96th Field Artillery Battalion

HEADQUARTERS

96TH FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION
APO 358 US ARMY

26 August 1953

History

The history of the 96th Field Artilery Battalion includes combat in both World Wars and the war in Korea. The unit crest, which members of the battalion are authorized to wear, commemorates an event from each of the World Wars in which parent units of the 96th have participated.

Organized on 2 November 1917 as the 349the Field Artillery Regiment, a component of the World War I National Army, the unit trained at Camp Dix, New Jersey, for eight months. It shipped to Europe in June 1918 and trained in France for three months before being committed to combat for the first time on 10 October 1918. The 349th was a unit of the 167th Field Artillery Brigade, 92nd Division, and fought in the Lorraine campaign until the end of the war, 11 November 1918. To indicate service in this campaign, the present battalion crest has a Lorraine Cross on the shield of Artillery
Red. Return to the United States was completed in early March 1919 and the Regiment was inactivated on 17 March 1919.

In 1930, the 349th was designed as a unit in the Organized Reserve. Ten years later, on 15 August 1940, the regiment was again activated, this time at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Confronted with problems which faced most units prior to World War II, the 349th began training with borrowed fire control equipment and improvised sight mounts. As a basic weapon, the Regiment was issued 155mm Guns (GPF) which had originally been manufactured in 1919 for use by the French. The size of GPF, approximately 15 tons, and the labor required to emplace it caused some apprehension as to its behavior in action. On the day the first shot was to be fired, half the regiment assembled at the OP and the other half at the gun. M/Sgt. Hansen Cutley, who  had served with the regiment in World War I and had fired its last shot, was designated to fire the first shot since reactivation. He pulled the lanyard and the piece fired perfectly. The telephone operator's loudly audible "On the way, sir" paraphrased the feeling of relief and satisfaction of everyone concerned. Immediately, the telephone operator's message to the forward observer became the motto of the regiment and is perpetuated on the scroll of the battalion crest.

At Fort Sill, the mission of the regiment was to perfom as school troops and to furnish cadres for newly formed artillery units. In February 1943, the army reorganized the artillery into battalions instead of regiments. The 1st Battalion of the 349the Regiment became the 349th Field Artillery Battalion. After 17 months at Fort Sill, the battalion went to Camp Hood, Texas, where it underwent Army Ground Forces Tests to check readiness for overseas movement. On 21 October 1944, the battalion left Camp Hood for Camp Shanks, New York. Once again, the 349th sailed east across the
Atlantic, arriving at Mere Wilta, England on 11 November 1944, exactly 26 years after the old 349th Regiment ceased firing in World War I.

On 1 February 1945, the battalion arrived in France where it trained at Camp Twenty Grand for a month. From 3 March 1945 until 8 May 1945, the 349th was in combat in Germany, participating in the Rhineland and Central Europe campaigns while assigned to Ninth Army and attached to XIII Corps.  Upon the cessation of hostilities, the battalion was assigned to XV Corps for occupation duties in Southern Germany. On 20 January 1947, while in Germany, the battalion was deactivated.

Once again, Fort Sill was the site of the reactivation of the 349th on 20 January 1948. Redesignated the 96th Field Artillery Battalion, a component of the Regular Army, it received its officer cadre from the 2nd Field Artillery Battalion at Fort Sam Houston and its enlisted cadre from the 969th Armored Field Artillery Battalion at Fort Sill. The basic weapon was the 155mm howitzer, tractor drawn. The battalion served as school troops until 3 August 1950 when it entrained for Camp Stoneman, California in preparation for the third overseas movement in its history. On 12 August 1950, the 96th sailed under the Golden Gate aboard the USNS Marine Adder. Upon arrival at Yokohama, Japan on 28 August 1950, the battalion moved to Camp Whittington where it spent 10 days processing and preparing for an invasion.

