1st Battalion - 6th Field Artillery
The 1st Battalion, 6th Field Artillery deploys, conducts contingency operations and/or stability and support operations, and provides fire support to the 3d Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, or other designated headquarters.
The battalion consists of three "Paladin" M109A6 firing batteries of self-propelled 155mm artillery, a headquarters battery and a service battery.
The 1st Battalion, 6th Field Artillery was constituted and organized in 1798 as the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Regiment of Artillerists and Engineers at Fort Jay, New York. Over the next quarter century, the battery was redesignated eight times. The most notable of these took place on 11 January 1812 when it was designated Captain Enoch Humphry's Company, CORPS of Artillery. Under this name it took part in Andrew Jackson's resounding defeat of the British in the Battle of New Orleans in 1814.
On June 1, 1821 the unit was redesignated once again as Company B, 4th Regiment of Artillery. From that point, the unit went on to distinguish itself in both the Mexican War and the American Civil War. Notable Civil War engagements in which the battalion fought included First Manassas, Antietam, and Gettysburg. At the turn of the 20th century, Company B, 4th Artillery continued this proud tradition, contributing to American victories at Santiago and in Puerto Rico during the Spanish-American War. The unit was once again reorganized and redesignated on 11 June 1907 as Battery D, 6th Field Artillery.
In the First World War the unit was assigned to GEN John J. "Blackjack" Pershing's American Expeditionary Force with the 1st Expeditionary Division, later redesignated as the 1st Infantry Division. D Battery, 6th Field Artillery earned three French Croix de Guerre in only two years. This incredible feat took place in some of the bloodiest battles of all times including fighting at Aisne-Marne, Muese-Argonne, and Lorraine-Piccardy in France. Between 16 October 1939 and 1 August 1940, the battalion was relieved from it association with the 1st Infantry Division, assigned to the 8th Infantry Division, and deactivated.
After Pearl Harbor, on 7 December 1941, the battalion once again answered the call to duty. Redesignated as Battery A, 6th Field Artillery less than a month after the United States entered the Second World War, it fought with the 37th Infantry Division in the Pacific. The unit stood out during both the Northern Solomans island-hopping attacks and the recapture of Luzon, Philippines. The battalion's involvement in this action not only helped to end the occupation of these islands but also earned it the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.
1st Battalion, 6th Field Artillery deployed to the Balkans from 10 April 1997 until 10 October 1997 participating in Operation Joint Guard in Bosnia and from 10 December 1999 until 10 June 2000 participating in Operation Joint Guardian in Kosovo.
As of late 2001, the 1st Battalion, 6th Field Artillery, was assigned to Bamberg, Germany.
