The Georgia guardsman [Vol. 3, no. 7 (Sept. - Oct. 1953)]

COAT OF ARMS OF THE 250TH AN11AIRCRA FI A RTILLERY GUN BATTALION DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY, O.Q_.M.Q. APPROVED FOR THE Q_M.G. - 27 MARCH 1953
-~-f~.~-
ARTHUR E. DU6 0 1S CHIEF, HERALDIC BRANCH
0

TilE
ADJUTANT GENERAL'S
MESSAGE
Fellow Guardsmen: On many occasions I have devoted this space to the
all-important question of recruiting. This month I want to discuss with you the matter of recruiting young men between the ages of 17 and 18}1.
Each month my office compiles the number of recruits
enlisted in this age bracket. It is alarming to note that during
the month of August, only 125 men in this category were enlisted in the Army and Air National Guard of Georgia. It appears to me that many of our units are not taking advantage of this ever-present pool of manpower. The opportunity afforded these young men, who can join one of our units and still continue his education or livelihood at home, should be greatly stressed.
I wish to appeal to each unit commander to put forth extra efforts in obtaining our "Minute Men'' of today. Certainly the "buddy system" should not be overlooked in acquiring these men. We have not yet acquired the strength we had 30 June 1950, which was 8,491. Many of our units I hear are determined to go to summer camp next year with 100% authorized strength. I hope this is every commander's goal.
Remember, these young men have a very important place in our National Guard, and we are anxious to take advantage of this valuable manpower pool to bring our Guard up to full T.O. strength.

THE GEORGIA
-- GUARDSmAn
Vol. 3 Sept-Oct, 1953 No 7
A publ ication of the Department f Defense, Military Division, ;tate of Georgia. Pub Iished in the interest of the Georgia National Guard and distributed free to members of the ~~ational Guard of Georgia. The Guardsman receives AFPS material . AFPS material appearing herein cannot be repr in ted without written permission of Armed Forces Press Service, 641 Washington Street, New York 14, N. Y.
LT. COL. HOMER FLYNN Managing Director
CAPT. DOUGLAS EMBRY Editor
Publ ication and Editorial Office 959 E. Confederate Ave., S. E.
Atlanta, Georgia
* * *
Hon ora ble Herman E. Talmadge
Governor of Georgi a
Major General Ernest Vandiver
The Adjutant General
* * *

"ONE RECRUIT Col. Harvell didn't get" was Wyant Bean, Jr., son of the esteemed commander of the 179th Field Artillery Battalion in Atlanta. Col. Bean is shown swearing in his new recruit before the envious gaze of Col. Roy Norvell, right, whose 122nd Infantry Reg iment has been picking them up left and right lately. Through some twist of fate and purposeful conniving, this photo was taken in the private office of Col. Norvell who graciously observes the enlistment of this stalwart artilleryman within his infantry domain.

The opinions express ed m The Georgia Guardsman are thos e of th e Staff Writers of the publication and memb ers of the Georgia National Guard and do not necess arily refle c t any official views of the Adjutant Ge neral's Department of Ge orgia.
OUR COVER ..
THE STRIKING NEW INSIGNIA of the 250th Antiaircraft 90mm Botta Iion of Augusta is shown on aur cover this month. The colorful design is the Battalion's Coat of Arms.
SEPT-OCT, 19.S3

FOOD RATION BREAKDOWN for the 230th Field Artillery Battalion takes place at Ft. McClellan. Shown sorting out the c alor ies are, left to right, Cpl Michael Ware, Pfc Donald West, SFC Henry J. Mickler, Sgt Thomas E. But-
{Photo by WO Heber Quinney)

Pvt Ronald C. Williams, H/ S Co, 560th Engr Bn, Columbus, is attending the In Radio Maint Course at Ft. Benning. The course ends 22 Dec 53.

Lt. John L. Bowers, 201st Ordnance Co, will attend the Assoc Ord Co. Officers Course at Aberdeen, Md., beginning 15 October and closing 5 Feb 54.
1

rHE GEORGIA GUARDSMAN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

GEORGIA OFFICERS.GO TO SAN DIEGO CONF.

Eighteen delegates have been
selected from the Georgia Army and Air National Guard to attend the annual convention of the National Guard Association of the United States in San Diego, California, October 19-22.
The Georgia delegation is headed by Major General Ernest Vandiver, The Adjutant General of Georgia, and Major General George Finch, former commander of the old 54th Fighter Wing, and a recent member of the U.N. truce

team in Korea. The Commanding Generals of
the New York, New Jersey and District of Columbia National Guard, and the Adjutants General of all the other States, Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico, will head an estimated 2,000 delegates alternates and VIS Itors to the 75th annual. G~neral Conference.
Other Georgia delegates include Major General Joseph B. Fraser,
Brig. Gen. Patrick E. Seawright, Brig. Gen. George J, Hearn, Col.

Charlie F. Camp, Col. Bernard M.
Davey, Col. James C. Grizzard Lt. Col. Buford A. Ingle, Co): Jack J, Johnson, Lt. Col. Ed. ward J, Mackey; Col. B. F. Mer. ritt, Lr. Col. Sanders Camp, Lt. Col. Homer Flynn, Lt. Col,
Andrew McKenna, Lt. Col. AJ.
bert J, Twiggs, Lt.. Col. J ohn Wallis, Lt. Col. Robert F
s'. Zeigler and Co1. Charles
Thompson.
Mountain climber: "Do people fall often?"
Guide: "No, only once."

