The Georgia guardsman [Vol. 25, no. 4 (July-Aug. 1975)]

.:"J'A-

)1../DO. M5

e .9P-I~'

~

J- 5

'1 II' b
~eorgta

fiuarJjman
I

I

-=

~---1~

l A RMY GUARDSMEN PUT IT ALL

TOGETHER FOR ANNUAL-

TRAINING '75

DOWN THE OGEECHEE -- The Third Annual Great Ogeechee Raft Race held on the Ogeechee River near Savannah included this entry from the 16Sth Tactical Airlift Group. Paddling the raft closer to the finish line are (1-r) TSgt. Taylor Baker, MSgt. Charles W. Meeks, TSgt.
WORK AND LEISURE AT ANNUAL TRAINING-SP4 David Wade (1. photo ) found the wooded terrain at Ft. Stewart ideal for hi s trail bike. Wade, assigned to the 124th PI Detachment, discovered the motorcross track laid out by Ft. Stewart engineers and spent many off-duty

James E. Newman and TSgt. William P. Harrelson. Their raft won second place in it s class. The captain of the raft was Sgt. Newman. A second raft a Iso sponsored by the 16Sth was entered and crewed by SSgt. Robert W. Marsh, Jr. and MSgt. John K. Jones.
hours running the course . SP4 Marion Pope (r. photo), Washington, Georgia, loads propellant charges in preparation for a firing mission by his unit's 155 millimeter howitzers. He is a member of Service Battery, 1st Battalion, 214th Artillery.

A MESSAGE FROM MAJ. GEN. BILLY M. JONES

My Fellow Guardsmen:
Congratufations to afT of you in the Nationaf Guarcl, Army ancl Air, for the fine performance cluring this year's annuaf training. ft is this spirit of cooperation ancl earnest determination that has given the Georgia Nationaf Guarcl its excellent recorcl of performance over the years. f look forward to the same enthusiasm again cluring the next annuaf training.
It goes without saying that next to those who fill the ranks, training is the most important aspect of a military force. If we hac/ the finest ancl most aclvancecl weaponry ancl systems on this planet, they woufcl c/o us no goocl unless we knew how to use them.

Evaluation from annuaf training shoufcl be a goocl indicator of the effectiveness of each unit's inactive cluty training program. If for some reason ffaws appear in the program, it is the responsibif ity of each member to c/o his or her part to bring that training back to a reafistic ancl effective system. This incfucles being extremefy innovative ancl creative in designing ancl carrying out the training objectives.
Again, congratufations on your successfuf efforts. befieve that each succeeding year is even more important than the fast for the Nationaf Guarcl. Afong with the other reserve components, we form the first line of c/efense with America's active forces. Now, we are proving again what our heritage shows -- that we are citizen-soldiers reacly at a minute's notice.

--------------------------------------------------1

I0 0OJ I

EANGGA Holds First Meeting P. 2 1

~ ~ 1 1c;1 ARNG Annual Training P. 3 1

I U"-1 ~ I

L=:.

I News Briefs P. 7 I
The Pride of 'Old Bill' P. 8

1--------------------------------------------------

Volume 25- Number 4 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -....
Vke (ieorgia (iuarJ~man

July- August 1975
HONORABLE GEORGE BUSBEE
GOVERNOR OF GEORGIA
MAJ GEN BILLY M. JONES
THE ADJUTANT GENERAL
COL DOUGLAS EMBRY (GANG, RET)
INFORMATION OFFICER
CAPT RUFUS R. BARBER, JR.
EDITOR

OUR COVER
Army Guardsmen from all over the State mode their way to training sites this summer for Annual Training '75. Once again the theme was Combat Readiness with all units closely observed by evaluators and training specialists. Other photos appear on pages 3, 4, 5 and 6.
The GEORGIA GUARDSMAN is a publication of the State of Georgi a, Deportment of Defense, Mi Iitory Division. It is pub I i shed in the interest of the Georgia Notional Guard and di strjbuted free to all members of Federally-recognized units of the Georgia Army and Air Notional Guard. The GUARDSMAN uses Armed f!!orces Press Service, Army News Features, Army News Photo Features and the Notional Guard Association of the United States Press Service.

