US AIRBORNE

Edouard  L. Carmichael

The 321^st Field Artillery Battalion was created on August 5th, 1917 and attached to the 82^nd Division.  The 321^st with its two sister regiments (the 319^th and 320^th) were officially activated as an element of the 157^th Field Artillery Brigade on August 29^th, 1917 at Camp Gordon, Atlanta and was commanded by Colonel H.C. Williams. In the beginning the unit was a horse-drawn artillery and the 320^th and 321^st had each four 7mm guns.  The 319^th hat 6 15mm guns. The regiments that composed the 321^st were sent to France (Le Havre) on June 3^rd, 1918. The following month, the 321^st fought in front of St-Michel and in the Meuse-Argonne area.  During the last days of the First World War, the battalion moved from Imecourt to Les Islettes where it camped until the armistice was proclaimed. The 321^st was send back to the United States and was dissolved on Mai 26^th, 1919. It was re-activated on June 5^th, 1930 with one extra battery, “C” battery coming from the 452^nd. It was created in Georgia and also attached to the 82^nd Division.

On the 15^th of August 1942, it was re-organised as the 321^st Glider Field Artillery Battalion and attached to the 101^st under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Edouad L. Carmichael. 

The 321st Artillery Battalion started the Normandy Campaign when disembarking at Utah beach, but it would take some days before it saw combat. This was due to the fact that the battalion was divided into two groups on two different boats.  The first boat was struck by a mine and had to unload on Omaha beach.  There were no losses but they had to wait until June 9^th for the unloading of guns and vehicles. During that time, a part of the battalion served as observatory for the 506^th PIR and directed the naval artillery and 105mm self-propelled gun.

June 9^th, the 321^st supports an assault by the 327^th GIR who crosses the Douve River. They will continue to support the 327^th GIR during the first part of the campaign.  Once the Douve River is crossed, the 321^st is installed near Catz. It is withdrawn from the front on July 10^th, 1944 and returns to England on the 13^th July 1944.

Le 19 septembre 44, le 321st décolla de Welford en Angleterre pour atterrir à bord de planeurs près d’Eindhoven en Hollande. Il avait comme mission le soutient de la 327th GIR alors que les forces allemandes contre attaquais. Il servit aussi comme appuis feu pour la 502nd PIR pour la défense de la ville de Zon. Le 24 septembre 44, on retrouve le 321st à Uden en compagnie du 506th PIR puis à Nimègue le 2 octobre. Malgré ses succès, l’opération Market Garden fut un fiasco du côté d’Arnhem. Le 321st ainsi que toute la 101st division quitta la Hollande pour Mourmelon en France.

On September 19^th, 1944 the 321^st takes off from Welford in England in gliders and arrives near Eindhoven in the Netherlands. Its mission is to support the 327^th GIR, if attacked by German forces. It will also provide fire support for the 502^nd PIR, enabling the defence of the town of Zon.  September 24^th, 1944 the 321^st is at Uden, together with the 506^th PIR, followed at Nijmegen on the 2^nd October. Despite its success, the operation “Market Garden” is a catastrophe near Arnhem.  The 321^st as well as the 101^st Airborne Division leave the Netherlands to return to Mourmelon in France.

In the morning of December 16^th, 1944 the Germans launch a major offensive through the Belgian Ardennes Forest, meeting the American defences that are assured by VII Corps. Their objective is to take the city of Antwerp, thus being the only harbour supporting the allied troops. At this point, the 101^st as well as the 82^nd are re-organising in France and kept as reserve.

December 18^th, 1944 the 101^st is sent to the town of Bastogne, strategic town for the Germans due to a number of major roads that they need for their offensive.

The battalion is part of the forces that will push the German attacks back.

On January 12^th, 1945 the 321^st supports the 502^nd PIR, 506^th PIR and the 327^th GIR in liberating the village of Foy which is on the road Bastogne-Noville and holds it until the armour belonging to the 4^th Division of Patton’s 3^rd Army break the encirclement.

January 20^th, the 321^st is moved to the Alsace Region in France, where the German operation “Whirlwind” is threatening the sector of the 7^th Army. The 321^st is moved to Davendorf to support the 506^th.

February 23^rd, the 321^st has returned to Mourmelon in France where the 101^st Division receives from General Eisenhower the Distinguished Unit Citation for its bravery in Bastogne.

The war in Europe is coming to an end and the 321^st is moved to the Ruhr pocket near Nievenheim on the 2^nd April.

On April 11^th, a contingent of the 321^st joins “A” Coy of the 506^th PIR for the Rhine crossing and the attack of the town of Himmelgeist.

On May 4^th and 5^th, “A” Battery of the 321^st supports the 506^th in its last mission to take the “Eagle Nest” of Hitler at Berchtesgaden.

United States :

2 Presidential Distinguished Unit Citations for operations in Normandie and Bastogne

France :

War Cross with palms for the Normandy operation

Belgium :

2 War Cross and Lanyard for the Bastogne operations

Holland :

Lanyard Oranje from the Netherlands for the operation Market Garden