The 70th ANTIAIRCRAFT ARTILLERY BATTALION was constituted 5 September 1928 in the Organized Reserve as the 1st Battalion, 562d Coast Artillery (Antiaircraft) and allotted to the Third Corps area.
Redesignated 30 November 1928 as the 1st Battalion, 917th Coast Artillery (Antiaircraft) and organized in Virginia during 1929. Withdrawn from the Organized Reserves 1 October 1933 and allotted to the Regular Army.
Redesignated 1st Battalion, 70th Coast Artillery (Antiaircraft) and activated at Fort Monroe, Virginia on 4 November 1939. Moved to Fort Moultrie, South Carolina 28 June 1940; arrived at Camp Stewart, Georgia 16 December 1940 and sent to Baltimore, Maryland 11 December 1941. Stagged at Fort Dix, New Jersey 17 January 1942 until departed the New York Port of Embarkation 23 January 1942. Arrived in Australia 27 February 1942 and New Caledonia, 12 March 1942 where attached to the Americal Division 24 May 1943. Landed on Guadalcanal 2 June 1943 and attached to XIV Corps. Assaulted Wickham Island 30 June 1943. Arrived at Segi Point, New Georgia 15 October 1943.
Reorganized and redesignated 10 Novembver 1943 as the 70th Antiaircraft Artillery Gun Battalion. Moved to Bougainville 23 June 1944; New Guinea 18 December 1944; Manus Island 21 December 1944 and the Philippines Islands 9 January 1945. The unit was at Dagunan, PI, at the end of Wpr;d War II (15 August 1945 location). Inactivated 30 May 1947 on Luzon, Philippine Islands. Activated 15 January 1949 at Fort Bliss, Texas. Redesignated 15 May 1953 as the 70th Antiarircraft Artillery Battalion. Inactivated 20 December 1957 at Basiley's Crossroads, Virginia.
Consolidated 31 July 1959 with the 562d Artillery, a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System.
CAMPAIGN PARTICIPATION CREDIT
World War II:
Northern Solomons
Luzon (with arrowhead)
DECORATIONS
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered: 17 OCTOBER 1944 TO 4 JULY 1945 (70th AAA Gun Bn cited DAGO 47, 1950).
Arrowhead: Assault landing, Wickham Island, 30 June 1943, WD GO 109-46.
NOTE: Personnel of this WW-II unit further authorized the Philippine Liberation and Independence Medals.
COAT OF ARMS
SHIELD: Gules, a pile bendwise or, a dragon passant counterchanged pirced by an arrow bend sinisterwise sable.
CREST; None.
MOTTO: TUEBOR (I will Defend).
SYMBOLISM:
The shield is red for Artillery. The pile represents the searchlight beam playing on the enemy in the sky, symbolized by the dragon. The black arrow signifies the gun and machine gun fire from the ground.
DISTINCTIVE INSIGNIA:
The distinctive insignia is the shield and motto of the coat of arms; the sample was approved for the 917th Coast Artillery on 17 December 1935.
Seeking photos and narratives from personnel in service with this unit. Please contact: 1SG Charles W. Aresta, The Hawaiian Military Insignia Collectors and Study Group, 1813 Sereno Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96817-2318. phone or fax:
1-808-537-2753 or e-mail: ra1sgt@hawaii.rr.com
|
