“I do not have to tell you who won the war. You know, the artillery did.”

LTG George S. Patton

Mobilization of the Regiment

121st Field Artillery Regiment (October 15, 1940 to February 1, 1942)

The 121st Field Artillery Regiment was called to federal service as part of the 32nd Division on October 15, 1940.  The Regiment’s mobilization occurred concurrent with a general mobilization of the National Guard 14 months prior to Pearl Harbor as the U.S. built military and industrial capacity in response to Germany’s invasion of Poland and France.  Shortly after mobilization, the 121st Field Artillery Regiment moved from locations in Wisconsin to Camp Beauregard, Louisiana. Upon arrival in Louisiana, the organization and equipment of 121st Field Artillery Regiment reflected its experience in World War I.   With the absence of modern equipment and doctrine the Regiment’s training was initially focused on military discipline and physical fitness.

Between January and March 1941 the 121st Field Artillery Regiment posed for photographs.  The Soldiers in the photos below are mostly from the Wisconsin cities and towns where the original National Guard units were located.  The units and Wisconsin communities from which they originated included:  Regimental HQs – Abbotsford; Service Battery – Mauston; Medical – Whitefish Bay; Band – Janesville; HQ 1-121st FA – Hartford; Battery A – Milwaukee; Battery B – Green Bay; Battery C – Milwaukee; HQ 2-121st FA – River Falls; Battery D – Milwaukee; Battery E – Milwaukee; Battery F – Milwaukee.  At the time of its mobilization no one could have anticipated that the Field Artillery Regiment from the Wisconsin National Guard would deploy around globe over the next five years.

The 121st Field Artillery Regiment’s training would take on greater focus after Pearl Harbor and the formal U.S. declaration of war on Japan and Germany.  On February 1, 1942 the 32nd Division was reorganized from a four Infantry Regiment, two Brigade organization into the triangularized 32nd Infantry Division with three Infantry Regiments. The organic Field Artillery Regiments  (120th, 121st, and 126th) of the historic 32nd Division were also re-organized. The 121st Field Artillery Regimental Headquarters would become the headquarters of the newly formed 173rd Field Artillery Regiment, The 1st Battalion 121st Field Artillery would become the 121st Field Artillery Battalion, a unit in the 32nd Infantry Division. The 2nd Battalion 121st Field Artillery Battalion would become 2nd Battalion 173rd Field Artillery Regiment. The 173rd Field Artillery Regiment’s 1st Battalion was made up of Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion 126th Field Artillery Regiment.

The 121st Field Artillery Battalion remained a part of the 32nd Infantry Division throughout World War II and accompanied the Division to the Pacific in May of 1942.  The 173rd Field Artillery Regiment underwent further re-organization in February of 1943. The Regimental headquarters became the 173rd Field Artillery Group and deployed to Europe in July 1944. The 1st Battalion become the 173rd Field Artillery Battalion and the 2nd Battalion become the 985th Field Artillery Battalion, both of which deployed to North Africa in 1943.

Pacific Theater

121st Field Artillery Battalion  (May 1942 – February 28, 1946)

The 121st Field Artillery Battalion was created in February 1942 from the HQs of the 1st Battalion 121st Field Artillery Regiment and Batteries A, B, and C that mobilized on October 15, 1940. The 121st Field Artillery Battalion accompanied the 32nd Infantry Division to the Pacific arriving at Port Adelaide, Australia on May 12, 1942.  The 121st would not see action until January 1943 when it participated in the attack on Saidor, Papua New Guinea.

Saidor

Biak 

Leyte

Luzon

The 121st Field Artillery Battalion earned the following Campaign credit during WWII:

• New Guinea
• Leyte
• Luzon

The 121st Field Artillery History Map includes the locations where the battalion served in the Pacific Theater.

European Theater

173rd Field Artillery Group (July 22, 1944 – November 27, 1945)

The 173d Field Artillery Group was created from the 121st Field Artillery Regimental HQs that mobilized on October 15, 1940.

The Group earned the following Campaign credit during WWII:

• Normandy
• Northern France
• Ardennes-Alsace
• Central Europe

The 173rd Field Artillery Group History Map includes the locations where the Group served in the European Theater.

Mediterranean Theater

173rd Field Artillery Battalion (September 2, 1943 – September 11, 1945)

The 173th Field Artillery Battalion was created from the Headquarters of the 2nd Battalion 126th Field Artillery Regiment and Batteries D, E, and F that mobilized on October 15, 1940.  The unit had been previously reorganized as the 1st Battalion 173rd Field Artillery Regiment between February 1, 1942 and February 23, 1943. During the entire period from mobilization in 1940 until release from active service in 1945 the Battalion was Commanded by LTC Harry T. Ketcham and LTC Earl J Rice.

The Battalion earned the following Campaign credit during WWII:

• Naples – Foggia
• Po Valley
• Rome Arno
• North Apennines

The 173rd Field Artillery Battalion History Map includes the locations where the battalion served in the Mediterranean Theater.

985th Field Artillery Battalion (September 2, 1943 – October 8, 1945)

The 985th Field Artillery Battalion was created from the Headquarters of the 2nd Battalion 121st Field Artillery Regiment and Batteries D, E, and F that mobilized on October 15, 1940.  The unit had been previously reorganized as the 2nd Battalion 173rd Field Artillery Regiment between February 1, 1942 and February 23, 1943.  Between mobilization in 1940 and release from active service in 1945 the Battalion was Commanded by LTC Kellog W. Harkins.

The Battalion earned the following Campaign credit during WWII:

• Naples – Foggia
• Po Valley
• Rome Arno
• North Apennines

The 985th Field Artillery History Map includes the locations where the battalion served in the Mediterranean Theater.

Commanders

The table below contains the Regimental, Group, and Battalion Commanders from the units whose World War II lineage has been inherited by the 121st Field Artillery Regiment.

War Dead

The table below contains the Regimental Soldiers Killed in Action, Died of Wounds, or Died of Disease during World War II.

References

1. 121st Field Artillery Battalion: A Virtual Cemetery. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.findagrave.com/virtual-cemetery/961403
2. 173rd Field Artillery Battalion: A Virtual Cemetery. (n.d.), Retrieved from https://www.findagrave.com/virtual-cemetery/961394
3. 985th Field Artillery Battalion: A Virtual Cemetery, (n.d.), Retrieved from https://www.findagrave.com/virtual-cemetery/961395
4. Beilfuss, Matthew, P., Presentation: Wisconsin Field Artillery in WWII, 2022 St. Barbara’s Day Event, Milwaukee, WI, February 19, 2022.
5. Bourke-White, Margaret. “Purple Heart Valley”: A Combat Chronicle of the War in Italy. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1944. Print.
6. Burns, Benton H. History 173rd Field Artillery Battalion. Place of publication not identified: publisher not identified, 1945. Print.
7. History of the Biak Operation.
8. Makal, Thomas J. Mr. National Guard: A Civilian Soldier. United States?: T.J. Makal, 2002. Print.
9. Operation BIAK (May 44 – Sept 44). 1944. US Army Reports, 121st FA Battalion.
10. Operation SAIDOR (Jan 44 – Mar 44). 1944. US Army Reports, 121st FA Battalion.
11. United States. 1945. On the target. Milano [Italy]: O De-Magistris Cartotecnica.].
12. United States. 1945. Utah Beach to Salzburg with the 173 Field Artillery Group. [Place of publication not identified]: [publisher not identified]. 
13. www.abmc.gov (search terms, 121st Field Artillery Battalion, 173rd Field Artillery Battalion, 985th Field Artillery Battalion & WWII)