OUR NEW NATIONAL BUREAU CHIEF.

Major General Edgar C. Erickson, Chief of the National Guard Bureau, was born at Worcester, Massachusetts, July 18, 1896. General Erickson began his military career as a Private in the National Guard in April, 1914, enlisting in Company "H" of the 2nd Massachusetts In fantry. He progressed through all enlisted ranks before the United States entered World War I and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Infantry in 1917, re ceiving his promotion to First Lieutenant in 1918.
General Erickson rose to the rank of Brigadier General and Commander of the 52nd Infantry Brigade prior to his appointment as the Adjutant General .of the State of Massachusetts, an office he held from January, 1939, to June, 1942. From this office he ' accepted a demotion to the rank of Colonel to go on active military duly in World War II, with the infantry.
A Certificate of Merit from the Presi dent of the United States was received by General Eri'ckson for service as State Director , Selective Service for Massachu setts fr om September, 1940, to June 30, 1942.
A veteran of three wars, the 56 year old officer saw service in the Mexican Border Campaign in 1916 and in World War I, served with the 26th Infantry Division in France during 1917 and 1918. During World War II , he served in various capacities with the Chinese Army in the Chinese Combat Command . It was during this special assignment with the Chinese Na tionalist Forces that General Erickson distinguished himself in combat, receiving the Legion of Meri't, the Bronze Star Medal and individual recognition from the President of the National Government of the Republic of China.
Upon his return from overseas in 1946, Grnr ral Erickson received a special assignment as Board Member of the Army Discharge Review Board in St. Louis, Missouri, and in 1947 was assigned to the National Gua rd Bureau . From September, 1950, to October 1951, he was Acting Chief, Army Division of the National Guard Bureau.

He wa s appointed Chief of the Nationa l Guard Bureau in June, 1953.
Gen eral Erickson resides with hi s wife at 3243 South Utah Street, Arlin gton, Virginia .
Edgar C. Erickson, Major General, NGus'

2

SEPT-OCT, 1953

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

BETUltN DF "MlHUTE MAH" STATUS

IUAltD'S MISSIDH TDDAY SYKES

"In less than four short years, 1949 to 1953, the era of security

oyed by our nation during the previous 50 years, has disappeared."
en~his was the essence of a thought-provoking speech by Colonel

Philip A. Sykes, Senior Air Force Instructor of the Georgia Air Na-

'onal Guard, speaking at the annual meeting of the National Guard
~sociation of Georgia in Macon 12 September 1953.

Col. Sykes' stirring address be-

fore the 300 convening officers

emphasized the new importance

f the minute men of the Na-

:ional Guard. "In 1775," he said,

"when the British Army at Lex-

ington was confronted by a group

of unorganized frontiersmen, they

were undoubtedly surprised. When

General Gage's Royal Army de-

termined that these sharpshooters

were trained to knock out a squirrel's eye at 50 paces, their

Colonel Philip A. Sykes

respect for our first minute men Sykes added.

sharply increased. Had these civ-

The advent of mod~rn Russian

ilian volunteer soldiers not been Air Power and their stockpile of

able to slow the initial shock of atomic and possible hydrogen

enemy aggression, and thereby bombs has caused our previous

provide time and encouragement to immunity to sudden attack -- our

a small, uncertain country at a feeling of security provided by

critical period, victory and inde- our ocean borders and strong

pendence might never have been Navy - to vanish.

achieved."

In 1947 and 1948, Air Force

"Thus," Col. Sykes pointed out efforts to obtain more air defense

"our 'Minute Men' were born. for our country were repeatedly

ThP-if general mission -- to de- refused by higher authorities, Col.

fen~ their homeland against attack Sykes told the officers. This was

- has always been one of the at a time when the Russians

missions of our reserve forces."

possessed TU-4's, their version

"This country was last invaded of our H-29's, aircraft capable of

in 1812," Col. Sykes continued. hitting us with serious blows.

"By 1900 our economic and mil-

The Russian's atomic experi-

tary potential had increased until ments in 1949 called for the re-

the continental United States was hirth of our mimte man. While

in no serious danger of sudden the regular components of our

surprise invasion. This condition Armed Forces are deployed all

lasted until 1949, he said, when over the world, it becomes the

the Russians exploded their first responsibility of the reserves to

atomic bomb. Thus, during those shoulder the burden of defense

years, the situation which created of the continental United States,

our original minute man gradually ceased to exist."

