US Army Training Center - Yearbook (Fort Polk, LA)

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The 49th Armored Division was the first of its kind in Na- tional Guard history. Inclusion of armored divisions on the post-World War ll National Guard troop allotments continued a sequence which, falteringly begun on the Somme in 1916, saw the tank dominant on every major European field in World War ll. Two National Guard armored divisions were projected in 1946. One of these, the 49th, was allocated to Texas. The 50th was allotted to New Iersey. Special reasons existed for organizing one of the new divisions in Texas. Here veteran members of the National Guard, experienced in every theater of World War ll, were available and eager to undertake the complex task of organizing and training such a division. Large numbers of temporarily inactivated local units, mo- bilized in 1940, were available in the state for reactivation and reorganization as armor and armor support commands. Good climate and proximity of Camp tlater Fortl Hood facilities favored National Guard armor training. Finally, a Texas record of mounted service and spirited support of peacetime National Guard training promised that the 49th Armored Division would be organized, manned and trained in the best traditions of Armor, Actual organization of the division involved the selection of major commanders and staffs, appoi ent of unit com- manders and officers, and recruitme ff initial members for lll units located in 56 Texas towns and cities. The organizational foundation of the 49th Armored Divi- sion was primarily those companies and troops which com- prised the 144th Infantry, 112th Cavalry, and 124th Cavalry regiments of the pre-World War ll Texas National Guard. Numerous battery elements of the l3lst Field Artillery and l32nd Field Artillery, as these regiments existed prior to 1942, were also incorporated into the division. Many officer veterans of these old commands were active in organizing the division. Major General tlater Brevet Lieu- tenant Generall Albert S. johnson, previously 112th Cavalry, Brigadier General flater Brevet Major Generall john W. Nay- lor, previously 124th Cavalry, Brigadier General tlater Major Generall Clayton P. Kerr, previously 144th Infantry, Colonel tlater Brevet Major Generall Gaston S. Howard, previously 144th Infantry, Colonel tlater Brevet Brigadier Generall Iohn F. B. Lyons, previously 124th Cavalry, Lieutenant Colonel tlater Brigadier Generall Luther E. Orrick, previously l3lst Field Artillery, Lieutenant Colonel tlater Brigadier Generall lames D. Scott, previously 124th Cavalry, and many others directed and supervised the effort. Associated with them in it were hundreds of officers and men whose National Guard experience extended back to the 1920's and early l93U's, with a few who were veterans of World War l Lone Star men of the 1947-1948 period recall the FWD ordinary conversions of military We-. .... 1 ., - .5 ' i- , ,J '-' 1 lj V1 T' I ' . , . ..,. - W 'r.., - 3--fr-rf' ' - V, V - 1 .i . .... if if I H 1-Q-4-wt'If' 1 .. .. . 1 ' . in . 1' Lff .1 1 'za' ,,,-'- Lg 1 1 1 . 4 -11 1 'V i .1 ..- .i1iQ5 f' T t N fl lr X, t.'1 1 ' ff, NX , fi Q f 1 1 f - V f , L Of... ARMCRED DIVISION

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ing many officers and men within the original division structure Company commanders who four years earlier piloted bombers over Ploesti or led rifle platoons over the Nor mandy beaches learned with their men to drive and main tain the M4 tank Former parachute mfantrymen took over mess sections Old Air Corps tail gunners struggled with supply duties and records Even an occasional ex Navy man veteran of Atlantic con voys and South Pacific assault landings undertook to be come a member of the Armor team A few officers and men however found themselves cast in roles they had left in 1945 Others took time from civilian -59 O X1 Z' lla fs K fp' X 6? . 2533 , . i 1' ga! . ' ' ,-rl Q . .-- by . . , .-- 5. 1 . - 5 . . . . X ' i? Y. I T sgzqfb -5, ,-' , - . -ae -. .' , . RQ' , TT A-4: f V l g 1 I -5.9 axg ef- H' we ' -:-9 . -:-g.x. ' ' ' ' 1 -1 ' ' 1 f A - t - ,gf , 9 1 ' n j X , . J N V , occupations to attend Army service schools, particularly The Armor School at Fort Knox, Kentucky. These became the nuclei around which were built initial training programs. An effective training cadre existed by the summer of 1943. when the division conducted its first field training period. In 1949 its first tank gunners were qualified. Organization of the division was completed in the same year. 1950 and the Korean War convulsed the division with rumors of mobilization. These never materialized, but in- creased Active Army activity at Fort Hood required the di- vision to conduct its 1951 field training at Fort Polk. Members of the command, unaware the experience was prophetic of events to come, pronounced the Louisiana facilities less than they were accustomed to and were glad thereafter to train regularly at Fort Hood. During the 1950's division activities were the routine ones of National Guard peacetime training. Eventual inaugura- tion of the six-month Active Army training program in 1957 for all non-veteran recruits solved the problem of recurring training cycles. With all members of the division basically trained at one time, for the first time in National Guard history it was possible to conduct continuous, progressive unit training. In the early 1950's the 49th Armored Division was desig- nated one of six Ready Reserve Strategic Army Force KSTRAFJ Army National Guard divisions, furnishing its officers and men the added training incentive of knowina they were a first priority reserve force. fi 'T Reorganization in 1959 of both the 49th Armored and 35th Infantry divisions under ROCAD and ROCID tables of organization resulted in transfer and exchange of a number of units between the two Texas commands. Simultaneous adoption of the combat arms regimental system permitted a redesignation of the armor, infantry and artillery elements of the division, so that actual lineages and traditions were again reflected in the numerical designations 144th Infantry, 112th Armor, l3lst Artillery and l32nd Artillery. The Berlin Crisis of luly-August 1961 was followed in September by an executive order alerting the 49th Armored Division for active military service. The main body of the command entered Federal service at 74 home stations on 15 October 1961 and closed on Fort Polk, Louisiana nine days later. At Fort Polk it has completed a cycle of training which began with an initial completion of that necessary for indi- vidual POR qualification and led to Exercise IRON DRA- GOON, a division maneuver in May 1962. The 49th Armored Division is presently a trained, ready force in being, a weapon in the free world arsenal, having been designated a division of the Strategic Army Corps CSTRACJ. Its officers and men serve in the tradition of American citizen-soldiers, who count eternal vigilance and readiness at arms their duty to their country and the only security for their American way of life. Mai Gen Albert S. Iohnson 6 Iune 1947-31 October 1958 Mui Gen Iohn L. Thompson, Ir. 14 October 1959-30 Iune 1961 Maj Gen Clayton P. Kerr my X' November 1958-13 October 1959