| 156th Field Artillery Regiment | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1898—2005 |
| Country |
|
| Allegiance | Governor of New York and State of New York |
| Branch | |
| Role | Field Artillery |
| Size | Regiment |
| Part of | 44th Infantry Division |
| Garrison/HQ | Kingston, RHQ |
| Nickname(s) | "The First New York" |
| Motto(s) | Semper Procedamus - "Ever Onwards" |
| Engagements |
Spanish American War World War I World War II |
The 156th Field Artillery Regiment (156 FA) was a former field artillery regiment of the US Army. The regiment participated in World War II, and was active through the Cold War. In 2005 following the reductions of the National Guard during the second Bush presidency, the regiment was reduced and finally disbanded.[1][2]
History[]
The 156th Field Artillery's predecessor was the 156th Field Artillery formed from existing artillery companies in Eastern New York. The unit was mustered in federal service for the Spanish American War. World War I, then later World War II. The regiment also had campaign credits for the Battle of New York and later the American Civil War.[1]
The 156th Field Artillery were formed originally in 1924 as part of the New York National Guard. It was immediately assigned to the 44th Infantry Division's divisional artillery force. Before mobilisation the regiment had been attached to the 69th Field Artillery Brigade as a mobile field artillery regiment equipped with the M116 howitzer. From 1924-1940 the regiment's headquarters were in Newburgh, New York but later moved to Fort Dix, New Jersey from 1940 - 1941. On 1 April 1936 the regiment was converted from Horse-drawn artillery to truck-born artillery.[1]
During World War II the regiment partook in the following battles:[2][3]
- Alsne-Marne Campaign
- Oise-Aisne Campaign
- Meuse-Argonne Campaign
In 2005 the regiment was disbanded when it merged with the 104th Military Police Battalion. In 2008 the state senate and assembly voted to name a region of the New York state freeway as "156th Field Artillery Memorial Highway".[2][3] The regiment's composition just before disbandment was as follows;[4]
- Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron in Kingston
- A Battery in Poughkeepsie
- B Battery in Newburgh
- C Battery in Rochester
Commanders[]
Commanders of the regiment had included:
- 1924—1930 Colonel Raphael Egan
- 1930—1930 Lieutenant Colonel John Korschen
- 1930—1935 Colonel James Cassedy
- 1935—1940 Colonel Otto Thiede
- 1940—1942 Colonel Lansing McVickar
- Lieutenant Colonel Dominic Morelli (at 1997 reunion)[5]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Clay, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Steven E.. U.S. Army Order of Battle 1919-1941. Volume 2, The Arms: Cavalry, Field Artillery, and Coast Artillery, 1919–41. United States Army Combined Arms Center, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas: Combat Studies Institute Press. https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Portals/7/combat-studies-institute/csi-books/OrderofBattle2.pdf.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "CollectiveAccess error". http://digitalcollections.archives.nysed.gov/index.php/Detail/Object/DownloadRepresentation/representation_id/27607/object_id/23046/download/1/version/original.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 HVPress (2008-04-01). "Honor "156th" By Renaming Part Of RT. 32" (in en-US). https://hudsonvalleypress.com/2008/04/01/honor-156th-by-renaming-part-of-rt-32/.
- ↑ "1st Battalion, 156th Field Artillery Regiment". https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/1-156fa.htm.
- ↑ 1st Battalion 156th Field Artillery New York Army National Guard