Photo By Sgt. Samantha Stoffregen | Lt. Col. Joseph Halloran, commander of the newly activated 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field...... read more read more
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FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. - As friends, family members, Veterans and Soldiers watched, the historic colors of the 2nd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment “Balls of the Eagle”, 101st Division Artillery, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) were retired in a ceremony at Freedom Fighter Gym July 1, 2015.
“It’s a bitter sweet day today as we case the colors of the 2-320th FAR,” said Lt. Col. Joseph Halloran, commander of 2nd Bn., 320th Field Artillery. “Bitter because we are closing a chapter in the 101st Airborne’s history by casing the colors of the field artillery battalion with the longest historical association with the 101st.”
The battalion was activated in August 1917 at Camp Gordon, Ga., but would later be assigned to the 101st Airborne Division in December 1962.
“Balls of the Eagle” has seven years of sustained combat operations in Vietnam in support of the 1st Brigade Combat Team “Bastogne”, 101st Airborne Division, multiple deployments in support of the global war on terrorism to both Iraq and Afghanistan, again in a direct support role to “Bastogne,” and overall, 39 combat campaigns, two valorous unit awards and one presidential unit citation, Halloran said.
As the colors of the 2nd Bn., 320th FAR were cased, the colors of the “Proud Americans” 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment, 101st Division Artillery, 101st Airborne Division, unfurled.
“I know that the Soldiers from ‘Balls of the Eagle’ who stand in front of you today and those gathered in the seating area will sadly watch the 2nd Bn., 320th Field Artillery colors case, but each is incredibly honored to rally around the historic ‘Proud Americans,’” said Col. Kyle Marsh, commander of the 101st Division Artillery and guest speaker at the day’s ceremony.
These events are emotional for many because so many hearts are intimately tied to the colors, the symbols and many of the battle streamers that represent great organizations like the two represented today, Marsh continued.
Veterans and friends of both battalions traveled from as far as Wisconsin and Arizona to attend the ceremony. Marsh asked those in attendance to stand and be recognized.
“Each one of these dedicated Soldiers sacrificially gave to these two organizations and colors represented in this ceremony,” Marsh said. “Even though the ‘Balls of the Eagle’ ended a chapter today, I know that the ‘Proud Americans’ are in great hands and will continue to be represented by Soldiers with incredible standards and a contagious excitement.”
The 2nd Bn., 32nd Field Artillery was the first field artillery unit to fire rounds in support of Operation Torch and Operation Overlord in WWII and fired more than 380,000 rounds of close supporting fires in the Vietnam War.
As Halloran signed off as “Balls 6” and took command of the newly designated 2nd Bn., 32nd Field Artillery “Proud Americans”, he said the common thread between the units are the men and women standing in formation.
“We are proud to have served as members of not one, but two of the greatest and most powerful field artillery battalions in existence,” Halloran said. “Proud Americans, Bastogne, Guns of Glory, Screaming Eagles, Air Assault!”
| Date Taken: | 07.01.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 12.02.2015 13:10 |
| Story ID: | 183268 |
| Location: | FORT CAMPBELL, KENTUCKY, US |
| Web Views: | 182 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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