258th Field Artillery Regiment (United States)

258th Field Artillery Regiment (United States)

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.