The Georgia guardsman [Vol. 7, no. 1 (Jan., Feb. 1957)]

THE

ADJUTANT

GENERAL'S

MESSAGE

GOVERNOR MARV IN GRIFF IN

MAJOR GEN ERAL GEORGE J. HEARN

Fellow Guardsmen: In recent we eks the National Guard has been in the spotlight
throughout the nation. The National Guard's training programs have come under close scrutiny, and our patriotism has been questioned by the Secretary of Defense. Congressional Armed Services Committees are investig ating.
The controversy stems from the order by the Department of Defense that all non prior-service Guardsmen must take a six months training period as a con dition of enlistment. The Adjutants General and National Guard Associat ion s are objecting to this program. The Nat ional Guard position, that a period of 11 weeks of basic training is sufficient, is set forth on page si x of thi s edition.
The eyes of the nation are on each one of us as we wear the uniform of the National Guard. We have a responsibility to uphold . Each one of us is a symbo l of the efficiency and integrity of the National Guard. We must co nduct ourselves accordingly.
For three ce nturies the Guard has built a heritage and tradition which has stood the test of time. For almost two centuries the Contitution has quaranteed our existence. We must adhere to our historic principles, geared to the modern concepts of war, and gird ourselves for the tasks that lie ahead.
,. / /~

~-------------------:-------------THE GEORGIA GUARDSMAN
tHE GEORGIA GUARDSMAN

Jan, Feb 1957

No. 1

ublication of the .D~partment of p ae, Military D1vls1on, State
c;eor&i Published in the interest tbe Geor&ia National Guard and tributed free to members of the
Guard of Georgia. The arc~aman receives AFPS material
AfPS material appearing here in . .aot be reprinted without written ,.-laaion of Armed Forces Press lef\'lce, 641 Washington Street,
New York 14, N.Y.

LT. COL. DONALD E. MEES
Managing Director

Congressman Vinson, left, and Senator Russell, as they ap (Jeared in the House Armed Services chamber in 1951. Tbe efforts of these statesmen resulted in immediate action by the Air Force to provide modern iets for the Guard.

MAJOH DOUGLAS EMBRY
Editor
SERGEANT DON GREER
Photographic Technician

Publication and Editorial Office

959 E. Confederate Ave., S.E.

Atlanta 2, Geor&ia







Honorable Marvin Griffin

Governor of Georgia

Major General George j. Hearn
The Adjutant General







ne opinions expressed in The Geor~ Guardsman are those of the Staff
ra&ers of the publication and mem-
lera of the Georgia National Guard
~ 1o not necessarily reflect any "((&c&al views of the Office of the
Adjutant General of Georgia.

Our Cover..
~~K,ING OVER the Georgia National
-rd s newest airplane, Brig. Gen.
s,!;:arlie F. Camp, Asst. Adjutant GenerArmy, talks with lst.Lt. Robert H.
lleo berry, right, and M/ Sgt George
II '- The plane is an L20 Beaver, a loplace, dual-control utility ai rcraft
llalgned to Hq & Hq Detachment, com-
....ded by General Caonp. Lt. Sprayberry,

Rosse II & Vinson Action Brings Quick

Results; First of 50 F- 84F's Delivered

It took only 28 action-packed days after Major General George J. Hearn
grounded the fleet of Georgia Air National Guard F -84D jets until the first of

50 supersonic F-84F Thunderstreak s was delive red to replace them.

Crowning the rapidly developing events which brought Georgia into the national spotlight was the personal help of Georgia's Senator
Ric!1ard B. Russell and Congressman Carl Vinson, Chai,rmen of the Senate and House Armed Service s Committees.
Ge neral Hearn, The Adjutant Gen-
eral, and Brig . Gen. Homer Flynn, Asst. Adjutant General of Ga. for air, appealed to the highl y infl~en tial Georgia congressmen personally on 13 February.
3 oth Senator Russell and Congressman Vi nson talked to Maj. Gen. Winston P. Wilson, Deputy Chief, NGB, and Senator Russell called in Secretary of the Air Force Donald A. Quarles to discuss the matter of replacing the obsolete jets Georgia
o pilot assigned to the 179th Armd FA Bn, flies the Beaver on administrative and cargo missions. The L-20 is maintained by M-Sgt Moore, Hq Det technician and crew chief. The versatile plane is noted for its rugged durability and high
performance characteristics.

