The 27th Artillery was constituted on 2 August 1918, and assigned to the 9th Division at Camp McClellan, Alabama. It did not serve overseas during World War I, and was demobilized on 8 February 1919. It was reconstituted and assigned to the 1st AD. In the spring of 1942, the Battalion deployed overseas with the 1st AD,with whom it served the entire war.
The 27th Field Artillery Battalion won acclaim for its participation in the amphibious landings on North Africa, actions in the Algiers and Tunisia, the Italian Campaign, and the invasion of Southern Europe. From 1942-1945, the battalion spent more than 550 days in firing positions, fired a total of 380,115 rounds of 105mm and had more combat action than any other unit in the 1st AD.
The 6th Bn, 27th FA was activated on 23 August 1962 as an 8"/175 composite battalion, and stationed at Ft. Chaffee, Arkansas. In 1965, the battalion was deployed to the Republic of Vietnam. Assigned to the 23d Artillery Group, 11 Field Force Artillery, the battalion engaged in fire support planning and coordination for the 1st CAV DIV (AM), lst ID, 101st ABN DIV, 5th ARVN Division, 11th ACR, 3d Marine Division and close artillery support for Regular Force/Popular Force Special Forces Groups.
The 6th Bn, 27th FA, known as the "Cannon Kings," was the first U.S. Artillery element to fire into North Vietnam. During the period 1 Feb 1969 to 31 Aug 1969 alone, the battalion fired 87,233 rounds in a total 26,355 missions without a single artillery incident.
The 6th Bn, 2nd FA compiled a long and enviable combat record in such campaigns as TET 69, Sanctuary Counteroffensive, Fish Hook, and Consolidation 1 to name a few. The unit returned to Ft. Lewis, Washington for inactivation on 22 Nov 1971.
The 6th Bn, 27th FA was activated as the Army's first Multiple Launch Rocket System battalion on 1 Oct 1984. Today known as the "Proud Rockets", the battalion carries on its' tradition of excellence. In March of 1990, the unit deployed to White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico to conduct the Initial Operational Test and Evaluation of the Army Tactical Missile System. The success of the test provided the Army with a highly accurate, long range fire support asset.
On 2 Sep 1990, the 6th Bn, 27th FA deployed to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Shield. Assigned to the XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery, the unit played a critical role in the early defense of Saudi Arabia. As Desert Shield turned into Desert Storm, the battalion was the first U.S. Field Artillery unit to fire into Kuwait. Over the course of the war, the battalion provided timely and accurate rocket and missile fires for both U.S. corps in the theater, the 82d ABN DIV, the 6th French Light Armored Division,. 1st AD, 1st ID, the 101st ABN DIV, and the 24th ID (Mech).
In September 1993, the Proud Rockets participated as the first ever MLRS unit to train in joint operations with the 11th Marine Regiment at Twenty-Nine Palms, California. During that operation, the Battalion was the first to fire the reduced range practice rocket under tactical conditions.
In March 1995, 6th Bn 27th FA was the first unit to deploy the entire Battalion to support the 11th Marines at Twenty-Nine Palms, California.
In February 2000, 6th Bn 27th FA again deployed the entire Battalion, along with other elements of the 75th Brigade to support the 11th Marines at Twenty-Nine Palms, California.
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