The lineal ancestor of the Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, the 197th Field Artillery Brigade, began life as the Concord Volunteers in 1861. They were mustered into federal service 3 June 1861 at Portsmouth as Company E, 2d New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry; mustered out of federal service 19 December 1865 at Cabin Point, Virginia. They were involved in the U.S. Civil War battles of Bull Run, the Peninsula, Manassas, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Cold Harbor, and Petersburg in Virginia from 1862 to 1864. During World War II the New Hampshire Army National Guardsmen fought in the European and Pacific theaters. One of the elements of the 197th Field Artillery received the Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation dated October 17, 1944, to July 4, 1945, being part of the forces that liberated the Philippines from the Japanese imperial forces. The 195th Infantry, as an Infantry Combat Team, was allocated to the NH ARNG after the war. The regimental insignia was originally approved on 30 October 1953. It was redesignated for the 941st Armored Field Artillery Battalion, New Hampshire National Guard on 7 February 1956. The insignia was rescinded on 8 April 1963. It was reinstated and redesignated for the 195th Regiment, New Hampshire Army National Guard, with the description and symbolism revised on 20 June 1997. During the Vietnam War, the 3/197 Field Artillery served in Ap Phu Loi, South Vietnam, providing FA Forward Observer Teams and Artillery Liaison Teams in the II Field Force Area. In 1991, the 744 Transportation Company was deployed to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Iraq during the Gulf War. The 744 T.C., 6th Transportation Battalion, 2nd Corp Support Command- 2nd COSCOM, VII Corps, US Army, was awarded the U.S. Army Meritorious Unit Commendation for their service in the Gulf War. Captain Timothy Ainsworth was the 744 T.C. Commander. In 1995 the New Hampshire Army National Guard deployed to Bosnia to support Operation Joint Endeavor. In 1999 they deployed to the Central American republic of Honduras. From 2004-2005, the 744 T.C. ran missions out of LSA Anaconda, Balad, Iraq, during the Iraq War. Sergeant Jeremiah Holmes was killed in action caused by a powerful enemy improvised explosive device on a bridge, south of LSA Anaconda in Habbiniyah, Anbar Province, Iraq on March 29, 2004. Captain Mary Bergner was the 744 T.C. Commander. The 2nd Battalion 197th Artillery deployed in 2004-2005 to Iraq, serving as an MP unit, in the cities of Tikrit, Mosul, and Baqubah. SPC Allan J. Burgess was killed in action by a large VBIED in the city of Mosul on October 15, 2004. The 197th Field Artillery Brigade was ordered again into active Federal service on September 11, 2010 at Manchester. This time, they were deployed in Kuwait for Operation New Dawn. They were released from active Federal service October 15, 2011 and reverted to state control. During the 2010-2011 Kuwait Deployment for the 197 Fires Brigade Chain of command was Commander- Colonel Peter Corey, Deputy Commander- Lieutenant Colonel Mark W. Leahey, Executive Officer - LTC Daniel T. Wilson, and 197 FIB Command Sergeant Major was CSM Thomas Considine. The New Hampshire units involved were Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 3-197thFA, 3643rd, and 372nd Signal. The 237th MP Co deployed to Afghanistan in 2013 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. There they provided base security and customs support to multiple locations throughout the country. The 744th T.C. was later renamed the 744th F.S.C., and its garrison is located in Hillsborough, New Hampshire.