JULY- AUGUST 1975

EANGGA Holds First Meeting by sMgt. Chuck NeSmith
FROM THE MOMENT the color guard of the "Chatham Artillery" posted the colors, it was apparent that something histor ic was happening . It was the beginning of something new in the Georgia National Guard . It began, appropriately enough, in the city that saw the birth of the Georgia Mi Iit ia .
THE EVENT was the First Annual Convention of the Enlisted Assoc iation of the National Guard of Georg ia (EANGGA). The place was the historic , military-oriented city of Savannah. More than 100 members and guests participated in the initiation of this new organization .
THE SENSE OF HISTORIC EXCITEMENT reached a new high when Mr. Frank Rossiter , V ice Mayor of Savannah , welcomed the delegates to the Port C ity. Mr . Rossiter detailed the contributions made to Savannah by the National Guard and vividly po inted out the close harmony with which h is city works with the military community.
BRIG. GEN . DONALD ROSENBLUM, Commander of Ft . Stewart , expressed his support of the infant organ ization and added his welcome .to the delegates . Gen . Rosenblum was accompanied by CSM Neal R. Gentry, Post Sergeant Major of the Ft. Stewart complex.
MAJ. GEN. BILLY JONES, Adjutant General of Georgia, re-emphasized his support of EANGGA. He was.accompanied by Col. Ben Patterson , Asst. Adjutant General for Air. Gen. Jones noted, in an address to the convention, that he supports more benefits for all Guardsmen including a state educati~n program for younger guardspeople. Gen. Jones emphasized that another pri or ity benefit on th~ State leve l is a system for retirement for the National Guard . He also stated support for improving the retirement system on the National level and removal of the 60 point retirement ce iling .

The Chatham Art illery pasts the colors. Uniforms are authentic replicas of those worn in 1786. The men are (1-r) PFC Christopher M. Russell, SFC William T. Niver, Jr., SFC Joseph E. Russell , Jr., and SPS Neil G. Russell.
ALTHOUGH GEN. JONES VOICED continued support for better National Guard benefits , he warned that the introduction of legislation for benef it s should be carefully timed . Public sentiment, political atmosphere, and the economy are all areas that can affect the outcome of legislation, he noted . He pointed out that at the present time, legislation which promotes changes costing the State and the Nation money is not very popular.
STATE REPRESENTATIVE HERB JONES, Distr ict-126 , echoed the sent iments of Gen. Jones and added that the State of Georgia had done very little in behalf of the Georgia National Guard in the form of incentives . The only concrete benef it provided by the State, Rep . Jones said, is a free National Guard tag . He noted that both state retirement and tu iti on assistance legislation will cost money , and would not be very popular bills in the capitol at this t ime. He reiterated, however, that benefits for Georgia Guardspeople are long overdue. He advised the EANGGA delegates to put all their energy behind one piece of legislation and persist #Nith it unti I results were obta in ed .
continued on back page

Newly elected Officers and Directors of EANGGA. L-R, MSgt. Chick Radcliffe-V.P. , CSM John T. Woods-Director, 1st Sgt. Jerry Slade-V.P., MSgt. E. C. Morgan-Director, SMSgt. Chuck NeSmith-President, SGM W. E. ToneyDirector, MSgt. Rodney Harville-Director, CSM Dempsey
2

l.!ogue-Director, SGM Ed Walden-Director, CSM Olen Carden-Secretary, CSM Glen H. Carder-Director, and SGM Bob Stewart-Director. Officers not present for photograph were: SPS Ed Manley-V.P., and CMSgt. James Tucker-treasurer.
THE GEORGIA GUARDSMAN

Army Guardsmen At Annual Training
AIM FOR COMBAT READINESS
Actions speak louder than words. Look and listen to Georgia Army Guardsmen on this page and the next three. For two weeks men of 92 units throughout the state con-
(Top photo) SSgt. Samuel Millege, Warrenton , Go , mons o SO caliber mochinegun atop a lSSmm howitzer. He is a member of B Battery, 1st Battalion, 214th Art illery. ( Bottom photo) After a maintenance check, SP4 Bobby Floyd of Thomson prepares to move his howitzer up to the firing posit ion. His un it is also B. Battery, 1/ 214.
3

