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

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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.

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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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Upon graduation from the Armed Forces Staff College in 1960, he reported to the United States Military Academy as Senior Infantry Instructor. ln June 1963, General Spragins reported to the Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, and upon graduation was assigned to the Republic of Vietnam where he served as Deputy Commander of the 5th Special Forces Group for a year. After serving as an action officer for a year in International Plans and Policy Division, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Military Operations, Department of the Army, he was reassigned to the Office of the Chief of Staff as Deputy Secretary of the General Staff where he served for two years more in the Pentagon. In August 1968 he assumed command of the 2d Brigade, 82d Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He left his command on 16 October 1969 to become the Assistant Division Commander for Support, 82d Airborne Division. In December 1969, he assumed command of the newly activated 4th Brigade, 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. A year later, the unit was redesignated the 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division when the colors of that brigade were returned to Hawaii from Vietnam. In July 1971, he was assigned to Headquarters, US Army, Pacific at Fort Shafter to become Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations. General Spragins departed Hawaii in February 1973 and assumed com- mand of the US Army Training Center, Infantry and Fort Polk, Louisiana, 1 March 1973. Major General Spragins has been awarded the Legion of Merit with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, Bronze Star Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic- Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Army of Occupa- tion Medal, National Defense Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Korean Service Medal with three Bronze Stars, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with two Bronze Stars. United Nations Service Medal, Armed Forces Honor Medal lst Class Cvietnaml Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon and five Overseas Bars. He has also earned the Combat Infantryman's BadgeC2nd Awardj, Senior Parachutist Badge, Glider Badge, Vietnam Parachutist Badge as well as the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm. Major General Spragins is married to the former Joyce Dingley and they have five children, Mrs. Elizabeth S. Russell, Cwife of CPT. J. J. Russell, lnf.l, Ellen E. Spragins, Charles E. Spragins, Jr., Joyce D. Spragins ll, Catherine L. Spragins.