November 12, 2004: California Army National Guard 144th Field Artillery Ends Edwards Gate Augmentee Duty

More than 100 members of the California Army National Guard 144th Field Artillery (1st Battalion) were demobilized after 18 months of security and gate guard duties at Edwards. The National Guard forces were called upon to supplement active-duty Security Forces during a period of heavy deployments and high operations tempo.

Organized 3 August 1917 in the California National Guard at Santa Barbara as Battery C, 2d Field Artillery Regiment

 

Drafted into Federal service 5 August 1917

 

Reorganized and redesignated 24 September 1917 as Battery C, 144th Field Artillery, an element of the 40th Division

 

Demobilized 29 January 1919 at San Francisco

 

Reorganized and Federally recognized 27 May 1930 in the California National Guard at Santa Barbara as Battery E, 143d Field Artillery

 

Redesignated 14 April 1936 as Battery C, 196th Field Artillery

 

Expanded, reorganized, and redesignated 1 July 1936 as the 2d Battalion, 144th Field Artillery

 

Expanded, reorganized, and redesignated 21 August 1940 as the 144th Field Artillery, with Headquarters at Santa Barbara

 

Inducted into Federal service 3 February 1941 at Santa Barbara

 

Regiment broken up 8 February 1943 and its elements reorganized and redesignated as follows:

Headquarters and Headquarters Battery as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 144th Field Artillery Group Inactivated 23 April 1946 in Europe

 

2d Battalion as the 981st Field Artillery Battalion Inactivated 28 November 1945 at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey

 

(1st Battalion as the 980th Field Artillery Battalion - hereafter separate lineage

 

Description: A Gold color metal and enamel device 1 1/16 inches (2.70 cm) in height overall consisting a shield blazoned: Per bend Or and Gules, in chief a fleur-de-lis of the second, in base a grizzly bear of the first passant. Attached below the shield is a Gold scroll inscribed “CONTENDIMUS” in Black letters.

 

Symbolism: The shield is divided red, the color of Artillery, and yellow, the color of Artillery guidon markings. The fleur-de-lis represents service in France and the bear alludes to the nickname of the organization. The motto translates to “We Strive.”

 

Background: The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 144th Field Artillery Regiment on 30 January 1942. It was redesignated for the 981st Field Artillery Battalion on 10 January 1951. It was redesignated for the 225th Armored Field Artillery Battalion, California National Guard on 3 December 1954. It was redesignated for the 144th Artillery Regiment, California National Guard on 16 February 1941. The insignia was redesignated for the 144th Field Artillery Regiment on 28 August 1972.