US Army Training Center - Yearbook (Fort Jackson, SC)

Page 18 text:

A r M 'X' 'wf,v,m, 5 ,M Mm: Im . 1, y E Y My S4359 RH :2:s 7.:. I ww .WZ , i Kris' XM ,Q My

Page 17 text:

we alhkfiforg offhe 'M .gnfanfry iuidion For Ihe Ihird Time in 32 years Ihe 81'h Infaniry Division com- posed of Ihe I3+h, 28I'h, 6IsI lnfanfry and Iheir supporiing unifs was ordered in+o aciive sIaI'us al' Forf Jaclrson under 'rhe command of Brig. General Franlr G. McConnell on I7 Augusl I950. Originally acfivaled in January, I9I8, Ihe Golden Arrow division was sfill enroufe 'ro France during World War I when The Armisfice was signed. The 8I'h Infanlry Regimeni, 'Ihen a pari- of Ihe division, was defained and a'H'ached Io 'Ihe Army of Occupalion, serving on German soil unfil I9 Augusl. The remaining elemenfs of Ihe 8'Ih were immediaiely refurned Io Ihe Uniled Sfaies and in January I9I9 'rhe organizafion dis- banded. ln -March, I923, Ihe division was reconsfifured as an inaclive uni+. I July I940 saw 'Ihe 8Ih again ordered 'ro acfive service a+ Camp Jackson, under command of 'Ihe Iafe Maier General Philip B. Peyion, and a weelc Ialer Ihe Posl was announced as a permanenf milifary posr 'Io be lmown +herea'F'Ier as Fori Jaclc- son. The reacfivaled division consisfed mainly of ihe I3Ih, 28Ih and 34Ih Infanlry Regimenis and fhe 28Ih and 83rd Field Arfil- lery Balfalions. In Sepiember, I94I, Ihe Bfh Ioolc parf in Ihe Carolina Maneuvers, and wifh Pearl Harbor and fhe conslanf Ihreaf of an arlaclr on Ihe easl coasf by German submarines, if was direcled fo parrol Ihe Arlaniic Coasf. For six weelrs during fhe winler of I942, unifs of Ihe division palrolled Ihe shores 'from Norfh Carolina 'Io 'Ihe Florida Keys. In April, I942, afrer having reiurned fo Fori' Jackson, if became 'Ihe Blh Molorized Division. In Seplemlaer of Ihal year 'Ihe division was ordered 'Io parficipale in 'Ihe Tennessee Maneuvers and from Ihere headed for a new home al' For? Leonard Wood, Missouri. In March, I943 Ihe Bih moved 'Io Camp Laguna, Arizona, and parficipafed in deserr maneuvers. During Ihis period of 'training if was demoiorized and again designaied a slandard infanfry division. Reiurning from deserf maneuvers Io Camp Forresf, Tennessee, preparations were im- medialely begun for an overseas movement Laie in November

Page 19 text:

The currenf mission of fhe Division is io frain enlisfees and selecfees fo be skilled soldiers and fo be in subsequenf readiness for fhe role of a replacemenf in a ccmbaf unif. The moffo of fhe Division is These are my credentials and was so proclaimed during World War ll when Company I of the 8+h was ordered fo clear ouf a sfrip of German beach confaining pillboxes and coasfal guns. A plafoon commander, while leading his men fhrough fhese lnolls and emplacemenfs, noficed Germans waving whife flags. ln perfecf English, a German medical of- ficer announced fhaf General Ramcle was in a dugouf below and would like fo fall: ferms wifh fhe American Commanding Officer. Brig- adier General Charles C. W. Canham, As- sisfanf Division Commander, accompanied by a small group of slafi officers, arrived af fhee dugouf, 75 fee? underground. Through his inferprefer fhe Nazi commander sfafed: l am fo surrender fo you. Lei me see your credenfials. Poinfing oufside fo doughboys crowding fhe dugouf enfrance, General Can- ham replied, These are my credenfialsf' Firsf allied armored group fo enfer fhe baffered German cify of Duren. Advancing fo fhe fronf