pilots were flying. This conference on the 14th resulted in the decision to replace the grounded aircraft immediately.
One day later the first F -84F arrived at Dobbins AFB. In an interview General Hearn highly praised the distinguished statesmen for their invaluable assistance.
"The paint was hardly dry," said Capt. Glenn Herd, ANG flying training supervisor, who met the highperformance jet. Republic Aircraft's technical representative said, as he paused for breath after racing the jet to Dobbins, it was the "quickest notice" he had ever received.
Red-lined at 1.2 Mach, in excess of the speed of sound, the sweptwing F -84F is capable of in-flight refueling and is equipped with drag chutes. Twenty of the sleek fi ghters are scheduled for immediate delivery and will be divided between the 128th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Dobbins and the 158th FIS at Travis Field, Savannah.

JAN, FEB 1957

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

Five Guardsm en from Sav annah's 48th Armd Div Atry were among the group intervi ew ed at Ft. Jack son. Sho wn at left on the front are, 1-r, Jam es R. Willia ms, Rudolph Wiggins, Jimmie D. Collins, Llo yd Co llin s and Terry G. Smith. Officers in the rear are L t. St ri ckland, Major Hickox, Major Hext and Major Scruggs. A t right Lt. Col.

Mees talks to members of the 560th Armd Eng r Bn frot, Columbus. From left to right the y are David W. Danfor( Charl e s R. flo ward, Sam W. Matth ew s , Ira L. Goodwift, llorace D. Denn y and Charl e s D. Davidson. (Arm y ,q
National Guard Photo s)

Ga. Guardsmen at Fort Jackson Praise Training Program

"I'd rather be home, but this ain't bad, " s ai d one of our Georgia National

Guards men undergoing 6 months of training at Ft. Jack son, S.C. in January.

This comment was typical of the remarks made by 24 other Georgians there when they were interviewed by a team of Georgia Guard officers.

schools when they returned to their Georgia units.
Food of excellent quality was

Deciding that the best way to

pro mot e the basic training program

was to ge t a firs t-hand report from

the troops at Ft. Jackson, the of-

ficer s flew to the ar my post armed

with questions and attentive ears.

What they saw and heard was en-

couraging.

Everyone of the Guardsmen said

they would recommend the training

to their fellow Guardsmen. They

described the training as hardening

and thorough but necessary to get

the job done in the shortest possible

time.

T hey were generall y enthus iasti c

about the program. All of the men

intervie wed had just returned from a two-week s Chri stmas leave a nd appeared ready to setde down to some rigid train ing .
One of the most encouraging aspects of the informal discussions emerged in the form of questions from the young Guardsmen as to their prospects of attending service

C apt. Leonard W. A llred's Company C, 163rd Tank Battalion, signe d up t wo young tank ers for the six months arm y trainin g in December. Assisting
Capt A llred with the paf_Jer work at right i s C WO Leland S. Bell while the new trainees, DonaldM. Whitfield
and Mil ford J. 11 ill, look on.

2

s erved the Guardsmen, the officer reported. Four-man t ables and table service enhanced the meals.
The officers obs erved that the training program itself was excel lent -- designed to do the job ol training in an efficient and effecri t manner. Further the y reported that i nstructor personnel handling the Guardsmen were conscientious aacl enthusiasti c about doing a good job.
Recreational facilities were abundant and sufficient time was allowed the men to take. advan tage of them.
The troops appeared alert and particularly pleased that National Guard officers from Georgia hacl shown such interest in their actiYi ties.
Lt. Col. Donald E. Mees, Major Jack L. Conrad, Major Dougl as Embry and Lt. Bob Spray berry were visitilll offic ~rs from the Atlanta area. LL Sprayberry, a pilot wi th the 179tk Armd FA Bn, flew the group in the Hq Detachment's new L-20 Beaver.
Officers of the 48th Armored Di
vision Artillery from Savannah wert flown to Ft. Jackson by Lt. James Strickland. They were Major Grady
P. Hext, "Major Waynard Hickox and
Major O'Dell Scruggs.
JAN, F EB 1957

--------~- ------- ---~------------------------------THE GEORG/ A GUARDSMAN

sec. Wilson's ~~Draft-dodging'' Slur

Meets Barrage of State Rebuttals

e remark by Secretary of Defense Wilson that draft-dodging developed in

. Th al Guard enlistments during the Dorean War brought immediate demands
i\aumoGneorgia ottlc 1 ~ 1s tllar t I>e secretary l)e f"tre d, repnman d e d or apo logt ze tor

ro . suit to the (ruard. hts!:saoes from Governor

~!arvin

\tet'

"Lt.

