The Georgia guardsman [Vol. 10, no. 2 (Mar.-Apr. 1960)]

THE
GEORGIA
*'' **

MARCH - APRIL 1960

GOVERNOR ERNEST VANDIVER

THE ADJUTANT GENERAL'S MESSAGE

MAJOR GENERAL GEORGE J. HEARN

Fellow Guardsmen:

When the March ice and snow storms devastated a major portion of North

Georgia and created hazardous conditions that threatened the livelihood,

health and property of our citizens, Governor Vandiver directed me to render

the assistance necessary to alleviate the suffering and hardship that prevail-

ed in the aftermath of the storms. It is with grateful appreciation that I humbly thank each Guardsman who

left the comfort of his home and family to respond to a call to active duty in

this emergency. Those of you who drove -over icy highways to set up genera-

tors and provide power and warmth to the many stricken communities and

institutions have earned the high esteem of all Georgians who learned of

your service.

And to those of you who ski II fully drove trucks, wreckers, ambulances and

jeeps into the snow-bound regions of the State during the snow storm without

a single mi shop, I offer my wholehearted commendation for a magnificient

job under the most treacherous of driving conditions.



The thousands of Georgians who were aided by your devotion to duty and

personal sacrifices will not forget the service you rendered them in behalf

of the Georgia National Guard. By working around the clock, far into the

bitterly cold night to deliver food, generators, feed and other essentials, you

have accomplished some of the most worthwhile services the Georgia Nation-

al Guard has been called upon to perform.

The mogn itude and scope of the duty you so heroi cl y performed wi II be

recorded as the largest peacetime state active duty mission in the history

of our State. I believe I con speak in behalf of all the citizens of Georgia

when I thank you sincerely for the mognificient service you rendered during

the most severe storms to hit Georgia in a quarter of a century.

,.

,.

----------------------------------------------~~-------------------------THE GEORGIA GUARDSMAN
**************
THE GEORGIA GUARDSMAN

Vol. 10 March-April 1960 No. 2
A publication of the Department of Defense, Military Division , State of Georgia. Published in the interest of the Georgia National Guard and distributed free to members of the National Guard of Georgia. The Guardsman receives AFPS material.

Honorable Ernest Vandiver
Governor of Geora;ia
Major General George J. Hearn
The Adjutant General

MAJOR DOUGLAS EMBRY Editor
Publication and Editorial Office 959 E. Confederate Ave., S. E.,
Atlanta 16, Georgia

The opmwns expressed in the Geor gia Guardsman are those of the Staff
Writers of the Publication and mem
bers of the Georgia National Guard flfld do not necessarily reflect any
official views of the 0 ffice of the
Adjutant General of Georgia.

Our Cover.
Fierce March blizzards descended on Georgia, submerging the northern re glons In thick layers ol Ice and snow. ~~!wing the contrast, a Skysweeper was .,....tographed with both coats on the Atlanta National Guard Reservation. Other photos and the story of Georgia Guordamen's participation In the emero genclea created by the avalanche of
wicked weather begin on page six.

"We must remember that the active

ilitary forces are only the cutting ~dge of our Nation's full strength.

: vigorous economy, a strong mobi

IJUJiicm base and trained citizens ~ the invincible elements in our

llitary striking power." Presl

U.t Eisenhower

-

MARCH, APRIL 1960

These 14 Army National Guardsmen hom the Atlanta area were among a group ol full-time Guardsmen who responded to a recent call lor blood from the Red Cross to
save a young Lavonia girl suffering lrom a faulty heart condition. On a list of regular blood donors at the Atlanta Guard Reservation, they are, front row, 1-r, SFC Tom Bennett, Lt. Col. Emmett L. Plunkett, MaJor Ralph Brown, Sp2 Tom Ennis SFC Frank Barnes, and M/Sgt c.rJ Evans. Back row, 1-r, are Capt. William H. Cathcart, SFC Lyndall E. Bennett, SpS William D. Smith, Lt. Mel Cleaton, S/Sgt Solomon W. Sosebee, Lt. Calvin Carroll, SpS Ralph E. Shaddix and Capt. Charles T. Ricketts.

ANG FLYING SAFETY BEST IN HISTORY

The Air National Guard's flying safety record for 1959 was by far the best in its history.
Its major accident rate dropped to 14.3 per 100,000 flying h6urs in 1959. In comparison, the 1958 rate was 22.41.
There are 92 aircraft squadrons in the Air National Guard -- at least one in each State, plus Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. They fly a total of more than 2000 combat and combat-support aircraft, of which 90 percent are jets.
Factors cited by the National Guard Bureau for the significant decrease in Air Guard accidents include:
o More frequent flying by Air Guard pilots, made possible by the con t.nued authorization for 36 extra
flying periods during the year. o More thorough superv1s1cn
exercised by Air Guard commanders at all levels of command, resulting in increased proficiency of pilots and and maintenance crews.
o Airfield improvements, including installation of runway arrest ing barriers and extension of overrun areas at many Air Guard bases.
o Contributions by flight safe ty survey teams made available to the Air Guard by the Air Force, together with an annual flying safety conference for Air Guard commanders and

flying safety supervisors conducted by the National Guard Bureau with assistance of major air commands.
o A jet instrument school operrated by the Air National Guard at Ellington Air Force Base, Texas, which provides specialized and refresher instrument training for a bout 400 pilots a year.
As one sidelight of this improved record, the National Guard Bureau reports that fully a third of its flying squadrons completed the year with out accident. Among these were Georgia's 128th and 158 Fighter Interceptor Squadrons.
WING CITED FOR SAFETY
The ll6th Air Defense Wing~ commanded by Brig. Gen. Bernard M. Davey, has been commended by the Commander, Continental Air Command, for meritorious achieve ment in flying safety.
Lt. Gen. William E. Hall forward
ed a certificate along with his person al congratulations citing the " out standing success in aircraft accident
preventiOn from 1 Afril 1959 through 30 September 1959."
A complimentary endorsement was also forwarded by Maj. Gen. Chester E . McCarty, CG, 14th Air Force, congratulating the officers and air men for "maintain in~ such a commen dable safety record. '

THE GEORGIA GUARDSMAN-------------------------------------------------------------------

GUAILD MUSTEILS DESPITE STATEWIDE D!tEHCHIHG

20 NG Communities Observe Minutemen

Even George Washington's stout band of militiamen wouldhave hesita-

ted to muster had they been confronted with the deluge of rain, sleet and

snow which descended upon Georgia Guardsmen February 20-22 when

annual Muster Day ceremonies were in vogue all over the state.

