About this Unit
Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 42nd Artillery Group (HHB, 42 ARTY Group) was constituted during the Cold War era to provide command and control for subordinate artillery units. Activated in the United States Army, the group played a key role in coordinating field artillery support, particularly in Europe as part of NATO's deterrence against potential Warsaw Pact aggression. Throughout its service, HHB, 42nd Artillery Group participated in numerous exercises and operations, honing its capabilities in fire support and battlefield coordination. The unit was eventually inactivated as part of Army realignments, but its legacy continues through the artillery units it once commanded.
Historical Facts
• Formation and Designation: The Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 42nd Artillery Group (HHB, 42 ARTY Group) was first constituted on 1 January 1944 in the Army of the United States as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 42nd Field Artillery Group.
• World War II Service: The unit was activated on 2 January 1944 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and participated in the European Theater during World War II, earning campaign participation credit in Rhineland and Central Europe.
• Post-War Activity: After World War II, the unit was inactivated on 23 January 1946 in Germany, reflecting the typical drawdown of U.S. Army forces after the war.
• Cold War Re-activation: The HHB, 42nd Artillery Group was reactivated on 20 March 1951 at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, as part of the U.S. Army's expansion during the early Cold War period.
• Redesignations: The unit underwent several redesignations, including being designated as the 42nd Artillery Group in 1958, and later as the 42nd Field Artillery Brigade in 1972, reflecting evolving organizational needs.
• European Service: The 42nd Artillery Group was stationed in Germany during the Cold War, supporting NATO and U.S. Army Europe operations, and played a key role in artillery training and readiness.
• Distinctive Unit Insignia: The unit's distinctive insignia features a gold lion and a red background, symbolizing courage and artillery, and its lineage to World War II operations in Europe.
• Gulf War Involvement: Elements of the 42nd Field Artillery Brigade supported operations during Operation Desert Storm, providing vital artillery support in the liberation of Kuwait.
• Deactivation: As part of Army restructuring, the 42nd Field Artillery Brigade was inactivated in the 1990s, ending decades of distinguished service.
• Legacy and Honors: The unit earned several campaign streamers and decorations, including the Meritorious Unit Commendation, and its history is preserved in U.S. Army lineage records.
