The 40th Infantry Division Artillery conducts essential pre-mobilization training, mobilizes, conducts post-mobilization training and processing, deploys, fights or supports, sustains, and wins. This applies to combat and Military Support to Civil Authorities (MSCA) and to any reciprocal operational missions directed by the 40th Division or State of California.
The Division artillery (DIVARTY) is one of the seven commands under the 40th Infantry Division (Mechanized). DIVARTY provides artillery support for the division and coordinates close air support, attack helicopters, mortars, artillery resources from headquarters higher than Division, and, when feasible, naval gunfire.
The Division Artillery has the dual mission of integrating all fire support available to the Division as well as providing it field artillery fires for close support, interdiction, and counterfire support. The primary function of fire support units is to provide continuous and timely support to combat units by locating, identifying, and neutralizing or destroying those targets most likely to impede the successful accomplishment of the division’s mission.
The Lineage and Honors of DIVARTY begins August 5, 1946 when it was constituted in the California Army National Guard. It was federally recognized on October 14, 1946 at Los Angeles. DIVARTY was ordered into active federal service in Korea on September 1, 1950. It changed location to Santa Barbara on December 29, 1952, then back to Los Angeles on May 10, 1954. DIVARTY was released from active federal service June 30, 1954 and reverted to state control.
On July 1, 1954, the Army converted and redesignated it as headquarters and headquarters Battery, 40th Armored Division Artillery. On May 1, 1959 the Army consolidated it with a Medical Detachment. Federal recognition was withdrawn January 29, 1968. It was reorganized and federally recognized April 1, 1971 in the California Army National Guard as the 80th Support Center at Los Angeles. On January 13, 1974 it was converted and redesignated headquarters and headquarters Battery, 40th Infantry Division artillery.
1/143 Field Artillery
The 1st Battalion, 143rd Field Artillery, was originally organized on 20 December 1912 as the 1st Battalion of Field Artillery, California National Guard with Headquarters at Oakland and with existing batteries as follows: Battery A (organized 29 May 1911 at Los Angeles), Battery B (organized 31 May 1911 at Oakland), Battery C (organized 14 December 1912 at Stockton). It was mustered into Federal service on 28 June 1916 for Mexican border service; and mustered out between 21 December 1916 and 6 January 1917.
Battery D was organized on 25 July 1917 at San Diego; Battery E was organized on 26 July 1917 at Oakland;and Battery F was organized on 25 July 1917 at Los Angeles.
The unit was expanded, reorganized, and redesignated on 3 August 1917 as the 1st Field Artillery Regiment. It was drafted into Federal service on 5 August 1917. On 24 September 1917, the unit was reorganized and redesignated as the 143d Field Artillery, and assigned to the 40th Division. The 40th was demobilized 28 January 1919 at the Presidio of San Francisco, California but was reconstituted in the California National Guard and reorganized 1 November 1921 as the 1st Separate Battalion of Field Artillery, with Headquarters at Oakland.
The unit was then expanded, reorganized, and redesignated on July 1 1924 as the 143d Field Artillery, an element of the 40th Division; Headquarters was Federally recognized 30 July 1924 at Oakland. The united was inducted into Federal service 3 March 1941 at Stockton.
The regiment was broken up on 18 February 1942 and its elements were reorganized and redesignated as follows: regimental Headquarters and 1st Battalion as the 143d Field Artillery, battalion, an element of the 40th Infantry Division, 2d Battalion as the 154th Field Artillery Battalion, an element of the 40th Infantry Division.
After 18 February 1942 the above units underwent changes as follows: 143d Field Artillery Battalion relieved 1 September 1942 from assignment to the 40th Infantry Division and assigned to the 27th Infantry Division.
The unit was relieved on 30 October 1942 from assignment to the 27th Infantry Division and assigned to the 40th Infantry Division.The unit was inactivated 7 April 1946 at Camp Stoneman, CA, but was reorganized and Federally recognized on 22 April 1947 as the 629th Field Artillery Battalion, an element of the 49th Infantry Division, with Headquarters at Alameda, CA.
The 164th Field Artillery Battalion was relieved on 1 September 1942 from assignment to the 40th Infantry Division and was assigned on 1 April 1943 to the 40th Infantry Division.
The unit inactivated on 7 April 1946 at Camp Stoneman, CA. It was reorganized and Federally recognized 18 February 1947 as an element of the 49th Infantry Division, with Headquarters at Stockton.
The 164th, 629th, 636th, and 637th Field Artillery Battalions and the 149th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion were consolidated, reorganized, and redesignated pm 1 May 1959 as the 143d Artillery, a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System to consist of the 1st Rocket Howitzer Battalion and the 2d, 3d, 4th, 5th, and 6th Howitzer Battalions, elements of the 49th Infantry Division.
The unit was reorganized on 1 March 1963 to consist of the 1st, 2nd, 3d, 4th, and 5th Battalions, elements of the 49th Infantry Division.
3d Battalion, 143d Artillery was relieved on 4 December 1965 from assignment to the 49th Infantry Division.
The unit reorganized on 29 January 1968 to consist of the 3d Battalion, an element of the 49th Infantry Brigade, and the 1st Battalion, a non divisional unit. It was redesignated on 1 May 1972 as the 143d Field Artillery. The unit was reorganized on 13 January 1974 to consist of the 1st Battalion, an element of the 40th Infantry Division.
Source: GlobalSecurity.org