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World War II 203rd Field Artillery Group Headquarters, European Theater |
(c) 152nd Field Artillery Association, 2011 |
152nd Field Artillery Association |
In the aftermath of the triangularization of the Army's Infantry Divisions, the 152nd Field Artillery was redesignated as the 203rd Field Artillery in February 1942, consisting of two subordinate battalions, the 1st (formerly the 1st Bn, 152nd FA) and 2nd (formerly the 1st Bn, 192nd FA). Just a year later in March 1943 they were reorganized as the 203rd Field Artillery Group; the subordinate battalions went their separate ways. |
The 203rd Field Artillery Group HQ was initially commanded by the former 152nd FA regimental commander COL John F. Choate, but sometime between January and July 1943 the command changed to James M. Lewis and then, by July 1944, to John C. Butner, Jr., a regular army officer. By December of 1944 the final commander, Donald B. Harriott, who had been the Executive Officer under the previous commanders, took command. |
The Group HQ hit Utah Beach in France on 3 and 4 September, 1944 and fought with Patton's Third Army for much of the rest of the war. We're fortunate to have copies of the Group's official After Action Reports thanks to MSgt James Earl Downes, one of the few Maine men who were part of the 152nd FA Regimental Headquarters prior to the 1941 mobilization and remained through the end of the war. The AARs were provided to the Association by MSgt Downes' son, Richard Downes. |
MSgt. James Earl Downes, Communications Chief, 203rd Field Artillery Group, Brettnach, France, Nov. 27, 1944 |
The following units were attached to the 203rd FA Group for some period of time, and are mentioned in the After Action Reports (in the order mentioned): 739th Field Artillery Battalion (commanded by Herbert M. Brown, a 152nd vet) 989th Field Artillery Battalion 999th Field Artillery Battalion 270th Howitzer Battalion (commanded by James C. Gabriel) 277th Howitzer Battalion (commanded by Wayne A. Gudmonson) 243rd Field Artillery Battalion 733rd Field Artillery Battalion (commanded by Calvin C. Seavey) 176th Field Artillery Battalion 177th Field Artillery Battalion 731st Field Artillery Battalion 578th Field Artillery Battalion 257th Field Artillery Battalion 514th Field Artillery Battalion 949th Field Artillery Battalion 687th Field Artillery Battalion 559th Field Artillery Battalion 76th Field Artillery Battalion 191st Field Artillery Battalion 955th Field Artillery Battalion 734th Field Artillery Battalion 253rd Armored Field Artillery Battalion |
Good Conduct Medal Orders, 1943-1945. Incomplete, but this is everything that the National Archives has. |
Brief 203rd FA Regiment history from an article for publication at Ft. Bragg in February 1943. |