms and distinctive insignia which represents the essence of artillery. The scarlet color represents the color for artillery. The flame like partition indicates the intense firepower of the organizations artillery. The pellets depict cannon balls and symbolizes readiness.
Battery A started out in Humboldt and used the old hemp plant for its armory. In 1953 they moved to Spencer. They built and occupied the present armory in 1957.
Battery B had its start in Mapleton. Soon after it moved to Algona in an armory that was built in 1949. Today, Battery B drills in an armory on HWY 18 West that was constructed in 1992. They moved into a new armory at the airport prior to the 5 June 1993 dedication.
Estherville, which is Battery C, used the City Hall Auditorium for the drill floor. Office and supply rooms were in the basement and vehicles were stored at the fairgrounds. Now the unit is located in its own armory that was built in 1950 at the county fairgrounds.
Service Battery started out in a 12X16 room on the second floor of a Pepsi Cola warehouse in Algona. They moved Service Battery to Mapletown in 1955 and drilled at an American Legion Dance Hall with vehicles stored across town in a garage. The Storm Lake armory was part of the 133d Infantry Regiment. Storm Lake and Mapletown exchanged units in 1959. They were located in a metal building or garage until the present armory was built in 1961. In 1968 a detachment of Survey was assigned to Service Battery. On 1 October 1988 a detachment of FSS and FIST from 1st Bn 175th FA was attached to Service Battery at Storm Lake. On 2 September 1990 a Det 3 of 34th DivArty was attached to Storm Lake. On 1 September 1996 Service Battery and Detachments were reorganized into Detachment 1 HHB, also a Detachment 1 34th DivArty was formed.
Headquarters and Headquarters Battery started out in Spencer in 1947. They met in the basement of the Tangney hotel until they went to the fairgrounds to the entry building and then to the horticulture building with vehicles stored in a garage down town. In 1953 they moved to Humboldt and used the weigh station out front for their Bn headquarters. The armory was remodeled and the battalion headquarters moved into the building in 1954. They relocated in 1980 to their present location at Fort Dodge where they replaced that garrison's ordnance units.
The battalion gave tactical support to units in Europe during the Korean War. It was activated on 11 SEP 1950, with the first duty station at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin. During August of 1951, the unit was alerted for EUCON (The European Theatre). Upon arrival in Mannheim, Germany in September of 1951, the 1-194 FA was assigned to the 18th Field Artillery Group, Seventh Army, V Corps. The unit spent the rest of 1951 in Wursburg, Germany (North Kaserne).
During 1952 the unit successfully completed training in Grafenwohr in February, Wildflecken in July, and again in Grafenwohr in September. During September of 1952, the unit moved to Wertheim, about 30 miles West of Wursburg, and was relieved from tactical control of the 18th Field Artillery Group and attached to the 30th Field Artillery Group. In November, the 194th provided tactical support to units in the vicinity of Giessen, Germany.
On 23 January 1953, the battalion was transferred from tactical control of the 30th Field Artillery Group to the 142nd Field Artillery Group. Training exercises during 1953 were conducted at Baumholder during February and May and at Grafenwohr in July. In August, the battalion provided tactical support to units in the vicinity of Bamberg, Germany. In September of 1953, the unit participated in the Seventh Army maneuver "Monte Carlo", and in October, participated in the group firing test administered by V Corps Artillery.
The battalion participated in training exercises at Grafenwohr in February of 1954, and at Bafmholder in May of 1954. During April and September the battalion gave tactical support to units in the vicinity of Bamberg, Germany. On 17 JAN 1955, the 194th was released from active duty and reverted back to National Guard status. The 194th was reactivated as a part of the Iowa National Guard in 1953.
Until 1968, the battalion was a 155 mm towed organization. In 1968, the unit was reorganized from the 155mm howitzers to the 105 mm towed howitzers (M101A1). The 194th was assigned a direct support mission to the 34th "Red Bull" brigade of the 47th Infantry Division (formerly the 34th Infantry Division). This mission later changed when the 47th Infantry Division reverted back to the designation of the historic 34th Infantry "RED BULL" division.
The mission of the 1st Battalion, 194th Field Artillery, is to provide direct support to the 2d Brigade (Air Assault) of the 34th Infantry Division and is organized under the "L" series MTOE with the M102, 105mm weapon system. Its federal mission is to assume posture readiness to mobilize combat ready units and equipment in support of the national military strategy acting as a deterrent to war, while its state mission is to effectively provide units and equipment to protect life and property, preserve peace, order and public safety of its citizens under the orders of the Governor of the State of Iowa.
In February 2003, the HHB and Battery A were both activated. Roughly 225 soldiers were involved in the activation.
