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

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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

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