36th Field Artillery Group

2nd Bn 5th Field Artillery

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5th Field Artillery Regiment

Distinctive Unit Insignia

Description
A gold color metal and enamel device 1 inch (2.54 cm) in diameter which is an adaptation of the crest and motto of the coat of arms.

Symbolism
The crest is that of the Hamilton family (Alexander Hamilton being a former commander of one of the elements of the regiment).

Background
The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 5th Field Artillery Regiment on 21 January 1924. It was redesignated for the 5th Field Artillery Battalion on 13 September 1944. The insignia was cancelled on 19 April 1960. It was reinstated and authorized for the 5th Field Artillery Regiment effective 1 September 1971.

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Coat Of Arms

Shield
Gules the liberty bell Or between five arrows four point down in fess paleways and one in base fessways the latter broken Sable fimbriated Argent. On a chief embattled Vert fimbriated Argent a five-pointed mullet of the last (for the 12th Corps, Civil War).

CrestBlazon
On a wreath of the colors Or and Gules, on a mount an oak tree fructed of 13 acorns and penetrated transversely in the main stem by a frame saw Proper, the frame Or (For Alexander Hamilton).

Motto
FAITHFUL AND TRUE.

Symbolism
Shield
The shield is scarlet for Artillery. The Liberty Bell alludes to the Revolutionary War. The five arrows commemorate the Indian War campaign credit of old Company “F”, 4th Artillery. The broken arrow is indicative of the engagement near Vincennes, Indiana, 4 November 1791, in which all officers and two-thirds of the men of Bradford’s Company, Battalion of Artillery, were killed. The embattled partition line refers to the ramparts of Chapultapec and denotes service during the Mexican War. The star, the insignia of the 12th Corps in which batteries of the Regiment served,
is representative of the Civil War.

Crest
The crest is that of the Hamilton family (Alexander Hamilton being a former commander of one of the elements of the regiment).

Background
The coat of arms was originally approved for the 5th Field Artillery Regiment on 4 June 1924. It was redesignated for the 5th Field Artillery Battalion on 13 September 1944. The insignia was cancelled on 19 April 1960. It was reinstated and authorized for the 5th Field Artillery Regiment effective 1 September 1971.

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The History of the

2nd Battalion 5th Field Artillery

The 2nd Battalion 5th Field Artillery was constituted in the Regular Army as a Light Artillery Regiment in January 1907, and organized in May with existing units at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas and the Philippines. Battery D was descended from Capt. Alexander Hamilton's New York provincial Co. of Artillery organized in 1776.

The 5th Artillery is recognized as the only surviving Regular Army Unit originating in the Revolutionary War. The Regiment also accrued four Civil War battle streamers from existing units.
Reorganized and redesignated as Battery B, 5th Field Artillery Battalion, it was assigned to the 1st Expeditionary Division in June 1917 and departed for France in July. During World War I the battalion fought long and hard, receiving credit for seven campaigns and was twice decorated with the French Croix de Guerre with two palms.

After returning to the United States the battalion inactivated at Camp Bragg, NC, then reactivated at Madison Barracks, NY in December 1939. In October of 1940, the battalion reorganized and redesignated as the 5th Field Artillery Battalion departed for England in August 1942 in support of the 1st Infantry Division. During World War II the battalion saw action in eight campaigns.
The battalion redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 2nd Howitzer Battalion, 5th Artillery on June 1958 at Babenhausen, Germany, and activated on 25 June in Germany, spending the Cold War in Europe and redesignated as 2nd Battalion, 5th Field Artillery on 25 June 1964.

The Battalion was assigned to 1st Infantry Division on 15 April 1983. The battalion was inactivated and relieved from assignment to the 1st Infantry Division on 15 August 1991.
The battalion was reactivated at Ft Sill, Oklahoma on 16 April 1996.

