77th US Field Artillery
and 77th Field Artillery Regiment
History - 1917 TO 1942
The 77th U. S. Field Artillery
received its official designation November 11, 1917, one year before
the Armistice. June 6th of that same year had seen the 2nd Cavalry
divided into three units, namely the 2nd, the 18th and the 19th. On
July 20th the 19th Cavalry Regiment, then at war strength, was changed
to an artillery regiment and became the "19th Cavalry, Provisional
Artillery."
When the 19th was designated as a provisional Field Artillery
Regiment, it was recruited to full strength by volunteers who had
enlisted for the duration of the war. Colonel Guy H. Preston, a great
field soldier and disciplinarian, was in command, and rapidly moulded
the regiment into shape. When orders were received, changing the
regiment to a regular Field Artillery unit, the Cavalrymen had several
months training as Field Artillerymen. For field pieces, they had been
using the running gear of escort wagons with a log mounted thereon to
simulate a gun. Enough guns had been received on September 1st to equip
one battery. Each battery had the use of this materiel one day each
week.
Early in the fall of 1917, the 77th was moved from Fort Ethan
Allen to Camp Green, near Charlotte, N. C., where it became an active
part of the 4th Field Artillery Brigade and the 4th Regular Army
Division. There the huge division trained its components with the
assistance of French and English officers who had been serving in the
trenches.
April 21, 1918, the 4th Division started movement by rail to Camp Merrit, New Jersey, where preparations
were made for the trip overseas. The 77th departed from New York on May 22, 1918, and arrived in Liverpool, England, on
the 31st. Then, after a few days, the regiment moved to Camp de Souge in France, where the 4th Field Artillery Brigade was
scheduled to go into training.
On arrival at Camp de Souge, early in June, the 77th received
its full complement of French 75’s, French instruments, and American
telephones, switchboards, and radios. Officers and enlisted men went to
school. Three full crews were trained for each gun.
Training over, the 4th Field Artillery Brigade left by train
for Chateau Thierry, leaving Camp de Souge at midnight July 28-29. When
they arrived at their destination, they found the city in ruins and
transportation demolished. Orders came to detrain, harness and hookup.
That night, and for five nights thereafter, the 77th marched toward the
sound of guns. Finally the faint rumble and the sheet lightning became
more distinct. The regiment took its first real battle position near
Fismes on August 8th supporting the Infantry of the 4th Division. It
also received its baptism of fire that night when about 3,000 shells of
all caliber were dropped in the vicinity. The 4th Division was replaced
by the 77th New York Division on August 11-12 but the 77th Field
Artillery stayed on the line five more days and nights.
The 77th was relieved at midnight, August 16th and moved by
rail and marched into the Reynel Area, where it was re-equipped and
obtained replacement of men and horses. The regiment, in action in the
Vesle Sector, had proved the courage, fortitude, and training of the
men and officers. Men of one gun had been killed but no delay in fire
from the other
guns resulted. An executive had his arm blown off but the chief of
Section kept up the fire till another Executive arrived. Line guards
were wounded while making repairs in wire but others went out to
complete the task. Sleep was hard to get and food was harder to get,
but the spirit of the men was always at high level.
The Americans were preparing to take the offensive. The 77th
participated in Division exercises stressing liaison. The 4th Division
was moved to the Vavincourt area and rehearsals for the St. Mihiel
Offensive began. Reconnaissance for battle positions were made and on
the night of September 7-8, the 4th Field Artillery Brigade moved into
position. The 13th and 77th Regiments were attached to and supported
the 26th American Division. The massing of troops for the offensive had
been kept an absolute secret. All movements near the line were under
cover of darkness and during the day the men and materiel remained
hidden. About 300.000 men were involved, yet traffic and activity was
made to appear normal to any German observers.
At exactly 1:00 A. M. on September 12th preparations were
begun. The night was dark with a little mist. Until 1 o’clock, it was
as quiet as any countryside. Then, without warning, the artillery
opened fire. Gas, smoke, and HE, 75’s, 155’s, railway artillery, and
the 12" mortars rained projectiles on the enemy position for four
hours. The flash of the guns made enough light to read by and the roar
was continuous. At 4 o’clock the rolling barrage started, and the
infantry swept forward. The artillery fire was so effective that, by
the afternoon of the second day, September 13th, the infantry had
established a line three miles beyond their objective, and the St.
Mihiel salient was completed. The 75’s of the 77th Field Artillery had
followed close behind their infantry, keeping down hostile fire, and
permitting the infantry to advance with minimum opposition.
On the night of September 15-16, the 77th Field Artillery,
with the other regiments of the 4th Field Artillery Brigade, were
started marching to positions in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. Secrecy
was vital and again all movements were made at night. Artillery was
massed for the initial assault. The 4th Field Artillery Brigade was
reinforced by four regiments of artillery. All guns had two days of
fire at initial positions and all caissons and limbers filled. At 2:30
A. M. on September 26th, the artillery opened the preparation, and the
big allied offensive, ending with the Armistice, was on. In 18 days the
4th Division advanced 8 miles, fighting was severe, and the causalities
staggering. On the night of September 23-24, the 77th Field Artillery,
with the remainder of the 4th Field Artillery Brigade, was withdrawn
from action for rest. But the rest was short. Artillery was needed, and
four nights later the guns were back in position, firing in support of
the 3rd and 5th Divisions. The crossing of the Meuse by the 5th was
ably supported and protected by fire from the guns of the 77th Field
Artillery. The entire regiment was east of the Meuse River when the
Armistice was signed.
