QAYYARAH, Iraq -- The 2nd Battalion, 8th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) headquartered at Fort Lewis, Wash., officially unfurled the Regimental and Battalion Colors during a ceremony at Forward Operating Base Endurance in northern Iraq on November 2.
As the Soldiers of the 2-8 begin to write their chapter in the history books of the "Automatic Eighth," they are reminded of the important role the 8th FA has historically played from its beginning and how important their mission is now.
During a speech from Lt. Col. Bradley Becker, battalion commander, the history of the Automatic Eighth was told. He began with how it was organized in July 1916, at Fort Bliss, Texas.
The first mission for the 8th FA was to guard the Mexican border until the regiment completed its organization. The personnel strength at the time of its organization was 51 officers and 1,323 enlisted. It was also the first and only artillery regiment with horse-drawn 3.8-inch howitzers.
World War I
In April 1918, the 8th FA was ordered to turn in their horses and reorganize as a motorized regiment of heavy field artillery with three battalions.
As the general artillery battalion for the 7th Division, the 8th FA landed in France in August 1918, where it underwent intense artillery training and moved to different camps throughout France until its redeployment in June 1919.
Following its occupational duty in France, the 8th FA earned its first campaign streamer and moved to Hawaii to join the 25th Infantry Division.
World War II
"On December 7, 1941, the 8th Field Artillery was awakened to the bombing of nearby Wheeler Army Airfield and a strafing attack of Schofield Barracks," Becker said as he told his Soldiers about the battalion's involvement during the attacks on Pearl Harbor. After the attack by the Japanese, the 25th Infantry Division moved to defensive positions on Oahu in anticipation of a Japanese invasion, with the 8th FA guarding Honolulu.
During most of 1942, the 8th FA conducted jungle and amphibious training in Hawaii in anticipation of commitment to service in the Central or South Pacific theaters.
The 25th Infantry Division was sent to the South Pacific on November 30, 1942. The 8th FA, consisting of 30 officers and 542 enlisted, landed at Guadalcanal on January 1, 1943.
"At 0550, with H Hour set at 0635, the 8th FA participated in a thirty-three minute artillery preparation to support the attack," Becker said as he described how the 8th FA commenced offensive operations against the Japanese on January 10, 1943. He said the 8th FA was possibly the first divisional combat time-on-target fired by American artillerymen during WWII.
Korean War
"The 8th FA moved more than 250 miles at night from Masan to Koesan. The United Nations forces drove to the 38th Parallel, destroying the North Korean Army in the process," Becker said. Recalling a passage recorded in the Congressional Records, Becker told the Soldiers how the 8th FA earned its nickname, Automatic Eighth.
"The only answer to the North Koreans" murderous Banzai attacks was fire, and the Eighth provided plenty of it. During this first engagement, they had poured out thousands of rounds, when the infantry captured a few prisoners. As the prisoners were taken to the rear, they passed through Bravo Battery's position. The North Koreans halted, looked around, and nodded. "What the hell you stoppin" for?!" growled the guard.
A torrent of Korean was the answer, and a houseboy was called to interpret. A grin spreading across his face, the houseboy turned and explained: "They just wanted to see this new automatic artillery that had been shooting at them."
After the Korean War, the 8th FA went decades without being deployed until two battalions were deployed - the 6th in 1989 and the 3rd in 1990.
"In December 1989, the 6th Battalion, 8th Field Artillery Regiment, deployed to Panama. As part of Operation Just Cause, the battalion successfully used its M102 Howitzers for direct and indirect fires to help depose a dictator," Becker said.
The 3rd Battalion, 8th FA, deployed to Saudi Arabia with the XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery in support of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm in 1990.
Operation Iraqi Freedom
In 2002, the 2-8 FA began its transformation to join the Army's second Stryker Brigade Combat Team as part of the Army's transformation to a more rapidly deployable and lethal force to fight the global war on terrorism. "On October 15, 2004, the "Automatic" battalion was again called to duty, this time as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Today we unfurl our Regimental Colors in Iraq, where we will add the newest chapter to our proud history," Becker said.
The 2-8 is part of the Army's second SBCT, replacing the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (SBCT) in the northern city of Mosul and surrounding areas. "I cannot think of a finer group of Soldiers, NCOs and officers to answer this call, and I know that you will serve the 8th Field Artillery bravely and honorably just like the great Soldiers before you," Becker said.
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| Date Taken: |
11.16.2004 |
| Date Posted: |
11.16.2004 13:37 |
| Story ID: |
609 |
| Location: |
QAYYARAH, IQ |
| Web Views: |
328 |
| Downloads: |
15 |
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