In spite of the bad weather which

continued throughout the weekend,

National Guard units carried out

their plans and offered those citi-

zens brave enough to risk a good

drenching a good look at Guard

weapons, equipment and facilities.

The special day was heralded by

newspapers, radio and television and

normally would have resulted in one

' '

of the most successful Muster Day

celebrations held in Georgia. As it

was, the public knew that the Guard

was putting its best foot forward.

Here is the way units called atten-

tion to their activities throughout

the State:

Albany - Open House ceremonies

Brunswick - With the signing of
a Muster Day proclamation by the Mayor and attendance of local chur ches by Guardsmen in uniform, mem bers of the signal battalion called attention to the day.

featured displays set up in the armory, and equipment, demonstrated to 350 visitors outside, included mortar firing practice and orientation rides in armored personnel carriers.
Americus - Guardsmen attended

ALBANY UNIT GIVES GUESTS RIDES IN ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIER

hurch in uniform Sunday and held Open House. Soliciting for the Heart Fund at road blocks was also part of their community relations program.
Atlanta Forty-thousandleaflets

d opped from helicopters informed Atlantans that Open House was being held on the Confederate Av enue Reservation by all local units. A large canvas sign across the street leading to the armory advertised the occasion. Featured was the 8" atomic-capable Howitzer, displays of signal equipment, an engineer shop truck and radio-tele type van. Miss Muster Day, 19-year old Betty Anita Starr, served as Hostess, posed for pictures and otherwise cheered-up the troops and citizens visiting the armory. Honorary hosts were colorfully clad members of the Gate City who wore their tradional colonial uniforms and served as guides.
Augusta - Open House at the
armory on Milledge Road brought 500 visitors to the gun battalion's headquarters where the local signal unit joined in a display of their equipment and facilities.

CAPT. VINNING EXPLAINS CAPABILITY OF Ml RIFLE TO ALBANY CITIZ EN S AMERICUS GUARDSMEN LINE UP FOR CHURCH AND SOLICIT FOR HEART FUND

2

MARCH, APRIL 1960

--------------------------------------~~-------------------------THE GEORGIA GUARDSMAN

LEAFLETS DROPPED FROM HELICOPTER IN ATLANTA

HOWITZER INSPECTED BY MISS STARR AND LT. GILSTRAP

CAPTURED BY TWO MP'S, MISS MUSTER DAY

COL. DEADWYLER DEMONSTRATES BATTALION SWITCHBOARD

DOESN'T KNOW WHICH WAY TO TURN

Dawson - Open House activities

enticed a hundred or more to the armory. Earlier 30 members attended church.
Douglasville - With the Mayor,

County Commissioner in attendance,

Open House was held at the armory.

Members also attended local chur-

ches.

Elberton

Twenty-five local

citizens attended a luncheon and 200 more were at Open House ceremonies. The Mayor proclaimed Muster Day appropriately and both units attended church in uniform.
Griffin - With the Mayor's procla-

NEW "INSIDE SPORTS" TV FILM SHOWN DURING ATLANTA MUSTER DAY EVENT

Columbus - An exhibit at the
ience Fair at the City Auditorium Feb 19-29 and Open House at the :;no~ Monday night, Feb 22, attract-
Citizens from Muscogee County.

Cordele - Tank crew drills and
rides in an M-48 were the center of interest at Open House ceremonies. Sixteen members attended church in uniform.

mation to sta:rt things rolling, Open House ceremonies were held at the armory. Local Explorer Scouts were guests for lunch. A local pastor held services in the armory.
Hartwell - Guardsmen attended
church on Sunday and Open House ceremonies featured displays of gens and radar in the School yard.
(Continued on next page)

MARCH, APRIL 1960

3

THE GEORGIA G U A R D S M A N - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Jackson Open House, religious

services. polio immunization Lavonia - Open House was held

on Saturday 20 Feb

Louisville

Monday evening,

22 Feb, Open House was held ~ - Letters to parents of

Guardsmen and to Ministers by Col. Hogan spurred their interest in Muster Day which was proclaimed by the
Mayor. Open House was held at the new armory in Felton Homes. Members of the Ladies Auxiliary served as hostesses as some 450 guests saw a tank fire blank .50 caliber ammunition. The armory was decorated with weapons and equipment displays. Free refreshments and rides in the armored personnel carriers were entertainment treats.
Milledgeville - A lavish display

of news space in Jere N. Moore's Union Recorder focused the attention of the public upon Milledgeville's celebration of Muster Day at the armory Open House. Five full pages of stories and photos of unit activities, plus generous complimentary ads bought by local business firms, contributed to the success of the endeavor, showing the firmness of community support Milledgeville Guardsmen enjoy.
Newnan - At Open House cere-

monies 21 February, the unit was inspected by Brig. Gen. B. F. Merritt, Asst. Commander, 48th Armored Division, Macon.
Savannah - Maj. Gen. D. W. Mc-

Gowan, Chief, NGB, highlighted Savannah's observation of Muster Day by speaking to the Savannah Exchange Club 22 Feb. Muster at Travis Field resulted in the recruiting of 17 airmen into the Air National Guard units of the 165th Fighter Group (Air Defense).
Sparta - Open House was held

at the armory. St. Simons - A network of radio

relay stations was established around the island so visitors could observe the mission of the radio relay squadron.

