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

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DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY HEADQUARTERS US ARMY TRAINING CENTER, INFANTRY AND FORT POLK Fort Polk, Louisiana The weeks leading up to your graduation from Basic Combat Training have probably been the most hectic, bewildering and hopefully beneficial weeks of your life to date. They have changed you in many ways as you made your transition from civilian to military life. This book attempts to document that change and points the way to your future in the United States Army. lVly sincere wishes go with you for a professionally rewarding and personally satisfying career. ' 1 404 CHARLES E. SPRAGINS Major General, USA Commanding

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CHARLES E. SPRAGINS Major General, US Army Commanding General Charles E. Spragins was born 11 April 1923 in Colon, Panama. He attended Tome School, Port Deposit, Maryland, and received his com- mission from the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, in 1945. His initial assignment was with the 19th Infantry Regi- ment, 24th Infantry Division, first as platoon leader, then as company executive officer. and later commanded several companies during the Army of Occupation in Beppu, Japan. He also served as regimental adiutant for a year before transferring to the 101st Airborne Division CTrainingJatCamp Breckenridge, Kentucky, in 1948. A year later, he was assigned to Birmingham, Alabama, as Assistant Professor of Military Science and Training at Woodlawn and Ramsey l-ligh Schools. I-le took command of the 10th Ranger Company at Fort Benning, Georgia. in November 1950, and moved the unit to Camp Carson, Colorado, before the unit finally joined the 45th Infantry Division in Hokkaido, Japan. Upon the deactivation of all Ranger com- panies in September 1951, he became a company commander in the 23d Infantry, 2d Infantry Division, Republic of Korea, and later served as the Regimental S-3 until July 1952. Upon completion of the Infantry Officers Advanced Course in May 1953, he was assigned as a personnel staff officer of the Infantry Branch, Career Management Division in the Pentagon. After serving three years in this assignment, he attended the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth. Kansas, graduating in June 1957, Moving to Headquarters, US Army Europe, he served as personnel staff officer and in August 1958 was reassigned as a battalion Execu- tive officer of an Armored Rifle Battalion in the 3d Armored Division. From May to December 1959 he served as Assistant G-3 of that division in Frankfurt, Germany.