he stated. ''The Air National Guard must

During World Wars I and II, it be prepared to step between an

took from three months to one aggressor and the brightly-lighted

year to bring a National Guard cities of America, and do it on

unit to peak combat potential. the hour. To discharge this re-

The day of the "Three Months sponsibility, each Air National

to One Year Man" unhappily is Guard unit must bring itself to

also a thing of the past, Col. the nirnute man standard, ready

for instant, effective counter-air action.''
As for the Army National Guard, Col. Sykes cited an article by General Omar Bradley in which he advocated the formation of hundreds of battalions equipped with the latest antiaircraft guided missiles, the "Nike." It is expected that this weapon will soon be effective against arrcraft exceeding the speed of sound. Composed of 440 men each, these Nike battalions could easily be manned by older Guardsmen possessing electronic skills learned m hometown mdustries.
In outlining the miss ion of the ll6th Fighter Bomber Wing, Col. Sykes said our Air National Guard pilots must he prepared to meet the responsibility of defending the pl';ority targets in our area - Oak Ridge, Tenn., Augusta and Atlanta. ''An attack must be met immediately. Aircraft should he in the air and climbing for the kill in less than two hours after the first warning."
Important steps that are being taken to bring our ANG units to such a state of immediate cornbat readiness were outlined by Col. Sykes as follows:
1- The squadrons must be given the equipment to do the job -- modern jet fighters capable of effective utilization.
2- Primary training effort to be concentrated on preparing squadrons for an initial effort on defense -- acting as intercepters, then ground-support after the attack has been smashed.
3- Complete and adequate mobilization and alert plans to avoid the confusion that followed Pearl Harbor and the Korean War. "Such luxury of confusion can no longer be afforded.''
This clearly eloquent documentary by Col. Sykes on the present status and responsibilities of our Air National Guard reflects the planning and leadership of our modern Air Force and its keen interest in today's "Minute Man.''

SEPT-OCT, 1953

3

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

DEO!LDlA DUA!LDSMAH WlHS DEPT I OF DEFENSE AWARD

NATIONAL RECOGNITION FROM AFPS BRINGS MAGAZINE STAFF PRAISES

THE GEORGIA GUARDSMAJ\, monthly publication of the Georgia l\a- publication. Captain Douglas Em.

tional Guard's Public Information Office, has been awarded the Depart- bry is Editor. Ben Ellington is

ment of Defense Certificate of Merit as an outstanding service paper operator of the offset press, and

in the Offset Stateside class for the quarter April - June 1953.

:\Irs. Agnes :VlcCain was varitypist

Letters of congratulation from erals Hartness and Erickson, on the Spring issues.

Major General Harlan N. Hartness, General Vandiver also commended

THE GEORGIA GUARDS:\!Al\: is

Director, DOD Armed Forces In- the staff of the GUARDSMAN.

a semi-official publication of the

formation and Education, and

Lt. Col. Homer Flynn is \Ian- Department of Defense, Military

Major General Edgar C. Erickson, aging Director of the Georgia Division, State of Georgia.

Chief, National Guard Bureau,

were received by the staff of

the Georgia Guardsmen.

The Certificate reads "The

Armed Forces Press Service has

selected this (magazine) for the

Department of Defense Newspaper

Award as a positive factor in

promoting efficiency, welfare and general morale of personnel

CERTIFICATE OF MERIT

through its excellence of content,

news interest and effectiveness

of design."

General Hartness said "This

recogmtwn of achievement is

awarded each quarter to outstand-

ing Service publications which

are selected for their general attractiveness, conformity with jourlistie principles, readability, proper news balance and makeup, on the basis of all issues for

Tothe GEORGIA GUARDSMA/'.

for its issues/or the months of Apr 11 - June t953

The Armed Forces Press Sert,ice has selected this newspaper for the Dt>partment of Defense

Newspaper Award as a positive factor in promoting efficiemy, welfare und f(eneral morale of

JJersonnt>l through its excellence of content, news interest and e!Jectivenes.~ of design.

the period. The certificate may be awarded to a publication only once in a twelve month period."
General Erickson added: "It is

/LL'A.~
DIRECTOR OFFICE OF ARMED FORCES INFORMATION AND EDUCATION

indeed a pleasure to forward the
basic communication and inclosed DECATUR UNIT BATTLES FIRE
certificate with most hearty con-

gratulations and a deep feeling

Decatur, Georgia's Rifle Pla- extra hazardous. Walking was

of pride."

toon, Co A, l22nd Infantry Regi- treacherous due to the melted

In his letter to Major General ment, led by Lt. Harry A. Satter- tar, but the men attacked the

Ernest Vandiver, Adjutant General white, Jr., was just finishing its fire with vigor and determination.

of Georgia, General Erickson con- Tuesday night drill on 15 Septem-

Undaunted by these develop-

tinued: "This latest outstanding ber when the Decatur Chemical ments, the Decatur platoon of

accomplishment reflects added Co. plant blossomed into flame.

volunteers and the firemen were

credit on the Georgia National Guard and further enhances the

Unhesitatingly, Lt. Satterwhite able to bring the blaze under
and M/Sgt Dennis L. Bellville, control by midnight. The on-the-

prestige of the National Guard Platoon Sergeant, led their Guards- spot aid from the Guardsmen was

as a whole. In behalf of the Na- men to the blaze to assist the appreciated by the Decatur and

tional Guard Bureau, I wish to firemen who had requested their Dekalb County Fire Departments

commend the staff of the GEOH- help. By this time, chemicals, and the local citizens whose ad-

GIA GUARDSMAN for achieving cans of paint and barrels of tar JOmmg buildiugs and residences

this signal honor."

were exploding in every direction, were saved from 'possible destruc-

Echoing the sentiments of Gen- making the Guardsmen's mission tion.

4

SEPT-OCT, 1953

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

zolst ORDNANCE GUARDSMEN
ARE THANKED FOR BLOOD

Major Ralph Brown and Lt. Walter B. Kidd, former and pre-
nt commanders of the 20lst {;dnance Company, have received the thanks of the American Red Cross for their contribution "in recruiting and scheduling donors ."
The other officers and men of the Ordnance Company who contributed were named in a letter 0 ( appreciation to Lt. Col. Homer Flynn, State P.I.O., Daniel J. Haughton, Chairman of the Blood Service Committee, said the "Red Cross stands ready and willing to make blood available to your members and their families when the oc casion arises.

