How Btry 2:2 ACR

• Historic Lineage: Howitzer Battery, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment (How Btry 2/2 ACR) traces its roots to the 2nd Dragoons, first organized in 1836, making it one of the oldest continuously serving cavalry units in the U.S. Army. • World War II Service: The 2nd Cavalry Group (Mechanized), including its artillery elements, led the U.S. advance into Czechoslovakia in May 1945 and famously liberated the city of Pilsen. • Cold War Guardians: During the Cold War, How Btry 2/2 ACR was stationed in Germany as part of the U.S. Army’s frontline defense on the border with East Germany and Czechoslovakia, conducting constant border patrols and reconnaissance. • “The Ghosts of the East:” The unit earned the nickname “Ghosts of the East” for their stealthy reconnaissance and ability to operate undetected along the Iron Curtain. • Operation Desert Storm: In 1991, How Btry 2/2 ACR played a vital role during the “Battle of 73 Easting,” providing direct artillery support as the 2nd ACR led the charge against Iraqi Republican Guard forces. • First to Cross: Elements of 2/2 ACR were among the first U.S. units to cross into Iraq during Operation Desert Storm, engaging enemy armor and fortifications with precision artillery fire. • Transition to Stryker: In the 2000s, the 2nd ACR was re-designated as the 2nd Cavalry Regiment and equipped with Stryker vehicles, modernizing its artillery and reconnaissance capabilities. • Operation Iraqi Freedom: How Btry 2/2 ACR deployed to Iraq multiple times, providing essential fire support in urban and rural operations and adapting to the demands of counterinsurgency warfare. • Distinguished Honors: The 2nd Cavalry Regiment and its artillery units have received numerous decorations, including Presidential Unit Citations, Valorous Unit Awards, and foreign honors for their service in various conflicts. • Unit Motto: The unit’s motto, “Toujours Prêt” (Always Ready), reflects its enduring commitment to rapid deployment and operational readiness, a tradition upheld by How Btry 2/2 ACR in every era.