PFC JOHNNY KINARD IS "SHOT" BY MRS. D. W. HAM AT JACKSON

LT. HOLSTON SWEARS IN RCT DAN NY KINARD AT OPEN HOUSE OF TROO P A

MACON MAYOR SIGNS MUSTER DAY PROCLAMATION FOR COLS. HOGAN, BAI RD

WORTH REPEATING: "For mere
vengeance I would do nothing. This nation is too great to look for mere re v enge. But for the security of the future I would do every thing." Tames A. Gar field

MACON GUARDSMAN GIVES VISITORS MAJOR GREEN DEMONSTRATES TRAIHE

CHANCE TO TRANSMIT ON RADIO

TO INTERESTED MACON CH ILD REPI

MARCH, AP RIL 1960

--------------------------------------------------------------------THE GEORGIA GUARDSMAN
:Dream rrip to Jlawaii Offered Officers lllld ?rielldS
:During II. s. /Vational gllllrd Assoeiatioll eoHVelltioll

Being ..Held at ..HonoluluJs Waillilli /!eaelt ill Oeto/Jer

Officers of the Georgia National Guard it's ******************************j
your Chance of a Lifetime!

You have a golden opportunity to visit Hawaii

- the Paradise of the Pacific at only a fraction

of normal costs. You have already received a letter

of instructions and an application form, but here

are some fringe benefits which may induce you to

to reconsider if you are letting this opportunity to

attend the 82nd General Conference of the National

Guard Association of the U. S. slip away:

1 Business sessions will be held in the morn

ing only; the afternoons are free.

2 The Annual States Dinner, highlight of the

convention usually attended in formal attire, will

be a traditional Hawaiian luau and will be attended

in Aloha shirts, and your lady may wear a Mumuu.

3-Temperature average is 78 degrees. lf it's

cold when you leave in October, don't carry your

woolties to Hawaii you won't need'em.

4- All hotels are on Waikiki Beach where you

will bask under palms surrounding the world's

most famous beach.

5 For the ladies, special enterta.inment is

planned during the morning business sessions.

Here it is: A Kodak Hawaii color photography show

featuring dancing Polynesian hula girls, a coffee

hour with the first lady of Hawaii, flower arrange

ment classes, fashion shows, luncheons, and many

sightseeing and guided shopping tours.

6- Tours of the beautiful near-by islands and

historic Pearl Harbor will be available.

7 Golf and fishing sites abound in the lush tropical paradise.

8 The famous Kaiser Aluminum Dome will be

the site of the conference meetings.

9 Besides the colorful States Dinner to be held Thursday evening, October 13, Guardsmen and

their guests will attend a reception and Cocktail

Party sponsored by the Hawaii National Guard

on Tuesday evening, October 11, at the fabulous

Hawaiian Village Hotel. The other four nights are

free "Have Fun" evenings.



10- The land of hula hula also offers thousands

ob~ftotthheorseattwrahcotioinndsictaotoe

numerous to mention here, their interest by May 20

b til receive more details concerning this bargain~ ement excursion with penthouse accommoda ttons.

********
You '11 be gone only eight or nine thrill-packed days, yet you will have lolled on the world's most famous beach for seven days and cavorted for si.x enchanting evenings at the world's most famous play land.
lf you haven't sem your application already, be sure it's in the mail before May 20. There are only 104 seats available on the Super Constellation. Stewardesses serving you meals enroute, free transportation from the airport to your hotel and a week of revelry await you in the tropical kingdom of Hawaii, our 50th State.
Invite your wife or friend. lt's going to be an informal yet unforgettable adventure in a Polynesian paradise.

MARCH, APRIL 1960

s

THE GEORGIA G U A R D S M A N - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
WAR OF THE ELEMENTS
Frigid March Weather Brings Ice & Snow Storms Crippling Power, Transportation
Georgia Guardsmen Called to State Active Duty, Operate Generators, Supply Feed in Emergencies

SCENE OF NG DELIVERY TO SNOW-BOUND POULTRYMEN

ICICLES FRAME SCENE OF GUARDSMAN AT ROCK CITY

A siege of ice and snow which blanketed much of North Georgia early in

March spapped power and communication lines, blocked roads, isolated thous-

ands of rural families, and collapsed hundreds of chicken houses in Hall

and Lumpkin counties, the heart of the nation's poultry industry.

To overcome the forces of nature, hundreds of Georgia National Guards-

men were marshalled to aid victims of the storm, termed the worst to hit

Georgia in 24 years.

It began the morning of March 2, the State Civil Defense Division,

when freezing rain and sleet formed obtained authority from Governor

thick coatings of ice over north Ernest Vandive.r to provide all the

and central Georgia. Telephone assistance necessary to relieve

poles and trees were snapped in human suffering and prevent prop-

two or were up-rooted entirely. Power erty damage.

lines and tree limbs cracked under

Deputy Director of Civil Defense

the ponderous weight of the ice Jack Grantham and his staff manned

that formed in some places solid the State radio control center around

coats up to four inches thick. the clock relaying messages to

Emergency calls came in by Ham relief agencies. Assisting in rescue

and State Patrol radio to State De- work were 39 Civil Defenst rescue

partment of Defense Headquarters. teams.

Major General George J. Hearn, The

When hospitals, radio stations,

Adjutant General and Director of and public institutions lost their

power supply, requests for auxiliary power sources were forwarded to National Guard headquarters . To meet the emergency, General Hearn dispatched National Guard generators to the following locations:
Carrollton and Tucker hospitals Forest Park School for refuge s helter Jonesboro for police radio powe r Jackson radio station Villa Rica, Locust Grove, Fayetteville, Kingston, Buchanon, Fairmont, and Roopville for water systems Adamsville School for Girls
In addition to the above services, two generators were rushed to Cave Spring, Georgia, School fo r Deaf where Colored and White domitories as well as the school building were without power. To accompli sh this

