The 3rd Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment ("3–319th AFAR") is the field artillery battalion that directly supports the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. Known as the "Gun Devils", 3–319th AFAR has participated in battles from World War I to the current day, and is one of the most highly decorated field artillery units in the United States Army. The battalion's mission is "3-319th AFAR stands ready to deploy worldwide within 18 hours of notification, execute a parachute assault and conduct full-spectrum operations. Specifically, the battalion will provide responsive lethal and nonlethal fires in support of forcible entry and airfield seizure, and integrate and synchronize the effects of fires to achieve the 1BCT commander's intent."
History
World War I: origins The 3rd Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment traces its lineage in Battery C, 319th Field Artillery Regiment. During World War I, the battery was one of six 4-gun 155 mm batteries in the 157th Field Artillery Brigade, and participated in three major offensives: St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, and Lorraine.3rd Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment (Airborne) "Gun Devils" on GlobalSecurity.org The first commander of Battery C was Captain D.T. Peavy, who formed the battery on 4 September 1917, from a group of officers recently graduated from the 7th Provisional Training Regiment who had arrived at the regiment on 30 August. In April 1918, Captain Peavy was reassigned to the 157th Depot Brigade, and Captain Strawbridge assumed command of the battery. The battery sailed to Europe on the British liner "Lapland", departing on 19 May 1918, and arriving in Liverpool, England, on 30 May 1918.
World War II: airborne beginnings In World War II, the battalion participated in campaigns in North Africa, Chuinzi Pass, Italy, and the Battle of the Bulge.
Vietnam
Deployment The 3-319 AFAR, commanded by LTC (later MG) Lee E. Surut, deployed to South Vietnam in support of the 173rd Airborne Brigade at Bien Hoa Base Camp in May 1965. The unit fired the first American artillery in the Vietnam War, when the base piece of Battery C conducted its first registration. Less than 30 days after deploying, TF Surut (3-319 AFAR reinforced with cavalry, engineers and others) conducted the artillery's first combat air assault when they secured a landing zone, emplaced their howitzers and provided support to infantry TF Dexter. The 3–319th AFAR was the first U.S. Army unit to participate in offensive operations by providing fires support to Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) forces relieving the town of Dong Xoai in June 1965. It was joined by the 161st Bty, Royal New Zealand Artillery in June 1965 which was attached as the fourth firing battery.
OPORD 17–65 From 27 June 1965 to 1 July 1965, 3–319 AFAR fired nearly 5,000 rounds of 105 mm in support of five infantry battalions from three nations (1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment and 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment from the U.S. 173rd Airborne Brigade, 3rd and 4th Battalions of the ARVN 2nd Airborne Brigade and the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment), in addition to coordinating New Zealand and Vietnamese artillery fires, close air support and armed helicopter fires through the brigade fire support coordination center. To support what was known simply as OPORD 17–65, 3–319 AFAR provided ten forward observers, three liaison officers and two aerial observers above the normally provided fire support coordination personnel. Initially organized with three six-gun 105 mm firing batteries, the battalion was later authorized a fourth firing battery.
Operation Denver On 8 April 1966, the 173rd Airborne Brigade's Operation Austin I was cancelled, and the brigade was notified to conduct Operation Denver in the Sông Bé area. The brigade published its base operation order, focused on movement from Bien Hoa to Sông Bé Base Camp, on 9 April 1966. On 10 April 1966, Battery C, 3/319 accompanied 1/503rd Infantry to Sông Bé Airfield. The remainder of 3/319 arrived via C-130 by 14:40 on 11 April. On 13 April, Battery B was attached to 1/503rd and occupied a fire base at Position Blue to the northwest of Sông Bé to support search and attack operations. Battery B was in position at 09:13, fired preparatory fires on Landing Zone Red in support of Company A, 1/503rd and departed the fire base at 18:32. On 14 April, the battalion fires landing zone preparations on LZs Jade, Opal and Diamond, in support of two battalion-sized airmobile operations by 1/503 and 1RAR. On 15 April, Battery C moved by ground to establish a fire support base at grid location YU 183105, fired a 10-minute artillery preparation on LZ Lilly in support of 1/503, and remained in position until 17 April. On 18 April, Battery A was inserted via CH-47 onto LZ Harvard and established a fire support base to support 2/503 Infantry's operations in AO Ireland, south of Sông Bé. On 19 April, Battery A displaced to LZ Colgate, remaining there in support of 2/503 until 22 April. The battalion returned to Bien Hoa on 23 April, with one battery remaining with 2/503rd at Sông Bé until 25 April. Over the course of Operation Denver, the battalion (including the four guns of 161st Battery, Royal New Zealand Artillery in support of 1 RAR) fired 5,103 rounds in 614 missions. The battalion also controlled the fires of two four-gun 4.2in mortar platoons (one from 2/503rd and one from D/16 Armor) which fired 1,466 rounds in 192 missions.http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/394026.pdf Combat Operations After Action Report, Operation Denver
From 1 May to 31 July 1966, 3/319th AFAR, under the command of LTC William Nordin, supported the brigade's Operations Dexter, Hardihood, Hollandia, Uniontown, Yorktown, Aurora I and Aurora II, in addition to routine security operations. The battalion fired 28,565 rounds during 3,108 missions. The brigade report for this period noted that all tactical plans, including reaction forces, should include the detailed planning of safe air corridors to allow for simultaneous employment of artillery preparations and air strikes during airmobile operations.http://www.dtic.mil/get-tr-doc/pdf?AD=AD0388152 | Operational Report of Lessons Learned – 1 May – 31 July 1966 This was also the last operation with the New Zealand battery which in June amalgamated with the newly-formed 1st Australian Task Force.
