125th Field Artillery History

Slideshow

Previous Next

To view more photos go to - http://picasaweb.google.com/veteransmemorialhall

The Origins of the 125th. The 125th Field Artillery is one of the most visible local Army units. It has its roots in the military developments of 1893. Companies A, C, and G were created in Duluth as part of the Minnesota 3rd Infantry Regiment.

At the time of the Spanish American War (1898), the 3rd Infantry Regiment was redesignated the 14th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment and federalized on May 4th 1898. Many residents of northeastern Minnesota served in the Spanish American War in the 14th Regiment, which was mobilized to Camp George H Thomas (Camp Chickamauga), Georgia. They were led by CAPT Hubert V. Eva. They remained in reserve and did not see combat action; most of the regiment's casualties came from illness, particularly typhoid fever.

Companies A and C were sent from Georgia back to Minnesota to help prevent possible Indian uprisings in Brainerd, Bemidji, and Farris (near Cass Lake). They were not needed, however, and later returned to Duluth. Following the Spanish American War, the 14th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment was again named the 3rd Minnesota Regiment.

World War I. During World War I, the Duluth-based 3rd Minnesota Regiment was reorganized and designated the 125th Field Artillery Regiment, part of the 34th Infantry Division. The division was composed of National Guard units from Minnesota, Iowa, and South Dakota. The 34th Division was sent to train in Camp Cody, New Mexico, and was nicknamed the "Sandstorm Division." The division's insignia was a red steer skull imposed on the silhouette of a Mexican water jar, recalling the division's desert home.

The approximately 700 members of 125th Field Artillery Regiment were mobilized for active duty in Europe under the command of now Colonel Hubert V. Eva. The unit shipped out to Castres, France, in September 1918. It served as a replacement division and did not see combat.

Peacetime between WWI and WWII. Reorganized from 1921 to 1926 in the Minnesota National Guard as the 125th Field Artillery and assigned to the 34th Division; Headquarters Federally recognized on July 24th 1924 at The Armory in Duluth, Minnesota.

World War II. On February 10, 1941, with World War II raging, but nine months before the United States had entered it, the 34th Infantry Division was inducted into federal service again. The 125th Field Artillery then disbanded on February 1st 1942; the 1st Battalion concurrently reorganized and redesignated as the 125th Field Artillery Battalion, an element of the 34th Infantry Division throughout the war.

The 125th Field Artillery Battalion saw action in Tunisia (North Africa) and then throughout the Italian Campaign including Naples-Foggia, Anzio, Rome to Arno, North Apennines and the Po Valley. Battery B and Battery C of the 1st Battalion each also participated in Rhineland and Central Europe.

The 125th Field Artillery Battalion was inactivated on November 3rd 1945 at Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia and was relieved on its assignment to the 34th Infantry Division on June 10th 1946.

The 125th F.A. was a major contributor in the Italian Campaign; it is featured in the Veterans Memorial Hall traveling exhibit, '500 Days.'

Peacetime between WWII and Korea. The 125th Field Artillery was consolidated on February 20th 1947 after being reconstituted August 5th 1945 in the Minnesota National Guard. It was consolidated unit reorganized and Federally recognized as the 125th Field Artillery Battalion, with headquarters at Anoka, Minnesota and assigned to the 47th Infantry Division.

The 125th F.A. Annex was constituted on June 28th 1946 in the Minnesota National Guard as the 257th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion. It was organized and Federally recognized on October 22nd 1946 with headquarters in Cloquet, Minnesota.

Korean War. On January 16th 1951, the 125th Field artillery Battalion [NGUS] was once again organized and Federally recognized during the Korean War. The Annex was reorganized and redesignated on that same date as the 257th Antiaircraft Artillery Gun Battalion. On October 1st 1953 it was redesignated as the 257th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion.

After the cease fire, on December 1954 the 125th FA was released from active Federal service and reverted to state control; Federal recognition concurrently withdrawn from the 125th Field Artillery Battalion (NGUS)

Source(s):

Albert J. Amatuzio Research Center

125th Field Artillery Regiment - Wikipedia

1st Battalion, 125th Field Artillery – Minnesota National Guard

Collection: 14th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment records | University of Minnesota Archival Finding Aids

14th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment, 1898 April - November | Minnesota Military Museum Archives

Secret Civil War Battlefields In Georgia's Chickamauga | TouristSecrets

Bing Videos

Members of the 125th Field Artillery: