197th Field Artillery Regiment

Reorganized and federally recognized 24 April 1922 in the New Hampshire National Guard at Concord as the 197th Artillery (Coast Artillery Corps)

• HHB from Company C, 1st Infantry NHNG
• Service Battery from I Company 1st Infantry NHNG
• Battery A from Company E, 1st Infantry NHNG
• Battery B from Company F, 1st Infantry NHNG
• Battery C from Company K, 1st Infantry NHNG
• Battery D from Company A, 1st Infantry NHNG
• HHB 2d Battalion from Company M, 1st Infantry NHNG
• Battery E from Company I, 1st Infantry NHNG
• Battery F from Company G, 1st Infantry NHNG
• Battery G from Company L, 1st Infantry NHNG
• Battery H from Company H, 1st Infantry NHNG

Redesignated 23 April 1924 as the 197th Coast Artillery Regiment (Antiaircraft)(Semimobile)

• Inducted into federal service 16 September 1940 at Concord
• 3d Battalion activated August 1942

Regiment broken up 15 May 1943 as Follows

• Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, as 197th Antiaircraft Artillery Group (see the 197th Field Artillery Brigade)
• 1st Battalion as 744th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion
• 2d Battalion as 210th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion
• 3d Battalion as 237th Antiaircraft Artillery Searchlight Battalion

1 February 1959 744th and 210th AAA Battalions consolidated with 197th Artillery, a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System 1968-1969 3rd Battalion 197th Artillery served in Vietnam

• B Battery 3-197th-FAR merged with A Battery 2-13th-FAR to form D Battery 2-13th-FAR, "The Jungle Battery".
• Battery E (Target Acquisition), 197th Field Artillery Regiment was activated 1 June 2012

unknown

Valorous Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Commendation

During its time in Vietnam, Bravo Battery 3-197th merged with Alpha Battery 2-13th 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, in Nashua NH.

The following are the known losses for 3rd BN-197th FAR during Vietnam, by date.

• 02/26/1969

†Non-Battle SFC Raymond Charles Mroczynski (SVC BTRY)

• 04/19/1969

 † CPT Roland Charles Labonte (B BTRY)

• 06/23/1969

†Non-Battle SGT William George Gray (HHB)

• 07/27/1969

†Non-Battle CPL Mark Lawrence McManus (SVC BTRY)

• 08/24/1969

 † 2LT Thomas Jerome Dostal (A BTRY)

• 08/26/1969

 † 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]

• Description

A Gold color metal and enamel device 1+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.

• Symbolism

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.

• Background

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.

• Blazon
  • Shield: 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.
  • Crest: That for the regiments and separate battalions of the New Hampshire Army National Guard: On a wreath of the colors Or and Azure, two pine branches saltirewise Proper crossed behind a bundle of five arrows palewise Argent, bound together by a ribbon Gules, the ends entwining the branches.

Motto: "A Bas L’Avion" (Down With The Plane).

• Symbolism
  • Shield: 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.
  • Crest: The crest is that of the New Hampshire Army National Guard.
• Background: The coat of arms was originally approved for the 197th Coast Artillery Regiment, New Hampshire National Guard on 19 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.