Deliver fires and perform logistics operations in support of the United States Army Field Artillery School to provide skilled and adaptive artillerymen to the operational US Army and USMC. On order, execute ceremonial salutes for the Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill.

Staff Sections

☆S-1 Personnel (580) 442-4763 ☆S-3 Operations (580) 442-1681/1716 ☆S-4 Logistics (580) 442-4287/1639 ☆S-6 Commo (580) 442-6143

Big Deuce Battalion Newsletter

     Chris Compton of Frankton, Ind. earned his commission as a second lieutenant in the Field Artillery from Indiana University in August 1995. Following graduation from the FA Officer Basic Course at Fort Sill, Okla. in April 1996, he was assigned to 2d Battalion 8th FA in 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Light), at Fort Lewis, Wash. While at Fort Lewis, Compton served as a battery fire direction officer and executive officer, as well as a task force fire support officer for 5th Battalion 20th Infantry Regiment.

     Following completion of the Field Artillery Advanced Course in 1999, Compton was assigned to the 1st Armored Division Artillery in Baumholder, Germany where he served as S1 and commander of Battery C, 1st Battalion 94th Field Artillery (Multiple Launch Rocket System). Compton deployed with his battery to Baghdad in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

     In August 2003, Compton was assigned to Operations Group at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, Cali. He served as an observer/controller for the Wolf and Scorpion teams. He next arrived served as a Field Artillery Captain's Career Course small group instructor in 1-30th FA at Fort Sill.

     Compton was assigned to III Corps Artillery in 2006 and deployed to Baghdad in support of OIF where he served as a future operations planner for Multi-National Corps-Iraq. Upon redeployment, he was re-assigned to the FA School and served as the battalion executive officer for 1-78th FA. Compton then served as the S3 for 428th FA Brigade.

     Compton attended the College of Naval Command and Staff in Newport, R.I., where he graduated with distinction. He next completed the Maritime Advanced Warfighting School. He returned to the FA School and Headquarters, 428th FA Brigade, where he has served as the brigade executive officer.

     Compton holds a master of public administration degree from the University of Oklahoma and a master of arts in national security and strategic studies from the U.S. Naval War College. His military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (with two Oak Leaf Clusters), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (with two OLC), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal (with two OLC), Joint Meritorious Unit Award, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal for Combat Service, Global War on Terror Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, and the Airborne, Air Assault, and Combat Action Badges.

     Compton is married to the former Rhonda Chambers of Goshen, Ind. They have four children, Garrett, Jacob, Jaydin, and Aubree.

     CSM Joseph T McEachron was born in Muskogee, OK joining the US Army in June 1987 as a field artilleryman. He completed One Station Unit Training and awarded MOS 13B at Fort Sill, OK.

     His previous assignments include Howitzer Section Chief C 2/82 FA, and MLRS Section Chief, A 1/21 FA, 1st CAV DIV Fort Hood TX; MLRS Section Chief C 6/37 FA, 2nd ID, Camp Stanley, Korea; Small Group Leader-PLDC NCOA, Fort Sill, OK; Firing Platoon Sergeant and Support Platoon Sergeant B 2/4 FA, 214th FA BDE, Fort Sill, OK and Iraq; Observer Controller and Senior Observer Controller, 1/290 FA Training Support, Fort Sill, OK; 1SG B 6/37 FA, 210th Fires, 2-5 FA, 214th Fires BDE, Fort Sill, OK.

     CSM McEachron participated in Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom.

     His military and civilian education includes Primary Leadership Development Course, Basic and Advanced Noncommissioned Officers Courses, Combatives Level 1, 2, and 3, Master Fitness Trainers Course, Antiterrorism Officers Course, NBC Defense Course, Basic Airborne Course, Small Group Leaders Course, and Instructor Training Course, and United States Army Sergeants Major Academy Class 62. He holds an Associate's Degree from Central Texas College and is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Management from Franklin University.

His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (1 OLC), Meritorious Service Medal (3 OLC), Army Commendation Medal (7 OLC), Army Achievement Medal (11 OLC), Good Conduct Medal (7th award), National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Afghanistan, Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal , Saudi Arabia Kuwait Liberation Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Valorous Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Parachutist Badge, Combat Action Badge and the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara. He is married to the former Jeanette Jiminez of Bronx, NY and they have one daughter Teshaun and a grandson Joel, his family resides in Raeford, NC.

Description:
     A gold color metal and enamel device 1 3/16 inches (3.02 cm) in height consisting of a wreath of alternating white and red supporting a gold mule with a black field piece on its back, all above a gold arced scroll inscribed "THE SECOND FIRST" in black letters. This insignia is to be worn in pairs.

Symbolism:
     insignia is an adaptation of the crest and motto of the coat of arms and alludes to the original character of the organization as mountain or pack artillery.

Background:
     The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 2d Field Artillery Regiment on 28 April 1923. It was redesignated for the 2d Rocket Field Artillery Battalion on 10 February 1948. It was redesignated for the 2d Field Artillery Battalion on 29 July 1957. It was rescinded on 14 July 1959. The insignia was restored and authorized for the 2d Field Artillery Regiment on 1 September 1971. It was amended to revise the symbolism and correct the description on 17 April 1978.

