43rd ARTY

• Origins in World War I: The 43rd Artillery was originally constituted as the 43rd Artillery, Coast Artillery Corps, in 1918 and organized at Camp Eustis, Virginia. • Service in France: The unit deployed to France during World War I, providing heavy artillery support on the Western Front. • World War II Reactivation: The 43rd Artillery was reactivated for World War II, serving as an anti-aircraft artillery battalion in the European Theater. • Cold War Role: The 43rd Artillery was part of America's Cold War defenses, operating Nike Hercules surface-to-air missile batteries to protect major cities from potential Soviet air attacks. • Vietnam War Service: As the 43rd Artillery Group, the unit deployed to Vietnam from 1967–1971, providing field artillery support and firepower for ground operations. • Decorations and Honors: The unit received campaign participation credits for World War I, World War II (Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe), and Vietnam. • Distinctive Unit Insignia: The 43rd Artillery's distinctive insignia features a red shield with a gold artillery shell, symbolizing its firepower and heritage. • Redesignation History: Throughout its history, the unit was redesignated several times, including as the 43rd Field Artillery Regiment and 43rd Air Defense Artillery. • Cold War Missile Defense: The 43rd Artillery's Nike missile sites were part of the nationwide air defense network, and some former sites are still visible today. • Legacy and Lineage: Elements of the 43rd Artillery's lineage continue today in modern air defense artillery units, preserving its history and traditions.