2-17th Field Artillery
"Steel Battalion"
On 5 June 1996, the 2d Battalion, 17th Field Artillery returned to the Republic of Korea. In the summer of 1997, the 2d Battalion, 17th Field Artillery fielded the US Army's most technologically advanced howitzer system, the M109(A)6 Paladin. Today, the battalion serves as part of the most forwardly deployed and lethal division artillery in the united states army. The 2d Battalion, 17th Field Artillery continues to train to this day and stands ready to continue its tradition of accurate and lethal fires.
The 2d Battalion, 17th Field Artillery was constituted on 1 July 1916 as Battery B, 17th Field Artillery. The battalion fired its first shot in anger on 26 March 1918 in support of the 2d Infantry Division in the Rupt-Troyon sector of eastern France during World War I. The 17th Field Artillery earned six battle streamers, two French Croix de Guerre with palm, for accurate fires and a tenacious fighting spirit. On 9 December 1921, Marshall Foch, the supreme allied commander during World War I, personally decorated the 17th Field Artillery regiment with the French Fourraggere.
With the onset of World War II, the 17th once again prepared for war. In July of 1941, the battalion deployed to England, trained for battle, and then landed in North Africa that November. Throughout World War II, the 17th fought in eight major campaigns to include: Tunisia, Sicily, Italy, Southern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace and Central Europe. The 17th earned eight battle streamers and a third French Croix de Guerre - with silver gilt star - for timely and effective fires. During the Korean War in 1950, the 17th responded once again to the call of war - this time as Battery C, 17th Field Artillery Battalion - and deployed to Korea with the 25th Infantry Division. The 17th earned ten campaign streamers and the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation for valor.
Following deactivation and subsequent reactivation, the battalion deployed to Vietnam in October 1965 as the 2d Howitzer Battalion, 17th Field Artillery. For over four years, the 17th fought in support of the 1st Cavalry Division in the central highlands region of Vietnam. The 17th earned 13 battle streamers and added the Republic of Vietnam cross of gallantry, with palm, to its combat honors.
The 2d Battalion, 17th Field Artillery was reactivated for the second time as part of III Corps Artillery at Fort Sill, Oklahoma in July 1988. In September 1990, the battalion deployed to Saudi Arabia after Iraq invaded Kuwait. The 2d Battalion, 17th Field Artillery once again demonstrated that they were prepared for battle - supporting the 24 Infantry Division and allied forces in the liberation of Kuwait from January through March 1991. Departing Southwest Asia, the 2d Battalion, 17th Field Artillery continued to train and prepare for war in the continental United States.
