171st Field Artillery Regiment

The unit was raised on 1 April 1963, at the Oklahoma Army National Guard. Under the combat arms regimental system, it first formed a parent regiment from existing units to create its 1st Battalion as a unit of the 45th Infantry Division. On 1 February 1968, the unit was re-organised and on 1 May 1972 re-designated as the 171st. On 1 June 1989, the 171st was withdrawn from the combat arms regimental system and reorganized under the United States Army regimental system. On 1 December 1991, C Battery was allotted from the 1st Battalion to the Texas Army National Guard. On 3 September 2002, the 171st was ordered into federal service at home stations. One year later, it reverted to state control. On 1 October 2005 the unit was re-designated the "171st Field Artillery Regiment". On 1 September 2008 the unit was re-organised as B Battery and on 25 February 2012 it was recognised at Altus. On 1 July 2010 the unit re-located to Weatherford.[1]

The unit's insignia was approved on 10 May 1972.[2] It is a gold coloured metal and enamel device, 1 3/8 inches (3.49 cm) in height. It consists of a coat of arms with a shield, crest and motto. Three arrows symbolize the unit's three assault landings at Sicily, Naples-Foggia and Southern France. The arrows with the buckskin shield also symbolize Oklahoma's Indian heritage, (a depiction of a buckskin shield is found on the state flag of Oklahoma). The sunburst design, a favorite Indian symbol, alludes to the unit's mission to provide general target acquisition, survey and meteorological support to the artillery with a corps. The sixteen stylized rays symbolize the sixteen battle honors of some elements of the organization. The fleur-de-lis represents the unit's service in Europe, World War II. The taeguk alludes to the organization's participation in the Korean War.