4th Battalion 42nd Field Artillery Regiment ( United States ) The 4th Battalion , 42nd Field Artillery Regiment ( United States ) nicknamed the Straight Arrows — is a field artillery battalion in the United States Army . Their motto is " Festina Lente " ( " Make Haste , Slowly " ) . Unit assignment . Based at Fort Carson , Colorado the 4 – 42 FA is under the command of U . S . 1st Brigade 4th Infantry Division . Each of the two gun batteries ( A , B ) support a different battalion in the brigade . Headquarters and Headquarters Battery ( HHB ) provides the necessary support components for the running of the battalion and is also the home to the Fire Support Specialist s or " Fisters . " The battalion was the first in the Army to transition to the new Conservative Heavy Division ( CHD ) design , also first Artillery Battalion to test and train with the ( FBCB2 ) Future Battle Command Brigade and Below . The battalion is equipped with the M109A6 Paladin Self Propelled Howitzer , which fires a 155mm family of munitions , and is the most technologically advanced cannon in the Army inventory . While originally designated as a field artillery battalion , they have also deployed and conducted operations similar to that of an infantry regiment in order to support the everchanging needs of the United States Army during wartime . The battalion is currently training to maintain readiness for future world - wide deployments . Operation Iraqi Freedom . The battalion deployed to Iraq in late April 2003 . Combat operations were conducted initially in the area of Taji Airfield , just outside of Baghdad . The battalion moved north to the Tikrit area , leaving Battery B at Taji in support of Task Force Gunner until approximately October 2004 . The battalion ( less B Btry until fall ) was stationed at FOB Arrow near the village of Ad - Dawr , slightly to the southeast of Tikrit along the Tigris River . During their time at FOB Arrow , the battalion functioned in their traditional role of providing fire support to the 1st Brigade and other units in the area , and also conducted infantry operations in their sector . Some of these operations included combat patrols , raids , and general patrolling and stability operations in and around Ad - Dawr . The battalion also participated in Operation Red Dawn in December 2003 , and had unit members on the objective during the capture of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein . 4 – 42 continued to conduct combat operations until their redeployment in March 2004 . During this first deployment to Iraq , the battalion was responsible for capturing several former regime members that were wanted by the coalition , capturing scores of weapons and explosives , and engaging in direct combat with insurgents and terrorists in their area . The battalion also helped to rebuild schools and provide security to the local population and insured safe and secure access to public services such as power and water , and also provided security for food distribution and fuel / petroleum sales . The battalion was deployed again in December 2005 to Camp Taji , 14 kilometers north of Baghdad . The Straight Arrow battalion was given the task of providing security for Camp Taji and maintaining a presence on Highway 1 . They returned to Fort Hood in December 2006 . The 4th Battalion , 42nd Field Artillery , Straight Arrows , once again deployed to Iraq for its third tour in March 2008 as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom 07 - 09 . This tour saw the battalion separated from its parent brigade and attached to 2nd Brigade , 101st Airborne Division . Headquartered inside the International Zone of Baghdad , the Straight Arrows were charged with the task of supporting the Iraqi Army and monitoring the Karkh and Mansour districts of Baghdad . During this deployment the battalion supported two joint - security stations and conducted more than 3 , 500 total patrols in the district . The Straight Arrows then redeployed in March 2009 to Fort Hood , Texas for the last time . Return and restationing at Fort Carson . Once they redeployed and uncased their colors , they changed battalion commanders in June 2009 and immediately moved to Fort Carson , Colo . July and August 2009 were spent standing up the battalion at Fort Carson , establishing systems , conducting reset operations and building combat power . The fall of 2009 gave the battalion opportunities to conduct multiple squad and platoon - level training events . The Straight Arrows finalized the fielding of their howitzers from PMHBCT during the week of Thanksgiving and then immediately conducted Table VIII certification . The training provided Soldiers an excellent environment with temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees and several inches of snow . In January 2010 , 4 – 42 FA deployed in similar weather conditions to provide lethal indirect Fires in support of Alpha Company , 3rd Battalion , 75th Ranger training on Fort Carson ranges . The battalion ’ s deployment mission was finalized and the Straight Arrows transitioned the entire formation to a motorized infantry battalion . The battalion participated in Raider Blitz , a brigade field training exercise , as a motorized infantry battalion . Then the Straight Arrow battalion , as a member of the 1st ( Raider ) Brigade Combat Team , 4th Infantry Division , deployed to the Joint Readiness Training Center for counterinsurgency training , in April 2010 , with the Straight Arrows conducting maneuver operations as a battlespace operator . The battalion also completed deployment preparations , conducted final training for theater requirements and executed torch and advance party operations to Afghanistan . Operation Enduring Freedom . The Battalion completed its first rotation to Afghanistan as part of the 1st Brigade Combat Team , 4th Infantry Division ' s deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom . The battalion initiated relief in place / transfer of authority with 4th Squadron , 73rd Cavalry Regiment , part of 4th Brigade , 82nd Airborne in late July 2010 . The unit conducted security force assistance operations with the Afghanistan National Army ( ANA ) , the Afghanistan Provincial Police Forces and by supporting the national defense security . The battalion remained focused on security operations in support of Afghanistan as well as increasing the Afghan National Security Forces capabilities . 4 - 42 Field Artillery was able to make great progress in the Farah Province through constantly engaging the Taliban , by taking the Dukin / Charpoc Charmas area along with improving the security and quality of life for the Masaw District . 4 - 42 FA was relieved in place in July 2011 by the 2d Brigade Combat Team Special Troops Battalion , 2d Brigade , 4th Infantry Division . OIF I operations . ■Operation Planet X ( 15 May 2003 ) ■Operation Peninsula Strike ( 9 June 2003 – 12 June 2003 ) ■Operation Desert Scorpion ( 15 June 2003 – 29 June 2003 ) ■Operation Sidewinder ( 29 June 2003 – 7 July 2003 ) ■Operation Soda Mountain ( 12 July 2003 – 17 July 2003 ) ■Operation Ivy Serpent ( 12 July 2003 – 21 July 2003 ) ■Operation Ivy Lightning ( 12 August 2003 ) ■Operation Ivy Needle ( 26 August 2003 – ? ) ■Operation Industrial Sweep ( October 2003 ) ■Operation Ivy Cyclone ( 7 November 2003 – ? ) ■Operation Ivy Cyclone II ( 17 November 2003 – ? ) ■Operation Red Dawn ( 13 December 2003 ) ■Operation Ivy Blizzard ( 17 December 2003 – ? ) ■Operation Arrowhead Blizzard ( 17 December 2003 – ? ) Killed in action . Iraq War . 1st Tour 2003 to 2004 Second tour 2005 - 06 Third Tour 2008 - 09 Afghanistan War . First Tour 2010 to 2011 External links . " Artillery Journal " Redbook 2010