258th Field Artillery Regiment (United States)

History
Predecessors of the 258th Field Artillery Regiment fought in the War of 1812, the Spanish American War, the United States Civil War, World War I, World War II, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. The 258th Field Artillery is one of only nineteen Army National Guard units with campaign credit for the War of 1812.

During World War II the unit was triangulated per then current Army policy. They became the 258th Field Artillery Group, 258th Field Artillery Battalion and the 991st Field Artillery Battalion. All were in the ETO. 1st Battalion was re-designated the 258th Field Artillery Battalion The 2nd battalion was re-designated the 991st Field Artillery Battalion  The 991st was attached to the 3rd Armored Division for most of the war. Battery "B" of the 991st was credited with firing the first shells into Germany and Battery "C" was given credit for its role in the capture of Aachen. The 991st was also the first American unit to use captured enemy shells and fire them back. Their name, "Washington Greys" comes from the fact that this unit acted as escort to General George Washington at his inauguration as first president in New York City.

The 258th Field Artillery  or "Washington Greys" is a field artillery unit of the New York Army National Guard. It once consisted of 4 battalions. 1st Bn (155mm towed), 2nd Bn (105mm towed), 3rd Bn (105mm towed), and the 4th Rocket/Howitzer Battalion armed with 8" Howitzer and Honest John Rocket They were all located in the Kingsbridge Armory, Bronx, NY. and were part of the 42nd Infantry Division Artillery (DIVARTY) The 3rd Battalion was deactivated first; then in 1967 the 2nd Battalion, followed in 1973 by the 4th Battalion.

Today the heritage of the 258th Field Artillery Regiment is carried on by the 1st Battalion, 258th Field Artillery, part of the 27th Infantry Brigade, New York Army National Guard.

Distinctive unit insignia
A Gold color metal and enamel device 1 3/16 inches (3.02 cm) in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned: Gules, two bars Gray fimbriated Or in chief three mullets of the second (Gray) fimbriated of the third (Or). Attached below the shield a Gold scroll inscribed “PARATUS ET FIDELIS” in Red letters. The shield is the shield of George Washington modified by reversing the colors and using gray piped with gold, instead of silver, and giving a red shield for Artillery. The arms of the Father of our Country are not to be borne by any organization and the shield of the regiment is accordingly modified. The reason for this selection is that it is a tradition that one company of this regiment paraded as an escort to General Washington on the occasion of his inauguration as President on 30 April 1789, and in commemoration of that event, assumed the name of “Washington Greys” which it has borne to this date. It was then an Artillery organization and wore a gray uniform. The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 258th Field Artillery Regiment on 19 January 1925. It was redesignated for the 258th Field Artillery Battalion on 12 March 1954. It was redesignated for the 258th Artillery Regiment on 22 March 1962. The insignia was amended to add a motto on 18 October 1968. It was redesignated for the 258th Field Artillery Regiment on 31 July 1972.
 * Description
 * Symbolism
 * Background

Coat of arms

 * Blazon
 * Shield: Gules, two bars Gray fimbriated Or in chief three mullets of the second (Gray) fimbriated of the third (Or).
 * Crest: That for the regiments and separate battalions of the New York Army National Guard: On a wreath of the colors Or and Gules, the full-rigged ship “Half Moon” all Proper.
 * Motto PARATUS ET FIDELIS (Ready And Faithful).
 * Symbolism
 * Shield: The shield is the shield of George Washington modified by reversing the colors and using gray piped with gold, instead of silver, and giving a red shield for Artillery. The arms of the Father of our Country are not to be borne by any organization and the shield of the regiment is accordingly modified. The reason for this selection is that it is a tradition that one company of this regiment paraded as an escort to General Washington on the occasion of his inauguration as President on 30 April 1789, and in commemoration of that event, assumed the name of “Washington Greys” which it has borne to this date. It was then an Artillery organization and wore a gray uniform.
 * Crest: The crest is that of the New York Army National Guard.
 * Background: The coat of arms was originally approved for the 258th Field Artillery Regiment on 19 January 1925. It was redesignated for the 258th Field Artillery Battalion on 12 March 1954. It was redesignated for the 258th Artillery Regiment on 22 March 1962. The insignia was redesignated for the 258th Field Artillery Regiment on 31 July 1972.

Current configuration

 * 1st Battalion, 258th Field Artillery (United States)
 * 2nd Battalion, 258th Field Artillery (United States)
 * 3rd Battalion, 258th Field Artillery (United States)
 * 4th Battalion, 258th Field Artillery (United States)