2nd Battalion - 82nd Field Artillery Regiment
"Black Dragons"
As part of the Army's transformation towards a modular force, the 2nd Battalion - 82nd Field Artillery Regiment was inactivated along with the rest of the 1st Cavalry Division's Artillery Brigade on June 20th, 2005 at Fort Hood. The unit was later reactivated with the 1st Cavalry's 3rd Brigade at Fort Hood later on that year.
When directed, 2-82 FA deploys to a designated contingency area of operations, conducts RSOI and on order plans, and coordinates for and synchronizes the use of all indirect fires in support of 3BCT combat operations.
The 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery has a long association with the United States Cavalry. Originally constituted in the Regular Army on 3 June 1916 as C and D troops of the 24th Cavalry, the battalion has fought in thirteen campaigns, earning three unit decorations.
On 5 June 1917, the unit was organized as I and K troops of the 24th Cavalry Regiment at Fort D. A. Russell, Wyoming. In October of that same year, the 24th Cavalry was organized and equipped as an artillery regiment and on November 1st redesignated the 82nd Field Artillery Regiment. After a short stay at Camp Logan, Houston, the regiment was ordered to Ft. Bliss, Texas, where it was assigned to the 15th Cavalry Division.
Under the command of LTC H. L. Newhold, the 82nd Field Artillery fired its first round, symbolized today on the unit crest by a black projectile superimposed over the wavy band of white, over the Rio Grande into the city of Juarez, Mexico at 0900 on 16 June 1919 in an effort to rid the city of Pancho Villa and his Villaistas. The unit received a letter of commendation for its actions. On 9 September 1921, the regiment was demobilized at Fort Bliss, Texas and 2-82 was redesignated as the 84th Field Artillery Battalion and inactivated.
On 17 March 1930, 1st and 2nd Battalions, 82nd Field Artillery (Horse) were reinstated and assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Bliss, Texas. The battalions were organized with two batteries each. These batteries consisted of four horse-drawn, 75mm howitzer sections. In 1932, the Red Team adopted the practice of towing its artillery pieces with trucks and dropped the "horse" from its unit designation.
On 3 January 1941, the 82nd Field Artillery was redesignated as Battery B, 82nd Field Artillery Battalion. The Battalion remained at Ft. Bliss until 4 June 1943 when it deployed to Brisbane, Australia with the First Team for jungle training and General MacArthur's island hopping campaign. The Battalion moved to New Guinea on 23 June 1943 to prepare for combat. In January of 1944, the battalion fired its first round of World War II at Oro Bay, New Guinea. From there, the battalion moved to Los Negros and, in February, on to Admiralty Islands. The unit's actions in the Admiralty Islands prepared it for the amphibious assault on Leyte in the Philippines on 7 October 1944. The 82nd Field Artillery Battalion received a campaign streamer with arrowhead for participation in this action. Next, Battery B moved on to Luzon in January 1945, earning itself another campaign streamer. The battalion was later organized into flying columns to support the First Team as it fought its way into the capital of Manila and received the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation in recognition of its service in the Philippines. In September of 1945, the 82nd Field Artillery completed its war effort with occupation duties in Tokyo, Japan.
While in Japan, the 82nd Field Artillery Battalion transitioned to 155mm howitzers and became the Red Team's general support battalion. On 25 June 1950, North Korean forces crossed the 38th parallel and once again the 82nd was called to action. The battalion deployed with the 1st Cavalry Division as part of an unopposed amphibious landing into the Pusan Perimeter at P'chang-dong. Battery B played a key role in the defense of Waegwan and Taegu by reinforcing the fires of the 61st Field Artillery, a direct descendant of 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery. The Steel Dragons were awarded the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation for their efforts at both Waegwan and Taegu. The Greek Gold Medal of Bravery was also awarded to the battalion when they fired in support of the Greek Expeditionary Force and saved it from annihilation at the hands of Chinese forces.