Operation Toledo From 10 August 1966 – 7 September 1966, 3/319th AFAR supported 173rd's Operation Toledo in the May Tao Secret Zone and Cẩm Mỹ areas of Phước Tuy Province. In addition to the battalion's three organic firing batteries (A, B & C) with 18 105 mm towed howitzers, the battalion was reinforced with C/2/35 Artillery (six 155 mm self-propelled howitzers), A/2/32 Artillery (four 175 mm/8" self-propelled howitzers), and two 105 mm towed firing batteries (A/2/13 Artillery and A/1/7 Artillery). The 3/319th AFAR fired 31,503 rounds in 1,421 fire missions, while the reinforcing units contributed an additional 17,417 rounds. Most of the missions were against suspected enemy locations or in support of elements during contact, but the battalion also fired preparations of landing zones, harassing and interdiction fire, and suppressive fire on landing zones after extraction. Although safety checks and air clearance delayed some missions when units were not in contact, the brigade reported that "Fires for units in contact was timely and no firing delays were experienced."http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/AD0510789 | Combat Operations After Action Report – Operation Toledo
Operation Sioux City From 26 September 1966 to 9 October 1966, the battalion supported the brigade Operation Sioux City with two organic 105 mm batteries and a 155 mm reinforcing battery from 2/25 Field Artillery. On 26 September, 3/319 departed Bien Hoa and moved by road on Route Blue to Position Fox, with Battery C firing landing zone preparations in support of 1/503's air assault on Position Mohawk and then on to Position Mohawk. While in Position Fox, a ¼-ton truck from the battalion hit a mine. Two vehicles (the other from Company E, 17th Cavalry Regiment) were destroyed by mines in Position Fox, resulting in three US wounded. On 1 October, Battery C reported two incoming hand grenades and returned fire with M79 grenade launchers. There were no US casualties and unknown results of the M79 fire. On 6 October, the battalion returned to Position Fox, reporting laid and ready to fire at 12:58. On 9 October, the brigade terminated Operation Sioux City and the battalion returned to Bien Hoa by road convoy. Over the course of the operation, the battalion fired 8,611 rounds on 1,280 missions. Unobserved fires prevented a good assessment of the artillery's effectiveness, although the brigade After Action Report noted that enemy fire stopped "in all cases" when artillery was employed during contacts.http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/387609.pdf Combat Operations After Action Report, Operation Sioux City
Operation Winchester From 8 October – 3 December 1966, Battery B, 3/319th AFAR deployed 82 personnel and six M102 105 mm howitzers with Task Force 4/503rd to the Da Nang and Tinh Qang area to conduct Operation Winchester. The battery occupied a single position, and supported the operation from that position, although it selected alternate positions that were not occupied. The 4–503rd PIR commander stated that Battery B's support was "absolutely essential to the conduct of the operation."http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/AD0386116 | Combat After Action Report – Operation Winchester
Operation Junction City From 22 February to 15 March 1967, 3/319 participated in Operation Junction City, including the only conventional parachute assault conducted by the US Army in Vietnam. For the operation, Battery A was attached to Task Force 2/503rd to conduct the airborne assault, while the battalion received to the operational control of 4.2in mortar platoons from 1/503rd and 4/503rd to provide centralized control of the remaining four firing units for the operation. Operation Junction City was aimed at the destruction of the Central Office of South Vietnam (the Viet Cong political headquarters) and the PAVN 9th Division in the "War Zone C" area of Tây Ninh Province. The brigade formed the north-east shoulder of a multi-brigade cordon. The brigade conducted the parachute assault to ease the requirements for helicopter support and "place the maximum number of troops on the ground in the shortest period of time", although the bulk of the brigade conducted helicopter insertions before their search and destroy operations.
On 19 February, the battalion (less Battery A, which remained at Bien Hoa to prepare for the parachute assault) moved to Quản Lợi Base Camp and conducted final preparations for the operation. At 09:00 on 22 February, Battery A landed with 2/503 PIR on Drop Zone "C" at grid coordinates XT 339929. The battalion then established the brigade Fire Support Base in Position Liz with the brigade command post to support search and destroy operations by the three infantry battalions. On 5 March, the battalion moved by road from FSB Liz to FSB III. On 10 March, the battalion was credited with 127 enemy killed while firing in support of 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry (Mechanized) from the 1st Infantry Division. On 14 March, the battalion moved to Suoi Da and returned to Bien Hoa by ground convoy on 15 March. Over the 20 days of the operation, the battalion fired 45,282 rounds in 1,423 missions.