------Army Guard Annual Training '7 5
verged on several tram1ng sites to give evidence of their ability to shoot, cook, recon, scout, repair, observe, aim, photograph, write, manage, supply, support, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. Gov. George Busbee visited the troops of the 48th Brigade during their training. In the picture at right the Governor gets some tips from two Guards-
men on handling the M-16 rifle.
4

--
-continued on next page
5

...
Army Guard Annual Training '7 5

(Because of the reduction in the number of pages in the GUARDSMAN, the Air Guard annual training will be featured in the September-October edition.)
LEGISLATORS VISIT WING DURING A-T -- Members of the Georgie Legislature toured the Go. Air Guard facilities at Savannah during the annual training of the I 16th Tactical Fighter Wing headquartered at Dobbins AFB in Marietta. Standing with (extreme left) Col. Berry, Wing Commander and MG Jones, The Adjutant General, ore (1-r) Rep.'s Forest Hoy s, Joe Wood, Tom Kilgore, Carlton Col well , Bi II McKinney; General Assemby Fi seal Officer, Cory Bond; Rep. Herb Jones, Sen. George Warren, Rep. Tom my To Ibert, Sen. Jock Stephens , Rep.'s John Mosti Ier, Jerry Jock son, Roy Owens, Peggy Childs, Bobby Sigmon, Bobby Long and legislative counsel, Maj. Virlyn Slaton.

6

THE GEORGIA GUARDSMAN

FATHER AND DAUGHTER GUARD MEMBERS -- The 165th Tactical Airlift Group in Savannah now boasts not only of father and son Guard members but also father and daughter teoms. (L. photo) Arlene Smith (ctr) stands with her parents Sgt. and Mrs. Artie J. Smith. (R. photo) Cheryl Elkins was enlisted by her father, Sgt. Bennett Elkins. Miss Smith will attend the Still Photographic School and Miss Elkins will attend the
Medical Lab School before they return to the 765th.
GA. MEDAL AWARDED -- Col. W.G. Woodrum receives the Georgia Commendation Medal from Col. Charles B. Culbertson, Commander of the 165th Tactical Airlift Group. Col. Woodrum, manager of the Social Security Office in Florence, S.C. , retired from the Air Guard in April with 23 years service and received the commendation in May during ceremonies at the Group Headquarters in Savannah.
60 YEARS OF SERVICE -- With more than sixty years of total military service between them, SGM Samuel Letson and MSgt. Robert Haygood retired from the Army National Guard in June. BG
Ben Upchurch, Commander of the 722nd Support Center, Decatur,
presents plaques to both men in ceremonies at the armory.
JULY - AUGUST 1975

NEWS BRIEFS
$1,000 IDEA $1,000 was awarded by the
National Guard Bureau to CMSgt. Ennis E. Hagin, Fire Chief at the Georgia A ir National Guard's 165th Civil Engineering Flight, Savannah, in January for a modification of the 0-17A Crash Vehicle.
Hagin, a 23-year veteran of the Guard, devised a method of increasing the Iiquid foam concentrate capacity of the vehicle by 80 gallons. This modification increases the firefighting time of the crash vehicle from two minutes to six minutes and increases the possible savings of lives and valuable property. In addition to the extended firefighting time, the modification eliminated the need for carrying extra foam supply on the tops of vehicles, on foam trailers or in expensive modified water tank vehicles.
WOMEN AND WEAPONS Weapons training is now man-
datory for female soldiers; says Headquarters, Department of the Army. All enlistment contracts effective July 1, 1975 will reflect the change. However, women in the service on June 30 will continue in the current voluntary weapons training program unti I completion of the term of enlistment.
In addition to these changes , initial individual weapons qualification training will be a part of the basic eligibility for reenlistment or extension of service of all soldiers.
ENGINEERS ASSIST Emanuel County Junior College
is benefiting from the Community Service Program of Swainboro's Guard Engineers.
Company A(-), 878th Engineer Battalion is clearing and leveling approximately 18 acres behind the
continued on back page
7

'OLD BILL' WOULD BE

PROUD OF THE 348TH

by CPT P auf Sinor

"Old Bill" the patron saint of Cav Troopers

everywhere would be proud if he could st>e them toda~. Although they haven't always been a Cwalry Troop the 348th Cav at Griffin and :\ewnan is liYing up to his expectations today.
For the first six years after its founding

there was no organized militia in Griffin. In

1846 a militia unit was formed by H.J. Sargent

and given the name of the Fannin Avengers. From

the ,cry beginning the Griffin .\tilitia was to be

tasked with not only the traditional role of the

local militia, but they were given the additional

task of carrying forward a name and a memory

that was dear to the hearts of the people of

Georgia.