On 10 October 1951, after fifteen months of action, Battery B fired its one-millionth artillery round. The 1st Cavalry Division Commander, Major General Thomas L. Harrold, pulled the lanyard and fired the 155mm shell as members of Battery B and the 1st Cavalry DIVARTY Commander, Brigadier General John H. Hinds, looked on. On 1 November 1951, an aerial observer in a L-5 Plane directed fires of the 82nd Field Artillery onto columns of Chinese forces entering Korea. This action was one of the first contacts between the First Team and the Chinese. The 82nd left Korea with the 1st Cavalry Division and moved to Hokkaido, Japan in December of 1951. It remained at Camp Chitose until 15 October 1957, when it was inactivated.
The unit was redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 2nd Missile Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery on 1 June 1958. Twenty-five days later, it was reactivated and stationed in Germany, temporarily losing its association with the cavalry. While in Germany the battalion supported the Army's Cold War mission of defending Germany from Warsaw Pact countries. In July of 1959, the unit was redesignated the 2nd Missile Battalion, 82nd Artillery and again inactivated on 25 March 1964.
On 1 September 1971, the battalion was redesignated as the 2nd Missile Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery due to changes in the Combat Arms Regimental System. In 1988, the battalion was reactivated and assigned to the 3rd Armored Division Artillery at Friedberg, FRG. Later that year, the battalion completed its transition to a 3 x 8 organization.
In 1990, the 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery deployed to South West Asia as part of Operation Desert Shield. It provided direct support fires for 3rd Brigade, 3rd Armored Division during Operation Desert Storm against the Iraqi Republican Guard. Following the conflict, the battalion returned to Germany and was again inactivated.
The 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery was reunited with the First Team on 16 December 1992 at Fort Hood, Texas where the Steel Dragons make up an integral part of the 1st Cavalry Division Artillery, known as the "RED TEAM." The Steel Dragons have participated in several NTC rotations in support of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team beginning in July 1993. In early July of 1996, the battalion was fielded with the M109A6 155mm Paladin Howitzer. 2nd Battalion has also been one of the lead units in development and employment of the Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS). The battalion also sent A-Battery and 1-9 FIST to participate in Intrinsic Action 96-04 with Task Force 1-9 in August through December 1996.
From September through December of 1996, the Steel Dragons participated in and lead the way during Operation Desert Strike. The Steel Dragons were also the first to draw the new Paladins in Kuwait and the first to live fire and test the Paladins in theater. Additionally, the battalion was first to establish digital communications and conduct full-scale operations with the AFATDS. Along with paving the way for all other artillery units to follow, by live firing over 2000 rounds and providing baseline calibrations for the Paladins, the Steel Dragons also conducted Officer Professional Development classes and training exercises with Kuwaiti Army.
Today, the Steel Dragons' mission is to provide direct support to the 3rd Grey Wolf Brigade of the 1st Cavalry Division.
The Steel Dragons deployed from Fort Hood, TX on 15 March 2004. The battery spent two weeks at Camp Udari, Kuwait drawing equipment, downloading home-station vehicles and preparing for the convoy into Iraq. On 27 March 2004 convoy rehearsals were complete, communication systems had been checked out, ammunition distributed, and vehicles staged for movement. They planned three days for movement which concluded with escorts from 3/2 Cav Squadron linking up south of the city and leading them onto Base-camp Wolfpack. The three -day move north to Baghdad, Iraq was very successful. All vehicles, equipment and soldiers arrived safely at Camp Wolfpack, now called Camp Steel Dragon, on 29 March 2004. 3/2 Cav is the unit the Steel Dragons replaced, and after a ten-day overlap they headed home to Fort Polk and Camp Wolfpack became Camp Steel Dragon. Joining the convoy and attached to Task Force Steel Dragon is B Company 1-160 Infantry, part of the California Army National Guard. With nearly a hundred soldiers, the company was a vital role in Task Force Steel Dragon's success and made up for the detachment of C Battery to COL Lanza's 5th Brigade Combat Team.
Most of the soldiers of 2-82 FA are located on Camp Steel Dragon in the Green Zone. Many of the fire supporters are located in different camps. The 2-82 FA fire supporters attached within the Grey Wolf Brigade Combat Team are serving at 3d Brigade HQs, with TF 3-8 Cav, and with TF 1-9 Cav. TF 2-7 Cav and their fire supporters are serving with the 39th Brigade Combat Team at Camp Cooke in Taji. The soldiers of C Battery and our COLT Platoon are attached to COL Lanza's 5th BCT and are located on Camp Falcon on the south side of Baghdad. The rest of the 2-82 FA soldiers, along with nearly 100 soldiers of B Company, 1-160 IN, belong to TF Steel Dragon.