Those listed were Jack B. Gunter, Cleveland Carlan, William B. Roberts, Charles L. Clark, Herman T. Glass, Phillip E. Walker, Carl L. Hurse, James Carroll, Frank H. Barnes, Harley S. Stiles, Jr., James D. Polson, James M. Hamby, Eugene Cater, Gordon Smith, Jerry B. Gowens, Tommie L. Ennis, Willie E. Lewis, Marion Sharpton, Warren B. McCullough, Warren 0. Carroll, Ralph R. Sims, William C. Standridge, James H. Lampkin, C. H. Robinson, John R. Burns, Clyde Curtis, Roy R. Toby, Ellis F. Britt, James L. Clark, Thomas Kite, Robert W. Hansen and Floyd Pendley.

POLIO VICTIMS

AIDED BY 158th SQ

Savannah's Air National Guard

unit, the l58th Fighter Bomber

Sqdn, came to the rescue of two

polio patients of Savannah and

Jesup recently when at the di-

rectiOn of Governor Talmadge,

Capt. Phillips Hamilton flew the

stricken boys to the Vanderbilt

Hospital in Nashville.

The mission required taking

two iron lungs, two nurses and

the families of the patients. The

iron lungs were furnished by the

Savannah American Legion. The

C-47 flown by Capt. Hamilton

landed at Berry Field in Nash-

ville. The boys enjoyed the

flight

the first for both of

them.

GOVERNOR TALMADGE'S Air National Guard plane was utilized Tuesday night, Sept. 1 Sth for an emergency flight to Nashville, Tenn. Two iron lungs of the Poiio Foundation in Atlanta were rushed to the Vanderbilt Hospital only four hours after the Governor and Adjutant ~eneral Ernest Vandiver received the call for help. Capt. C. J. Perk ins, top, watches his crewmen tie down the 564 lb. lungs . One row of seats had to be removed from the C-4 7. The Air Guardsmen are, left to right, M/ Sgt Judson Barber, Marietta; and A/ B E. W. Dayton, Atlanta. The The ''Georgia Peach" was back at Dobbins at 3 a.m.
Wednesday. Co11ilot was Capt. Douglas Embry.

PROSPECTIVE RECRUITS visited the 116th Fighter Bomber Wing at Dobbins Air Force Base Sunday 20 September and were shown the facilities of the Georgia Air ~1ational Guard. After viewing the jet planes, a summer camp movie and getting the facts about the opportunities in the Air Guard, seven of the men decided to sign up. Shown with them beside an F-84 are Major William S. McGinnis and Lt. Arthur R. Patton. In the group are Johnny Edwards, Denny A. Edwards, John F. Lotspeich, Bobby Autrey, Hendrix McCoy, Huey P. Long, Noel S.
Bagley, William Gatlin and Billy Brown.

SEP T- OCT, 1953

5

THE GEORGIA GUARDSMA N - - - ------------------------ - - - - -- - - - - -- - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - -- -
olwarJJ anJ ,1)ecorationJ Jlonor

Recognition for ind ividual skill, devotion to duty, leadership and a myriad of other achievements was received by Guards men and units wbo contributed the most in the e yes of the judges to the quality of the Georgia Army and Air National Guard .
Awarded a nd decora ted , commended and praise d, the cream of the Georgia Nationa l Guard were presented medals, trophies and cita tions for their llccomplishments.
Here in an array of photographic glimpses are the proud p os sessors of these awards as they received them at summer camp.

CAMP STEWART
J. Governor Talmadge pins the Distinctive Service Medal, the State's highest award, on Major Samuel J. DeFrees e and Colonel Charlie F. Camp. Ma jor DeFreese, as com. mandi ng officer of the 950th AAA Medical Detachment, was c ited for his " organizational ability and technical pro ficiency in medicine" and for his unit 's attainment o f a supe rior rating in 1952. Col. Camp, as Assistant A d. jutant General, State of Georgia, was commended for his " leadership qualities and professional knowledge" in his admin istrat ion of the Records Branch of the Military Di. v is ion "which has developed into a capable and efficie nt organizat ion of w hich the State of Georgia is proud. " Col. Cam p's "knowledge of Army Adminis tration procedures and his outstanding ability to impart this know/. edge to others have been of material benefit to un it commanders and their administrative assistants. 2 Major Ralph Brown receives the coveted Eisenhower Trop hy from Governor Talmadge for his unit 's attainment of such a high degree of proficiency and all-around ex cellence. Major Brown commanded the 20 1st Ordnance Co mpany at the time of the award. 3- Capt. William E . Norr is, Commanding Officer of Battery C, 950th AAA AW Bn, Thomson, receives the Governor's Trophy from Governor Talmadge for his unit's . having attained the highest percentage of qualific atlons in t heir basic weapon.

