III Corps Artillery
The IIId Armored Corps Artillery Phantom Thunder at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, is the Army's largest and most powerful concentration of artillery.
Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, IIId Armored Corps Artillery was first activated on 5 July 1918 at Camp Custer, MI, as Headquarters, 14th Field Artillery Brigade. The Brigade was demobilized on 18 February 1919.
On 24 March 1923, under the designation of Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, the 14th Field Artillery Brigade was reconstituted in the inactive list of the Regular Army.
World War II saw the activation of the Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 14th Field Artillery Brigade on 23 March 1942 at Camp Haan, CA, and its redesignation as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, III Corps Artillery on 10 August 1943. III Corps Artillery landed in France on 25 September 1944 and participated in Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe Campaigns. In July, 1945, III Corps Artillery returned from Europe and inactivated at Camp Polk, LA.
Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, III Corps Artillery was again activated at Fort Hood, TXs, and in August 1962 was transferred to Fort Sill, OK.
In October 1978, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, III Corps Artillery was inactivated and the artillerymen of the battery became members of the Field Artillery Section of III Corps Headquarters with duty at Fort Sill. The unit was also designated as Headquarters, III Corps Artillery (Provisional) commanded by a Brigadier General.
Headquarters and Headquarters Battery (Provisional) was reactivated on 16 January 1984. On 18 March 1987, Headquarters Battery was activated at Fort Sill, OK.
IIId Armored Corps Artillery is comprised of four Field Artillery Brigades, consisting of nine MLRS Battalions, three Paladin Battalions, a Combat Support Battalion and a Maintenance Battalion.
IIId Armored Corps Artillery's mission combines combat readiness and the ability to deploy to all parts of the world with support to the Field Artillery School and Fort Sill. The mission of the IIId Armored Corps Artillery is to:
- Be prepared to deploy to any theater of operations and provide Fire Support for IIId Armored Corps combat operations;
- Be prepared to provide Field Artillery Brigades to other headquarters; and
- Sustain combat operations.
Originally approved on 12 Feb 1943 for the 14th Field Artillery Brigade; the insignia was redesignated and amended to change the symbolism on 6 Jan 1971. A representation in scarlet of the bell tower of a California Mission, with three scarlet bells in gold arched openings, all above a gold scroll with the motto "STRIKE FOR FREEDOM" in scarlet letters. The color scarlet is for Artillery. The bell tower of a California Mission refers to the unit's activation during World War II at Camp Haan, near the old Mission Trail. The three bells indicate the numerical designation of the Corps.
