201st Field Artillery Regiment (United States)
| 201st Field Artillery Regiment | |
|---|---|
Coat of arms
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| Active | 1735–present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | West Virginia Army National Guard |
| Garrison/HQ | Fairmont, West Virginia |
| Nickname(s) | First West Virginia (Special Designation) |
| Motto(s) | Yes Sir |
| Engagements |
American Revolutionary War War of 1812 Mexican War American Civil War War with Spain World War I World War II Korean War Vietnam War War in Southwest Asia Iraq Campaign Operataion New Dawn |
| Insignia | |
| Distinctive unit insignia |  |
| U.S. Infantry Regiments | |
|---|---|
| Previous | Next |
| 200th Infantry Regiment | 211th Infantry Regiment |
| U.S. Field Artillery Regiments | |
|---|---|
| Previous | Next |
| 197th Field Artillery | 206th Field Artillery |
The 201st Field Artillery Regiment ("First West Virginia") is the United States' oldest active National Guard unit, and oldest continually serving unit in the United States Army. Based in Fairmont, West Virginia, it was first activated in 1735. It currently perpetuates the Virginia elements of the Maryland and Virginia Rifle Regiment of the American Revolution.
On 6 January 1941, the regiment was activated as the 201st Infantry Regiment of the West Virginia Army National Guard. It trained as a unit after activation, and was given 37mm anti-tank guns, thus beginning their eventual transformation to an artillery unit. On 3 September 1941, the 201st Infantry arrived on Kodiak Island, Alaska to serve as a garrison defense force. By 20 September 1941, their strength on Kodiak Island was 1,424 men, smaller than an average infantry regiment, because their primary purpose was to man the anti-tank guns. On 7 December 1941, the United States entered World War II after the Attack on Pearl Harbor. As the threat of Japanese invasion of Alaska loomed, 1,586 new recruits joined the 201st on 28 February 1942. The regiment continued to guard the island of Kodiak until they departed on 23 January 1944. They were converted into the 201st Artillery Battalion when the war ended and have continued to serve in this role since.
In December 1990, the unit was called to serve in Operation Desert Storm. The unit was activated for 180 days unless sooner released or later extended. The 201st left Fairmont and went to Fort Campbell, Kentucky for training. It joined XVIII Corps Artillery, 18th Field Artillery Brigade. On the exact 256th anniversary of its founding, the unit fired 256 rounds downrange at Iraqi forces. David Tucker was a chaplain's assistant of the unit at the time and noted this in a letter to The Fairmont Times.
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