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Here I will post information about
members of the 2nd Battalion 18th Artillery (past & present), about the unit and
any other pertinent information.
2-18FA M270A1 Christening Ceremony
25 May, 0900-1000
hrs, 2005
Artillery Bowl,
Currie Rd.
Ft.
Sill
- On
25 May, 2005
, at
9:00 a.m.
, Soldiers of 2d Battalion, 18th Field Artillery (Mission Ready)
will christen an M270A1 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) and an M1068
Command Post vehicle to celebrate the recent fielding, safety certification
and qualification of the most recently fielded and combat capable MLRS
battalion in the US Army.
- The
M270A1 launcher is vastly superior to the older M270 launcher, which was
first used in combat and made famous during Desert Storm in 1991.
The speed at which the launcher can fire, survivability, and
maintenance readiness have all improved.
Additionally, the M270A1 launcher fires the complete suite of MLRS
family of munitions or MFOM.
- Mr.
Ralph B. Lawson of
Tulsa
OK
will help christen an M1068 that will bare his name “SGT RALPH B.
LAWSON”. Mr. Lawson served in
2-18FA from 1938-1940 when it was a horse drawn artillery battalion.
He later fought in WWII as a member of the prestigious Merrill’s
Marauders who became famous for their exploits in Burma India.
Mr. Lawson was inducted into the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame in
2004. He is 84 years old and
lives with his wife of 60 years, Ida.
- 2-18FA
recently named the M270A1 Launchers and M1068 Command post vehicles after
battles, campaigns, and notable Soldiers who have serve in the 18th
FA Regiment. The launcher that
will be christened to represent the 18 launchers bares the name “
GETTYSBURG
”, where the Regiment was formed from a cadre of the 5th Field
Artillery. They fought as part
of General Slocum’s XII Corps at the Battle of Gettysburg.
The 18th FA Regiment has also fought in WWI, WWII,
Vietnam
, Desert Storm, and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
- 2-18FA
is currently the last active battalion of the 18th FA Regiment.
When 3-18FA inactivated in August 2004 alumni of that battalion were
present who had fought as Infantryman with LTC Hal Moore in the Ia Drang
Valley at LZs Xray and
Albany
because their guns had not arrived. This
battle was made famous in the book and movie We Were Soldiers Once… and
Young.
- Sequence
of Events for 25 May Christening ceremony:
- 0900:
Welcome Soldiers of 2-18FA, families and past members of the 18th
FA Regiment: CSM Charles A.
Holliday
- 0905-0910:
Remarks regarding the Christening ceremony and introduction of Mr.
Lawson: LTC John D. Sims
- 0910-0920:
Guest Speaker: Mr.
Ralph B. Lawson
- 0920-0925:
Move outside of Artillery Bowl to conduct the Christening.
- 0930:
Christening: Will
include (1) M270A1, (1) M1068, and the Artillery Half Section (Mr.
Shepard)
- 0935-1000:
Lite Reception near the Artillery Bowl
- The
rest of the day will include tours of 2-18FA’s museum, lunch with
Soldiers, and tour of post and the Half Section stables, and an 18th
FA Right Arm night at the Patriot Club.
- All
previous members of the 18th Regiment are invited to attend the
Christening Ceremony and the Right Arm night.
- POC
is CPT Easley at 442-3309/0411.
Public Service Announcement
2-18FA M270A1 Christening Ceremony
25 May, 0900-1000
hrs, 2005
Artillery Bowl,
Currie Rd.
Ft.
Sill
- The
2d Battalion, 18th Field Artillery at
Fort
Sill
will be conducting a Christening Ceremony to commemorate the fielding of the
M270A1 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS), and the history of the 18th
FA Regiment. The ceremony will
take place at the Artillery Bowl, on
Currie Rd.
Fort Sill
,
OK
, on Wednesday, 25 May, at
9:00am
. Mr Ralph B. Lawson who served
in 2-18FA from 1938-1940 when it was a horse drawn artillery battalion will
be the guest speaker. Mr. Lawson
later fought in WWII as a member of the prestigious Merrill’s Marauders.
All alumni and previous members of the 18th FA Regiment
are invited to attend. For more
information contact CPT Jeremy Easley at 442-3309 or 442-4611.
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