Coat of Arms Insignia

Shield:
     The shield is scarlet for Artillery. The Kris commemorates service against the Moros during the Philippine Insurrection, while the ermine is from the arms of Brittany where the Regiment served in France during World War I. Gules, in fess a Kris Argent hilted Or, a chief ermine.

Crest:
     The crest shows its original character as mountain or pack artillery. a wreath of the colors Argent and Gules, a mule pack Or. Motto: "The Second First".

Background:
     The coat of arms was originally approved for the 2d Field Artillery Regiment on 31 May 1921. It was redesignated for the 2d Field Artillery Battalion on 22 October 1946. It was redesignated for the 2d Rocket Field Artillery Battalion on 10 February 1948. It was redesignated for the 2d Field Artillery Battalion on 29 July 1957. It was rescinded on 14 July 1959. The insignia was restored and authorized for the 2d Field Artillery Regiment on 1 September 1971. It was amended to revise the symbolism on 17 April 1978.

     The Second Field Artillery Regiment is among the oldest units in the United States Army. Military historians mark the period between the Spanish-American War and WW I as the dark-ages for the United States Army. This is noticeable in the fact that when the Second was designated in 1907, there were only six field artillery units consisting of 150 artillery pieces. This is the humble beginning of the Second Field Artillery Regiment.

     Duty in the Philippines-In 1901, Regimental designation of artillery units was dropped and Corps organization was adopted. At that time, the 17th and 18th Batteries, Field Artillery were formed and later became a part of the Second Regiment. From 1903-1905, renegade bands of Moros disputed the authority of the U.S. Military Government in the Philippines. The Moros would strike military installations and retire back into the safety of the jungle. The two batteries sought out and destroyed the Moro's jungle strongholds and helped quell the uprising. The Second Regiment earned three battle streamers for its actions in the Philippines. It is because of these actions the Regimental Coat of Arms bears a kris that was the curved blade dagger of the Moro warriors.

     The Second Field Artillery Regiment was stationed in Panama on April 30, 1930 at Fort Davis, Canal Zone. Many of the Battalion's tradition comes from this period. The Regiment spent most of its time conducting arduous jungle maneuvers. From 28 March to April 1934 with over 450 Soldiers and nearly 400 mules, under the battalion command of Lieutenant Colonel Edmund Gruber, the composer of the Caissons Song, the Second crossed the difficult terrain of the Isthmus jungle from one coast to the other (a distance of 65 miles) in just five short days. In 1940, the Second did it all again in just four days! Alpha Battery won the prestigious Knox Trophy in 1939. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Second took to the jungle to reconnoiter the area since the Canal was a prime target.

     In 1943, the Second returned to the United States. It was divided to form cadres for the 274th, 275th, and 276th Field Artillery Regiments at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. The former redesignated as the Second Field Artillery Battalion on 9 July 1944, the unit landed in Liverpool, England in preparation for the invasion of France. The Second Field Artillery Battalion served with distinction in the campaigns of Northern France, Central Europe, and the Rhineland. The Battalion arrived in France at Utah Beach on 16 August 1944 and was assigned to VIII Corps, 3rd United States Army. The Battalion fired its first round at Dirnon, France on 22 August 1944. During the reduction of Brest, the Battalion reinforced the fires of the 2nd and the 8th Infantry Divisions. The Battalion earned its fifth, sixth, and seventh streamers for actions in Central Europe.

     The Battalion returned to the United States and was inactivated on 29 March 1946 at Camp Kilmer, NJ, but was again activated at Fort Sill, OK on 1 August, 1946. The unit served as school troops for the Artillery Center until it was redesignated Second Rocket Field Artillery Battalion on 20 January 1948 and was stationed at Fort Bliss TX, with A Battery remaining at Fort Sill OK. The Second Field Artillery Battalion was one of the last segregated, all-black combat units in the Army. On 25 June 1958, the Second Field Artillery Battalion was redesignated the Second Howitzer Battalion (105mm), Second Field Artillery on the 23 June 1958. On 5 February 1991, the Second Field Artillery was reactivated into the Artillery Center at Fort Sill. Previously, the unit was a part of the 214th Field Artillery Group. The Task Force, 2d Battalion 2d Field Artillery-On 5 February 1991, Bravo Co, 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment was reflagged Delta CO, 1st Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment and joined the Battalion's ranks. Delta Co consisted of a M-2 Bradley platoon, a mortar platoon, and a M-1 Abrams tank platoon. The Task Force supported the Field Artillery School by providing realistic training for the students. The Mech runs trained new lieutenants in the art of combined arms tactics with an actual combined arms force. The Task Force was always a big hit at the annual Fort Sill CALFEX (Combined Arms Live Fire Exercise). They were deactivated in June 1995, returning the battalion to its pure artillery roots as it was redesignated once again as the Second Battalion, Second Field Artillery Regiment.

     From 1946 until now, the Second Field Artillery is still helping to train and develop the next generation of field artillerymen. The Battalion fires in excess of 60,000 artillery rounds and hauls more than 100,000 rounds annually while providing quality support to the United States Army Field Artillery School.