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| 197th Field Artillery | |
|---|---|
 Coat of arms | |
| Active | 1922 |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch | New Hampshire Army National Guard |
| Size | Regiment |
| Motto | "A Bas L’Avion" (Down With The Plane) |
| Insignia | |
| Distinctive unit insignia |  |
The 197th Field Artillery Regiment is a regiment in the New Hampshire Army National Guard.
B Battery claims to have been formed before 1780 as 1st Company, Light Infantry, 2nd Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, New Hampshire Militia. C Battery traces its history to Captain Waldron's Minute Company, 2nd New Hampshire Regiment, which was organized on July 3, 1775, making C Battery one of severalNational Guard units with colonial roots.
The regiment's coat of arms honors several of its units for their service in the2nd New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry during the American Civil War.[1]
The regiment was redesignated on 23 April 1924 as the 197th Coast Artillery Regiment (Antiaircraft) (Semimobile). It conducted annual training most years atRye Beach, New Hampshire, and some years atFort Greble,Maine,Warner, New Hampshire, orFort Adams,Rhode Island. It was inducted into federal service on 16 September 1940 and transferred toCamp Hulen,Texas, arriving there on 30 September 1940, where it was assigned to the 33rd Coast Artillery Brigade (Antiaircraft) (GHQR) on 10 February 1941. The 3rd Battalion was activated in August 1942. The regiment was broken up on 15 May 1943 as follows:
These four units subsequently served in theSouth West Pacific theatre of World War II. On 1 February 1959, the 744th and 210th AAA Battalions were consolidated with the 197th Artillery, a parent regiment under theCombat Arms Regimental SystemFrom 1968-1969, the 3rd Battalion, 197th Artillery served in Vietnam
Valorous Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Commendation
During theVietnam War, 3rd Battalion 197th-FAR served in country from 1968 to 1969.
During its time inVietnam, Bravo Battery 3-197th merged with Alpha Battery2-13th to form D Battery 2-13th, known in country as "The Jungle Battery". The newly formed D Battery comprised three 155mm Howitzers from B-BTRY and three 105mm Howitzers, allowing it to provide a multitude of artillery support. The unit supported special forces groups for most of its existence. On April 19, 1969, CPT Roland C Labonte was killed by an enemy mortar round.[2] CPT Labonte was the commander of B BTRY 3–197. He is remembered on the Vietnam Wall, (Panel W26, Line 9), as well as a memorial stone outside of the Nashua Armory, still home of B BTRY 3–197, inNashua NH.
The following are the known losses for 3rd BN-197th FAR during Vietnam, by date.
†Non-Battle SFC Raymond Charles Mroczynski (SVC BTRY)
† CPT Roland Charles Labonte (B BTRY)
†Non-Battle SGT William George Gray (HHB)
†Non-Battle CPL Mark Lawrence McManus (SVC BTRY)
† 2LT Thomas Jerome Dostal (A BTRY)
† SGT Gaetan Jean Guy Beaudoin (A BTRY) † SGT Guy Andre Blanchette (A BTRY) † SGT Richard Edgar Genest (A BTRY) † SFC Richard Paul Raymond (A BTRY) † SGT Richard Edward Robichaud (A BTRY)[2]
A Gold color metal and enamel device1+1⁄8 inches (2.9 cm) in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned: Azure, in base a lion passant guardant Or, and in fess a lozenge and a fleur-de-lis Argent; on a chief Gules fimbriated of the second a winged projectile, wings inverted, of the last. Attached below the shield a Gold scroll inscribed "A Bas L’Avion" in Black letters.
The shield is blue to indicate the longer service of the unit as Infantry. The gold lion passant guardant is for service in the War of 1812; the white lozenge—the corps badge for the 2nd Division, 3rd Corps, during the Civil War—represents Civil War service and the fleur-de-lis, service during World War I. The chief is red for Artillery and the winged projectile indicates that it is an anti-aircraft unit.
The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 197th Coast Artillery Regiment, New Hampshire National Guard on 16 April 1927. It was redesignated for the 744th Antiaircraft Artillery Gun Battalion, New Hampshire National Guard on 28 December 1951. The insignia was redesignated for the 197th Artillery Regiment, New Hampshire National Guard on 29 March 1961. It was redesignated for the 197th Field Artillery Regiment, New Hampshire Army National Guard on 9 August 1972.
Motto: "A Bas L’Avion" (Down With The Plane).
This article incorporatespublic domain material from197th Field Artillery.United States Army Institute of Heraldry. This article incorporatespublic domain material from websites or documents of theUnited States Army Center of Military History.