Linford Riniker

The 4th Battalion, 61st Air Defense Artillery (4-61 ADA) traces its lineage to the 61st Coast Artillery Regiment, originally constituted in 1917. Reactivated and reorganized several times throughout the 20th century, the battalion served in various air defense roles during World War II, providing critical anti-aircraft protection in the European Theater. During the Cold War, 4-61 ADA operated advanced missile systems, such as the Nike Hercules, to defend against potential aerial threats in Europe and the United States. The unit was eventually inactivated as part of broader realignments in U.S. Army air defense structure, but its legacy endures as part of the proud history of American air defense artillery.