1-77th FA History

The 1st Battalion, 77th Field Artillery was organized 11 June 1917 as Troops A and B, 19th Cavalry. Their first duty was in support of operations on the southern border against Mexican bandits. The unit was reorganized on 11 November 1917 as Battery A, 77th Field Artillery, and was attached to the 4th Infantry Division 19 November. The battalion distinguished itself during five major campaigns in World War I as a part of the 4th Infantry Division. The unit was inactivated at Camp Lewis, WA. on 21 September 1921.

In preparation for World War II, the battalion was activated as Battery A, 634th Field Artillery Battalion at Fort Sill in 1935. As part of the 3rd Infantry Division, the battalion saw action in the Mediterranean campaigns of WWII. The unit experienced intense combat from the French Riviera through the Vosages Mountains, and later participated in the final drive into Germany. On 15 May 1945 the unit was redesignated Battery A, 77th Field Artillery Battalion, and was inactivated 4 January 1946 at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey.

The battalion was activated 1 January 1957 at Fort Hood, and after several redesignations, became the 1st Battalion, 77th Field Artillery. The 1-77th FA arrived in Vietnam on 13 September 1965 as part of the 1st Cavalry Division. The battalion distinguished itself during action throughout Vietnam. The battalion fought gallantly during bitter fighting in battles west of Plei Me, and for this received the Presidential Unit Citation. The 1-77th FA went on to provide fires in the Chu Pong area, Bong Song, and Quang Ngai for the 1st Cavalry Division. In February 1968 the unit fought in support of I Corps during the Tet offensive, then in November the battalion was shifted to the III Corps area of Quan Loi. Throughout the war the battalion fought with determination, pride, and valor. The battalion was awarded the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm, and the Valorous Unit Award for their actions.

In April, 1971, 1-77th FA, returned to Fort Hood from Vietnam with the 1st Cavalry Division. The last active element of the battalion, Battery A, 77th Field Artillery (155mm SP), was inactivated in 1995 at Fort Knox, Ky. The unit was reactivated as a Multiple Launch Rocket System Battalion at Fort Sill on 7 June 1996.

In 2000, 1-77 FA (MLRS) Falcons First deployed its 0&1 to the NTC, providing reinforcing fires to the 3d BCT, 2d Infantry Division. After supporting the Diamond Brigade and III Corps Artillery in the 1st Cav Warfighter, the Falcons excelled in challenging platoon and battery evaluations.

Headquarters and B Batteries spent 2006 in Kuwait and Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

World War I	Vietnam
*Aisne-Marne	*Defense
*St Mihiel	*Counteroffensive
*Meuse-Argonne	*Counteroffensive, Phase II
*Champaigne 1918	*Counteroffensive, Phase III
*Lorraine 1918	*Tet Counteroffensive
	*Counteroffensive, Phase IV
World War II	*Counteroffensive, Phase V
*Sicily (with arrowhead)	*Counteroffensive, Phase VI
*Naples-Foggia	*Tet 69/Counteroffensive
*Anzio	*Summer-Fall 1969
*Rome-Arno	*Winter-Spring 1970
*Southern France (with arrowhead)	*Sanctuary Counteroffensive
North Apinnies	*Counteroffensive, Phase VII
*Rhineland
*Ardennes-Alsace	*Operation Iraqi Freedom*
*Central Europe
Po Valley

DECORATIONS
Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered PLEIKU PROVINCE (1st Battalion, 77th Field Artillery, cited; DA GO 40, 1967)

Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered FISH HOOK (1st Battalion, 77th Artillery, cited: DA GO 43, 1972)

Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1965-1969 (1st Battalion, 77th Artillery, Cited; DA GO 59, 1969)

Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1969-1970 (1st Battalion, 77th Artillery, Cited; DA GO 42, 1972)

Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1970-1971 (1st Battalion, 77th Artillery, Cited; DA GO 42, 1972)

Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1969-1970 (1st Battalion, 77th Artillery, Cited; DA GO 42, 1972)

Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, additionally entitled to Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered QUANG TIN PROVINCE (Headquarters and Service Battery, 1st Battalion, 77th Artillery, cited; DA GO 2, 1971)

Battery C additionally entitled to Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered QUANG TIN PROVINCE (Battery C, 1st Battalion, 77th Artillery, cited; DA GO 39, 1970), and Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered TAY NINH PROVINCE (Battery C, 1st Battalion, 77th Artillery, cited; DA GO 5, 1973)