206th Field Artillery Regiment
| 206th Field Artillery Regiment | |
|---|---|
Coat of arms
|
|
| Active | 1917–present |
| Country |
 United States |
| Allegiance |
 Arkansas
|
| Branch | Army National Guard |
| Type | Light artillery |
| Role | Direct support artillery |
| Size | One (1) battalion |
| Garrison/HQ | Russellville, Arkansas |
| Nickname(s) | Aleutian |
| Motto(s) | Never Give Up |
| Anniversaries | 3 June, Dutch Harbor Day |
| Equipment | M119 howitzer,105mm towed |
| Engagements |
World War I *Streamer without Inscription World War II *Aleutian Islands Campaign *Rhineland *Central Europe Operation Iraqi Freedom *Transition of Iraq *Iraqi Governance *Iraqi Surge |
| Commanders | |
| Battalion Commander | LTC Daniel Cox |
| Insignia | |
| Distinctive unit insignia |  |
| 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team shoulder sleeve insignia |  |
The 206th Field Artillery Regiment is a United States artillery regiment, currently represented in the Arkansas Army National Guard by the 1st Battalion, 206th Field Artillery, Headquartered at Russellville, Arkansas. The 1–206th FA is an element of the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
The regiment's history begins with the creation of the 3rd Arkansas Infantry in 1917 as a part of the expansion of the guard following the Mexican Expedition and just before World War I. The unit was reorganized for World War I as the 141st Machine Gun Battalion, an element of the 39th Infantry Division. The unit deployed to France but did not see combat before the end of the war. Between World War I and II, the unit was reorganized as the 206th Coast Artillery (Anti-Aircraft) and many of its units were stationed at state colleges. The 206th CA was mobilized for World War II and participated in the Battle of Dutch Harbor, Alaska, on 3 and 4 June 1942. Following World War II the unit was reorganized as the 206th Artillery and served as the Division Artillery (DIVARTY) for the 39th Infantry Division.
After the re-organization and redesignation of the 39th Infantry Division as the 39th Infantry Brigade (Separate), the regiment was represented by the 5th Battalion, 206th Field Artillery, which served as the direct support artillery battalion to the brigade until 1996. The regiment's current active battalion, 1st Battalion, 206th Field Artillery serves as the direct support battalion to the 39th Brigade and has been mobilized to two deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The United States declared war on Germany 6 April 1917 less than two months after the last Arkansas National Guard units completed mustering out from duty on the Mexican border. At this time the Arkansas Guard consisted of two infantry regiments, the 1st and 2nd Arkansas, which had each been mobilized for service on the Mexican border. The National Defense Act of 1916 had provided for a massive expansion of the National Guard, from a force of just over 100,000 to over 400,000.
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