2nd Battalion - 5th Field Artillery Regiment
The 2nd Battalion 5th Field Artillery was constituted in the Regular Army as a Light Artillery Regiment in January 1907, and organized in May with existing units at Ft. Leavenworth, KS, and the Philippines. Battery D was descended from Capt. Alexander Hamilton's New York provincial Co. of Artillery organized in 1776. The 5th Artillery is recognized as the only surviving Regular Army Unit originating in the Revolutionary War. The Regiment also accrued four Civil War battle streamers from existing units.
Reorganized and redesignated as Battery B, 5th Field Artillery Battalion, it was assigned to the 1st Expeditionary Division in June 1917 and departed for France in July. During World War I the battalion fought long and hard, receiving credit for seven campaigns and was twice decorated with the French Croix de Guerre with two palms.
After returning to the United States the battalion inactivated at Camp Bragg, NC, then reactivated at Madison Barracks, NY in December 1939. In October of 1940, the battalion reorganized and redesignated as the 5th Field Artillery Battalion departed for England in August 1942 in support of the 1st Infantry Division. During World War II the battalion saw action in eight campaigns.
The battalion redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 2nd Howitzer Battalion, 5th Artillery on June 1958 and activated on 25 June in Germany, spending the Cold War in Europe and redesignated as 2nd Battalion, 5th Field Artillery on 25 June 1964. The Battalion was assigned to 1st Infantry Division on 15 April 1983. The battalion was inactivated and relieved from assignment to the 1st Infantry Division on 15 August 1991.
The battalion was reactivated at Ft Sill, OK, on 16 April 1996. It holds the distinction of having been the first Paladin Battalion.
In 2000, 2-5 FA (Paladin) Rock Hard executed a battery (plus) deployment to Kuwait, DS to the 3-7 Cav (TF Garry Owen), 3d IN Division, where 2-5 FA fired more than 1,700 projectiles.
Another deployment to Fort Knox, KY, resulted in a second battery (plus) firing more than 1,650 projectiles for the USMA's mounted maneuver training. Three detachments deployed to Fort Hood, TX, to support Ulchi Focus Lens and the 1st Cav Warfighter. At Fort Sill, 2-5 FA executed six battery ARTEPs, a battalion ARTEP and two Janus/fire simulation TOC exercises.
