197th Field Artillery Regiment (United States)

The  197th Field Artillery Regiment is a regiment in the New Hampshire Army National Guard.

History
The oldest element of the regiment (B Battery) claims to have been formed before 1780 as 1st Company, Light Infantry, 2nd Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, New Hampshire MIlitia. The regiment takes most of its lineage from the 1st New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry.

Lineage
Reorganized and federally recognized 24 April 1922 in the New Hampshire National Guard at Concord as, 197th Artillery (Coast Artillery Corps) Redesignated 23 April 1924 as, 197th Coast Artillery (AA) Regiment broken up 15 May 1943 as Follows 1 February 1959 744th and 210th AAA Battalions consolidated with 197th Artillery, a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System
 * HHB from C Company 1st Infantry NHNG
 * Service Battery from I Company 1st Infantry NHNG
 * A Battery from E Company 1st Infantry NHNG
 * B Battery from F Company 1st Infantry NHNG
 * C Battery from K Company 1st Infantry NHNG
 * D Battery from A Company 1st Infantry NHNG
 * HHB 2nd Battalion from M Company 1st Infantry NHNG
 * E Battery from I Company 1st Infantry NHNG
 * F Battery from G Company 1st Infantry NHNG
 * G Battery from L Company 1st Infantry NHNG
 * H Battery from H Company 1st Infantry NHNG
 * Inducted into federal service 16 September 1940 at Concord
 * 3rd Battalion activated August 1942
 * Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, as 197th Antiaircraft Artillery Group (see 197th Fires Brigade (United States)
 * 1st Battalion as 744th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion
 * 2nd Battalion as 210th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion
 * 3rd Battalion as 237th Antiaircraft Artillery Searchlight Battalion
 * E Battery 197th Field Artillery Regiment (TAB) was activated 01 June 2012

Distinctive unit insignia
A Gold color metal and enamel device 1+1/8 in in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned: Azure, in base a lion passant guardant Or, and in fess a lozenge and a fleur-de-lis Argent; on a chief Gules fimbriated of the second a winged projectile, wings inverted, of the last. Attached below the shield a Gold scroll inscribed "A Bas L’Avion" in Black letters. The shield is blue to indicate the longer service of the unit as Infantry. The gold lion passant guardant is for service in the War of 1812; the white lozenge—the corps badge for the 2nd Division, 3rd Corps, during the Civil War—represents Civil War service and the fleur-de-lis, service during World War I. The chief is red for Artillery and the winged projectile indicates that it is an anti-aircraft unit. The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 197th Coast Artillery Regiment, New Hampshire National Guard on 16 April 1927. It was redesignated for the 744th Antiaircraft Artillery Gun Battalion, New Hampshire National Guard on 28 December 1951. The insignia was redesignated for the 197th Artillery Regiment, New Hampshire National Guard on 29 March 1961. It was redesignated for the 197th Field Artillery Regiment, New Hampshire Army National Guard on 9 August 1972.
 * Description
 * Symbolism
 * Background

Blazon
Azure, in base a lion passant guardant Or, and in fess a lozenge and a fleur-de-lis Argent; on a chief Gules fimbriated of the second a winged projectile, wings inverted, of the last. That for the regiments and separate battalions of the New Hampshire Army National Guard: On a wreath of the colors Or and Azure, two pine branches saltirewise Proper crossed behind a bundle of five arrows palewise Argent, bound together by a ribbon Gules, the ends entwining the branches. Motto "A Bas L’Avion" (Down With The Plane).
 * Shield
 * Crest

Symbolism
The shield is blue to indicate the longer service of the unit as Infantry. The gold lion passant guardant is for service in the War of 1812; the white lozenge—the corps badge for the 2nd Division, 3rd Corps, during the Civil War—represents Civil War service and the fleur-de-lis, service during World War I. The chief is red for Artillery and the winged projectile indicates that it is an anti-aircraft unit. The crest is that of the New Hampshire Army National Guard.
 * Shield
 * Crest

Background
The coat of arms was originally approved for the 197th Coast Artillery Regiment, New Hampshire National Guard on 19 April 1927. It was redesignated for the 744th Antiaircraft Artillery Gun Battalion, New Hampshire National Guard on 28 December 1951. The insignia was redesignated for the 197th Artillery Regiment, New Hampshire National Guard on 29 March 1961. It was redesignated for the 197th Field Artillery Regiment, New Hampshire Army National Guard on 9 August 1972.

Campaign streamers
unknown

Decorations
Valorous Unit Award,Meritorious Unit Commendation