6

MARCH, APR IL 1960

--------------------------------------~~-------------------------THE GEORGIA GUARDSMAN

cAPT. VARNEDOE & MEN CHECK HEAT OUTPUT AT SCHOOL ROME GUARDSMEN MONITOR GENERATOR AT CAVE SPRING

mi ion , Air National Guard generators from Dobbins Air Force Base were taken into the ice-bound area ove r hazardous roads to alleviate the
uffering in sub-freezing temperat\.l'es. The generators were put in operation by 2 a.m., March 3.
Ten National Guardsmen from Rome's Co A, 2nd Medium Tank Battalion, 108th Armor, brough t in field kitchens and fed the victims hot meals from the Guard's portable gas toves. The rescue team was led by Capt. Lewis C. Varnedoe In, Co A Commander,
On the scene shortly afte r the Guardsmen arrived to furnish power and food, General Hearn met with
chool officials to offer any further a istance deemed necessary. The Adjutant General made the inspection trip by helicopter which he Ill o used to survey conditions in the Rome and Calhoun areas .
Guardsmen were also used to

transport 400 beds to a refuge center in Covington and 100 cots each were taken to similar emergency areas in Bowden and Rome.
***
High atop Lookout Mountain in northwest Georgia on the Tennessee border, an avalanche of ice over four inches thick completely paralyzed the exclusive residential area in and around Rock City. Brittle trees and telephone poles cracked "like salvoes of gunfire" throughout the night one resident related and 10 Guasdsmen from Calhoun's Hq, 2nd Med Tk Bn, 108th Armor, were dispatched to the area with jeeps and ra dio equipment to patrol roads in the crystal fairyland where 300 homes had to be abandoned .
The Guardsmen , under the command of Capt. Doyle 0. Phillips, kept the curious from the area, guarded the deser ed property and in one instance located an isolated

family which had been completely cut off from the outside world. The family had a child suffering from pneumonia, and the Guardsmen took the infant to a Chattanooga hospital.
Hard hit, too, was the Atlanta area. Power to National Guard headquarters on Confederate Avenue went off and a 30 KW generator had to be installed to keep the vital communications center operational.
***
Continuous sub-freezing temperatures prevented rapid thaw of the ice-clogged regions, and ice still clung to much of North Georgia's timberland when, on March 9, a blanket of snow four to eight inches thick descended on the hapless North Georgians.
This time the emergency was of a different nature. Highways were impassable. Rural residents were
(Continued on next page)

GOVERNOR IS BRIEFED BY JACK GRANTHAM AT CD HQ M4RCH, APRIL 1960

GEN HEARN ARRIVES BY HELICOPTER AT CAVE SPRING 7

THEGEORGIAGUARDSMAH------------------------------------------------------------------

GUARDSMEN BESIDE CRYSTALINE BRANCH OF ROCK CITY TREE

ONE REASON GUARDSMEN WERE ON DUTY

CALHOUN GUARDSMEN AT RADIO TRUCK HELICOPTERS PARK BY RADIO TRUCK, RIGHT, AT ICE-BOUND ROCK CIT'Y

isolated. Cattle and poultry indus tries felt the brunt of the storm when
normal commercial transportation
could not supply growers with life sustaioing feed.
In the nation's largest poultry producing area in northeast Geor gia, 3QO to 400 chicken houses col lapsed uader the weight of ice and aow. :A square foot of the frosty mixture was cut from a roof-top and
weighed. It tipped the scales at 14 lbs.
A flood of calls from distrauglx
growers and feed dealers resul-ted in oae of the largest operations in the history of the State involving Guardsmen on State Active Duty.
General Hearn immediately order ed a fleet of 20 2Yrton trucks into

the stricken area. Under the direct command of Lt. Col. Emmett L. Plunkett, State Maintenance Officer , the convoy of six-wheel-drive ve-
hicles - including two 5-ton wreckers and an AN/GRC 26 radio left the Atlanta National Guard Reservation at 2:15 p.m. March 9 for Gainesville. Col. Plunkett set up a motor pool there and established his dispatching office in the Hall County jail. Guardsmen manning the rugged trucks were full-time personnel of the 20lst Ordnance Company, 1st Rocket Howitzer Battalion and 24Btb Signal Battalion. They were augmented upon their arrival by Guardsmen from Gainesville's Co C, 878th Engineer Battalion, who had already handled emergencies with

their jeeps, 3/ 4-ton and 2;s-too ttucks. On hand also were Guards men from Elberton's Hq, 4th Gun Battalion 214th Artillery, with 5-ton trucks.
***
School buses, unable to move through the 8 inch snow, could not get children home from school, and Guard vehicles were pressed in to service for this mission. Motorists stranded along the highways were taken into shelter or their cars were towed to safe ground. Passe n gers in a Greyhound bus were carried by the Guardsmen to Gaine sville 's Dixie Hunt Hotel Expectant mothers received jeep rides to the Gaines ville Hospital.

8

MARCH, APR IL 1960

~--------------------------------------~~----------------------THEGEORGIAGUARDSMAN NG TRUCK COVERED WITH SNOW IS GASSED FOR GAINESVILLE MISSION ATLANTA MOTOR POOL SCENE OF ACTIVITY

PREPARING FOR GAINESVILLE OPERATION

COL. PLUNKETT, BUCK WARD AT ..COMMAND POST' IN JAIL

Meanwhile, although it was night

of the first day of the emergency,

Col. Plunkett, working with Hall

County Civil Defense Director Buck

a.rd, was dispatching his highly

lnlled truck drivers to feed mills.

There they picked up loads of feed

and guides who directed them to

rhe snowed-in poultry and cattle

growers in the remote regions of

Hall, Lumpkin, Dawson, White and H bersham Counties

ithout stopping, the tireless

G.uardsmen worked throughout the ~glu, driving their feed-laden ve-
~cles ove.r slick highways and

1:

snow-Jammed dirt roads that over treacherous mountain pass-

e of the Great Smoky Mountains

aero s the Appalachian Trail and

RCH, APRIL 1960

into the valleys of the sparsley populated Chattahoochee National Forest.
Often the Guardsmen, with the aid of their headlights or borrowed lanterns, had to use the truck's winches to free their vehicles which became bogged down in waist-deep snow drifts.
When commercial trucks, fighting to get supplies through, lost their battle, Guardsmen with their 5-ton wreckers or 2~'s with winches were called on to get them back in operation.
Over 200 missions were performed the first 24 hours of operation in the Gainesville area.
With only 20 minutes sleep in three days of continuous duty, Col.

