Artillery: I was attempting to clean up during the lockdown and came across an almost 60 year old poster that I purchased going through the U.S. Army Artillery School at Ft. Sill...

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

I was attempting to clean up during the lockdown and came across an almost 60 year old poster that I purchased going through the U.S. Army Artillery School at Ft. Sill Oklahoma ("Comanche County College for Cannon Cockers").

No offense intended to non-military viewers. Just something we had for branch pride.

(Download)

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

pendennis

“Artillery adds dignity, to what would otherwise be an ugly brawl”. - Frederick, the Great (King of Germany, 1740-1786) -

“Artillerymen believe the world consists of two types of people; other artillerymen and targets.” – (Anon)

I'd always seen the "dignity" quote attributed to Frederick. My high school ROTC Professor of Military Science was an artilleryman, and we got thorough lessons on the value of artillery.

As an aside, artillery, or lack thereof, was at the root of one of the great schisms between the Marines and Army during WWII. On Makin Island, Marine LTG Holland M (Howlin' Mad) Smith, relieved US Army Division 27th Commander MAJG Ralph M. Smith after LTG Smith became angry over MAJG Smith's apparent (at least to him) lack of aggression. Army doctrine had always been that troops advanced with artillery. The Marines had practiced with tactical air cover, giving up heavy artillery.

weberwest Loc: Ferndale WA

Anything changed in the past 60 years?

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

weberwest wrote:

Anything changed in the past 60 years?

Artillery is still the king of battle!

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

UTMike wrote:

I was attempting to clean up during the lockdown and came across an almost 60 year old poster that I purchased going through the U.S. Army Artillery School at Ft. Sill Oklahoma ("Comanche County College for Cannon Cockers").

No offense intended to non-military viewers. Just something we had for branch pride.

I went through Artillery OCS at Ft. Sill almost 50 years ago, and served there for two years.

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

JohnSwanda wrote:

I went through Artillery OCS at Ft. Sill almost 50 years ago, and served there for two years.

I spent 30 years in the green suit.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

UTMike wrote:

I was attempting to clean up during the lockdown and came across an almost 60 year old poster that I purchased going through the U.S. Army Artillery School at Ft. Sill Oklahoma ("Comanche County College for Cannon Cockers").

No offense intended to non-military viewers. Just something we had for branch pride.

My Dad was stationed at Ft.Sill from 1929 - 1938 . He said the army was safer than the streets of Chicago in those days.

joehel2 Loc: Cherry Hill, NJ

Great poster, Mike. Thanks for sharing it.

tairving Loc: Magnolia, Texas USA

My dad was career Army/Artillery Corps. We lived at Ft. Sill for several years of my childhood, some of my earliest memories come from there. Thanks for sharing.

yssirk123 Loc: New Jersey

Great poster!

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

That may still be the case.
--Bob

Manglesphoto wrote:

My Dad was stationed at Ft.Sill from 1929 - 1938 . He said the army was safer than the streets of Chicago in those days.

phlash46 Loc: Westchester County, New York

UTMike wrote:

I spent 30 years in the green suit.

I went through Arty OCS in late '65 - '66. Only spent three years wearing the green. Thanks for your service Mike.

clansman Loc: wendover,england

No offence, but I always understood that the comment was originally "Cavalry are there to add tone to what would otherwise be a vulgar brawl". After all in the UK up until the late 19th century, cavalry and infantry officers simply purchased their commissions, no training required. Those who could not afford such went to the Artillery in Woolwich (" the Shop" ) or the Engineers. I do not know the supposed origin of this remark, but it certainly was not intended to compliment the Cavalry. Perhaps Frederick the Great got there first and was plagiarised by a discomfited engineer.

fourlocks Loc: Londonderry, NH

Love it! I was a Fire Direction Control "Officer" (13E20) who has fond memories of Ft. Sill...and just outside the front gate, Lawton, the sleaziest army town I've ever enjoyed with a greater density of bars, by-the-hour motels and pawn shops than any city in the U.S.