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2nd Battalion 5th Field Artillery

The Battalion Commanders

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LTC John T. Knight, III

1957 - 1959

LTC Robert V. Reitan

1959 - 1960

MAJ Charles Aguera

1960 - 1961

LTC Theodore R. MacKechnie

1961 - 1962

LTC Roscoe C. Cartwright

1962 - 31 October 1963

LTC George W. Sandrock

1 November 1963 - 31 March 1965

LTC James Gaither

1 April 1965 - 1966

LTC Claude Rawlins

1966 - 1968

COL John Turner

1968 - July 1968

LTC Steve Pruniski

1968 - 1970

LTC Herbert Knight

1970 - 1971

LTC Jacobson

1971 - 15 Mar 1972

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LTC Roscoe C. Cartwright

1962 - 31 October 1963

Click here to read BG Cartwright's Biography

©Robert Scheidt

LTC Roscoe C. Cartwright

-1962-

©Robert Scheidt

LTC Cartwright and Deputy Secretary of Defense, Cyrus Vance at the Grafenwoer training center,

1962

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©Robert Austin

COL John Turner

1968 - July 1968

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©Robert Austin

LTC Herbert Knight

1970 - 1971

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2nd 5th Field Artillery

The Non Commissioned Officers

-1964-

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SMJ Thomas J. Callahan

1SG Lyle J. Posvic (HHB)

1SG Frank Arnold (A Btry)

1SG Jack S. LeBounty (B Btry)

1SG Pancho V. Dawson (C Btry)

1SG Harold Miller (SVC Btry)

MSG Chester R. Leonard (S-2 NCO)

SFC Freeman E. Bolden (A Btry)

SFC Robert Aubery (B Btry)

SFC Frank E. Brown (C Btry)

SFC Charles H. Finck (Supply NCO, Svc Btry)

SFC Richard G. Veeder (Maint NCO SVC Btry)

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2nd 5th FA Personnel roster
-1964-

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Lt. General Marc A. Cisneros
C Btry Commander, 2nd 5th FA
1963 - 1965

(click here to read Biography)

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BG Robert C. Goetz
XO B Btry, 2nd 5th FA
1964 - 1965

click here to read Biography

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PAUL TURNEY WEYRAUCH
Brigadier General
A Btry Commander, 2nd 5th FA

(Click here to read Biography)

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©Torivio Flores

HQ 2nd HOW 5th ARTY in the summer of 1962

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©Robert Scheidt

At the Post Barber shop

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C Battery 1957-1959

All photos © Joseph Tolva

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The Static Arms Display

1962-64

Pictures by Walt Leon

Himself

Walt's last day in Babenhausen""Conrad Gasper took me to the Bahnhof in the staff car, Dec 1964.
Note the 3 Star placard on the front of the car (Lieutenant General).
Conrad and I had fun even on my last day there. When we left the MP’s at the gate were saluting with both hands""

M 107 155mm
(Photo taken from the 36th GP Admin. building)

The ground view

HQ 36th Field Artillery Group
closeup of a self propelled 175mm gun
from 2nd Bn, 5th FA

Bird's eye view of a M 107
Photo taken from the back side of the 36th Fa Gp Admin building

The Static Arms Display

Soldiers inspect a M114, 155mm Towed Howitzer

Soldiers pose in front of a M114

Used with permission from Walt Leon ©2010

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On Post,
sometime in the 60's

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Pictures from the field

All photos © Robert Austin

CSM Robert Austin
Graf 1970

CSM Austin, LTC Pruniski, BG Collins (V Corps Artillery)
and Col Keith
(L-R)
Graf 1969

Maj Furman, LTC Pruniski, 1SG Abe and CSM Kotzer (36th Arty CSM).
-Graf 1970-

2d/5th loading their M107, 175mm guns at the Babenhausen railhead.
CSM Austin (left)
-1971-

Troops load a M548 on to flatbed cars at the Babenhausen railhead
CSM Austin (left) in civilian clothes, after coming from church
-1971-

The entire Battalion's tubes are loaded on to flat bed rail cars at the Babenhausen railyard
-1969-

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The M 107 in the field

All photos © Robert Austin

M107 Firing in Graf
Spring 1970

Charlie Battery at HS 3
Graf 1969

Direct firing exercise

HQ 6 with LTC Knight, Bn Co and CSM Austin
Graf 1970

"High angle in the fog"
Looks like a bad picture, however it was taken in heavy fog at Graf.

