B 3:319 AFAR

• Origins in World War I: The lineage of B Battery, 3rd Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment (B 3/319 AFAR) traces back to the 319th Field Artillery Regiment, constituted in 1917 and assigned to the 82nd Division. • Paratrooper Artillery: The 319th Field Artillery was reorganized as a glider artillery unit during World War II, making them among the first U.S. artillerymen to deploy by air. • D-Day Participation: Elements of the 319th, including B Battery’s lineage, parachuted into Normandy on D-Day, June 6, 1944, providing critical artillery support for the 82nd Airborne Division. • Operation Market Garden: The battalion was a key part of Operation Market Garden, the largest airborne operation in history, fighting in Holland in September 1944. • Battle of the Bulge: B Battery and the 319th provided vital fire support during the Battle of the Bulge, helping to repel the German offensive in December 1944. • Vietnam War Service: The 3rd Battalion, including B Battery, served with distinction in Vietnam, supporting the 173rd Airborne Brigade in numerous operations from 1965 to 1971. • First to Fire in Operation Junction City: During the Vietnam War, 3/319 AFAR was the first U.S. artillery unit to fire in the massive Operation Junction City, one of the largest airborne operations of the conflict. • Global Deployments: B 3/319 AFAR has deployed to numerous hotspots, including Operation Just Cause (Panama, 1989), Operation Desert Storm (1991), Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan). • "Bravos" Nickname: B Battery is affectionately known as the "Bravos" within the battalion, renowned for their esprit de corps and distinguished service. • Modernization: The unit has transitioned through various artillery systems, from the M119A3 105mm howitzer to more advanced digital targeting and communication systems, maintaining its reputation as a premier airborne artillery force.