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Unit Distinctive Insignia
261st Coast Artillery |
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261st Coast Artillery
(Harbor Defense) |
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Activated: |
Battery A: 1924
Battery B: 1936
Battery C: 1940 |
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Assignment: |
Harbor Defenses of
the Delaware |
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Notes: |
Inducted into
federal service 27
JAN 1941 |
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Motto: |
"Shot On Way" |
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Command: |
As of January 1941:
Battalion:
Roscoe, Henry K.,
MAJ
HQ Battery:
Cosden, Gilbert C.,
CPT
Battery A:
Light, Luke L., CPT
Battery B:
Royal, Thayer B.,
CPT
Battery C:
Lee, Trusten D., CPT |
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From its
beginnings, the 261st Coast Artillery proved
to be a well trained, well decorated and
extremely useful organization - traits that
would set the unit apart throughout the
second world war. Having started off
as a National Guard unit, the 261st was
federalized into service on January 27, 1941
as part of a quickly growing national
defense movement. Battalion strength
at that time stood at 327 members (303
enlisted, 24 officers). Most of the
men who made up the 261st were locals,
calling Kent and Sussex counties home.
On February 4, 1941 the battalion marched
into Fort DuPont to begin training.
While at DuPont, an additional 183 men from
Fort Dix arrived and the total unit strength
increased to 600 enlisted men and officers.
During the winter of 1941-1942, the 261st
would achieve its greatest strength of 625
enlisted men and 25 officers.
The 261st arrived at Cape Henlopen in April
of 1941 when Battery C was ordered to
establish a temporary encampment. This
would quickly become a permanent assignment
and the unit was ordered to begin
construction on fixed barracks. Until
the fixed barracks units were completed, the
261st lived in winterized tents, which were
little more than a few layers of canvas on a
stick-built frame. Later that year in
August, the Army announced construction on a
major fortification at Cape Henlopen.
The 261st would be responsible for
establishing the military function of Fort
Miles, as well as a large portion of the
construction.
Battery B would relocate to Fort Saulsbury
to man a battery of two 12" fixed guns in
May of 1941. While there, they
established one of the finest records for
gunnery excellence of any unit serving along
the eastern seaboard. Just a few
months later, Battery B was relocated to
Cape May where they manned a battery of
155mm guns.
In August of 1941 it was announced that the
261st was rated "outstanding" in competition
with other units stationed at Fort DuPont,
Fort Saulsbury and Cape May - and was
awarded a streamer for the battalion colors.
April of 1944 saw a partial de-activation of
the 261st when 130 men of the unit were sent
to Fort Jackson, Florida and trained as
field artillery. The remainder of the
unit was assigned to Coast Artillery duties
at Fort Miles, and after the war was
absorbed into the 198th and 21st Coast
Artillery regiments. |
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