3rd Battalion - 13th Field Artillery Regiment
The Battalion was constituted on June 3rd, 1916 in the Regular Army as Battery C, 13th Field Artillery. The unit was formed with remnants on the old 5th Field Artillery Regiment, Battery "D", the unit which Alexander Hamilton fought with during the Revolutionary War.
After a period of reorganization, the unit was assigned to the 4th Division on December 10th, 1917. The unit sailed for France in May of 1918, to join other American units fighting the Germans in World War I. The unit's most notable achievements were a march from Esnes to Malincourt during the night of 26-27 September, 1918 over very difficult terrain and against resistance and the Vesle River when heavy losses were sustained and two pieces put out of action by direct hits. The night march to Malincourt is commemorated by the dragon crest, that mythical animal typifying the inferno that prevailed that night. The Vesle episode is commemorated by the broken howitzer on the coat of arms. The unit participated in several other campaigns in World War I to include: Aisne-Marne, St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, Champagne 1918, and Lorraine 1918. Following the end of WWI, the unit continued to serve as part of the Army of Occupation in the Rhineland until July of 1 919.
On March 1st, 1921 the unit was assigned to the Hawaiian Division and made its headquarters at Schofield Barracks. The unit remained in Hawaii for the next 20 years. On October 1st, 1941 the unit was reorganized and re-designated as Battery C, 13th Field Artillery Battalion and assigned to the newly organized 24th Infantry Division.
On December 7th, 1941 the soldiers of unit were among the first to receive enemy fire from the Japanese planes flying overhead in the event that was to involve the Unite d States in World War II. In September of 1943, the unit, sailed with the 24th Infantry Division to Camp Caves, Australia for a two-month period of Amphibious Warfare Training. On 22 April, 1944 the unit landed with the 24th Infantry Division on the beaches of Tanahmerah Bay, the Airdromes of Hollandia their objective. The skillful and accurate fires of the unit were credited as the decisive factor in rapid capture of the objective. The unit continued on to participate in the Leyte Operation in the Campaign of Philippine Liberation and was awarded the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. For its efforts in WWII, the unit received streamers for the Central Pacific, New Guinea, Luzon, Leyte and Southern Philippines. Following the defeat of Japan, the unit moved to Japan to participate again as part of the occupation force to demilitarize the Japanese Army.
It was from Japan that the unit was again called to war, this time Korea. The unit landed at Pusan in July of 1950. Their mission was to support the 24th Infantry Division's delaying action to allow time for other units to be assembled and sent to Korea. The unit distinguished itself again by being awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for its efforts in the defense of Korea. The unit was also awarded the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation. For its efforts in Korea, the unit received streamers for the UN defensive, UN offensive, CCF intervention, First UN Counteroffensive, CCF Summer-Fall Offensive, Second Korean Winter, and Korean Summer 1953. The unit returned to Japan in January, 1953.
On April 1st, 1960, the unit was re-designated as HHB, 3rd Howitzer Battalion, 13th Artillery and assigned to the 25th Infantry Division. It wasn't until August 3rd, 1963 that the unit was finally re-designated as 3rd Battalion, 13th Field Artillery. It was with the 24th Infantry Division that the battalion deployed to Vietnam in 1966. The unit again distinguished itself by being awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation for its efforts in Vietnam. The unit was also awarded the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm. The unit received streamers for the Counteroffensive Phases I-III, Tet Counteroffensive, Counteroffensive Phases IV-VI, Tet 1969 Counteroffensive, Summer-Fall 1969, Winter-Spring 1970, Sanctuary Counteroffensive, and finally the Counteroffensive Phase VII.
The battalion relieved of duty in Vietnam in 1970 and was sent back to Schofield Barracks. On September 1st, 1971 the battalion was re-designated as the 3rd Battalion, 13th Field A rtillery, the designation we are familiar with today. The battalion remained in Hawaii until its inactivation and relief of assignment to the 25th Infantry Division on October 1st, 1983.
The 3rd Battalion, 13th Field Artillery, the only active battalion within the regiment, assumed its new duty assignment with III Corps Artillery at Fort Sill, Oklahoma on 15 January, 1996 as part of the 214th Artillery Brigade.
During 2000, the 3-13 FA "Red Dragons" participated in the ATACMS Block II pilot and operational tests at Fort Sill and WSMR. 3-13 FA also received a rigorous EXEVAL, which certified its combat readiness and rapid deployability.