Plunkett and an equally fatigued crew of expert drivers were relieved by another convoy of 15 trucks from units of the 1st Reconna.i.ss a nc e Squadron located in Newnan a nd Jackson.
This welcomed contingent, led by Major Sidney D. Dell, batta lion executive officer and staff assistant, arrived at dark on Friday, March 11. With 32 Guardsmen, all 4ualified drivers, Major Dell and Chief Warrant Officer Jesse English, Assistant Maintenance Shop Supervisor from Atlanta, took over the job of dispatching the drivers.
In addition to those vehicles assigned to operate out of Gainesville, four were dispatched to Clarkes-
(Continued on next page)
9

THE GEORGIA GUARDSMAN-- -- - - -- - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

RECON GUARDSMEN UNLOAD BARRACK BAGS UPO N ARRIVAL

GUARD HELP TO POULTRYMEN WASN'T " CH ICKEN F EE D, " YET IT WAS T OO

AE RIA L VIEW OF 5 CRUSHED POULTR Y HOUSES

FOULTRY FE ED L OADED ABOARD 3/4-TON TRUCK AT MILLING CO.

ville, two to Clevel and, four to Cum-
ming and two trucks joined an ambulance s ent earlier to Dahlonega.
Fresh layers of s now a dded to the s eriousness of the situation th e ni ght of March 11. Guard ambulances probed deep into the frozen hills taking doctors to patients unable to be moved and bringing other vic tims of the s torm to hospitals in Dahlonega, Cumming and Gainesville. On one treacherous ambulance call, a driver, medic and a newspaper reporter drove over seventy rugged miles to get to a man reported to ha e uffered a broken
hip in a fall. Only a short distanc from thei r destination, rangers coming from the home of the "victim" reported he was all right and had only suffered a bruised shoulder a week before.

***
Other missions were more successful. Food and clothing were taken to destitute families in Guard trucks. Fuel oil and coal also was a high priority item carried by the adept Guardsmen who earned their Masters and Doctors degrees in a marathon of driving tests.
Relief drivers who worked around the clock took naps in the jail while the bulk of the troops slept on cots brought from Atlanta and set up in the Gainesville armory. Meals were furnished the Gainesville contingent at the Hall County prison and ranges operated by cooks at the Gainesville Guard armory provided hot coffee and food throughout the day and night.
In other areas of the state, less s evere but nevertheless serious conditions prevailed:

Toccoa -- F ourteen Guardsmen manned all seven vehicles assign ed to Battery C, 4th Gun Bn, 214th Artillery. Stalled motorists on hig h ways leading into and out of Toccoa were taken to shelter or we re towed to safer ground.
Canton -- Operat ing with a jeep and two 2X- ton trucks sent from Calhoun, members of Co C, 2nd Med Tk Bn, 108th Armor, made emer gency calls delivering feed, hay, coal, medicine and other items to remo te sections of Cherokee alii Pickens Counties.
Dispatch sheets indicate that o er 900 separate trips were made fro m the Gainesville area alone. During
this operation National Guard truck hauled 7 ,650, 700 pounds of chicken feed from approximately 35 differenr feed mills to poultry growers .

10

MARCH, APRIL 1960

----------------------------------------~-------------------------THE GEORGIA GUARDSMAN
HALL COUNT

FRESH NEWNAN AND JACKSON GUARDSMEN ARRIVE MAJOR DELL BRIEFS TWO DRIVERS BEFORE NIGHT OPERATIONS

At the height of the operation, when 54 enlisted men and three officers were mobilized from the Gainesville unit, there were approximately 133 Guardsmen on State Active Duty. They operated 80 trucks on 10,000 gallons of gasoline and traveled approximately
45,000 miles. Miscellaneous missions perform-
ed by Guardsmen in the Gainesville area included the following:
Forty commercial trucks loaded
with coops filled with chickens were towed to processing plants.
Twelve loads of fertile eggs were hauled from producers to hac heries.

Twenty-seven loads of hay were taken to stranded cattle farmers.
Eighteen loads of coal were hauled to poultry houses.
Thirty trips were necessary to assist Propane gas trucks in delivering fuel to families using the gas for heat.
An indefinite number of similar trips were made getting fuel oil to farm homes.
Guardsmen also assisted in moving chickens from collapsed houses to those that withstood the weight of ice and snow.
The Lady Mayor of Clarkesville, Mrs. Amilee C. Graves, was so appreciative of service rendered

by Guardsmen in her area, she washed and ironed their wet and muddy clothing while they slept.
A load of 7, 000 pounds of milk was hauled from Athens to Gainesville.
Fifteen teachers and some 2,000 school children were taken to their homes from snowed-in schools.
Approximately 15 people were taken to hospitals. This included three maternity cases and an 84year-old woman suffering from a stroke of p~ralysis.
(Continued on next page)

HALL COUNTy

GAINESVILLE GUARDSMAN BRIEFS RECON TROOPS RCH, APRIL 1960

DAHLONEGA AND GEORGIA MOUNTAINS WERE CHOKED WITH SNOW 11

THE GEORGIA G U A R D S M A N - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

ATLANTA GUARDSMEN
KEPT TRUCKS OPERATIONAL
one man, who had died of old age, was removed from his home in. Towns Country and taken to a funeral home.
Twenty-five trips were made by jeeps hauling coal and food to Gainesville residents.
One trip was made to Milledge ville to pick up 328 bags of flour.
six truck loads of surplus food were hauled from storage warehouse at Alto to Cleveland, Toccoa, Dahlonega, Cummings and Gainesville where they were broken down into family size packages by Civil Defense, Red Cross, Welfare and Sa-lvation Army personnel.
There were some 30 entire
12

SNOW-CHOKED MOUNTAINS WAS SCENE OF GUARD BATTLE WITH ELEM ENTS

families evacuated from inaccessible areas to homes of friends or relatives.
200 families in Cleveland and 150 in Dahlonega were sustained by food from the NG.
Miraculously, *no**major accidents
occured during the entire operation, despite the most hazardous type of .:>f road and driving conditions imaginable. Windshield wipers would freeze. Wihdshields would ice over. Driving at night in snow drifts at times covering the wheels, the Guardsmen accomplished their missions without major incident.
Press, radio and television

credited the Guardsmen with saving the poultry industry in nor the ast Georgia and alleviating much of the suffering in the area. Of the esti mated 100 million chickens in the region, some 1 million were said to have died in crushed houses and from resulting cold.
The poultry industry suffered a severe blow, but it would not have been able to survive the ravages
of the ice and snow storms as easi~1
had it not been for the Nation.. Guard and other relief a gencies.
Losses were estimated to exceed $10 million and Governor Vandivd asked for federal aid for farmers ia
the stricken areas.