By 16 April 2004 several of the platoons had enemy contact and in each case they handled the situation superbly, protecting the principal they were escorting and getting everyone out of the area without serious injuries. And while they have had a few soldiers earn Purple Hearts, none of the soldiers had been killed or suffered life threatening wounds. The attacks we sustained the first few days validated how well trained the soldiers are and how competent their leadership is. It also proved the value of the add-on-armor doors installed on HMMWVs.
On the evening of 7 May the unit took the time to have a task force formation, review some of what has been accomplished, and recognize some of our soldiers. COL Murray and CSM Sellards, the 3d Grey Wolf BCT Commander and his Command Sergeant Major, joined. That formation marked the completion of the first full month conducting security escort missions for the Coalition Provisional Authority and other designated individuals/organizations. During that time they completed 500 platoon missions supporting over 700 security escort requests and drove over 65,000 miles. Most of the missions were in the Baghdad area, but on a daily basis we have a few missions running to other locations in Iraqi. The vast majority of these missions are run without any enemy contact, but every platoon is prepared. They have had over a dozen enemy contacts and IEDs are the most common threat faced. They have learned the value of the armor on the HMMWVs and the importance and effectiveness of personal protective gear including body armor, Kevlar helmets, and protective eye wear. This protective equipment combined with proven tactics for convoy operations has contributed to the minimal number of casualties they've experienced.
Bravo battery had a change of mission, tasked to provide artillery support to Camp Cook in Taji, Iraq. Two Paladin sections (12 soldiers), two mechanics, a platoon sergeant, the Fire Direction NCO, and the battery executive officer worked with the 1-206 Arkansas National Guard, a light artillery (105mm) battery, to provide artillery counter-fire against enemy mortar and rocket attacks. By 16 May 2004 the battery had fired over twenty-five 155mm rounds and Camp Cook had not had any mortar or rocket attacks since their arrival.
As of 24 June 2004 the operational tempo remained fairly high. Already the soldiers had traveled a quarter of a million miles while conducting patrols. They have successfully completed over 1200 missions. And while they have had some enemy contact during the past few weeks, they have been successful in protecting the people we escort and avoiding any friendly casualties. The enemy faced has not been so fortunate. Overall, the Steel Dragon troopers have done a great job in enabling the Coalition Provisional Authority to work with the Iraqi people and set the conditions for the establishment of the Interim Iraqi Government (IIG).
The Steel Dragons continued to see steady progress in improving operational and living conditions. They received a few more M1114 armored HMMWVs for platoons, some additional communications gear for long range patrols, and some additional protective equipment for gunners. On Camp Steel Dragon, they have received some more air-conditioning units to make the main billeting area a bit more comfortable and recently they opened a new coffee shop/internet café. As they completed our third month of deployment, we have been able to begin sending soldiers home on environmental leave. The limited number of slots available for leave and the number of soldiers required to meet mission requirements prevented getting every soldier home during this deployment. While some soldiers fall into a category for higher priority for leave (primarily due to the birth of a child while deployed), most soldiers fall into the same general category for leave.
As of 15 August 2004 the unit had spent five completed months since we first deployed from Fort Hood. Much has happened during those five months. In the past six weeks they saw the Interim Iraqi Government (IIG) established, and to a large degree, it had been well received by a large portion of the Iraqi people. With the establishment of the IIG, the United States established its embassy in Iraq, which has taken over many of the support and assistance roles to the Iraqis that the Coalition Provisional Authority had provided. As the CPA went away, our task force has shifted our primary support mission support from the CPA to the US Embassy. Other than that, our mission remains the same.
As of 15 August 2004, Task Force Steel Dragon has completed over 470,000 mission miles The soldiers conducting these missions and the many soldiers working at FOB Steel Dragon to help sustain and enable the gun-truck platoons continue to do their jobs.
Task Force Steel Dragon took advantage of every slot they were given to get soldiers home on leave. They worked on the leave program and given the number of slots they had been receiving, they were likely be able to get many more soldiers home on leave than originally expected. This is possible in part because of the extra workload soldiers are willing to take on to help cover for one another.