"Foggy day at Graf"

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Col Donald Keith promoting R. Austin formerly SGM, to CSM
-1968-

Maj Lind and the HQ staff at the Pruniski/Knight change of command
-1970-

Maj Lind and staff on formal pass in review Change of command for 36th Gp commander

Maj Lind and SGM Austin

BG Catrona (V Corps),COL Cronin (36th Gp),LTC Peter Ferry
(British, 20th Bn Co), LTC Knight (2/5 Co) and Maj Furno.

In 1971, we cross-trained with the British 20th Regiment, Royal Artillery. The unit was from Halle (Northern Germany).
Really a once in a lifetime experience. Unit was 107 equipped.
We were co-located and billeted together.

They really knew how to go to the field. Brought their own NAFE (Px) tents. Had two large circus like tents for Officer and EM clubs. They even brought their trophies and portable bars. Unit was very well trained. In fact, the SGM stated that it was a regular army regiment and some of the personnel would spend their entire military service in the same unit. Youngest member of the regiment had been there over 6 years.

Another surprise was the unit was able to perform 3d echelon maintenance internally. Additionally, when moving from FP to FP they did not convoy. Instead, they moved one piece forward and when it was ready to fire, moved each piece forward individually and the FDC track was last track to move. Troops enjoyed the off time and the British beat us in cricket and we won the soft ball and Horse shoes.

LTC Peter Ferry, Co, British 20th Arty Regiment, and
CSM Robert Austin, 2nd Bn, 5th Arty)

'on the hill' directing fire:

MSG Fitch, 1Lt Richard H Palmer
and Sp4 Larry Plumb

Used with permission from Robert Austin ©2010

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- Blind Man -
Btry B, 2nd Bn, 5th Arty
Graf 1971

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A Picture sequence

of the
M 114
155mm Gun
-1964-

All photos © Robert Scheidt

The M 114 required a crew of 11 troops, it had a range of 11 miles, and could sustain a rate of fire of 40 rounds per hour

All photos used with permission from
Robert Scheidt
©2010

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Pictures from Graf

-1964-

All photos © Robert Scheidt

CPT Robert Scheidt

The Command unit

Lunch in the field, CPT Ed Maddox (left)

This soldier fires his M60 at the Graf firing range

Col George Curtin and LTC Roscoe Cartwright promote
LT Scott to the rank of Captain, as 1Lt Joe Nadea and MAJ Joe Spitler look on.

I't shure ain't the Ritz, but it looks much better then the modern MRE's

LTC Roscoe Cartwright looks on how his men preform

A Lieutnant looks on, at the small army firing range

Standing guard
This soldier shoulders his M14,
to some the best the army ever had

A major truck wreck

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B Battery in Graf

Rick Votaw hauling a 175mm round

Rick Votaw, Noble "Big Kahuna"

Sgt. Sanford,Big Kahuna, Shake n Bake

Preparing the gun

T O T. "time on target"

12 guns shooting the same target.

That ring of fire

unknown, Louis Tabor and Sandoval

Ammo section, Bravo Btry
Louis Tabor, Mike Reed, Tony Feronne, Jim Fields

Mike Reed, George Davis

Mike Reed

On Post

A 2nd 5th, M107 at the Post Motor pool
-1965-

Another look at the 2nd 5th motor pool
-1965-

Sp Louis Farkas. at the 2nd 5th motor pool
- 1964 -

Used with permission from Robert Scheidt ©2010

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M 107 Howitzers
at the 2nd 5th gun park
-1969-

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Unloading from Graf

2d/5th unloading their M107, 175mm guns at the Babenhausen rail yard

At the Babenhausen rail yard

notice the steam engine, probably a Br 41 from the German Bundesbahn.

2d/5th soldiers unloading their 175's
after returning from Graf

The 2d/5th is back
The 107's and M113's rumble through Babenhausen
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B Battery in Graf

-The Big Blast-
B Battery unleashes

Looks like an umpire is looking on
how B Btry 2/5 preformed

The assembly area - the 2/5 in Graf

Lunch in the Field
CPT Eddie D. Monroe, 1LT George Rebane, 1LT Joe Nadeau, CPT Prescott Eaton, 1LT Bryan River (L-R)

Used with permission from Lars Hagen ©2010

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A Battery 2/5 FA
August 1971
Babenhausen Kaserne

"Bandido"
B Battery 2/5 FA
June 1974
Babenhausen Kaserne

Sources: 2/5 FA yearbook

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