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116th Field Artillery Regiment
Coat of arms
Active	Circa 1899 to present [1]
Country	United States
Branch	Florida Army National Guard
Type	Field Artillery
Motto(s)	“VESTIGIA NULLA RETRORSUM” (There Is No Going Back)
Battle honours	World War I
Commanders
Notable commanders

The 116th Field Artillery is a regiment of the Florida Army National Guard. Currently there are two battalions; 2-116th FA is fires battalion for the 53rd Brigade Combat Team, and 3-116th (HIMARS) is part of the 164th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, both of the Florida Army National Guard.

History[edit]

"The 116th Field Artillery has had a singular history in the period covered since the date of its organization in Florida. Perhaps no regiment of the Florida National Guard within the United States has had such dramatic calls upon its services. Woven into the pattern of everyday life, the work of the peacetime soldier calls forth little notice from the general public. However, when disaster threatens the structure of the commonwealth, either man-made, or by the hand of Providence, the National Guard steps promptly into the breach, and, with a steady hand firmly applied, brings aid and comfort to the stricken and punishment to the law breaker." (From the official regimental history, compiled by Lieutenant Colonel George E. Grace, Florida Army National Guard)

This regiment was originally organized during the First World War at Camp Wheeler, Georgia from 1 October 1917 through 1 November 1917, as part of the 31st (Dixie) Division. Although transported overseas it saw no combat action and was mustered from federal service on January 16, 1919. On December 5, 1921 Sumter L. Lowry Jr. of Tampa, Florida, upon commission issued by the Adjutant General, State of Florida presented for federal recognition three batteries to constitute units of a regiment to be known as the 116th Field Artillery. Thus on December 5, 1921, three firing batteries, A, B, and C formed the basis of the First Battalion 116th Field Artillery. Major Sumter L. Lowry Jr. commanding. The battalion was inspected and mustered into service by then Lieutenant Colonel Vivian Collins present Adjutant General of Florida.

Completion of the First Battalion was effected February 15, 1922, with the establishment of Headquarters Battery and Combat Train First Battalion. In 1922 the City of Tampa and Hillsborough County furnished land and funds for the construction of stables, gunsheds, and armory buildings.

An expansive movement was made for the establishment of a full regiment by the founding of the Second Battalion. Firing batteries D, E, and F were located at Lakeland, Plant City, and Arcadia with Headquarters Battery and Combat Train Second Battalion in Bartow. The Second Battalion participated in summer encampment in 1923 and was federally recognized as a unit in August 23, 1923, with Major Fred Hampton commanding. The regiment received official recognition at Tampa January 20, 1924.

Ultimately, the subordinate units of the 2nd Battalion, 116th Field Artillery were re-designated and relocated in some cases in different cities: HQ Battery - Lakeland. A Battery - Bartow. B Battery - Dade City. C Battery - Winter Haven. Service Battery - Haines City.

The 2nd Battalion, 116th Field Artillery has seen service in Iraq and Afghanistan and served in Homestead, Florida in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew.

Lineage & Honors[edit]

Lineage[edit]

• Constituted 18 September 1917 in the National Guard as the 116th Field Artillery and assigned to the 31st Division.


• Organized 1 October–1 November 1917 at Camp Wheeler, Georgia, with National Guard personnel from Alabama, Florida, and Georgia.


• Demobilized 16 January 1919 at Camp Gordon, Georgia.


• Reconstituted 14 December 1921 in the Florida National Guard as the 116th Field Artillery and assigned to the 31st Division.


• Organized 1922–1924 in Florida; Headquarters Federally recognized 20 January 1924 at Tampa.


• Inducted into Federal service 25 November 1940 at home stations.


• Regiment broken up 27 February 1942 and its elements reorganized and redesignated as follows:

Headquarters disbanded

1st and 2d Battalions as the 116th and 149th Field Artillery Battalions, elements of the 31st Infantry Division (remainder of regiment—hereafter separate lineages)

• 116th Field Artillery Battalion inactivated 20 December 1945 at Camp Stoneman, California.


• Relieved 13 June 1946 from assignment to the 31st Infantry Division.


• Assigned 5 July 1946 to the 51st Infantry Division.


• Consolidated 7 November 1946 with Headquarters, 116th Field Artillery (reconstituted 25 August 1945), and consolidated unit reorganized and Federally recognized as the 116th Field Artillery Battalion with Headquarters at Tampa.


• 149th Field Artillery Battalion inactivated 21 December 1945 at Camp Stoneman, California.


• Relieved 13 June 1946 from assignment to the 31st Infantry Division.


• Assigned 5 July 1946 to the 48th Infantry Division.


• Reorganized and Federally recognized 8 November 1946 with Headquarters at Lakeland.


• Reorganized and redesignated 1 November 1955 as the 149th Armored Field Artillery Battalion, an element of the 48th Armored Division.


• 116th Field Artillery Battalion and 149th Armored Field Artillery Battalion consolidated 15 April 1959 to form the 116th Artillery, a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System, to consist of the 1st and 3d Howitzer Battalions, elements of the 51st Infantry Division, and the 2d Howitzer Battalion, an element of the 48th Armored Division.


• Reorganized 15 February 1963 to consist of the 1st and 3d Howitzer Battalions and the 2d Howitzer Battalion, an element of the 53d Separate Infantry Brigade.


• Reorganized 1 March 1964 to consist of the 1st and 3d Howitzer Battalions and the 2d Battalion, an element of the 53d Armored Brigade.


• Reorganized 20 January 1968 to consist of the 1st Battalion and the 2d Battalion, an element of the 53d Infantry Brigade.


• Redesignated 1 May 1972 as the 116th Field Artillery.


• Reorganized 1 October 1984 to consist of the 1st and 3d Battalions and the 2d Battalion, an element of the 53d Infantry Brigade.


• Withdrawn 1 June 1989 from the Combat Arms Regimental System and reorganized under the United States Army Regimental System.


• Reorganized 1 September 1993 to consist of the 2d Battalion, an element of the 53d Infantry Brigade, and the 3d Battalion. ^[2]
  

Campaign Participation Credit[edit]

• World War I: Streamer without inscription


• World War II: New Guinea (with arrowhead); Southern Philippines

Headquarters Battery (Lakeland), 2d Battalion, additionally entitled to:

• World War II – AP: Western Pacific (with arrowhead)^[2]
  

• Operation Enduring Freedom (2-116th)

• Consolidation Phase

• Operation Iraqi Freedom (3-116th)


• Operation Iraqi Freedom (2-116th)


• Operation New Dawn (2-116th)

Decorations[edit]

• 
  Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered 17 OCTOBER 1944 TO 4 JULY 1945 (116th and 149th Field Artillery Battalions cited; DA GO

47, 1950)^[2]

• Meritorious Unit Citation (2-116th and 3-116th)


• Governor's Meritorious Unit Citation (2-116th and 3-116th)

Heraldry[edit]

See also[edit]

• Coats of arms of U.S. Artillery Regiments


• 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat team


• 31st Infantry Division


• Florida Army National Guard

References[edit]

• Hawk, Robert. Florida's Army: Militia/State Troops?National Guard 1565-1985. Englewood, FL. Pineapple Press, Inc. 1986.