FT. McCLELLAN

4- WO Jessie C. English, Hq & Svc Co, 190th T ank Bn, Forsyth, and Master Sergeant Julian T. Poole, 48th Reconnaissance Co, LaGrange, receive the Distinctive Service Medal from Governor Talmadge. WO English was
cited for spending extra time, with no compensation, building new orderly, supply and strong rooms and in s t a ll ing . plumbing and heating facilities for the latrine. M/ Sgt Poole was commended for procuring civic coop er ation in many of his un i t's endeavors and was furt he r cited for having the best mess in the entire 48th Div ision. 5- First Sergeant Winfield Helmey re c eives the Governor's Troph y from Governor Talmadge for his unit, the 48th Mil itary Pol ice Company of Springfield, Ga. All Guards men o f the M.P. Company qualified in their basic ar m, the .45 Ca fibre pistol, for which they won the trophy. 6- Vandiver Trophy winners are presented their awards by General Vandiv e r. Capt. Edgar Blanton, center, acc ep ted the trophy for h is unit, Co H, 121 st lnf Regt, wh ic h had the best supply and orderly rooms in the Georgia Guard. First Sergeant Dan Thurston, Hq & Hq Co, 12 1s t ln f Regt, receives the other Vandiver Trophy for his unit

6

SEPT-OCT, 1953

------------------------------------------------------------------THE GEORGIA GUARDSMAN
ia {iuarJJmen' at $ummer Camp
...... . ...., JI

having the best score s in the small bore rifle competition.
1 Mrs. William A. McKe nna, presents the McKenna Trophy to Capt. Raymond C. Sm ith, Co D, 121st lnf Regt, for superior marksmanship within the 121st. 8. Maj. Gen. Joseph B . Fraser, 48th Div Commander, presents the Rifle Marksma nship Trophy to M/ Sgt Frank Watts, Hq Co, 121.st ln f Regt, whose team won the trophy.

TRAVIS FIELD
9. T/ Sgt James M. Lyn ch, 116th Ftr Bmr Wg, receives the Distinctive Service Me dal from Governor Talmadge. T! Sgt Lynch was cited for superior technical ability in maintenance of aircraft an d for performance of extra work above and beyond the call of duty.

SEP T-OCT, 1953

7

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

Capt. Burkhalter's Douglas Co Builds Foot Bridge

Able Company Engineer Platoon Fights Curre Ttt

560th ENGINEERS CONQUER BENNING'S OLD MAN RIVER
BY M/Sgt Tom Sellers

The 560th Engineers (Combat) of the 48th Division, Georgia Nation-

al Guard, tackled the Chattahoochee River recently on a tactical in-

fantry training problem at Fort Benning. When it was over, Maj. J, T.

Wren, instructor from the tactical department of The Infantry School,

called the 560th ''the best National Guard engineer outfit I've ever

worked with."

The next morning, the battalion

Hailing from Columbus, Douglas returned to Bradley Landing for

and Reidsville, the battalion practical training in the infantry

moved out of armory headquarters crossing problem. At a signal

in Columbus at 1230 hours on from Capt. Lee Jones, Battalion

Saturday, June 6, jumped into S-3, the outfit moved swiftly into

its vehicles and traveled to Dix- positions.

ie Village on the Fort Benning

Headquarters and Service Com-

reservation, a distance of about pany, a Columbus unit comman-

10 miles. Battalion Commander, ded by First Lt. Paul Morrison,

Lt. Col. Ernest W. Higgins, and began by lashing together a Jeep

Executive Officer, Maj. Charles raft with aluminum pontoons and

E. Hamilton, led the operation.

treadways .

A bivouac was established in

Able Company, under Capt.

the Dixie Village area and on Maron H. Pressnall, of Columbus,

that afternoon the battalion moved set to work building a pontoon

to Bradley Landing. There, Maj. foot bridge across the river.

Wren and Maj. Murray C. Stewart

The Baker boys, a Douglas

lectured the group of approximate- company under Capt. Gerald C.

ly 300 men on methods of cross- Burkhalter, prepared to hit the

ing a stream with the infantry Chattahoochee with a huge in-

in attack. The use of rafts, pon- fantry support raft. This raft is

toon bridges, assault boats and built of heavy wooden treadways

power boats was discussed and buckled over three metal assault

each phase was demonstrated by boats and will support a loaded

Ft Benning engineer units at- two and one-half ton truck m

tached to The Infantry School.

journeys across the river.

8

Charley Company, of Re idsville led by Capt. Clinton P. Oliver' launched crews in assault boat~ designed to haul 12 infantrymen with weapons and a three-man crew of engineers.
Finally, the lads of Dog Company, of Columbus, under Capt. Raymond Grant, piled into twoman and_ five-man pneumatic rafts and paddled furiously toward the opposite shore against a five-mile an hour current that thre atened to carry the little crafts downstream to Apalachicola, Florida.
On the foot bridge, sweating crews latched poi.ttoons and tread ways together and rushed them down to other Guardsmen, s ome standing waist deep in water, who fastened the pieces toge ther and rushed the ever-lengthening snout of the rig to the far shore.
Occasionally, a small raft would be caught in the current and head out for Florida, but a watchful Fort Benning power launch was standing by to pull such runaway crafts to s afety. Despite some near spills, no boats were overturned.
In all the hustle and bus tle, most of the Guardsmen managed to have a barrel of fun and turn in a praiseworthy performance at the same time. At the end of each half hour the companies rotated to a different task in order to obtain well-rounded training.
SEPT-OCT, 1953

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

Colum&us, Al&any Guardsmen Thankecl

High tribute has been paid

members of the National Guard

~numitbsus

which helped in tornado disaster.