Covernor

Lc rnes_t

\

.

a

n

d" 1

,.

Gr 1t0he Georp. a b.-eneral :\ssembly

avnedr, Col. \\esley D. \\ 1'1.1.mgllam, ""'GA

Ga president,~were sent to President

Eisenhower, Longress and the prest

dent of the \'ational Guard Associa-

tion of the l'nited States, condemning the attitude of the Secretary of

oefense. President Eisenhower was quick

Ceneral George J. Hearn, The
Adjutant Generai, said IJefore a joi1,t Senate-House committee investigating the grounding of Georgia's jets "In the Korean War, the Georgia :\ational Guard had two AAA Battalions, an AAA Brigade headquarters and the entire Air :\ational Guard called in."
Col. Willingham telegramed Maj. Gen. Ellard A. Walsh, NGA US presi-

10 term \\ ilson' s statement as "very unwise" and made ~without thinking."

dent, requesting "positive action be taken to obtain an apology from

Governor Griffin, Commander-in- Secretary of Defense \\"ilson." He

Chief of the Georgia National Guard, said "Georgia furnished army and air

ll ired the president that Wilson's remark was "totally untrue" and

personnel who participated in Korea. Officers and men of the Georgia

"unworthy of any official of the U.S. National Guard vigorously defy and

Government.'' He said the "erroneous deny the implications of his state-

statement ... demands immediate cor- ment."

rective action on your part.'' He

Major General Ellard A. Walsh,

told reporters he resented with ''all my po~ers" the "dastardly slur on

President of the \iational Guard Association of the United States,

these stout-hearted soldiers."

made this rebuttal to Secretary Wil-

Lt. Governor Vandiver wired Pre son's remarks:

sident Eisenhower and said Wilson's

"Before accepting and repeating

"ridiculous statement indicates a statistics quoted to him by his un-

complete lack of knowledge of what derlings with respect to the National

the National Guard has meant to this Guard's training, Mr. Wilson should

count C).

have demanded all of the facts bear-

"Such irresponsibility in high ing upon the matter - not a broad

office demands that he be immediate- generalization that cannot be support-

ly replaced.'' Senator Herman Talmadge was

ed by the facts. "The facts are that well over

among the many who critized Wilson. 68,000 of the Army National Guard's

He said \Xilson has "demonstrated time and again that he t~as the worst

366,000 enlisted men are veterans of active Federal service - not to men-

case of foot-in-mouth disease in tion the fact that 85 percent of its

'l.ashington."

officers have served on active duty

The Legislature denounced Wilson and the vast majority are veterans of

in a resolution as being "an unquali- either World War II or the Korean

fied individual" whose "utter stupidIty indicates a complete lack of knowledge of the services of the ~ational Guard." They demanded he

Emergency, or both. It is also a fact that 5,000 National Guardsmen voluntarily took eight weeks of active duty training, until the Army forced

be _fired after hearing Col. Joel B. the Guard to halt that program. As of

Pans, \\ ing Executive Officer, and now, 7,000 young Guardsmen either

\fajor Philip Colman,. 158th FIS have completed or have undertaken

Commander, both war aces tell of

their "~'artt'me servtce.

'

the six-months training program, on a purely voluntary basis.

JFaynesboro is Superior
The r('sults ._,f rbe annual armory
mspecti::n "r \hntK'>horo' s Battery
D, ltllst AA.!\ Bn, may best be told through the medi urn of a letter of commendation froo' L L Col. Bothwell A. Johnson, battalion commander, to Capt. Paul Stone, Battery D commander:
"It is with great pleasure and a feeling of pride that I extend to you and to all the members of your unit, this commendation for the attainment of a Superior Rating on your Annual Armory Inspection for the fiscal year
1957.
"The attainment of a Superior Rating for the second consecutive year indicates that your unit is composed of conscientious, able, aggressive personnel who are devoted to their unit, to the Georgia Na donal Guard and to their country.
"The interest and initiative shown by you and the members of your unit reflect great credit upon yourself, your unit, and the Georgia National Guard."
"Mr. Wilson, or his advisers, also failed to note that 50,0 00 National Guardsmen have attended courses at the Army's branch and technical schools, at levels as high as the Command and General Staff College and the Army War College. Nor have they given any consideration to the fact that 40,000 National Guardsmen now are enrolled in the Army's home study extension courses, dealing with purely military subjects, in order to improve their military proficiency.
"No consideration whatever appears to have been given the amount of training that is accomplished in the armories throughout the course of each year, and at the 15 days of annual field training.
"As for the over-all effectiveness of this training, ~Jr. Wilson might have noted that the Continental Army Command, responsible for the training of the National Guard tested every ;\Jational Guard Di,ision last Summer and reported that the men did very well and showed-up better tn some phases than the Active Army."