When the Armistice was signed, the 77th Field Artillery had
53 days of the severest fighting behind it. Twenty of its men had been
killed and some 200 wounded. By its actions, the 77th has five battle
streamers which fly from the Regimental Standard, namely, the following
engagements: Vesle Sector, August 8-16, 1918: St. Mihiel Offensive,
September 12-15, 1918: Meuse-Argonne Offensive, September 26-October
24, 1918: Meuse-Argonne Offensive, November 1-11, 1918: Defensive
Sectors in Champaign and Lorraine.
On the afternoon of November 11th, the regiment moved out of
position east of the Meuse River, and marched 75 miles by easy stages
to Pont-Sur Meuse, south of St. Mihiel. There the regiment was
re-equipped and received replacements for men and animals, in
preparation for the march into Germany. The march was begun November
20th, at which time the 4th Division became a unit of the IV Corps of
the Third Army. The Third Army marched to establish a bridgehead at
Coblenz. On December 17th, the 77th Field Artillery arrived at
Kaisersesch, Germany, and the troops were billeted in nearby towns.
Battalion and Field Services Exercises were still held and Service
practice was held once a week. Men were encouraged to take furloughs.
They received free train transportation and were fed and billeted by
the American Army.
The 4th Division started movement by rail to Brest, France,
July 9th. On July 31, 1919, it set sail for the United States. On
arrival at New York, the Division was moved to Camp Merrit, New Jersey,
where most of the men were discharged. The few who remained were moved
to Camp Lewis, Washington.
On arrival at Camp Lewis, the 77th received equipment and
horses for a 75mm horse-drawn regiment. It was recruited to about
two-thirds strength and regular peacetime training began. On July 27,
1921, General Orders Number 33, War Department, 1921, made the regiment
inactive. All personnel were transferred to the 76th Field Artillery.
On January 1, 1935, by letter, War Department, dated October
26, 1934, the 77th Field Artillery was reconstituted at Fort Sill,
Oklahoma, and the 1st Battalion was organized. Battery C, First Field
Artillery, became Battery A, 77th Field Artillery, and the Military
Police Detachment became Battery B, 77th Field Artillery. Headquarters
Battery, the Battalion Combat Train, and the Battalion Section of the
service battery were made up of men who transferred into the new
organization and recruits recently enlisted. Colonel Vincent Meyer was
the first Battalion Commander having served with the 77th overseas. He
instilled the old spirit of the 77th into the new organization. The
77th became a regiment of the 4th Division and the First Battalion
served at Field Artillery School, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, until February
5, 1942.
Final reconstitution of the 77th Field Artillery was made on
November 1, 1935, when Colonel Robert H. Lewis rehabilitated the post
at Fort D. A Russell, Marfa, Texas. The Adjutant General in a letter
dated June 17, 1935, stated, “The 77th Field Artillery (155mm Howitzer,
less 2 Bns) is to be reconstituted after September 1, 1935, at Fort D.
A. Russell, Marfa, Texas."
Colonel Robert H. Lewis was assigned the task of both Post
and Regimental Commander. Fort D. A. Russell had been unused since
January 2, 1933, when the 1st Cavalry went to Fort Knox, Kentucky. The
abandoned Fort had almost fallen down. In July a group of 30 men came
to Marfa from the 82nd Field Artillery to make the Post ready for
troops. A cadre of 40 men arrived October 1st. The recruits, about 450
in number, followed. The actual organization took place November 1,
1935, and the training of recruits began.
At first the whole group worked under many hardships and
trying circumstances. The fall and winter seasons made it inadvisable
to have any night operations, due to the fact that proper clothing was
not in stock to be issued. All the equipment was slow in arriving.
Clothing, signal equipment, transportation, engineer equipment, foot
and wall lockers were not available at first. Some of the training
materiel did not arrive till the following January, when most of the
men were about ready to be turned to duty.
The 77th at Fort D. A. Russell was made up of Regimental
Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, Service Battery and Batteries C
and D. Headquarters and Headquarters Battery was organized August 1,
1936. Service Battery was inactivated and became Battery F, May 1,
1939.
Colonel Robert H. Lewis remained in command until he was
promoted to a Brigadier General. On March 2, 1940, Lieutenant Colonel
Bertram Frakenberger became the Post and Regimental Commander.
April 1, 1940, Battery C of the 2nd Battalion was designated
Battery E, and Battery E, formerly the Regimental Combat Train, at Fort
Sill was designated Battery C, making Batteries A, B, and C at Fort
Sill in 1st Battalion and Batteries D, E, and F at Fort D. A. Russell
in 2nd Battalion.
The 77th Field Artillery became a part of the 18th Field
Artillery Brigade in December 1940, which was assigned as Corps
Artillery to the 8th Army Corps.
January 9, 1941, both Service and Ammunition Battery, 1st
Battalion, and the 75mm and Antitank Battery designated as Battery G,
were organized at Fort Sill. On March 12, 1941, the same batteries were
organized at Fort D. A. Russell with the Antitank Battery designed as
Battery H.
G and H Batteries and the Antitank Platoon of the Battalion
Headquarters Batteries were inactivated on December 15, 1941, and
reactivated as part of the 818th Tank Destroyer Battalion.
Colonel Francis T. Armstrong assumed command of the 77th on August 3, 1942,