| Unit Name: | 194th Field Artillery Regiment |
| Country: |  |
| Type: | Field Artillery |
| Role: | Direct Support of 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team |
| Size: | Battalion |
| Garrison: | HQ and HHB, Fort Dodge, Iowa Battery A, Estherville, Iowa Battery B, Des Moines, Iowa Battery C, Alexandria, Minnesota |
| Nickname: | Thunder |
| Patron: | Saint Barbara |
| Motto: | "When Ready" |
| Colors: | Scarlet |
| Equipment: | M119 |
| Battles: | |
| Current Commander: | LTC Neil Daniels |
| Identification Symbol Label: | Distinctive Unit Insignia |
| Identification Symbol 2 Label: | Distinctive unit insignia |
| Identification Symbol 3 Label: | 34th Infantry Division shoulder sleeve insignia |
The 1st Battalion, 194th Field Artillery Regiment is a field artillery battalion of the United States Army National Guard. It is assigned to the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division in the Iowa Army National Guard as its direct support battalion.
Originally the 1st Battalion 194th Field Artillery was formed on 26 February 1943 from two other units - the 2nd Battalion 125th Field Artillery Regiment and the 1st Battalion 185th Field Artillery Regiment. Both of these units were part of the 34th Infantry Division, which were half from Minnesota and half from Iowa. This newly formed artillery battalion was equipped with 155 mm howitzers with a General Support (GS) mission to the 34th Infantry Division. Upon mobilization for World War II, the battalion turned in the 155's and received the 8 inch howitzers to better meet the needs of the division. The original motto of the 1st Battalion 194th Field Artillery was "Faithful, Formidable, and Fiery!". This motto was a composite taken from both the 2-125 FA ("Faithful") and the 1-185 FA (Formidable and Fiery). The original unit crest was also different from what it is today. It too was a composite of these two organizations, reflecting symbols of the Minnesota and Iowa National Guard.
The 194th Field Artillery Battalion fired a total of 92,165 artillery rounds and its soldiers received a total of 5 Silver Stars, 2 Legions of Merit, 54 Bronze Stars, 10 Air Medals including 22 clusters, and 140 Purple Hearts. Below is a brief timeline that depicts the significant historical events that the battalion encountered.
All of these accounts can be found in the book SHOOT, MOVE, AND COMMUNICATE an old artillery adage by U.S. Army Correspondent, Peter Scott in 1945
Currently, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery is the only Battery inheriting lineage from WWII.
The battalion gave tactical support to units in Europe during the Korean War. It was activated on 11 September 1950, with the first duty station at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin. During August 1951, the unit was alerted for deployment to Europe. Upon arrival in Mannheim, Germany in September 1951, the 194th FAB was assigned to the 18th Field Artillery Group, V Corps (United States), Seventh United States Army. The unit spent the rest of 1951 in Wurzburg, Germany (North Kasane).
During 1952 the unit successfully completed training in Grafenwöhr in February, Wildflecken in July, and again in Grafenwöhr in September. During September 1952, the unit moved to Wertheim, about 30 miles west of Wurzburg, and was relieved from tactical control of the 18th Field Artillery Group and attached to the 30th Field Artillery Group. In November, the 194th provided tactical support to units in the vicinity of Giessen, Germany.
On 23 January 1953, the battalion was transferred from tactical control of the 30th Field Artillery Group to the 142nd Field Artillery Group. Training exercises during 1953 were conducted at Baumholder during February and May and at Grafenwöhr in July. In August, the battalion provided tactical support to units in the vicinity of Bamberg, Germany. In September 1953, the unit participated in the Seventh United States Army maneuver "Monte Carlo", and in October, participated in the group firing test administered by V Corps Artillery (United States).
The battalion participated in training exercises at Grafenwöhr in February 1954, and at Baumholder in May. During April and September the battalion gave tactical support to units in the vicinity of Bamberg, Germany. On 17 January 1955, the 194th was released from active duty and reverted to National Guard status. The 194th was reactivated as a part of the Iowa National Guard in 1955.[1]
Shortly after World War II, the 194th Field Artillery Battalion (FAB) received federal recognition as a National Guard unit in Iowa. The battalion exchanged its 8-inch howitzers for tractor-drawn 155 mm howitzers. The 194th FAB was a corps artillery battalion, although it trained with the 34th Infantry Division (United States).[2] [3] Although the battalion fought in World War II all honors were inherited by the 556th Field Artillery Battalion of Eastern Iowa organic to the 34th Infantry Division (United States), Headquarters and Headquarters Battery in Fort Dodge retains the WWII lineage.
Until October 1954 the 194th Field Artillery Battalion utilized the motto and insignia of the 556th Field Artillery. After this date, the battalion adopted its current coat of arms and distinctive insignia, with a motto of "When Ready". The insignia (unit crest) represents the essence of artillery. The scarlet color represents the color for artillery. The flame-like partition indicates the intense firepower of the organization's artillery. The pellets depict cannonballs and symbolize readiness.
The original units of the battalion had to improvise training locations when they were organized in 1947 as their communities lacked pre-existing National Guard armories. They conducted training and stored their equipment in various public and private buildings. Battery A began in Humboldt and used the wartime hemp plant for its armory.[4] Battery B had its start in Mapleton. Soon after it moved to Algona in an armory that was built in 1949. Battery C, used the Estherville City Hall Auditorium for the drill floor. Service Battery started out in a 12 by 16 room on the second floor of a Pepsi Cola warehouse in Algona. Headquarters and Headquarters Battery started out in the basement of the Tangney hotel in Spencer until they went to the fairgrounds to the entry building and then to the horticulture building.
June 2017 The 1-194 FA transitioned into a Composite Field Artillery BN consisting of two 119A3 (105mm) six gun batteries and one M777A2 (155mm) six gun battery. The BN is converted into a 3x6 Composite FA BN. Additionally, all maneuver BN Fire Support Cells and Fire Support Teams return to the FA BN. The M777A2 battery and one FSC/FST are established in Minnesota. Charlie Battery (155mm) is located in Alexandria MN, DET 3 194 FA (FST) is located in Owatonna MN in support of the 2-135 IN.
(194th Field Artillery Battalion [NGUS] organized and Federally recognized 9 March 1953 with headquarters at Humboldt)
(1st Battalion ordered into active Federal service 3 September 2002 at home stations; released from active Federal service 2 September 2003 and reverted to state control)
(1st Battalion ordered into active Federal service 18 July 2007 at home stations; released from active Federal service 20 August 2008)
(1st Battalion ordered into active Federal service 29 July 2010 at home stations; released from active Federal service 1 September 2011 and reverted to state control)[5]
(1st Battalion ordered into active Federal service 3 August 2020 at home stations; released from active Federal service September 2021 and reverted to state control)
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