The 96th departed from the Kobe Naval Base, Japan, aboard the LSD Comstock on 9 September 1950. It was the only U.S. Army combat unit attached to the 1st Marine Division for the Inchon Invasion. In spite of the heavy seas, the 96th successfully landed at Inchon on 16 September 1950. It received its baptism of fire in the subsequent battle for Seoul. Firing positions were set up outside of Seoul in Yongdong-po and the battalion delivering supporting fire for the assault troops crossing the Han River and the fighting in the streets of Seoul. An enemy attack on the South Mountain brought withering fire from the 96th for over four consecutive hours, culminating finally in the withdrawal of the enemy force and a commendation from the Marine Infantry commanders for its brillant support. Seoul was now in UN hands and the mission of the 96th with the Marines was completed. For this action with the 1st Marine Division, the 96th received a Presidential Unit Citation (Navy) and a Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation.

On 28 September 1950, the 96th was attached to the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team to help clear out enemy resistance north of Kimpo Airfield. This brief action was completed on 1 October 1950. From 2 October 1950 until 8 October 1950, the battalion remained in a rest camp at Ascom City. At this time the 96th was attached to X Corps Artillery. From Ascom City, the battalion made a four day grueling march to Pusan and prepared for another embarkation. After a delay caused by mines threatening ships in the Pusan Harbor, the battalion shipped for North Korea aboard the USNS Munemori on 30 October 1950. For the first time, the 96th crossed the 38th parallel and landed in Wonsan on 1 November 1950. Winter was fast approaching with snow visible on the surrounding mountain peaks. Battery "B" marched to the Yong-po Airfield near Hungnam and was ordered to prepare against possible ground attack. The rest of the battalion marched to Young-hung and was ordered to hold the town against enemy attack with no infantry support. At 0300 hours on 7 November 1950, elements of the V North Korean Corps attacked and a battle raged for six hours before the enemy was repulsed. Battalion casualties were comparatively light.

The 96th was then given the mission of establishing communications along the 50mile MSR from Hamhung to Hagaru-ri. With entry of the Chinese Communists into the war, enemy activity greatly increased along the Hamhung - Hagaru-ri corridor. When the Chinese broke through at Hagaru-ri, two officers and 42 enlisted men of the 96th were isolated with the 1st Marine Division and elements of the 7th U.S. Division. On 8 December 1950, the battalion was given the mission of supporting Task Force Mead for opening a corridor to the trapped Marine and 7th Division forces. The 96st lost
one NCO in action during the breakout.

Evacuation from Hungnam began on 12 December 1950 and the battaion fired intense harassing and interdiction missions from the Hungnam Beach in support of withdrawing units. From 15-20 December 1950, the 96th fired over 5000 rounds in support of evacuating troops. On Christmas Eve, the 96th was evacuated from the beach. It was one of the last medium artillery units to leave. From the deck of the USNS Collins the men of the 96th watched the destruction of the Hungnam Harbor by Naval Guns and then headed south.

Everyone hoped to see Japan or even San Francisco, but Pusan was the next destination. The unit debarked on 27 December 1950 and immediately marched north to assist IX Corps in checking the new Chinese Communist offensive. The battalion moved frequently during the latter part of January and early February, supporting numerous U.S. and ROK units. The 96th was reattached to X Corps on 6 February 1951. On 12 February 1951, ROK forces in front of the battalion were forced to retreat before attacking Chinese. The 96th held its position in spite of intense mortar shelling and fired
over 100 rounds at point blank range before it was ordered to withdraw. A new position was set up two miles southwest of Wonju and on 14 February 1951, the famous "Wonju Shoot" took place.

Attacking Chinese forces penetrated the infantry and poured down the Sam River Valley. Air observers spotted them and called for the artillery. An artilleryman's dream occurred when the enemy advanced into a cross-fire. Continuous firing halted the threat and an estimated 3200 Chinese were killed by the artillery alone. Wonju had been saved and a major attack stopped cold.

Following the "Wonju Shoot", the enemy forces moved east into the central sector. The 96th also moved east to support the 7th U.S. Division in launching "Operational Killer", a series of limited advances. The operation was a success and the 96th moved constantly after the retreating Chinese.

When the enemy moved west during the middle of March so did the 96th, this time attached to the 2nd U.S. Division. Marches during these winter momnths were extremely hazardous due to snow covered mountain roads and mines left by the retreating enemy. Many times the battalion was forces to become engineers and build roads in order to continue marches.