-------------------------------------------------------------------THE GEORGIA GUARDSMAN

When the word Is spread that Atlanta's 201 st Ordnance Com

pany Is having a barbecue, It doesn't take long for the

crowd to gather, Converging on the scene at the State Main

tenance Shop were treated

Atopritlhe6th1'w2o0r1lsdt'

s

Guardsmen best" as

and their prepared

families by SFC

Toby Wooten and his talented barbecuers. The kids were

shown free cartoons and other guests likewise sampled

Capt. John Plunkett's hospitality, On hand at right( were Major General George J. Hearn and Lt. Governor Gar and T. Byrd, shown with Capt. and Mrs, Plunkett. General Hearn took the opportunity to commend members of the 20lst who performed outstanding service to the state during the Ice and
snow storms In March.

ARMORY IN CALHOUN NEARS BUILDING STAGE

Construction bids on armories
to be located in Calhoun, Reynolds and Quitman are getting attention from Lt. Col. Earl Bodron, State Service Contract Officer. A bid of $108,983.00 was lowest for the Calhoun armory, with the Reynolds bid to be opened May 3 and Quitman May 24.
Bidding of the multi-unit Savan oah armory will be advertised May 1 with bid openings scheduled around June 1.
In the planning stages are new armories for Marie tta, Eatonton and Gainesville. Possible sites for con-
!ruction of an armory for the 248t h lgnal Battalion in DeKalb County have been investigated.

PINING FOR THE "GOOD OLD
DAYS?" Just 20 years ago, in 1940,
the base pay of an Army private was 121 per month. Today a recruit draws 178 and is upped to 183.20 after only four months service.

WORTH REPEATING: "There is
no week nor day nor hour, when tyranny may not enter upon this country, if the people lose their roughness and spirit of defiance Tyranny may always enter there is no charm, no bar against it the only bar against it is a large reso lute breed of men." Walt Whitman

Colonel Underwood, 48th Div PM , Dies

Lt. Col. James H. Underwood, former Provost Marshal, 48th Armored Division, died In Augusto March 28, 1960.
C Holder of the Distinguished Flying rou and Air Medal for his service
with the Army Air Corps during WW II,
Col. Underwood reorganized the 48th MaG,IIItary Polic e Company at Springfield,

U Jn an official announcement of Col.

"erwood' s

l~loenoodral

order was an

death, stated
officer

"CthoeloneDl iviUsnidoenr's~ of the highest

on.i'rlty, who was devoted to his dutl,

chora:.bsolutely dependable. His nab e
the or will lang be remembered by

0110c111O10tnoyd

who with

were him."

fortunate

to

be

.-
AGUADA, P. R. - Utah National Guardsmen pause on the beach where Christopher
Columbus and Ponce de Leon touched land In Puerto Rico In 1493. Army Guardsmen trace their history to Ponce de Leon whose Spanish Garrison evolved into the pres ent 295th and 296th Regiments, U. S. Army National Guard, Puerto Rico. The men visited the historic spot during their field training encampment when they particl pated in Operation Puerto Pine-Big Slam, U.S. Army Photo by Lt. Cecil W. Stough
ton, USA

RCH, APRIL 1960

13

THE GEORGIA GUARDSMAN-------------------------------------------------------------------

Mrs, Emest VandlverJ. wife of our Chief Executive, observes with Ma(or General ueorge J. Hearn the loading of pianos donated to patients at Milledgeville State Hospital. The pro(ect of assistance to the mental Institution was begun by Georgia's First Lady after a visit there last year, National
Guardsmen of the 201st Ordnance Comfany assisted in the eollectlon and transportation of the 1 pianos given the
Institution by Georgia citizens.

M/Sgt Edwin H. Friend, left, of the Georgia Air Natio na l Guard's Headquarters, Ga ANG unit located in Atlanta, is shown with, 1-r, Maj. Gen. William W. Quinn, Chief of Informa-
tion of the Department of the Army, and Colonel Wi II lam F. Jackson, Commandant of the Army Information School, Fort Slocum, N. Y. M/Sgt Friend, vice-president of hi s class, grad uated from the Information School near New Rochell, N. Y., in December. General Quinn was commencement speaker. (U.S.
Army Photo)

CWO LOVE RETIRES
Chief Warrant Officer John Love, director e>f the 530th AF Band, Ga ANG, since July 1955 and a member since its activation at Dobbins AFB 16 Feb 47, officially retired 31 Jan 60 after 20 years military service
The ve teran musician, who last year took the band to the dedication ceremonies of the National Guard Association Memorial BuUding, first joined the army in 1918. Durin g WW II, he served as a Navy musician.
A retired postal employee, CWO Love took his band on active duty in 1950 shortly after the beginning of the Korean hostilities.
121 Infantry Assn
Wants Members
Were you a member of the 12ht lnfan try at any time prior to 1 November 1955? If 10 you are eligible for ntem berahlp In the 12ht Infantry Associ atlon.
The Auoclatlon was formed In 1950 and now en(oys a membership of about 500. D'Ues for membership a re only $2.00 per year, Each year on Armed Forces Day a reunion Is held at the Volunteers Armory In Macon. A business meeting In the afternoon Is followed by a cocktail hour, dinner and dance, The cost per couple for the above enterta In ment Is $5.00.
Contact M/Sgt Jesse T, Klng, 488 First Street, Macon, for membership applications or If more Information Is desired.