the CoReprin-

ted below is a letter from Mayor

Lawrence Shields of Columbus to

Lt. Col. Ernest W. Higgins,

Commanding Officer of the 560th

Engineer Battalion:

"Dear Colonel Higgins: "In the entire 125 years of
the existence of Columbus, the tornado which hit the northern half of the City on April 18 was probably the greatest disaster so
far experienced. That the com-
munity was able to dig itself and return to normal functi ons in so short a time is due to the resourcefulness of our citizens and particularly to the many groups which. pitched in to help
do the job. "The National Guard IS fore-
most in our minds as the one group which contributed most to this early recovery. We wznt you to know that your promptness in offering the services of the National Guard, the promptness with which the members of your Command answered the call, and the outstanding way in which every
member did his job under adverse condit ions during the week he
was on duty IS deeply appreciated.
"I want to take this opportunity, on behalf of the City Commission and myself, of telling you that the National Guard has demonstrated its value to this community and to commend all the men for the fine job they did during the emergency.
"It will be appre ciated if you will transmit this message to the members of your Command; and also to Bn. Hdq. Co. and
L. Co. of Albany, and I Co. of Daws on, which companies are a Part of the 121 st Infantry."

Parkin g place- something you see when you haven't got your car.

_.,.;;:: ... ~ 'I:
OBSERVING TANK FIRE from Sherman Tonks of the 190th Tonk Battalion, Major General Joseph B. Fraser, Commanding General of the 48th Infan try Divisi on, scans the horizon at Ft. McClellan. In the group are, left to right , Pfc Donal Evans, Eastman, Gen. Fraser, Hinesville, S/ sgt Paul Smith, Eastman, and Lt. Col. Wesley D. Willingham, 280th Bn Commander of Forsyth .

LT. JAMES SPEER GRADUATES EIGHTH FROM TOP AT NG OCS

Eighth highest grade in the nation is the recent distinction bestowed upon newly commissioned Lt. Jan:es lVI. Speer, Co A, 122nd Inf, of Atlanta. This laurel was earned by Lt. Speer when he graduated from the National Guard OCS School at Ft . Riley, Kansas, 29 August. Out of a class of 210, Speer received the eighth highest avera~.
Five other Georgia Guardsmen who have or soon will receive commissions as a result of attending this school are Oscar B. B. Covington, Jr, Svc Btry, 230th FA Bn; Thomas N. Watkins, Hq Btry 179th FA Bn; Arthur M. Gignilliat, Jr., Hq & Hq Btry, 48th Div Arty; John J, Spivey, Co B, 560th Engr Bn; and Harris Jacobs, 201st Ordnance Co.

Capt Lloyd f ohnson, Co A Commander, congratulates his new officer, Lt. fames M. Speer, m front of their manning table.

Capt. Harold T. Smith, Hq 190th Tank Bn, began the Asso Armor Off Adv Crse at Ft. Knox, Ky., on 31 Aug. Capt. Smith of Fitzgerald, will be on TDY at the Armored School until 18 Dec 53.

Privates John T . Moore and Bennie F. Puckett, Co K, 122nd Inf, Thomaston, are attending the Wheel Vehicle Repair Course, Ord Auto School, at the Atlanta General Depot. The course ends 1 Dec 53.

SEP T-OCT, 1953

9

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

COL. JAMES C. GRIZZARD NEW ASSN. PRES.

Macon Rolls Out Red Carpet

For Officers of Ga. NG Assn.

Colonel James C. Grizzard, Deputy Chief of Staff, Hq, Ga. Air Na-

tional Guard, and an Atlanta attorney has been named President of

the National Guard Association of Georgia at its annual meeting 12-13

September in Macon.

Elected Vice Presidents were Lt. Col. Wyont Bean, Commander of

Atlanta's 179th Field Artillery Battalion; Major Jarrtes E. Slaton, Hqs,

250th AAA Gun Bn, Augusta; and Lt. Col. William .H. Kelly, Hqs,

ll6th Fighter Bomber Wing., Savannah. Capt. Ben L. Kersey, Jr. was

re-elected Secretary-Treasurer. Capt. Kersey is adjutant of the 121st.

Infantry Regiment, Macon.

Named to the board of direc- Ingle, presided as President of

tors, were Lt. Col. Ernest Hig- the Association. Among the dis-

gins, Columbus; Major Robert T. tinguished officers and guests

Baird, Macon, Lt. Col. Buford A. was Major General R. J. Travis,

Ingle, Resaca; Lt. Col. Sanders former President of the National

Camp, Monroe; Col. Marion L. Guard Association of the United

Clonts, Atlanta; and Col. Charles States and the father of much

L. Davis, Savannah.

National Guard legislation. Gen.

