6th Battalion, 15th Artillery & 1 Battalion, 5th Artillery

• Origins and Lineage: Both the 6th Battalion, 15th Artillery and the 1st Battalion, 5th Artillery trace their roots to the early days of the US Army. The 15th Artillery Regiment was constituted during World War I (1916), while the 5th Artillery goes back to 1821, making it one of the oldest artillery units in the US Army. • World War II Service: The 15th Artillery Regiment participated in several campaigns in Europe, including Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe. • Vietnam War Deployments: Both battalions saw extensive action in Vietnam. The 6th Battalion, 15th Artillery (6-15 FA) arrived in Vietnam in 1967 and provided artillery support across central and northern South Vietnam. • Fire Support for Infantry: The 6-15 FA was often attached to the 1st Cavalry Division, delivering fire support in critical operations such as the Tet Offensive and the A Shau Valley campaigns. • Decorations and Honors: The 1st Battalion, 5th Artillery (1-5 FA) is a recipient of numerous unit commendations, including Presidential Unit Citations and Valorous Unit Awards for actions during World War II and Vietnam. • “The Loyal Rebels” Motto: 1-5 FA’s motto, "The Loyal Rebels," stems from its Civil War service as part of the Union Army, despite being organized in Maryland, a border state with divided loyalties. • Modernization and Reactivation: Both units have been periodically inactivated and reactivated as the needs of the Army have changed, with the 6-15 FA reactivated as part of the 1st Cavalry Division in the 1980s and serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom. • First to Fire in Desert Storm: Elements of 1-5 FA were among the first US artillery units to fire in Operation Desert Storm in 1991, supporting the rapid advance into Iraqi territory. • Artillery Innovations: Both battalions were early adopters of advanced artillery technology, including digital fire control systems, precision-guided munitions, and counter-battery radar. • Notable Veterans: Members of these battalions have gone on to distinguished careers, including high-ranking generals and decorated combat veterans, with their service featured in US Army historical archives and oral histories.