Charlie Battery 1-62 ADA
"Cold Steel"
In FY 2006, as part of the Army's transformation towards a modular force, 1-62 ADA was inactivated.
C Battery, 1-62 ADA is organized into three "STRIKE" platoons consisting of four Avengers, two Man Portable Air Defense (MANPADS) teams, and two command and control vehicles. The role of these STRIKE platoons is to provide air defense in a direct support role to the infantry battalions of the 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Light). Unit air defense and early warning assets also provide general support protection to the rest of the brigade.
Since the battery is light and extremely flexible, the individual teams are found at all levels of the battlefield. More often than not, each team usually fights independently and relies on their well-trained fighting skills to survive. Originally, the unit was authorized 4 officers, 1 warrant officer, and 76 enlisted for a total of 81 personnel. The current manning strength (as of April 1999) is 82 personnel due to the deletion of one 63B and the addition of two 14J's.
The history of the 1st Battalion, 62nd Air Defense Artillery spans one hundred and ninety-four years. It is the oldest battalion in the 25th Infantry Division (Light) and has earned forty-six campaign streamers and a Navy Presidential Unit Citation through the course of eight years. The first time the battalion saw combat was during the War of 1812 under the command of Captain James R. Hanham. However, 1st Battalion can trace its lineage to Captain Callendar Irvines's Company organized on 27 April 1798.
In 1821, the company was designated as Company G, 2nd Regiment of Artillery where it would retain this distinction for the next 88 years earning 23 battle streamers and participating in six campaigns.
From 1942, the battalion has earned numerous awards and praises for combat in Morocco, Italy, France, and Korea. Only for brief periods has the battalion deactivated temporarily; however, the needs of the Army and the battalions' tremendous history and lineage always compelled the unit to reactivate.
From 1959 until the present day, 1st Battalion, 62nd Artillery transformed from their traditional Coastal and Field Artillery role to stringent Air Defense Artillery role. At first, the battalion became a heavy Air Defense unit armed with the Nike-Hercules missile. However, the battalion gradually transformed into a short range Air Defense unit (SHORAD) with the introduction of the Chaparral, Vulcan, and Avenger weapon systems.
More importantly, "C" Battery, 1st Battalion 62nd Air Defense Artillery brings to Fort Lewis the same Duty and Honor accustom to the Brigade. The permanent orders that established C/1-62 ADA "Cold Steel" as a separate battery under 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Light) are orders # 325-16. The effective date of the unit establishment is 16 October 1997.
