2-319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment

• World War I Origins: The 2nd Battalion, 319th Field Artillery traces its roots to the 319th Field Artillery Regiment, constituted in the National Army on August 5, 1917, and assigned to the 82nd Division. • Airborne Transformation: The unit became an airborne artillery battalion in August 1942, when the 319th Field Artillery was reorganized as the 319th Glider Field Artillery Battalion and assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division. • D-Day & Normandy Invasion: Elements of the battalion participated in the Normandy invasion on June 6, 1944, glider-landing into France and supporting the division’s operations during the liberation. • Battle of the Bulge: In December 1944, the battalion provided critical fire support during the defense of Bastogne, helping repel German forces in the Ardennes Offensive. • First American Artillery in Berlin: Soldiers from the 319th were among the first American artillerymen to enter Berlin at the end of World War II. • Vietnam Service: The 2-319th deployed to Vietnam in 1965 with the 173rd Airborne Brigade, participating in 15 campaigns and earning multiple unit awards. • Operation Just Cause: The battalion deployed to Panama in 1989 during Operation Just Cause, providing fire support for airborne operations to depose Manuel Noriega. • Global War on Terror: 2-319 AFAR deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq multiple times, supporting both combat and stability operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. • Decorations and Honors: The battalion holds numerous awards, including Presidential Unit Citations, Valorous Unit Awards, and the French Croix de Guerre with Palm for actions in Normandy and Sainte-Mère-Église. • Nickname – “Black Falcons”: The battalion is known as the “Black Falcons,” a moniker that reflects its speed, accuracy, and combat effectiveness as an airborne artillery unit.