The primary mission of the Field Artillery Battalion of World War II was to support the infantry in its role as the ground gaining arm. It accomplished this by giving close and continuous fire support to forward combat elements. It also provided depth to combat through counterbattery fire and restricted movement in hostile rear areas through the use of such firepower. But on 1 January 1941 there were only 38 separate battalions of field artillery in existence. By 31 December 1944 this figure had reached the astronomical number of 696 battalions. Although the maximum number of Field Artillery Battalions in active Federal service at any one time never exceeded 700 battalions, more than 1000 of them existed at one time or another between 1941 and 1959; the majority of which served during World War II and the Korean War. During World War II the Field Artillery had 43,153 casualties of which 8,479 were killed in action or died of wounds. 67 battalions were decorated with the Presidential Unit Citation, this nation's highest organizational award for extraordinary heroism in combat and 242 battalions were decorated by foreign governments. By 1960 none of these battalions were in existence. What happened to them? This two volume set gives you the answer to this and other questions you may have always had about field artillery--Jacket.