The 2nd Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment (Airborne) ("2-319 FAR") is the field artillery battalion that is assigned to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. Nicknamed "Black Falcons", 2–319 FAR has participated in battles from World War I to the current day.
History Origins
Under the U.S. Army Regimental System, the battalion traces its lineage to Battery B, 319th Field Artillery Regiment, which was originally constituted 5 August 1917 and assigned to the 82nd Division. It was organized and activated 9 September 1917 at Camp Gordon, Georgia and arrived in France in late 1917. The 319th Field Artillery participated in three major campaigns during World War I. At the conclusion of the war, the 82nd Division returned home and was demobilized on 18 May 1919.
The battalion was reorganized and redesignated the 319th Field Artillery Battalion (FAB) in 1942 and was ordered into active federal service on 25 March 1942. On 15 August 1942, the 319th FAB was reorganized and redesignated as the 319th Glider Field Artillery Battalion (GFAB). The 319th GFAB participated in all six World War II campaigns of the 82nd Airborne Division, including assault landings in Normandy and the Netherlands. The 319th GFAB was awarded two Presidential Unit Citations and two French Croix de Guerre with palm.
Under the Pentomic organization from 1957 to 1964, B/319 served as a direct support battery in the 82nd Airborne Division Artillery.
Vietnam Deployment 1967-68 2-319 deployed to Vietnam with the 101st Division Artillery during Operation Eagle Thrust from 3 December 1967 to 18 December 1967. Battery C, 2-319 fired the Division Artillery's first round on 5 December. The battalion immediately occupied and integrated into base camp fire plans while undergoing a 30-day in-country training program and base camp development. The battalion fired 13,807 rounds in December, and 15,713 in January. On 12 January, 3rd Brigade, with 2–319 in direct support, began Operation Manchester. Battery A conducted an airmobile assault with 1-506 Infantry to FSB Keane and Battery B with 2-506 Infantry to FSB Dave. Operation Manchester continued through 18 February 1968, with a series of movements as the brigade attempted to destroy the Viet Cong (VC) Đồng Nai Regiment. February began with 2-319 batteries at FSBs Meene, Nashua and at Phước Vĩnh. On 9 February 1968, the battalion was issued FADACs and selected personnel received five days of training from the 1st Infantry Division Artillery at Phu Loi 17–23 February.Headquarters, 101st Airborne Division Operational Report for Quarterly Period Ending 31 January 1968
After the conclusion of Operation Manchester, 3rd Brigade assumed responsibility for the Sông Bé area and Uniontown north. On 4 March, 2-319 destroyed three sampans, one raft and 20 bunkers with one confirmed VC killed. In March, the 101st Airborne Division moved to the I Corps area, leaving 2-319 attached to 3rd Brigade, which was under the operational control of II Field Force, Vietnam, operating in Biên Hòa and Bình Dương Provinces. The brigade conducted Operations Box Springs and Toan Thang under II Field Force from 5 March to 30 April 1968. Operational Report of 101st Airborne Division Artillery for Period Ending 30 April 1968
On 19 June, Battery A moved to FSB Jackson, followed by Battery C on 20 June. On 25 June, the battalion moved to Dầu Tiếng, and Battery C occupied FSB Kearny on 26 June. On 27 June, Batteries A and C moved to FSB Patton to support operations in the Michelin Rubber Plantation. On 4 July, artillerymen at the Dau Tieng Base Camp repulsed a ground attack. From 11 to 14 July, the battalion occupied FSB Houston to support operations near the Sugar Mill. On 24 July, Battery B replaced Battery C at FSB Patton and Battery C returned to the brigade base camp at Phước Vĩnh. On 30–31 July, the battalion moved from FSB Patton to FSB Jackson, returning to FSB Patton on 2 August. On 27 August, Battery C moved from Phước Vĩnh to relieve Battery A at FSB Davis; Battery A returned to Phước Vĩnh.Operation Report of 25th Infantry Division Artillery for Period Ending 31 July 1968
On 29 August, Battery C moved to FSB Pershing. From 5–8 September, 3rd Brigade fired 11,500 rounds of artillery during significant contacts- 59 enemy were confirmed killed, described by the 25th Infantry Division Artillery as a "disappointing" result. On 14 September, Battery B moved from FSB Shafter to FSB Pope. On 16–17 September, Battery B defended FSB Pope against enemy ground assaults, killing 104 enemy. The 25th Division Artillery release control of 2–319 on 25 September. Operational Report of 3D Brigade 101st Airborne Division for Period Ending 30 April 1968 Operational Report - Lessons Learned, 1 May 1968 – 31 July 1968, Headquarters, 101st Air Cavalry Division ArtilleryOperation Report of 25th Infantry Division Artillery for Period Ending 31 October 1968
September 1968-October 1969 On 18 September, Battery A, 2-319 closed at Camp Eagle, returning to the 101st Division Artillery. Battery A was followed by Battery B on 2 October and the battalion headquarters on 14 October. The battalion completed its return to the 101st when Battery C closed at Camp Eagle on 19 October. Almost immediately, the battalion began conducting operations again. On 21 October, Battery C moved to FSB Bastogne. On 25 October, the battalion headquarters moved to Camp Evans with the 3rd Brigade. On 29 October, Battery A returned to Camp Evans from Panther II. Operational Report - Lessons Learned 1 August 1968 – 31 October 1968, Headquarters, 101st Airborne Division Artillery
From November 1968 – April 1969, 2-319 remained based at Camp Evans in direct support of 3rd Brigade. Units of the brigade conducted several named operations, including Operation Rawlins Valley (16–24 December 1968) by 1-506 and 3–187; Operation Todd Forest (31 December 1968 – 13 January 1969) by 1–506; and Operation Ohio Rapids (24 January 1969 – 28 February 1969) bt 3–187, 1-506 and 2–506. The 2-319 began May 1969 with its headquarters at Camp Evans, Battery A at FSB Blaze, Battery B at FSB Berchtesgaden and Battery C at FSB Rakkasan. On 7 May, LTC Fulwyer assumed command from LTC Harrell. On 8 May, a UH-1 hit a Battery C howitzer, resulting in 1 US with minor wounds and minor damage to the howitzer that was repaired. Battery C moved six howitzers by air from FSB Rakkasan to FSB Airborne to support Operation Apache Snow, and received two howitzers from Battery B, moved by air to FSB Airborne from FSB Berchtesgaden. On 9 May, Battery A moved by air from FSB Blaze to FSB Currahee in support of Operation Apache Snow. 10 May, battalion forward headquarters moved by air from Camp Evans to FSB Eagle's Nest to support Operation Apache Snow, which began at 00:01. On 13 May, FSB Airborne was attacked with RPGs, satchel charges and small arms. Batteries A and B fired in support of FSB Airborne, but Battery C sustained 13 killed, 29 wounded and 4 howitzers damaged. From mid-May through mid-June, the battalion consistently fought counterfire fights, receiving wounded from enemy action several times.
