4th Battalion 42nd Field Artillery

4th Battalion 42nd Field Artillery

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The 42nd Artillery has a long association with the 1/22 Infantry and the 4th Infantry Division.

In World War II the 42nd Artillery Battalion served as part of the 4th Division's Combat Team 12.
It again served with the 4th Division in Germany 1951-1956.

In Vietnam the 4th Battalion of the 42nd Artillery was a towed 105mm howitzer battalion assigned to the 4th Infantry Division,
to render direct support to the 2nd Brigade, of which the 1/22 Infantry was a part.
In 1966 the 4/42 Artillery deployed to Vietnam on the same ship as the 1/22 Infantry.
Its personnel shared the same firebases as the Regulars and provided forward observers to 1/22 units in the field.
Many Regulars are alive today, because of the fire support given to them by the Redlegs of 4/42.
The 4/42 Artillery served in Vietnam from 1966-1970.

Today the 4/42 Artillery "Straight Arrows" continue to serve with the 4th Division as part of its organic Division Artillery.
The Straight Arrows saw duty in Iraq 2003-2004 during Operation Iraqi Freedom, again alongside 1/22 Infantry,
as part of the 1st Raider Brigade of the 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized).

4/42 Artillery again deployed to Iraq in 2005-2006 alongside 1-22 Infantry in 1st Raider Brigade.

In 2008-2009 4-42 Artillery served a third tour in Iraq attached to the 101st Airborne Division.

In 2010-2011 4-42 Artillery deployed to Afghanistan as part of 1st Raider Brigade of the 4th Infantry Division.

4-42 Artillery and 1-22 Infantry served together one last time in 2013 when B Battery deployed to Kuwait
as part of Task Force Regular.

The 42nd's motto is Festina Lente (Make haste slowly).

* Note:

4-42 Artillery was de-activated by the Army along with 1-22 Infantry
on March 17, 2014 at Fort Carson, Colorado.

After a long association with 1st Battalion 22nd Infantry and the 4th Infantry Division
the Colors of 4th Battalion 42nd Artillery were cased and sent to the Army Center of Military History.

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