Vietnam artillery , Then and now

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Field artillery Vietnam vets meet at Fort Sill for reunion

By Ben Sherman, Fort Sill, By Sgt. Joe Dees, 214th FiB 

For Hank Parker of Boise, Idaho, returning to Fort Sill was “coming home.” “I told our guys that we were going to honor the fallen but to do that we had to go ‘back home,” Parker said. “And they said ‘Where is that?’ and I said to them ‘Fort Sill, Oklahoma.’ And that just struck a chord and everyone said we want to do it. So this is our home.” 

Parker was a captain with B Battery, 5th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery in the Vietnam War from 1968 to ’69. He and his men trained at Fort Sill on the 105 mm towed howitzer. Forty-one members of the 27th FA came ‘home’ for their regimental reunion recently. But they were here for more than just renewing acquaintances and recalling memories. 

“The purpose of the reunion is to come together, not just with us and our spouses, but also to invite the family members of our killed in action to come visit with us, so that they can learn about their loved ones, too,” Parker said. Their three battalions lost 48 killed in action during their time in Vietnam.

These veterans came from all over the United States. While they were here they toured the 6th Air Defense Artillery school where they saw the Avenger weapons system. Staff Sgt. Shawn Richardson, C Battery, 6th ADA senior instructor, showed the veterans the training simulators where the crews train on the Avenger vehicle systems and the Stinger shoulder-launched weapons. Many of the veterans were impressed with what they saw.

“The new technology is phenomenal, Parker said. “In the time it took us to load a howitzer and put out one round, they can put out a battery six in the time it would take us to put out one. Their reaction time has to be instantaneous. The change is phenomenal.” 

Retired Col. John Munnelly was also very impressed. “We were ‘slip-stick artillery’ using maps and visual location to the target, whereas this takes advantage of the new generation’s ability to master the electronics that goes with their modern life,” he said. “It’s amazing, absolutely amazing.” 

Munnelly commanded the 5-27th FA in Vietnam, 1966 to ’67. For him and his men, coming back to Fort Sill was an emotional and spiritual experience. 

Meetings of Artillery units in Vietnam are held frequently.

In 2015,

Fort Sill is our home,” said a smiling Larry Teague, a C Battery veteran in a 2015 reunion. . “No matter how long ago it was, we have all been through here. We came from all over the country and went to basic training all over, but before we ever got to Vietnam we met here.”

The veterans began their visit to Fort Sill at the Army Field Artillery Museum, where vintage guns brought memories flooding back and gave the perfect opportunity to explain to their families what they did in Vietnam. This look at history was then followed by classes at Call for Fire Training and Computerized Battlefield, where the veterans were introduced to the technology currently in use on battlefields across the world.

“I loved seeing that new technology and equipment,” said Chuck Johnson. “Talking to these Soldiers I could hardly believe how integrated computers are into modern artillery. It seems like there is a perfect harmony between the Soldier and equipment, both working perfectly together. Incredible.”