138th Field Artillery Brigade

This is the official webpage of the 138th FAB.

Constituted Jan. 21, 1839 in the Kentucky Militia as the Louisville Legion and organized at Louisville. The unit mustered into federal service May 17, 1846 as the first Kentucky Volunteer Infantry and mustered out of federal service May 17, 1847 at New Orleans, Louisiana. May 7, 1860 the unit reorganized in the Kentucky State Guard as the 1st Infantry Regiment (Louisville Legion) to consist of the Louisville Battalion and the Marion Rifle Battalion. 1st Infantry Regiment reorganized in July 1861 at Camp Joe Holt. Indiana, ‘with men of Union sympathy’ as the 3rd Kentucky Volunteer Infantry (Louisville Legion). Sept. 9, 1861 the unit mustered into federal service as the 5th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry (Louisville Legion) and mustered out of federal service Sept. 14, 1864 at Louisville. Between 1864 and 1904 the unit reorganized three separate times to fit the changing needs of the unit.

The Kentucky State Guard re-designated March 19, 1912 as the Kentucky National Guard. Under the name change the unit was called into federal service June 18, 1916 for service on the Mexican border and mustered into federal service June 25, 1916 at Fort Thomas. From 1968 to 1969, Kentucky Thunder served a 12-month tour in the Vietnam War. The unit has participated in every major conflict to date since 1839. The unit’s campaign participation includes Mexican War, Monterey, Buena Vista, Civil War (Union service), Shiloh, Murfreesborough, Chickamauga, Atlanta, West Virginia 1861, Mississippi 1862, Kentucky 1862, Tennessee 1862, Louisiana 1862, Indiana 1863, Tennessee 1863, Kentucky 1864, South Carolina 1865, Civil War (Confederate service), Henry and Donelson, War with Spain, Puerto Rico, World War I, Streamer without inscription, World War II, New Guinea, Leyte (with arrowhead), Luzon, Ryukyus, Algeria-French Morocco (with arrowhead), Tunisia, Sicily (with arrowhead), Naples-Foggia (with arrowhead), Anzio (with arrowhead), Rome-Arno, Normandy, Northern France, Southern France (with arrowhead), Rhine Land, Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe, OEF and OIF. The unit headquarters is currently located in Lexington.

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138th FA BDE NEWS

138th Field Artillery Brigade Incorporates Artificial Intelligence
February 29, 2024
Maj. Tyler Brown, Chief Warrant Officer 4 Jody Lyddane, Staff Sgt. Matthew Beverly, Staff Sgt. Earnest Cansler III, Staff Sgt. Zane Caudill pose for a team photo at the Combined Air & Space Operations Center, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar.

Drerup recognized by Supreme Allied Commander Europe for leadership
December 8, 2023
Capt. Sarah Drerup receives the Supreme Allied Commander Europe's Recognition Award

New captain leads top artillery battery
September 7, 2023
Army Capt. Graciela Arias Tharp, commander of Charlie Battery of the 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery, loads a round into the weapon system prior to firing it downrange during their annual training.

Departure Ceremony for Kentucky Guardsmen deploying to Southwest Asia
August 14, 2023
Col. Steve Mattingly speaks to Soldiers with the 138th Field Artillery Brigade during a departure ceremony in Lexington, Ky., Aug. 13, 2023. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by 1st. Sgt. Scott Raymond)

Kentucky National Guard honors U.S. Congressman Hal Rogers in armory renaming
August 3, 2023
U.S. Congressman Hal Rogers is recognized in a ceremony in Monticello, Kentucky, July 24, 2023.

Field Artillery participate in XCTC
July 15, 2023
A round gets fired off out of the M109 Paladin as part of the 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery Brigade's training events during their Exportable Combat Training Capabilities exercise June 16-30.

Kentucky National Guard Supports Thunder Over Louisville
April 24, 2023
The 138th Field Artillery Brigade played a role in Thunder Over Louisville by firing their 105mm Howitzer cannons from the Clark Memorial Bridge in sync with the National Anthem. April 22, 2023. This was the 34th Thunder that has been held. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Pfc. Georgia Napier.)

Senior enlisted advisor visits Kentucky soldiers
December 13, 2022
Command Sgt. Maj. David Page (left) introduces Army Spc. Garner Offutt (center) to Senior Enlisted Advisor Tony Whitehead (right) as the Kentucky National Guard's Soldier of the Year for 2023 in Lexington, Ky. on Dec. 3, 2023. Whitehead is visiting Kentucky National Guard soldiers and airmen before the holidays. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Andrew Dickson)

Soldiers compete in Kentucky Best Warrior
November 14, 2022
These Soldiers are representing their units and brigades in an intense gauntlet to find out who will advance onto the Regional Best Warrior Competition.

Thunder Six promoted to colonel
October 27, 2022
Army Lt. Col. Steve Mattingly was promoted to the rank of colonel in a ceremony at the Federal Hill Mansion at My Old Kentucky Home State Park in Bardstown Ky. on Oct 6, 2022. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Lt. Col. Carla Raisler)

138th FA BDE Organization

138th Field Artillery Brigade (Lexington)

https://www.facebook.com/KentuckysThunder

2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery (Lexington)
https://www.facebook.com/TaskForceLongrifles

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103rd Brigade Support Battalion (Harrodsburg)
https://www.facebook.com/103RDBSB/