Nicknamed “Railgunners” to commemorate its past service as the 41st Artillery Battalion (Railway) in the Coast Artillery Corps, the 41st Field Artillery Brigade was stationed at three locations in the Continental United States (Virginia, Texas, Oklahoma) and two in Hawaii (Fort Kamehameha and Fort Hase) over the course of its first two dozen years of active duty. It spent 33 years (1972-2005) in Germany, was designated as the 1st Cavalry Division Artillery in 2015, and returned to Germany—along with its 41st Field Artillery Brigade designation—in 2018.
Campaign streamers include one from World War II (Asiatic-Pacific, no inscription), nine from the Vietnam War, and one for Kosovo (Operation Joint Forge); its campaign credits in the War on Terror have not yet been determined. Its service in Vietnam was honored with two Meritorious Unit Commendations and a Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, and its Headquarters and Headquarters Battery (HHB) received a Meritorious Unit Commendation for 2003 service in Iraq (a Detachment of the HHB was also awarded a Valorous Unit Award, also for 2003 service).
The Brigade was inactivated in April 2015 and reflagged as the 1st Cavalry Division Artillery, but a little over a half-year later it was reconstituted under the 41st Field Artillery Brigade designation at U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria.
The 41st Field Artillery Brigade Shoulder Sleeve Insignia (unit patch) was authorized for wear on 24 November 1981 (it was redesignated from 41st Field Artillery Group to 41st Field Artillery Brigade on 16 June 1982). The color versions consists of just two colors, scarlet and yellow—official branch colors of Field Artillery. A gun tube represents howitzers, and the lightning flashes that bookend it denote the speed, accuracy, and firepower of the Brigade.
Related Items
41st Field Artillery Brigade Unit Crest (DUI)
41st Field Artillery Brigade Combat Service ID Badge (CSIB)