A sharp "boom" ripped across the Kansas prairie, and the Soldiers gathered around the gently rocking howitzer knew the silence that followed would continue until the next time the nation called for their storied unit.
Even as their brigade prepares for its upcoming inactivation, Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, spent Dec. 8-11 on the range, conducting a four-day field training exercise on Fort Riley in order to maintain their skills with heavy artillery like the howitzer, reinforce air assault capabilities and remain a globally available force.
The exercise, which included several fire missions, sling-load training and missions to establish procedures for commanders, was the last scheduled for the battalion, which was activated to fight the nation's conflicts and inactivated as operations wind down.
"This is our last battalion live-fire shoot before the unit deactivates," said Staff Sgt. Brian Brown, 2nd Bn., 32nd FA Regt. "It'll be the last round shot downrange from the 'Proud Americans.'"
The exercise concluded Dec. 11 with an impromptu ceremony, during which these proud Americans fired two white phosphorus rounds from their howitzers before 32 regular rounds, saluting the 2nd Bn., 32nd FA Regt. Lt. Col. Timothy Blackwell and Command Sgt. Maj. Kenneth Hardy, the battalion's command team, fired the final round, on which was written the names of every member of the unit who died in combat for as far back as records could be found. Blackwell was given the shell from the final volley as a parting gift.
"Before we deactivate, I wanted to make sure that we paid homage to everybody who served in this battalion," Blackwell told his assembled troops before firing the battalion's last round. "Everybody standing here today is doing something that most people in this country couldn't even imagine doing. You are serving your country, serving it well, and, in most cases, sacrificing not only your personal time, but your family -- your family sacrificed by loaning you out to your country.
"That's awesome."
Blackwell urged his Soldiers to remember their time with the battalion and look back on their time as Proud Americans with fondness.
"It's a milestone in my career," said Brown, who has been with the unit since 2009, shortly after its reactivation at Fort Riley. "I've seen a lot of people come and go."
The Hot Springs, Arkansas, native said the training went well, including some rare aerial support during sling load operations.
"We did a tandem rig where we flew the howitzer and the Humvee together, so it's all one component," Brown said. "It all went smoothly."
While the battalion went out with a big bang, the Soldiers who participated in the live-fire training took the lessons learned with them to their new units.
"It was a good week," said Pfc. Andrew Ballerino, 2nd Bn., 32nd FA Regt., who has been with the unit for the past six months. "It's been really good training for me. A couple years down the road when I want to go up for promotion, it will be very beneficial."
The Connellsville, Pennsylvania, native said the training ended on a bittersweet note.
"It's my first unit," Ballerino said. "I definitely wouldn't change it for anything."
Though inactivating, the Proud American's commander promised the world hasn't seen the last of the battalion.
"Even though this battalion is deactivating, don't worry," Blackwell said. "I guarantee you, the next time this country needs us, we'll come back, and we'll come back even harder."
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