2:42 FA

• Unit Designation: The 2nd Battalion, 42nd Field Artillery Regiment (2-42 FA) is a distinguished field artillery battalion in the United States Army. • Origins: The 42nd Field Artillery Regiment was first constituted on July 5, 1918, in the National Army, and assigned to the 14th Division during World War I. • World War II Service: 2-42 FA saw combat in World War II as part of the 4th Infantry Division, participating in key campaigns including Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe. • Normandy Landings: The unit landed on Utah Beach on D-Day, June 6, 1944, providing crucial artillery support during the invasion of Nazi-occupied France. • "Straight Arrows" Nickname: The battalion is known as the “Straight Arrows,” a reference to the arrowhead design in their unit insignia. • Vietnam War: 2-42 FA deployed to Vietnam, where it provided fire support for infantry operations and defended firebases during the conflict. • Cold War Service: During the Cold War era, the unit was stationed in Germany as part of NATO forces, prepared to defend Western Europe. • Operation Iraqi Freedom: The battalion deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, conducting both traditional artillery missions and non-traditional security operations. • Modern Configuration: Today, 2-42 FA is equipped with advanced artillery systems such as the M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzer, making it a critical fire support asset. • Unit Honors: 2-42 FA has received numerous unit citations and campaign streamers for its distinguished service, including the Presidential Unit Citation and Valorous Unit Award.