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1st Battalion - 128th Field Artillery

The 128th and 129th Field Artillery had some name and structural changes in early September 1999. This resulted from implementing the MTOE (Modified Table of Organization and Equipment) change with the Army's direction to support current doctrine. The new concept does away with service battery functions. There are sections in all firing batteries. Eliminated are some of the command structures while placing them closer to the firing battery. That makes them more under a firing battery function. The supply section stayed as the service detachment. Battalion motor section stayed in the service detachment.

With the readjustment, many people found themselves without a slot to fill in their individual units. But no one lost a job. The Adjutant General finds the best interest with keeping units in those communities. It made sense to split them into detachments. The detachments are smaller. Some people had to move. But each person was dealt with according to individual circumstance. The reduction in slots wasn't as much of an issue. Though the unit size was smaller by a few, the grade loss in the officer and enlisted level were absorbed through other similar units.

The headquarters of the oldest military unit west of the Mississippi River returned to St. Louis in July 1999 in a ceremony at Jefferson Barracks. A flag redesignation ceremony was held to transfer the flag and headquarters of the Missouri National Guard's Battery A, 1st Battalion, 128th Field Artillery back to Jefferson Barracks. Since 1995, Battery A headquarters have been in Hannibal, while the artillery unit at Jefferson Barracks was designated Detachment 1, Battery A. The Hannibal unit is now Detachment 1, Battery A.

Battery A, 128th Field Artillery, known as St. Louis' Own Battery, has a long and proud history of service to the state and nation. The Battery was organized in 1812 by Capt. Pierre Chouteau for service in the War of 1812. In May 1846, Battery A, Missouri Light Artillery was organized and activated for the Mexican-American War. During the conflict, the soldiers of Battery A participated in the longest overland march of artillery in the history of warfare, marching more than 1,500 miles. The unit also took part in the Civil War, Spanish-American War, World War I and World War II, including the Battle of the Bulge and campaigns across France and Germany.

Battery A trained at armories on Market and Grand Street for many years. Since 1971, Battery A has been located at Jefferson Barracks. The unit also has served on state emergency duty to help protect Missourians during floods in the 1980s and 1990s. Battery A has an authorized strength of 129 male and female personnel; the unit currently has openings for 25 soldiers.