The 1st Battalion, 319th Field Artillery organizational flash, a description more accurate than beret flash because the flash represents a single unit or organization, was approved on 17 June 1986. It is worn centered on the stiffener of the maroon beret, with Officers placing their nonsubdued insignia of rank in the center of the flash and Enlisted personnel wearing their Distinctive Unit Insignia—in this case the 319th Field Artillery Regiment DUI—in similar manner.
This insignia, as well as Airborne background trimming featuring a similar design, was approved for wear on 17 June 1986.
For more than a century, the 1st Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment has been assigned to the 82nd Division, beginning with its constitution as an element of the 82nd on 5 August 1917. After fighting in three campaigns as part of the 82nd Division, the Regiment was demobilized in May 1919 before being reorganized and redesignated as Battery A, 319th Field Artillery, still an element of the 82nd Division.
It would be reorganized and redesignated in August 1942 as Battery A, 319th Glider Field Artillery Battalion before taking part in six campaigns, with two of its campaign streamers (Normandy and Rhineland) augmented with Arrowhead devices reflecting the Battalion’s participation in two assault landings. Its outstanding service and courage resulted in its selection for two Presidential Unit Nominations, a French Fourragere and two French Croix de Guerre with Palm World War II, a Netherlands Orange Lanyard, and a Belgian Fourragere and three citations in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army.
After several reorganizations and redesignations, the Battalion became HQ and HQ and Service Battery, 1st Battalion, 219th Artillery in May 1964 and then was redesignated as the 1st Battalion, 319th Field Artillery on 1 September 1971, and under this name fought in two Armed Forces Expeditions and in three Campaigns of the First /Gulf War, earning a Meritorious Unit Commendation for its service.
Before being given its current designation of 1st Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment, the Battalion took part in the opening battles and campaigns of Operation Iraq Freedom and earned a Meritorious Unit Commendation. Since the launch of the War on Terrorism, the Battalion earned a Valorous Unit Award for service in Iraq (2003-2004) and a Presidential Unit Citation (March to May 2003) before receiving its current designation of 1st Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment. It was later awarded a pair of Meritorious Unit Commendations for service in Iraq between 2006-2009.
As of 2021, the 1st Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment remains activated and is assigned to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. It is headquartered at Fort Liberty (formerly known as Fort Bragg), home of the 82nd Airborne Division.
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319th Field Artillery Regiment Unit Crest (DUI)