Cannon Corner February 2008

Retired artilleryman Vincent Furia served with the A Battery, 1st Battalion, 209th Field Artillery. CannonArtillery.com had the opportunity to converse with Furia and discuss his experiences as an artilleryman firing the M110A2 howitzer with the 209th. He also shared his perspective on growing up in a military family, as well as what drove him to write a book on the history of field artillery and what it means to him. 

Name: Vincent Furia
Service Branch and units: A Battery, 1st Battalion, 209th FA
Rank: E-8
Number of years served: 20

For starters, tell us more about your military background? How did you become a field artillerymen? What years/conflicts did you serve?

I always wanted to be a soldier so I enlisted when I was 17 on the DEP (delayed entry program). I sought a combat arms MOS and chose Field Artillery over infantry. Bigger Guns, 1981-2001, no conflicts served.

You mentioned you are currently writing a book. Can you describe the focus of the book and the process you are taking?

My book focuses on artillery from the past to the present and the mission of the field artillery. My book covers the medieval period when catapults and trebuchets where basically the first artillery pieces to the present day artillery pieces, terms and tactics, gun types, the invention of gunpowder and how it was used to propel cannonballs and it’s use in modern day artillery ect. It’s been a long and tedious project with many hours of research from the internet and written publications. I’ve been working on it for four years and I still have a long way to go.

What motivated you to write the book?

Ever since my first pull of a lanyard back in AIT, I’ve been intrigued by cannons. My wife also encouraged me, since she thinks I need to get cannons off my chest once and for all, but that will never happen. I am an artilleryman and always will be an artilleryman.

Describe your quarterly alumni breakfasts. Are there any specific topics you discuss? Typical agenda items?

We just get together and reminisce on the past. The present conflicts have been brought up lately, since we all pretty much know a service member serving overseas and new technological advancements.

How did cannon artillery help you while serving with the 209th field artillery?

It taught me self-respect, respect for others and leadership skills.

What guns did you use while serving with the 209th? How would you rate the performance of the various guns?

While with the 209th we used the M110A2 SP Heavy Howitzer, the 8 inch was usually employed for precision missions, being the most precise and accurate weapon in the artillery arsenal. I can’t rate the various guns because I only fired the 8 inch and pulled the lanyard on a M109 in AIT once.

As a retired/former field artilleryman, what excites you most about the way in which cannon artillery has evolved of the years?

A (BCS) Battery Computer System, talk about high-tech, NLOS, Excalibur, MACS. It’s amazing how advanced it’s gotten since I last fired a piece, fire missions came over the section radio, and we had to burn leftover powder increments, in which I’d prefer doing just for the fun of it.

If you had to describe cannon artillery on the battle field with one word, what would it be and why?

Support! Why, because the Field Artillery supports those on the front where lives are at a greater risk.

Overall, what are three highlights of your military career?

Being able to complete Basic and AIT. Having my father, two brothers and my sister serving along side me. Being in The NYANG and scoring a perfect RTEP.

Many military members collect various pieces of memorabilia, what are some of your favorite pieces you've collected over the years, if any, and why?

My Ft. Sill coffee mug from basic/AIT, still unused. Many 16”x20” pictures consisting of artillery pieces being fired and capturing the projectile exiting the tube, my late father’s collection of 16”x20” pictures of military aircraft in flight including a F4 Phantom escorting a Russian Tu-95 Bear out of Greenland airspace. (Dad was USAF)

If you could tell the field artillerymen in combat one thing today, what would you say to them?

People First, Mission Always! Treat people the way you want to be treated (don’t pull rank) and know your mission as an artilleryman always, because those on the front rely on you.

Is there any additional information you would like to share?

I grew up an Air Force brat, being so all of the siblings perused a Military career and from that my mother was awarded Honorary Member of the Armed Forces by President Reagan.