Unofficially nicknamed “Tornado Brigade” because of its history as a Kansas Army National Guard unit, the 135th Field Artillery Brigade was originally organized as 60th Field Artillery Brigade on 22 September 1917. Assigned to the 35th Division, the Brigade arrived in France on 11 May 1918 and eventually took part in three World War I campaigns (Meuse-Argonne, Alsace 1918, and Lorraine 1918). During World War II, the unit was redesignated as an element of the 35th Division, i.e., Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 35th Division Artillery and participated in six campaigns in the European theater.
Following the war, the unit underwent several redesignations until it was relieved from assignment to the 35th Division in 1963 and reorganized and redesignated as the 127th Artillery Group. The current version of the unit was created on 1 September 1997 when the 127th Field Artillery Group was consolidated with a unit carrying the designation 130th Field Artillery Brigade.
Related Items130th Field Artillery Unit Brigade Crest (DUI)The Shoulder Sleeve Insignia of the 130th Field Artillery Brigade was approved on 25 January 1979 but was thereafter deactivated; it was reinstated on 24 June 1997. Scarlet and yellow are colors long associated with Artillery units; the cannon and cannonball are graphic representations of the Brigade’s primary mission. A sunflower behind those images is a reference to the state of Kansas (the brigade is headquartered at Topeka), but its shape also simulates the appearance of an explosion. A blue border connotes the Brigade’s role in providing Infantry support.