Pfc. Cole Baker prepares a 105 mm high explosive artillery round to fire from an M109A3 Towed Howitzer.

Sgt. Big Deuce VIII (donkey) and Cpl. Short Round at an army ceremony accompanied by their Alpha Battery, 2-2 FAR handlers.

PFC Sean Ayala taking Sgt. Big Deuce VIII for a walk around his stable.

Pfc. Sean Ayala of A battery, 2-2 FAR grooming the field artillery mascot Sgt. Big Deuce VIII.

Sgt. Tanner Tite grooming Sgt. Big Deuce VIII.

Pfc. Osbaldo Arroyo of A battery, 2-2 FAR picking the hooves of the Field Artillery mascot, Sgt. Big Deuce VIII.

Cpl. Short Round VII (goat) getting attention from her A battery, 2-2 FAR handlers.

Col. Dale Beebe, U.S. Army Veterinarian doing routine physical on Sgt. Big Deuce VIII (donkey).

Soldiers from Fort Sill's Salute Battery, B battery 2-2 FAR, firing a World War II era M101 howitzer during Fort Sill's Indepence Day observance, July 4, 2022.

Spc. Tyler Rushton stacking and accounting blank munitions to fire out of the World War II era M101 howitzer for the 2022 Independence day observance on Fort Sill.

Pfc. Jose Chacon from Fort Sill's Salute Battery, B battery, 2-2FAR adjusting his belt and uniform in preparation for the Independence Day observance ceremony on Fort Sill, July 4, 2022.

Staff Sgt. Robert Condren polishing a canister. The polished canisters are usually presented to incoming and outgoing commanders as a symbol of the salute fired in their honor.

Fort Sill's Salute Battery, B battery, 2-2 FAR, conducting maintanance and cleaning the World War II era M101 howitzers after a ceremony.

Spc. Matthew Aurit of B battery, 2-2 FAR, Fort Sill's Salute Battery, sanding the tow lunette of one of their World War II era M101 howitzer.

Pfc. Dillon Bodine (left) and Spc. Jesse Estrada reassembling the breach of a World War II era M101 howitzer used for gun salutes during U.S. Army ceremonies.

Artillery Half Section personnel and horse moments before a U.S. Army change of command ceremony.

Fort Sill's Artillery Half Section during U.S. Army ceremony on the Old Post Quadrangle, Fort Sill, OK on July 13, 2022.

The Artillery Half Section during a U.S. Army ceremony on the historical Old Post Quadrangle, Fort Sill, Ok on July 20, 2022.

Cpt. John Tranor, Artillery Half Section Officer in Charge, presents flowers to the spouse of an incoming commander during a change of command ceremony on the Old Post Quadrangle, Fort Sill, OK on July 7, 2022.

Artillery Half Section horse Keith grazing the winter pasture. The horses are named after former Fort Sill Commanding Generals.

Spc. Tyler Carter rounding up the horses in the pasture to take them for grooming.

Cpl. Short Round VII receiving her initial reading towards an article 15 preceding under the uniformed code of military justice for head butting one of her handlers by Command Sgt. Maj. Wylie Ramos on Aug. 26, 2022.

Spc. Matthew Smith (handler) picks Artillery Half Section McDonald's (horse) hoof during grooming.

Pfc. Dylan Robbins (left) and Spc. Matthew Smith (right) guiding Ott (horse) into the pen to groom him.

Spc. Matthew Smith (left) pets McKiernan after giving him treats with Spc. Jonathan Marshall (middle) and Pfc. Dylan Robbins.

Artillery Half section personnel after a U.S. Army ceremony on the historic Old Post Quadrangle in Fort Sill, OK.

2-2 FAR soldier consolidating and organizing artillery fire dunnage during a live fire exercise.

FORT SILL, Okla. (Sep. 7, 2022) — The 2nd Battalion, 2nd Field Artillery Regiment in Fort Sill, OK is a Field Artillery unit with a unique mission. These men and women are used to being in and out of the field multiple times a week firing more than 60,000 105mm artillery munitions annually. They deliver fires in support of the United States Army Field Artillery School and allied nation artillery personnel around the world wide. In addition, 2-2 FA also executes ceremonies in support of the Fires Center of Excellence.

The ceremonial side of 2-2 FA consists of several elements divided within the subordinate units under 2-2 FA:

Alpha Battery care, maintain and handle Sgt. Big Deuce the VIII(donkey), mascot of the field artillery, and Cpl. Short Round (goat), who is Sgt. Big Deuce’s battle buddy.

Fort Sill’s salute battery, Bravo battery 2-2 FA provide fire during official army ceremonies. They fire Word War II era M101 howitzers of which bear the name of Medal of Honor recipients born in Oklahoma.

The Fort Sill Artillery Half Section carries the tradition of horse-drawn artillery from the World War I era. The soldiers assigned to this unit are tasked with maintaining and training the horses for army ceremonies.