6:43rd FA (ARADCOM)

• Origins: The 6th Battalion, 43rd Field Artillery (6/43rd FA) traces its lineage back to the original 43rd Field Artillery Regiment, which was constituted in the National Army during World War I in 1918. • ARADCOM Assignment: During the Cold War, 6/43rd FA was assigned to the Army Air Defense Command (ARADCOM), responsible for providing anti-aircraft defense for the continental United States. • Missile System: The unit was one of the key battalions operating the Nike-Hercules surface-to-air missile system, designed to intercept Soviet bombers at high altitudes. • Stationed in Texas: 6/43rd FA was headquartered at Red Bluff, Texas, protecting the strategic airspace around the city of Houston and the Gulf Coast region. • Multiple Launch Sites: The battalion operated several remote missile batteries, including sites at La Porte, Angleton, and several surrounding communities. • Integration: The Nike missile sites manned by 6/43rd FA were some of the first in the country to see racial integration among soldiers, reflecting changes in the wider U.S. Army during the 1960s. • Constant Readiness: Soldiers of the 6/43rd FA maintained 24/7 alert status, with live missiles always ready for launch during periods of heightened Cold War tension. • Community Relations: The battalion became an integral part of the local communities, participating in parades, school visits, and Civil Defense drills to educate the public about air defense. • Deactivation: With the reduction of the Nike missile program in the early 1970s, the 6/43rd FA was deactivated in 1974, as the threat of manned bomber attacks diminished. • Legacy: Today, some of the old missile site locations are preserved as historical markers or parks, and former members of the 6/43rd FA hold reunions to commemorate their unique service during a pivotal era in U.S. defense history.