They were given the name Fannin Avengers

in honor of Col. Henry Jackson of Savannah. In

1836 Col. Jackson surrendered his men to the

.\lexicans at Goliad under the promise that they

would be given honorable treatment as prisoners.

After their surrender the entire garrison was

massacred by their .\lcxican captors. It was with

this legacy that the Fannin Avengers were

committed to battle for the first time. They did

not

let their The yea

rn s a

mesake down . after the .\lexi

can

War

were

the

same for most .\tilitia units in Georgia, days of

inactivity and training. The Fannin Avengers

were no exception.

Although there was never any actual combat

In the community during the Civil ~ar, the

Griffin unit did her part.

Early in !861 the men around Griffin began

to organize for the upcoming conflict. There were to be nine companies of troops formed in the Griffin area. The first of which was the Spalding Greys.
The name of the unit and some of the men had changed since the .\lc:xican War, but the

spirit and dedication of the men remained the

same. Of the one hundred twenty-five men who

entered the Confederate cause with the Spalding

Greys only twenty-five were to return. When war broke out with Spain in 1898, no
units that had fought for the Stars and Bars in the last war were allowed to leave the country

8

to fight for the Cnited States. The Spalding Greys carne as close as any unit could get without being cornitted to battle. As a part of the C.S. \'olunteers they were given the duty of guarding against possible sabotage in Key West Florida. They were a mere ninety miles from the grave of the battleship "Maine".
As a part of the Second Georgia Infantry they were sent to the .\lexican Border in 1916 . Before they could be released from active duty they were reorganized and sent to France as Company L, !21st Infantry.
In France the unit was split and part was to become the 151 st .\lachine Gur. Battalion of the 41st Division. Another part of the unit was made a Reconnaissance e lernent. The Cavalry was born.
The names of many of (;riffin's finest are inscribed on the Doughboy .\lonurnent at the corner of Hill and Taylor Streets in that city.
The fall of 1945 saw the men of Griffin return from yet another war.
Since its inception in 18.46 the men in and around Griffin have always given their unwavering support to their unit. One man in particular, Gen. J ..\L Kimbrough, thought by marty to be the "Daddy of the Georgia .\'ational Guard" and a native of Griffin himself, was especially proud of the men from Spalding County.
This year at Annual Training at Fort Stewart, Georgia as Cpt. Bill Thielemann, commander of the 348th, accepted the o\rrnor Leadership Award for the second consecutive year, one could almost feci the presence of "Old Bill" himself as he watched over Georgia's only Cav Troop.
THE GEORGIA GUARDSMAN

NEWS BRIEFS continued from page 7

physical education building on the ECJC campus.
Part of the expanding athletic complex of the co/lege the cleared grounds will be used for tennis courts, softball and baseball diamonds and other athletic fields. The college is paying for all the fuel used by the engineer equipment. Henry Evans, director of the physical plant at the co/lege, expressed the appreciation of the college for the "excellent'' work of the engineers.
HONOR GRADUATE SFC Robert P. Latham, HHC,
2/121 sf Infantry in Albany, was the Honor Graduate of the Administrative Supply Technician Course at Camp Robinson, Arkansas in July. The course is sponsored by the National Guard Bureau and is designed to train unit AST's in all phases of their job responsibilities. Nine Georgia Guardsmen have graduated from the course. MG Jones, The Adjutant General, congratulated Latham for his "outstanding achievement."
SIMPSON RETIRES Colonel Charles D. Simpson of
Kennesaw has retired from the Georgia Air National Guard after 37 years service.
The veterean officer has been serving as Director of Logistics of