Overflowing the mezzanine floor Travis was introduced by Brig.

of the Dempsey Hotel, some 250 Gen. Patrick E. Seawright who

Georgia officers wined and dined accompanied him from Savannah.

with their wives and sweethearts General Travis' two sons have

Saturday night when the Associa- been honored by having air fields

tion sponsored a cocktail party, name4 after them -- Travis Air

dinner and dance as an interlude Force Base in California and

to the two business sessions Travis Field in Savannah.

held Saturday afternoon and Sun-

Major General Ernest Vandiver

day morning.

was principal speaker. With high

Sparked by brilliant speeches praise for the courageous exploits

and eloquent orators, the con- of his Georgia Army and Air Na-

vention got underway with the in- tional Guardsmen during their re-

troduction of Mayor Wilson of Ma- cent duty fighting forest fires,

con who welcomed the Guardsmen aiding at tornado-damaged Colum-

to his city. Lt. Col. Buford A. bus and Warner Robins, and

capturing killers in North Ge orgia General Vandiver conve yed G ove~ nor Talmadge's official apprecia. tion for what the Guard has done
In his address General Vandj. ver expressed pleasure with the general defense program of Pres. ident Eisenhower, but deplored the recent cut in Air Force funds, The young adjutant general also urged the Georgia Assoc iation to consider urging the State Legislature to form an Armory Building Authority to relieve the outmoded conditions of some of our present National Guard facilities. In conclusion he p.-aised the Guard for the ''outstanding and tre mendous job" they did at their annual summer training.
"Twenty F -84 Thunderjet aircraft will be furnished each Georgia fighter squadron," Colonel Bernard M. Davey, Commander of the ll6th Fighter Bomber Wing, told the officers. We have a lre ady received almost a full r.omp le ment of these jets, he said, and in ten to twelve months "it is proposed that our squadrons will receive F -86 Sabrejet~." Col. Davey also stressed the ne ed for a permanent type recruiting program for his Air Guard units.
Colonel Philip A. Sykes, Senior Air Force Instructor of the Air National Guard, spoke on ''Return

GEORGIA OFFICERS HEAR NG SPEAKERS
10

OFFICERS AND WIVES DINE AT DEMPSEY
SEPT-OCT, 1953

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - TilE GEORGIA GUARDSMAN

of the Minut~ _ ~an" reported else-

"~borleonienl

th1s 1ssue. Robert L.

Williams ,

Jr.,

our ne w Senior Army Advisor,

introduced to the Georgia
8
"uicers. He said he welcomed
~is new ass_ig_nment and would

:Sndeavor to v1s1t each Army unit soon as possible. Our United States Property and

Disbursing Officer, Colonel Char-

les S. Thompson, spoke briefly

on the latest functions of his

office Col. Ingle i11 his annual report

to the Association praised the

,cx-k of his committees and their accomplishments. He cited other examples of noteworthy achievements of our Guardsmen and their
devotion to duty. Major William A. Sanders, Chap-

NEW OFFICIALS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA Front, l to r, Col. fames C. Grizzard, Lt. Col. Buford A. Ingle, Maj. Robert T. Baird, Lt. Col. Sanders Camp, Col. Charles L. Davis. Back l, to r, Lt. William Fl. Kelly, Col. Marion L. Clonts, Capt. Ben L.
Kersey, Lt. Col. Wyont Bean.

lain of the 121st Infantry Regiment, conducted religious services for the officers Sunday morning to open the business session.
Brig. Gen. William A. Cunningbam, Deputy Adjutant of Georgia, then took the rostrum. Illustrating his talk with humor and pathos, General Cunningham ran the
gauntlet of problems facing the National Guard and then praised the Guardsmen for their leadership and recent accomplishments.
Capt. Ben L. Kersey gave his annual report on the financial status of the Association. The treasury contained $4,912.84 from memberships and an additional

$3 ,500.00 in a trust fund made possible by the sale of Guard property. Membership was very close to 100%, Capt. Kersey reported.
Lt. Col. Andrew McKenna, chairman of the legislative committee, reported on the problem of rewntmg the State Defense Act of 1%1 which is said to have many flaws, namely the omission of vital acts in the original 1916 legislation.
Resolutions Committee chairman Col. Charles C. Dav is, submitted four resolutions for approval. They were: 1- To press for leg-

islation to provide distinctive automobile license plates for all members of the National Guard of Georgia. 2- Resolved that no limit be placed on the number of private automobiles taken to summer encampments. 3- Resolved that there be a semi-annual meeting of the Board of Directors and officers of the Association. 4- To petition National Guard Bureau to remove the excessive time m grade requirements of company grade officers of the Air National Guard to conform to the promotion policies of the regular Air Force. All passed.
In accepting the gavel of pres-

idency from Col. Ingle, Col.

Grizzard thanked the officers for

the confidence placed in him and

asked that the Association again

sponsor awards to be given out-

standing graduates of military

schools.

Classed as one of the most

successful meetings of the Asso-

ciation, the 1953 affair in Macon

gave promise of another similar

session next year. In conclusion

a rousing vote of thanks was ex-

tended Capt. Ben. Kersey and

the management of the Dempse y

Hotel for their excellent prepar-

GENERAL TRAVIS, EX PRES NG ASSN OF US HEARS GA PLA NS ation for the meeting a nl the

Gen. Vandiver, Gen. R. ]. Travis, Col. Merritt, it. Col. Ingle discuss hospitality shown the convening

National Guard progress

Guardsmen.

