4th 155 mm howitzer battery

• Vietnam War Service: The 4th 155mm Howitzer Battery was a United States Marine Corps artillery unit that served with distinction during the Vietnam War, providing heavy fire support for Marine and allied forces. • Activation: The unit was activated in 1966 at Camp Pendleton, California, and quickly deployed to Vietnam that same year to bolster American artillery capabilities. • Nickname: The battery was sometimes referred to as "Big Guns" due to the powerful 155mm towed howitzers it operated, capable of delivering devastating firepower over long distances. • Deployment in I Corps: The battery was primarily stationed in the I Corps tactical zone, the northernmost military region of South Vietnam, where it supported Marine and ARVN operations near the DMZ. • Role in Khe Sanh: Elements of the 4th 155mm Howitzer Battery played a critical role in the defense of Khe Sanh Combat Base during the 1968 siege, firing thousands of rounds in support of the besieged garrison. • Fire Mission Volume: The unit could fire up to 200 rounds per day during heavy engagements, demonstrating both the intensity of combat and the unit's logistical prowess. • Transport Challenges: Moving the massive M114 155mm howitzers through Vietnam's jungles and mud required ingenuity, often relying on helicopters, bulldozers, and even local labor. • Combined Operations: The battery often worked in conjunction with other Marine and Army artillery units, coordinating fire missions that supported infantry assaults and base defenses. • Casualties and Valor: Despite being an artillery unit, the 4th 155mm Howitzer Battery suffered casualties from enemy artillery, rocket, and ground attacks, with several members receiving commendations for bravery under fire. • Deactivation: Following the reduction of US forces in Vietnam, the 4th 155mm Howitzer Battery was deactivated in 1969, but its legacy remains honored by Marine artillerymen today.