6/27 FA Headquarters Website
75th FA Brigade Webpage
The 6th Bn, 27th FA was activated on 23 August 1962 as an 8"/175 composite battalion, and stationed at Ft. Chaffee, Arkansas. In 1965, the battalion was deployed to the Republic of Vietnam. Assigned to the 23d Artillery Group, 11 Field Force Artillery, the battalion engaged in fire support planning and coordination for the 1st CAV DIV (AM), lst ID, 101st ABN DIV, 5th ARVN Division, 11th ACR, 3d Marine Division and close artillery support for Regular Force/Popular Force Special Forces Groups. The 6th Bn, 27th FA, known as the "Cannon Kings," was the first U.S. Artillery element to fire into North Vietnam. During the period 1 Feb 1969 to 31 Aug 1969 alone, the battalion fired 87,233 rounds in a total 26,355 missions without a single artillery incident.
The 6th Bn, 2nd FA compiled a long and enviable combat record in such campaigns as TET 69, Sanctuary Counteroffensive, Fish Hook, and Consolidation 1 to name a few. The unit returned to Ft. Lewis, Washington for inactivation on 22 Nov 1971. The 6th Bn, 27th FA was activated as the Army's first Multiple Launch Rocket System battalion on 1 Oct 1984.
Today known as the "Proud Rockets", the battalion carries on its' tradition of excellence. In March of 1990, the unit deployed to White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico to conduct the Initial Operational Test and Evaluation of the Army Tactical Missile System. The success of the test provided the Army with a highly accurate, long range fire support asset. On 2 Sep 1990, the 6th Bn, 27th FA deployed to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Shield. Assigned to the XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery, the unit played a critical role in the early defense of Saudi Arabia. As Desert Shield turned into Desert Storm, the battalion was the first U.S. Field Artillery unit to fire into Kuwait. Over the course of the war, the battalion provided timely and accurate rocket and missile fires for both U.S. corps in the theater, the 82d ABN DIV, the 6th French Light Armored Division,. 1st AD, 1st ID, the 101st ABN DIV, and the 24th ID (Mech). In September 1993, the Proud Rockets participated as the first ever MLRS unit to train in joint operations with the 11th Marine Regiment at Twenty-Nine Palms, California. During that operation, the Battalion was the first to fire the reduced range practice rocket under tactical conditions.In March 1995, 6th Bn 27th FA was the first unit to deploy the entire Battalion to support the 11th Marines at Twenty-Nine Palms, California.
CSM Willie L. Peterson
Section Chief with Alpha Battery 2nd BN 18thd Field Artillery Fort Sill, Oklahoma from 1975-79; Drill Sergeant with Bravo Company 5th BN 1st Training Brigade Fort Jackson,
South Carolina from 1980-82; Section Chief and platoon Sergeant with Bravo Battery 1st BN 77th FA Fort Hood, Texas from 1982-83; Platoon Sergeant /Team Chief with Weapon Support Detachment Korea, from 1983-84; Senior Drill Sergeant with Fitness
Training Battery, Fort Sill, Oklahoma1985-88; First Sergeant /Platoon Sergeant with Charlie Battery 3d BN 5th FA,
Schbach, Germany 1988-92: Commandant of the Fitness Training Battery 95th AG BN Fort Sill, Oklahoma from 1993-95; Operations NCO for the USARPAC Command Center, Fort Shafter Hawaii 1995-96;
Operations Sergeants Major, DIVARTY 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, New York 1997-98.
Lieutenant Colonel James L. Davis was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina; graduated from Louisiana State University in 1980; commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Field Artillery. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in History and a Master of Arts degree in Management from Webster University. His military education includes the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course, the Field Artillery Officer Advanced Course, and the Command and General Staff College.
In December 1980 he was assigned to Mannheim, Germany as a FIST Leader with 5-68 Armor. In December 1981 he transferred to 3-16 FA in Baumholder, Germany where he served as a Battery
Fire Direction Officer, Battery Executive Officer, Battalion S-2 and Battalion Assistant S-3. In December 1983 Lieutenant Colonel Davis returned from Germany to attend the FA Advance Course. Then assigned to the 5th Infantry Division Artillery at Fort Polk, Louisiana. He commanded Headquarters and the Headquarters Battery, 5th Infantry Division Artillery and C Battery, 21st Field Artillery (MLRS), the first MLRS battery in the 5th Infantry Division. In June 1988, he was assigned to Fort Sill, Oklahoma where he served as the Senior Instructor and Branch Chief of theMLRS Branch in the Gunnery Department and later served as the Special Assistant to the Chief of the Field Artillery.
After graduation from the Command and General Staff College in July 1993,was assigned to theV Corps Artillery in Frankfurt, Germany. As a member of the Corps Artillery staff he served as Deputy G-3 for Deep Operations and Special Projects Officer for the 50th Commemorative Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge. In February 1995, he was assigned to 4-27 FA (MLRS) in Babenhausen, Germany as the Battalion S-3. In July 1995, he became the Battalion Executive Officer for 1-27 FA (MLRS) also in Babenhausen, Germany. From December 1995 until June 1997,
Lieutenant Colonel Davis served as both the Brigade S-3 and Brigade Executive Officer for the 41st Field Artillery Brigade
in Babenhausen, Germany. In July 1997 Lieutenant Colonel Davis returned to Ft. Sill, Oklahoma where he has served as the ACofS, G-3 for the IIId Armored Corps Artillery for the past two years.