Beginning 8 June, 3rd Brigade conducted Operation Montgomery Rendezvous with 2–319 in direct support. On 15 June, Battery A repelled a ground attack on FSB Currahee, killing 54 People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) soldiers while receiving 5 minor wounded. On 17 June, Battery A received 10 wounded (8 evacuated) from a mortar attack on FSB Currahee. On 7 July, Battery A conducted a raid and fired 130 rounds at special intelligence targets. On 24 July, a forward observer (FO) team from 2–319 with Company C, 1-327 received mortar fire, wounding three members of the FO party, including the RTO who was evacuated. Battery A fired 56 high explosive shells in support. On 25 July, Battery C moved by air from FSB Airborne to Camp Evans to support Operation Kentucky Jumper. One 105mm howitzer sustained minor damage when a CH-47 dropped it during the exfiltration. Operation Montgomery Rendezvous concluded on 14 August.
The 2-319 remained in direct support of 3rd Brigade for Operation Louisiana Lee (15 August – 28 September). On 22 August, Battery C moved by air to FSB Sword to conduct a raid, firing 370 rounds at 33 targets before returning to Camp Evans. On 23 August, the battalion forward headquarters moved from FSB Eagle's Nest to FSB Sword. On 24 August, Battery A defended FSB Berchtesgaden against ground attack, RPGs & mortars. On 26 August, Battery A moved by air from FSB Currahee to FSB Rendezvous. On 28 August, Battery B moved by air from FSB Berchtesgaden to FSB Blaze. 30 AUG, Battery B moved by air from FSB Blaze to FSB Fury. On 4 September, two howitzers from Battery B moved from FSB Fury to Camp Evans; the remaining four howitzers moved from FSB Fury to FSB Rocket on 5 September. On 12 September, Battery B consolidated at Camp Evans. On 14 September, Battery C departed Camp Evans by air for FSB Erskine, then moved by air to FSB Blaze on 20 September before returning to Camp Evans on 25 September. On 27 September, Battery A moved by air from FSB Rendezvous to FSB Blaze. On 29 September, the battalion forward CP departed Camp Evans to vicinity of Mai Loc, joined by Batteries B and C on 30 September; Battery A moved by air from FSB Blaze to Camp Evans.
The 3rd Brigade began Operation Norton Falls on 29 September. On 2 October, 2-319 established a local AWCC (call sign NORTON ARTY) at Mai Loc, Battery B moved by air from Mai Loc to FSB Sandy (renamed FSB Scotch on 3 October), and Battery C moved 2 howitzers by air to Landing Zone 1 to establish FSB Shrapnel; the remaining four howitzers from Battery C were backhauled from Mai Loc to Quảng Trị Combat Base due to lack of security at Mai Loc. One 3 October, Battery C moved one howitzer from Quang Tri Combat Base to FSB Shrapnel; two more howitzers moved on 4 October, with the last joining the battery on 6 October. On 9 October, Battery C moved from FSB Shrapnel to FSB Victory. On 15 October, four howitzers from Battery C moved from FSB Victory to Mai Loc, then on to FSB Catapult for a raid. After firing 700 rounds at 56 targets, these four howitzers returned by air to FSB Victory. On 24 October, the battalion's radar moved from Camp Evans to FSB Scotch. On 25 October, LTC Robert Hammond assumed command of the battalion from LTC Nyles Fulwyler. On 4 November, Norton Falls AWCC closed, and Battery C moved by air from FSB Victory to Mai Loc and then by road to Camp Evans. 7 November, Battery B moved by air from FSB Scotch to Mai Loc, and then on to Camp Evans by road on 8 November. Also on 8 November, Operation Norton Falls was terminated. Operational Report - Lessons Learned, 101st Airborne Division for Period Ending 31 January 1969Operational Report - Lessons Learned, 101st Airborne Division for Period Ending 30 April 1969Operational Report - Lessons Learned 1 May 1969 – 31 July 1969, Headquarters, 101st Airborne Division ArtilleryOperational Report - Lessons Learned, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile) for Period Ending 31 October 1969Operational Report - Lessons Learned Headquarters, 101st Airborne Division Artillery (Airmobile) Period Ending 31 October 1969 Operational Report – Lessons Learned, 101st Airborne Division Artillery (Airmobile), Period Ending 31 January 1970
November 1969 – April 1970