406 ORO CAMP DATE
The 406th Ordnance Company of Hinesville is scheduled to perform its annual active duty for training at Fort Stewart 26 June to 10 July 1960.
Perched provocatively upon on Air National Guard (et, Betty Purvis, 24 attracts a sky full of attention at Dobbins AFB where she frequently visits while her escort, Lt. Paul Rob lnson, flies night intercept missions. Betty is not a stranger to airports, either. She is o Delta Airline stewardess from College Park. Unfortunately Capt. Parrott, on whose (et Betty poses, missed thi s recent night flying session, but we can safely assume that attendance wi II soar at future sessions with the prospect that this 34-24-34 beauty will again be waiting for those afterburners to be lit.

"Air-auto" Tested
FORT EUSTIS, Va., (ANS) New mobility for the modern Army is being tested this month as exp eri ments with an "air-auto" that travels on air, over land and water begin at Fort Eustis.
The car moves on a six to 12 inch cushion of air blown into the area between the base of the car and the surface over which it is moving . It is expected to carry a pay load of 1, 000 pounds of cargo or four passengers up to 35 mile s per hour over any unobstructed terrain. It resembles a conven tional automobile without wheels, is approximate ly 21 feet long, eight feet wide and five feet high.
Air provided by a fan s ys tem driven by a patr of 180 horse power aircraft engines is used for lift, propulsion and to change direction. Driver controls include a convention al steering wheel and throttl e. The Army has been studying for some time the "ground effect" phenomenon as a possible way of dras tically improving surface mobility which is an essentiality for the Modern Ar my .
THE SOLDIER IS TOPS: " Mort
than any other category of personnel in the Armd Forces," General Bruct C. Clarke had declared, "th e grour~~ combat soldier epitomizes the Amert" can citizen under arms" . . .

14

MARCH, APR IL 1960

----------------------------------------~-------------------------THE GEORGIA GUARDSMAN

Wing Reorganizes,

Officers Assigned

The 116t h Fighter Interceptor Wing of the Georgia Air National Guard was reorganized into an Air Defense Wing and Fighter Group (Air Defense) on 1 A~ril 1960.
Designated the 116th Au Defense Wing the Air Guard organization is com~sed of the following units at Dobbins AFB: 116th Fighter Group (Air Defense), 128th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, 116th Air Base Squadron, 116th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 116th Materiel Squadron and the 116th USAF Dispensary.
The Wing had these personnel
assignments:
!16TH AIR DEFENSE WING

Operating on a T-33 jet trainer at Dobbins AFB, M/Sgt William G. Darnell keepsthe Air Guard aircraft tuned up just as Capt. Ellen Jones, center, and 2nd Lt. Elinor F.
Reedf nurses of the 116th USAF Dispensary, Ga ANG, keep In fine fettle airmen of the 16th Air Defense Wing. Lt. Reed, 24, is the newest addition to the nursing
staff. Having transferred from the Florida ANG, she Is an Instructor In the schoolof nursing at Crawford Long Hospital.

Brig. Gen. Bernard M. Davey, Commander
Lt. Col. John M. King, Deputy Commander Major William P. Ramsden, Dir of Per Capt. Claude E. Howard, Pers Off Major Robert C. Pooley, Chaplain tajor Hiram J. Honea, Comptroller Major Lloyd A. Stanford, Mgt Anlys Off Capt. Tallie J. McMillan, Jr., Stat Svc Off taj.Lyman C. Duncan, Jr., Stat Svc Off Lt. Col. Thomas L. Weller, Dir of Ops Maj. Charles H. Allen, Ops Staff Off Maj. Billy J. Burgess, Ops Staff Off Capt. George H. Small, Jr., Ops Staff Off Capt.Clarence T. Ricks, Jr., Air Ops Off Capt. Thomas N. Saffold, Fly Safety Off Capt. John I. Parker, Intell Staff Off Maj. John A. Suder, Jr., Manpower Mgt Off Maj. Jackson W. Dobbins, Dir of Mat Lt. Col. George W. Reed, Acft Maint Staff Off Capt. Joseph M. Cheshire, Acft Maint Staff Off Maj. James H. Hulsey, Armt Staff Off Capt. Malcolm H. Adair, Sup Staff Off Capt. Robert H. Mair, Supply Off Capt. Thomas H. Norman, Comm Elec Staff Off Capt. Arthur R. Patton, Admin Off Capt. Harold E. Henderson, Admin Off Capt. William B. Paul, Jr., Legal Staff Off MaJ. Paul R. Smith, Inspector Gen
HQ 116TH FIGHTER GROUP (AD)

116TH CONSOLIDATED AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE SQ
Capt. James E. May, Commander 1st Lt. Claude E. Marsh, Pers Off Capt. Jack W. Com, Supply Off Capt. Aaron B. Roberts, Acft Maint Off
U6TH AIR BASE SQUADRON
Maj. William D. Hearn, Commander 1st Lt. William S. Waldron, Admin Off 1st Lt. Morris W. Maddox, Jr. , Fd Svc Off Capt. Ray F. Gore, Comm Off Capt. Wynne L. Daughters, Air Ops Off
116TH USAF DISPENSARY
Capt. Ellen L. Jones, Nurse, General Capt. William H. Rauschenberg, Med Svc Admin 2d Lt. William R. Moor, Med Sup Off Capt. Jack C. Wickham , Dental Off, Gen Capt. William E. Harris, III, Dental Off, Gen
116TH MATERIAL SQUADRON
Maj. Albert L. Leiker, Commander 2d Lt. Herman K. Massey, Admin Off 1st Lt. Robert K. West, Sup Off Capt. Thomas H. Baker, Base Engineer Capt. Thomas H. Mozley, Supply Off Capt. Ira W. Rogers, Base Sup Off 1st Lt Robert M. Orwig, Fuel Sup Off CWO W-2 Woodrow E. Roberts, Surface Trans Off

Major William R. Hudson, Commander

1 t Lt. James R. Storey, Comdr (Sq Sec)

Capt. Robert J. Tidwell, Pers Off

cit.MaJ. Thomas R. Luck, Jr., Comptroller James R. McDonnold, Acctg & Fin Staff Off

pt. Talmadge E. Hadaway, Budget Off

C~paptt..

