US Army Training Center - Yearbook (Fort Carson, CO)

Page 30 text:

Major Q Major Major FREDRIK L. KNUDSEN JOHN B. PORTER EDWARD C. HAYNES S-1 S-2 S-3 ' f I Major Captain JAMES A. SMITH C. E. DEKKER S-4 Asst. S-3 wr-ng MfSgt, SFC SFC ROBERT J. HARTWICK WAYNE D. BATTON HARRY NICHOLS Sergeant Major Operations Sergeant S-1 Sergeant

Page 29 text:

Colonel James F. Pearsall Commanding Officer Preparedness has always been a byword in the 47th Infantry, which today-as it has since its organization on June 1, 1917-stands ready to defend our nation's freedom. V Less than a year after their organization, the Raiders received final training under the battle-hardened vete- rans of the British 16th Infantry Division at Samar, France. Training was conducted within six miles of the front. Soon afterwards the 47th was ordered to capture the town of Sergy. Raiders infiltrated and cracked German lines on high ground overlooking the town, and from there launched an attack that gave the unit its first combat victory. Following action at St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne, the 47th Infantry was deactivated September 21, 1921. Its battle streamers numbered five at the time, On August 1, 1940, the Raiders were reactivated. They first saw action in VVorld War II as they hit the beaches at Safi, Morrocco, in early November 1942. Twelve hours later they were in complete control of the town. Sweeping across Africa, the 47th drove through such towns as El Hamra, El Guettar, Jefna, and finally Bi- zerte, where the Axis powers were finally pushed out of Africa. Palermo, Sicily, was the scene of the next Raider land- ing on August 1, 1943. The regiment crushed Cesaro and Casto di Bolo before the Sicilian campaign was finally declared over August 26, 1943. On D-Day plus four the Raiders landed on Utah Beach, France. By the 16th the men had pushed their way to St. Colombe. The next day found the 47th cutting 4701 Infantry 3. Robert M. Beechinor, jr. Executive Officer the road near St. Lo'Ourville, thus blocking the last escape route of the Germans and severing the Cotentin Peninsula, History was made on June 25, 1944, when th-e 2d Battalion entered the city of Cherbourg at 1255 hours, becoming the first Allied troops to enter that city. With the breakthrough at St. Lo, the rush was on. By August 1944, the Raiders forded the Seine River and headed for the Vesle River. just 26 years and one day before the regiment had crossed the river at the same spot during World War I. After aiding in the liberation of Belgium, the Raiders crashed through the Siegfried Line, cracking the line .at 0830 hours September 14, 1944. The dying efforts of the Wehrmacht, the Von Rundstedt counter-offensive, hit the 47th with full force, but the Raiders beat off the Ger- mans and held their positions at Monschau. The regiment made history again at the epic battle of the Ludendorff Bridge on the Rhine. It became the first military unit to cross the Rhine since the Napoleonic Wars, but it paid dearly for its distinction with stagger- ing losses. But a bridgehead was established and it was only a matter of time before the Reich collapsed. Elements of the 47th Infantry and the Russian, 337th Rifle Regiment met in victory in the final days of the war, Hitler's Third Reich was whipped and among its conquerers were the 47th Infantry Raiders. Operation Gyroscope brought the 47th to Fort Carson, Colorado where it started its present program of training personnel for fillers to be assigned as replacements in tactical units.

Page 31 text:

lsr Baffawbn 4 ff: Infantry Lieutenant Colonel Major ROBERT 0. GREGORY WILLIANI F. GERARD Battalion Commander Executive Officer Q3 1 N f r if su' 'nk f YV it iv' xy.-J W: W Captain Captain Major CHARLES H. TOLLISON WILFREDO LEON JOHN E. TOTTEN S-I S-2 S-3 l ,,. 1fLt. Captain MfSgt, EDWIN G. DAVIS GEORGE W. ORTON ALAN WALMSLEY S-4 Asst, Adjutant Sergeant Major , . 1