During the period May to August 1951, several temporary changes were effected. Battery "B" converted to 8-inch howitzers, a battery of 155mm guns (SP) from the 937th Armored Field Artillery Battalion was attached, and Battery "B" of the 1st Observation Battalion was attached. At the end of July the Marines, who had been immediately in front of the battalion, were replaced by the 2nd Infantry Division. In August and September, missions supporting two ROK Divisions in addition were assigned. On 10 September 1951 the 150,000th round was fired.

In November 1951, the 96th moved into positions in the vicinity of Worunm-ni in the Satae-ri Valley, on the Eastern Front. It remained in this position until early February 1953. During this period, the battalion was in general support of X Corps and reinforced the firest of the 25th, 40th, and 45th Division Artillery. The battaltion took part in the battles for "Heartbreak Ridge", "Luke's Castle", and "Sandbag Castle".

On 5 February 1953, the 96th displaced to a new position in the Punchbowl to participate in the artillery defense of Hill 812 and against major enemy attach. The battalion displayed outstanding skill, energy, and enthusiam during this move in spite of severe winter weather. The battalion returned to its regular position in the Satae-ri Valley on 11 February 1953, the predicted enemy attack not having materialized.

On 16 March 1953, the 96th displaced to a position in the Mundung-ni Valley, trading positions areas with the 189th Field Artillery Battalion of the 45th Infantry Division. The battlaion remained in this position until the latter part of May. During this time some of the heaviest artillery duels of the war were fought in the Mundung-ni Sector.

The battaltion was relieved from attached X U.S. Corps on 27 May 1953 and attached to I U.S. Corps. Upon departing X Corps, the 96th received a letter of appreciation from X Corps stating: "During these twenty-seven months of service with X Corps, the battalion has supported with accurate and rapid fire the fighting men of nine divisions. In order that its fire might have the maximum effect, the battalion has occupied positions all across the Corps front, and at one time the howitzers of the 96th were fired from positions which were within fifteen hundreds yards of the front lines. The record of service of the battalion with the X Corps is a long and admirable one, and one in which X Corps takes pride".

The battalion completed the 145-mile march to the new sector on 27 May 1953 with no difficulties encountered. Upon arrival, the battalion commenced firing in support of the 1st Marine Division which was on line.

The battalion continued its mission of supporting the fires of the 11th Marine Regiment through the months of June and early July.

On 13 July 1953, the 96th was ordered to move immediately to IX U.S. Corps in the Kumsong Bulge. A huge enemy build-up had been spotted in the Kumsong Area and a drive was expected at any moment. The battalion was assigned the mission of general support of IX Corps, reinforcing the fires of the Capital ROK Division Artillery. The battalion was placed under operational control of the 955th Field Artillery Battalion and was to receive counter battery missions from that organization. The enemy push had started when the 96th reached its position. Because of the terrain and distance between the 955th and the 96th, communications could not be established and as a result, the 96th did not receive any fire missions while in that position. During the night of 13-14 July, this battalion was subjected to fairly heavy artillery fire which disrupted communications to adjacent units and higher headquarters. At approximately 0300 hours 14 July, a group of vehicles attempting to join the battalion after being delayed by motor trouble, ran into an enemy roadblock. Three vehicles, including a tractor and a 155mm howitzer were disabled and lost. Efforts to retrieve this equipment during the night were unsuccessful because of the continuous artillery and small arms fire.

At 0500 hours 14 July, the members of the Capital ROK Division began moving to the rear through the battalion area. When the 96th learned that an adjacent artillery unit had been overrun and there was no infantry support, it moved to the rear. During the withdrawal three vehicles were lost due to heavy artillery fire.

The battalion, in the new position, was attached for operational control to the 3rd U.S. Division. On 15-16 July, the battalion fired 2,196 rounds for the 3rd Infantry Division Artillery. On 17 July, the battalion displaced to a new position six miles to the west. From 17-21 July, 4,223 rounds were fired from this position.

On 22 July, the enemy drive having been crushed, the 96th was ordered back to its position in the 1st Marine Division Sector, I U.S. Corps. The battalion fired in support of the Marines until the truce was signed on 27 July 1953.

On 24 August 1953, the battalion, less Battery "C", moved to "Camp Indian-head", the base camp of I Corps Artillery.

During the Korean conflict, the 96th Field Artillery Battalion fired over 380,000 rounds and actively supported every U.S. Division and numerous other UN units.

Unit was deactivated June, 1958 and INCHON.