Jack T. Charles

Pierce, Ops D. Simpson,

Staff Off Acft Maint

Staff

Off

pt. Leon B. Frye, Prod Control Off

pt. William J. Mills, Supply Off

pt. George H. Green, Administrative Off

C pt. Marshall L. Baxter Info Svcs Off

pt. Charles L. Drew, Legal Staff Off

MISCELLANEOUS ASSIGNMENTS
Maj. William A. Lee , (Excess Officer) Hq, 116th Ftr Gp (AD) Maj. EdwardS. Smith, (Excess Officer) Hq, 116th Ftr Gp (AD) Col. William H. Kelly, Sup Staff Off, Hq Ga ANG Col. William B. Wrigley, Comm & Elec Staff Off, Hq Ga ANG Capt. Joseph C. Stehlin, Jr., (Excess Officer) Air Elec Off Capt. Charles L. Delay, (Excess Officer) Supply Off Capt. Lawrence A. Schnall, Jr., (Excess Officer) Air Police Col. John T. Mauldin (Excess Officer) 116th AD Wg Capt. William Elkins (Excess Officer) 116th Ftr Gp (AD) Capt. Daniel W. Boone, Jr., (Excess Officer) Construction Engineer
116th Materiel Sq

MARCH, APRIL 1960

15

THE GEORGIA GUARDSAAAN

COLUMBUS AND ATLANTA GUARDSMEN AT SITE OF EMERGENCY WATER SYSTEM IN UNADILLA

Unadilla Well Fail;
Columbus, Atlanta
NG Supplies Water
Re5idents of the middle Georgia own of Unadilla, with a population of 1,200, owed their morning baths to Georgia National Guardsmen March 25 after the town's well caved in and Guardsmen were called upon to furnish an emergency water supply when all the well would yield was sand,
Working throughout the night of March 24-25, Guardsmen from Atlanta and Columbus installed a pumping and filtration system that provided thirsty Unadillans with sufficient water to take care of basic necessities.
With State Health Officials on the scene to check the purity of 1he water, members of the 201st Ordnance Canpany, who brought pumps and a half-mite of pipe from Atlanta, joined with Guardsmen from Colum bus' 560th Armored Engineer Battalion to set up sediment tanks and the filtration system useti by the State in many similar emergencies in the past few years.
One of the pumps began operating before 3 a.m. and the other was pumping water before dawn. Water was limited, but Guardsmen manned the umps at Unadilla until March 29 when an old well, out of use for 15
yea_r~1 was put back into operation.
M!Sgt Ed Ball of the 20lst was in charge of the Atlanta contingent, and Lt. Reuben Dent of the 560th supervised the eight engineers from Columbus.

ONE ARMY (1812 STYLE): On
April 10, 1812. the President was empowered to require governors of states ro hold in readiness militia not to exceed 80, 000.
MISSILE DEFINITION: Ballistic
Missile -- a vehicle whose flight path from burn-out of engine to impact is "free flight" like that of an artillery projectile. It is subject to gravitation and drag, and it may not perform maneuvers to modify flight .

WASHINGTON (ANS) --The Department of Defense has summarized military strength figures for the month of February. Total nu merical strength of the Armed Forces on February 29, 1960, based on preliminary reports, was 2,488, 793.
This represents a decrease of 2,491 from the January 31combined strength of 2,491, 284.
U. S. Army strength on February 29 was put at 877,177.

ctCbaplain' s :Message

''PEACE BE UNTO YOUz AS MY FATHER HATH SENT ME, SO SEND I YOU" John 20:21

The r~surrection of J esu~ Christ is of the utmost importance to you and to me. It climaxed the work wh1ch He came on earth to do. The resurrection gives to us the assurance of life-everlasting.
But this assurance which we have in the events of Easter must bring forth a response from us. Easter is just the beginning of Christian life.
The early disciples found in Easter an assurance in the rudiments of faith The simple principles and truths of God's divine plan were made more real. After the disciples found their faith justified in the risen Christ, they made every effort to bless the world with the benefits of the resurrection.
Jesus met with his followers in a room where they had assembled and said: "Peace be unto you, as my Father sent me, so send I you." The risen Lord filled the room with a heavenly radiance and His words challenged His desci to go forth into service.
In our observance of Easter, we too must be challenged by this command. thrill that sweeps through our hearts when we hear the choir sing and hear the Easter scripture message should not end on Easter Sunday but continue in e day of our year in the theme: "I know that my Redeemer lives."
In the after~glow of Easter, we should live for our ever-living Lord. No service in His cause is too humble. Christ Himself gives us His benedictioO of love as we live in His precepts and carry on His work.
Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) Frank A.
Chief of Chaplains, U. S. Army

16

MARCH, APRIL 1

Pert, pretty and provocative Betty Anita Starr, 19-year-old employee of the State Department of Defense, obllnglngly poses as Miss Muster Day at the Atlanta National Guard armory February 21 where the 35-26-36 beauty brightened up an otherwise dreary, overcast day. The occasion was Muster Day Open House for the Atlanta units, and Anita served as hostess for the hundreds of citizens who came to observe the displays manned by local Guardsmen. A resident of Morrow and graduate of Jonesboro High School where she was a cheer leader and wos voted the Friendliest in her class, Anita Is 5'1" and tips the scales at 105 lbs. In addition to her obvi ous talents she plays the piano and organ at her church and, you might like to know, takes care of enlisted records os Intermediate Typist in the National Guard Enlisted Section. Does Ye Editor forsee in his crystal ball a vast increase In personal inquiries concerning those statements of service,
etc.?

Ac1ui3itions Division Ths University of Georgia Libraries The Un i versity o f Georgia Athens, Georgia