Field ArTillery - US Army Center Of Military History

The rOad TO fleXiBle resPOnse
257
different divisions that fielded different weapons and that belonged to different
components—either the Regular Army or Army Reserve. Although the latter
shared their CARS regi ments, the Army National Guard had its own, traditionally
associated with specific geographic areas. Under CARS, units had both earned and
shared honors. All elements of the parent regi ment shared regimental campaign
participation credit and decora tions, and color-bearing units displayed their own
contributions to these honors by means of earned honor devices on campaign and
decoration streamers for their colors.
The original CARS plans included the establishment of regimental headquarters,
not tactical ones like those that had existed prior to World War II, but as a “home”
for all the members of the regiment. The headquar ters was to be assigned a permanent
location and was to maintain the regimental history and traditions; retain the
regimental records; and display the regimental colors, trophies, and other properties.
The Army staff also envisioned the regimental head quarters as regimental recruiting
and training centers. Because of monetary constraints and other difficulties, Phase V
(organization of the regimental head quarters) of CARS was sus pended indefinitely,
and the regimental headquarters remained at zero strength under Department of the
Army control. Pending reestablishment of the regimental headquarters, the lowest
numbered or lettered active element in the regiment normally retained cus tody of
the regimental colors and properties. Members of all elements in each CARS regiment
wore the same distinctive insig nia, although they were author ized different
shoulder sleeve insignia depending upon the division or other command to which
their element was assigned.
Reorganization Objective Army Divisions
Because the pentomic structure was viewed as an interim measure in the first
step toward adapting the Army to the nuclear battlefield and to other military situations
that might arise, the Army staff continued to review various studies con cerning
the reorganization of the Army. One study, officially titled “Modern Mobile Army,
1965–1970,” and referred to as MOMAR I, called for both medium and heavy
pentagonal divisions but no corps echelon. The divisional artillery in each of the
two types of divisions was to contain a self-propelled 155-mm. howitzer and a light
missile battalion in support of five combat commands, which were each to have
a moritzer battery in direct support. To replace the airborne division, CONARC
proposed an air transport able brigade that would include two light missile batteries
in support of two combat commands. Fire-support brigades, each containing two
light fire-support groups (nine light fire-support battalions) were seen as replacements
for the missile commands. A headquarters and headquarters battery was to
be organized for the field army artillery, which was to include medium and heavy
artillery battalions as well as the longer-ranged missiles. The Army rejected the
study, with the Vice Chief of Staff General Clyde D. Eddleman on 16 December
1960 explaining the decision in his letter to the CONARC commander General
Herbert B. Powell: “While MOMAR is useful as a reference, it does not provide