the 116th Tactical Fighter Wing at Dobbins. He was a fulltime employe of the Air National Guard and served as Chief of Maintenance.
He first enlisted in the Army National Guard's Howitzer Company o"f the 122nd Infantry in 1937 and was inducted into federal service with the Guard's 179th Artillery in 1941. He was transferred to the Guard's 128th Observation Squadron and later served on the Gulf Coast and finally was assigned to the 45th Bomb Group in Europe and Russia.
He returned to the 128th after WW/1 and was recalled for the Korean Conflict.
Colonel Simpson holds the Air Force Commendation Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Viet Nam Service Medal and the Georgia Commendation Medal among others.
SMITH, 202ND CO, RETIRES Colonel George E. Smith,
Commander of the 202nd E lectronics Installation Squadron in Macon, retired on December 17, 1974, after more than 32 years of military service.
Col. Smith, a native of Macon, attended the University of Georgia and graduated from Mercer University in June 1938 with a degree in Business Administration.
He entered active military service in April 1942 and attended Army OCS. He served on active

duty until 1946. Since that time he has served in the Air Force Reserve and Air Guard.
In October 1952, Cof. Smith was appointed in the Air Guard and in December of that year was made commander of the 202nd. He was appointed as Detachment Commander of Air Technicians at the 202nd in 1958 and retired from that position 1n January 1975.
SHARPSHOOTERS A crack rifle team from the
Georgia National Guard unit at Rome took top honors in the annual small bore rifle championship at Mercer University in Macon.
Company A, 1/1 OBth Armor, 48th Brigade, Georgia National Guard, under the command of CPT.
Robert L. Moss, took the state
championship in a "shoot out'' with a team from the 165th Support Company from Savannah. The event was held at the Mercer University Rifle Range.
The two teams came to Macon for the contest through a series of elimination matches throughout the state.
Members of the winning team from Rome included team captain Platoon Sgt. Thomas Lane, Platoon Sgt. Creig Payne, and Sergeants William Jones, Billy Mathis, Frank McKelvy, and Cecil Tillery.
Top individual honors went to a member of the 165th Support Company team from Savannah, Sp4 Thomas Ryan Ill.

EANGGA continued from page 2

MSGT. JIM KNOWLES, PRESIDENT of the Mississippi National Guard NCO Association, pinpointed some of the pitfalls the year-old Georgia Association might expect over the next few years. The first three years, according to Sgt. Knowles, are the hardest in trying to make any association successful. He expressed his surprise and delight that the Georgia Association had done so well in the first year. He noted that the support of the Adjutant General and close harmony with the Officers Association were very positive factors.
SGT. KNOWLES DISCUSSED the Mississippi tuition assistance program which has been state law for one year. He said that 313 persons were accepted last year for tuition assistance, (314 had applied}, and that $90,000 was spent on the program. The State of Mississippi expects one quarter of a

mdlion dollars will eventually go into the tuition assistance program.
SGM VIRGIL R. WILLIAMS, President of the Enlisted Association of the United States, graphically explained the problems encountered during the organization of the National Enlisted Association. Sgt Williams numbered thorty-eight states as having Enlisted Associations. He quoted a nationalmembership of more than 10,000. He pointed out that the Georgia Enlisted Association should become one of the most powerful voices in promoting National Guard Legislation because of the large potential membership in the state. He emphasized that membership was the key to the effectiveness of the Enlisted Association. "for the stronger the membership," he stated, "the stronger our chances of getting meaningful National Guard Legislation passed."

WAGONS HO!

(Left) Guardsmen from

Griffin's Troop E, 348th Cavalry return to

the wild west for a few moments as they man

an "uncovered wagon" they purchased and

...., ..,......,..,..,..,..,.., .
---------------------''

plan to restore. Members of the unit's mess

section (right) prepare a chuck wagon steak dinner in the shadow of the old wagon. The men are (1-r) SP4 Everett Wilson , SPS Robert Bass, SPS James Higgins and SP6 James Graharr., all of Griffin.

SALUTE TO AMERICA -- With the beat of the drum and the high notes from the fife, Georg i a Air National Guardsmen and women marched down Peachtree Street during WSB television's "Salute to America" parade on July 4th.

, ________________________ _
- -- ...............................................

Participating in the parade were members of the 530th Air Force Band, the 116th Tactical Fighter Wing and other subordinate units. An elaborate float was also entered. It was constructed by members of the Wing .

..

$685/4000 copies