1st Battalion/15th Field Artillery history

15th Field Artillery Regiment
INDIANHEADS

1st Battalion/15th Field
Artillery History

15th FA Regiment History Repeats Itself

In 1941, the 15th FA Regiment was stationed at Ft Sam Houston, Texas as part of the 2nd Infantry Division. The US Army was experimenting with different techniques of delivering combat forces to a battle zone including Airborne and Air Assault capabilities. The 15th FA Regiment was an integral part of those tests.

Troops practicing Air Assault operations in 1941 at Brooks Army Airfield, Texas, 1941

Troops practicing air loading using Dummy aircraft mockup at Brooks Army Airfield, Texas, 1941

Troops loading 75mm Pack Howitzers to test Air Assault techniques at Brooks Army Airfield, Texas, 1941

Photo credits: 2nd ID Museum and LTC Jim Miller

History tells us that both Airborne and Air Assault (in the form of Glider-borne troops) were used with some degree of success during WW-II on several major operations. And the 15th FA Regiment had a small part in some of the concepts tested. We also know from our history the 15th FA Bn did their part in both WW-II and the Korean War. Then in the late 1950s the US Army went back to a Regimental-based system while combining Field Artillery, Coast Artillery and Air Defense Artillery into a single branch named “Artillery”. The era of Artillery collar insignia displaying crossed-cannons horizontally and a missile vertically was born.

On 14 June 1958, the 1st Bn, 15th FA was Activated and assigned to the 2nd Infantry Division at Ft Benning Georgia. In 1964, the 1st Bn, 15th FA was designated to serve as part of the 11th Air Assault Division (AAD) (Test) to provide Direct Support Artillery Fire to one of the Maneuver Brigades. Here was 15th FA Regimental history repeating itself as once again the concept of delivering men and equipment to the battlefield via Air Assault techniques was being tested. This time using helicopters instead of fixed-wing aircraft. At that time the 1st Bn, 15th FA was under the command of LTC Lloyd J. Picou.

On 1 July 1965, the colors of the 1st Cavalry Division stationed in Korea were swapped with the 2nd Infantry Division at Ft Benning, Georgia. As part of this event the 1st Bn, 15th FA was reflagged as the 1st Bn, 77th FA. The Officers and men of the 1st Bn, 15th FA presented LTC Picou with a gift comprised of a large wooden folder measuring 16”X21”. Hand-painted on the cover was a 15th FA Regimental Crest flanked by a 2nd Infantry Division patch and an 11th AAD patch.

1/15th FA Presentation Folder given to LTC Lloyd J. Picou

1-15th FA Presentation Folder given to LTC Lloyd J. Picou
before unit was reflagged as 1st Bn, 77th Artillery,
1st Air Cavalry Division, 1 July 1965.

Photo credit: 2nd ID Museum and LTC Jim Miller

Across the top was painted the name of “LTC Lloyd J. Picou” and across the bottom was painted “1st Bn, 15th Artillery” with the name “SSG Quiller” painted in very small letters. We assume SSG Quiller was the artist who painted the cover. The inside cover contains the signatures of several members of the 1st Bn, 15th FA. Next, the folder contains “Presentation Guidons” for HHB, A & B Batteries made from heavy double-layered silk approximately 13”x15”, with very ornate gold fringe on the edges of each guidon.

HHB, 1st Bn, 15th Artillery Guidon in Presentation Folder

A Btry, 1st Bn, 15th Artillery Guidon in Presentation Folder

B Btry, 1st Bn, 15th Artillery Guidon in Presentation Folder

Photo credits: 2nd ID Museum and LTC Jim Miller

This Presentation Folder is part of the 15th FA memorabilia in the collection of Dan Gillotti. History shows the 1st Bn, 15th FA has been stationed on the DMZ In Korea staring a 1 million-man strong North Korean Army in the eye continuously since 1 July 1965. The 1st Bn, 15th FA is well-led, highly trained and motivated, and fully prepared to carry out their war-fighting mission should the need arise.

Allons! (Lets Go!) Dan Gillotti, Historian 15th FA Regt.

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