SEPT-OCT, 1953

ll

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

AIR FORCE ClllEFS TO ADDRESS GUARD CONFERENCE
Washington, Sept. 7 -- General Matthew B. Ridgeway, Army Chief of Staff, and his ''opposite number" of the Air Force, General Nathan F. Twining, will address the 75th annual General Conference of the National Guard Association of the U. S. at San Diego, Calif., Oct. 19-22.
Acceptance of their invitations to join the estimated 1,000 or more Delegates am visitors to the "Diamond Jubilee" occasion was announced today by Maj. Gen. E. A. Walsh of St. Paul, Minn., -Assoc.iation President.
General Ridgeway parachuted into Normandy in the pre-dawn invasion of France at the head of the 82nd Airborne Division in World War ll, commanded the 18th Airborne Corps in the Battle of the Bulge and the air drop across the Rhine at Wesel, commanded the Eighth Army in Korea, succeeded to Supreme Command for the Allied Powers m Japan, moved up to head SHAPE m Paris, and moved into the Army's top job last month.
General Twining started h'is military career as a buck private il' the Oregon National Guard in 1916, served on the Mexican Border and was a National Guard Infantry sergeant when the United States entered the First World War winning his appointment to the U.S. Military Academy through the Guard. Becoming a pilot in 1924, he commanded all Army, Navy, lv.Mine and Allied air fore es in the South Pacific and later, the 15th Air Force and the Mediterranean Allied Strategic Air Force in the ETO, during World War II. He, too, became Chief of Staff of the Air Force in August.
M/Sgt Jack H. Drew, Co F, 121st In, Thomasville, Sgt Jack
0. Adair, Co C, 122nd lnf, New-
nan, and Cpl Billie Nipper, Co K 121st lnf, Cordele are attending the lnf Basic NCO Course at Ft. Benning which ends 8 Dec 53.

Governor For Strong Guard
"The most effective defense money we are now spending 1s on our National Guard."
This was the essence of statements made by Governor Herman Talmadge m Miami as he was speaking to the annual convention of the National Retail Hardware As,sociatioh.
"Since I have been Governor," he said, "I have taken a personal interest in the work of the Guard and have visited the men at their summer encampments. This is a military function of our Armed Forces which must be strengthened and expanded.
"Our Guard units in every State must be furnished with the best in equipment and supplies. The National Guard furnishes a force which can be quickly called to the defense of our nation in the time of emergency. It has sened us well in the past and will serve us equally well m in the future. "
DeLoach-Signal CO
The new commanding officer of the 48th Signal Company in Atlanta is Capt. Samuel T. DeLoach who succeeded Captain Jasper L. Spain who transferred to the Air National Guard. Prior to assuming command of the Signal Company, Capt. DeLoach was Radio Officer for ~he unit.
Capt. Samuel T. DeLoach

Col Moseley Retires
The retirement of Lt. Col.
Lasse 0. Moseley, Hq & Hq Det,
Georgia National Guard, be came effective 1 October 1953. Having
enlisted in the Army ll May
1918, Col. Moseley served actively for two years. By 1924 he was an infantry captain.
In 1937-39 Col. Mosele y was a member df a selective service board that received national recognition for its work. The board's plan was adopted as a basis for the national selective servic e act and for his accomplishments, Col. Moseley received personal commendations from the Secre tary of War and the Chief, National Guard Bureau.
In July 1951 Col. (the n Majod Moseley became inactive on the National Guard roster after a long and distinguished period of ser vice to the state and nation. The best wishes of the National Guard of Georgi11 are extended Lt. Col. Moseley on the occasion of his retirement.
Austell to Get Unit
It is contemplated that a unit of the Georgia National Guard will be formed in Austell. This unit, to be .comprised of 40 men and one officer, will be the 81mm Mortar Platoon of Company D, 122nd Infantry Regiment , located in Douglasville.
Capt. James E. Sensenbre nner, Co D Commttnder, spoke a t the Austell American Legion Post 12 September, outlining the purpose and organization of the unit.

12

SEPT-OCT, 1953

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Ac 1uiJ itions Divi 3io n Th2 J ~i1Jr3 ity of 'eor~ ia Librar i es The J ni~er3i ty of Georgia At hen3 , Georg i a
A PHOTO REVIEW OF FIELD TRAINING

LT. GEN. ALEXANDER BOLLING, Third Army Commander, is shown third from left, watching a n M-55 cre w fro m Thomson ' s Btry C, 950th AAA Bn, track targets at Camp Stewart, where the Army commander was visiting units of the Georgia National Guard. Also shown are, left to right, Lt. Col. John Wallis, Bn commander, Brig. Gen. George Hearn, Brigade Commander, Gen. Balling, Col. Jack John s on, 214th Group commander, and members
of the unit.

~~
MAJOR GE NERAL JOSE P H B. FRASER, of Hi nes vil le, loo ks a t a 75mm t on k shell on the ra nge at F t . Mc Clellan. Sgt. Ri ch a rd H. Coody of Eastman, Ga ., e xpl a ins a t r ight. l n the background , She rman ta nks of the 190th Tonk Botto Iion fire the ir potent weapons a t t argets
on a d istant hill.

_;;:'ib' I

AN 81MM Mortar Closs takes pl a ce in the woods near Ft. McClellan as these Guar ds men of Co D, 12lst lnf Regt, Ma con, prepare fo r the firing line. Shown left to right, are Cpl Chari ie Renfroe, Lt. Hubert F . Locke a nd Sgt Harold D. Du pree. ( Ph oto by Lt. George Harris)

l '
INSPECTING RA DAR facil ities of the 129th AC & W Flight at Con garee, S. C., Ma j. Gen. Ernest Vand ive r, State AG of Go, ge ts s ome po inters from the sergeant in charge The u n it is c om manded by Lt . Col. Creig ht on Rhodes who took his u n it to Congaree fr om Travis F ie ld
for s u mmer maneuvers .