The Babenhausen Kaserne


         41st FA Bde

4th Battalion 77th Field Artillery


________________________________




    












77TH FIELD ARTILLERY

 





Distinctive Unit Insignia.

Description:
A Gold color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86 cm) in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned as follows: Gules, five fleurs-de-lis, three and two, Or; on a chief dovetailed at the last a prickly pear cactus Proper; and attached below the shield a Gold scroll inscribed “EN GARDE” in Red.

Symbolism:
The shield is red for artillery. The yellow dovetailed chief symbolizes the formation of the organization from cavalry. The cactus indicates service as cavalry on the Mexican border. The five fleurs-de-lis signify the five major engagements in France in World War I as artillery.


Background:
The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 77th Field Artillery Regiment on 10 December 1929. It was redesignated for the 634th Field Artillery Battalion on 28 July 1944. It was redesignated for the 77th Artillery Regiment on 16 December 1958. It was redesignated effective 1 September 1971, for the 77th Field Artillery Regiment. The insignia was amended to update and clarify the description and symbolism on 12 August 1985.




Coat of Arms.
Blazon:
Shield:
Gules, five fleurs-de-lis, three and two, Or; on a chief dovetailed of the last a prickly pear cactus Proper.

Crest:
On a wreath of the colors, Or and Gules, a mount Vert supporting a falcon Proper.
Motto:
EN GARDE (On Guard).

Symbolism:
Shield:
The shield is red for artillery. The yellow dovetailed chief symbolizes the formation of the organization from cavalry.
The cactus indicates service as cavalry on the Mexican border. The five fleurs-de-lis signify the five major engagements in France in World War I as artillery.

Crest:
The crest is taken from the arms of Montfaucon, as most of the 77th Field Artillery was there when the Armistice was signed.
 
Background:
The coat of arms was originally approved for the 77th Field Artillery Regiment on 10 December 1929. It was redesignated for the 634th Field Artillery Battalion on 28 July 1944. It was redesignated for the 77th Artillery Regiment on 16 December 1958. It was redesignated effective 1 September 1971, for the 77th Field Artillery Regiment. The insignia was amended to clarify the symbolism on 12 August 1985.






___________________________



All Pictures © Mark Rittinger




Convoy assembly, the long drive to Graf took a good 13 hours, at a drive at 40 mph Tops!




PVT Moreno, our gun driver













Loaded and ready to roll





Loading for Graf



The Babenhausen Railhead




PFC Vasquez



Graf in the very cold winter time










Probably on of the Best Artillery pict's shot




The 14000 lb barrel of am 8' gun





Axcess powder burn off




Unloading ammo pallets on a very cold day at Graf




"Old school Artillery"
Stand behind 210 pounds of TNT and 50 pounds of gunpowder,
and....FIRE!




Section chief Sgt. Sanchez and SFC. Harvy




Mark Rittinger



United States European Command

Change of command
 outgoing General Bernard W. Rogers bid farewell, while General John Galvin was greeted in a true military fashion














Used with permission from Mark Rittinger ©2013




___________________________


All Pictures © Ken Sims








Section leader Horace T. Sapp




"Atomic Dog" at the Motorpool




Training at Babenhausen








On the pooltable








The Goat meets the Hemmit








SSG. Mac, 4th section gun chief, A Battery








Spc. Bruce




Burger king beats MRE's




Sgt. Stewart












4th section




Steel on Target








Powder burning at Graf







4/77 "Panthers in their San Diego
Chargers Colors



Football practice on the "Quad"





4/77 Organizational day



"Big Sapp"







A Battery promotions




Lancaster and Smitty promoted to E4




Used with permission from Ken Sims ©2013



______________________________



All Pictures © John MCKnight




C Battery, 4th Bn 77th FA
M110A2
1991



Outside C Battery
1991


Used with permission from John MCKnight
©2011


____________________________________________________



All Pictures © Paul Shea





Part of First Gun Section
A Btry 4-77 FA
 Hot Steel



Big bullets for big guns




                                          Paul Shea 
                                  



Paul Shea Smoking a cigarette on the outside of post.
The construction site in the background is the future 1/27 barracks


Used with permission from Paul Shea©2011


______________________________





A M 548 on its way to the field, at a traffic light in Babenhausen





The same M548 passes the local Ford dealer


______________________________




                                                                                                                    
Roster of
C Battery 4th Battalion 77th Field Artillery
-Babenhausen 1988-


_______________________________



All Pictures © Gery Katz





A M110 A2 track loaded up for Graf




The 4/77 Fa on its way to Graf. A M88, Two M 578s, Two M 577s and a M 548 waiting at the Babenhausen railhead.




C Battery 4/77 Fa -  A M110A2  and a M548




4/77 Fire mission at Graf








Gary Katz at the 4/77 Fa battalion fire.
I just relayed the fire mission from the guns up to the guys in the main tacfire system. Believe it or not it was August 1985. I was standing on top of the M577 warming up from the exhaust blowing under my blanket.







SMLM Card we had to carry in the 80's.
We prounoced it smellum. It was a very interesting time then.



Used with permission from Gary Katz ©2010



_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Graphics, Articles and photos on this web site are posted by permission of their owners and are for viewing only. They are not for general distribution, nor for use on other websites, unless permitted by the web master or the original owner. If you find any files on this site that you believe are unauthorized, please contact the web master immediately so that the issue can be resolved.

___________________________________________________