JAN, FEb

3

T H E G E O R G I A G U A R D S M A N - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - -- - - -

GENERAL HEARN GROUNDS ANG JETS
"Unairworthy," Overclue for IRAN State Defense Committee Fincls

Georgia's 60 F84D Thunderjets , utilized since August 1953 by the Geor giaAirNational Guard's 128th and 158th Fighter Interceptor Squadrons, were grounded 19 January by Major Gener a1 George J . Hearn, The Adjutant Gener al when he was con ronted with evidence that the y were ''unairworthy. ''
'The jets had been temporarily was joined by Lt. Gov. Ernest Van

craft long overdue for overhauling. The resolution was expected to
be passed by the General Assembl and then sent to the Georgia con: gressional delegation. It would ask

grounded 4 January pending the out- diver, former Adjutant General, who that Congress carry on the investi-

come of an investigation into the was familiar with the status of the gation on a national 1evel.

crash of an F-84D piloted by Capt. Edward A. Woodard of Savannah.
When the Air Materiel Command

jets. The officers and airmen testified
that deteriorated fuel cells and fray-

Between the time of the announcement of the grounding of the jets and the legislative investigation, Gener-

refused to grant a request from Gen eral Hearn that the jets be over hauled at an AMC depot, the ground ing action was taken. AMC said it

ed wiring were a mainttnance pro blem beyond the scope of the Air Guard maintenance technicians. Showing samples of the faulty cells and wir

als Hearn and Flynn went to Washington where they wer e ass ured by Major General Winston P . Wilson, Deputy Chief, NGB, that the Georgia

could not justify an IRAN (Inspec ing, the Guardsmen pointed out that Air N ational Guard would be equip-

tion and Repairs As Needed) because only depot overhaul or IRAN could ped with later model F-84F T hunder-

of cost factors involved.

remedy these unsafe conditions.

streaks or F-86D Sabers if the pre-

"If the cost of maintaining this

.Results of the testimony prompte d sent AMC inspection determined that

aircraft in safe condition is not the legislators to draw up a resolu- the F-84D' s were unsafe for further

justified," General Hearn said, tion, incorporating the committee flight . In the interim , Gen eral Wilson

"then I believe that flying them at findings, charging Washington offi- said he would furnish the Georgia

the cost of pilots lives is not cials for having used the Guard as squadrons with additional T- 33 jet

justified."

a dump ing ground for obsolete air trainers in order that the pilots could

Upon General Hearn's recommen cra ft and expe<.ting pilots to fl y air- maintain their fl ying proficien cy.

dation to the Governor to keep the

"old and obsolete" jets grounded,

Governor Griffin said he will "not

jeopardize the lives of our pilots,

and the plane s will remain grounded

until such time a s they are replaced

or can be placed in a safe condi tion.''

A probe into the grounding of the jets was launched by a joint Defens e

and Veterans Affa irs commi ttee o f

the Georgia General Assem bly. On

29 January a hea ri ng, conducted by

Sen. Carl Sanders of Aug usta and

Rep . James H. F loyd of Chattoga

Counry, committee chairmen, re c e iv

ed testimony from General Hearn,

Brig. Gen. Homer Flynn, As s t. AG

for air; Col. Ralph G. Kuhn, Wing

Commander; Col. Joel B. Paris , Wing

Executive Officer; Major Philip Col-

man, 158th commander; Capt. Phil-

lips Hamilton, 158th maintenance

officer; Capt. Charles D. Simpson,

128th maintenance officer, and two airmen, S/ Sgt Richard A. Roberts and M/ Sgt Stanley F. Bates, Jr.
Generals Hearn and Flynn testified they had made repeated appeals for newer jets. The joint committee

Giving briefings on the current developments in the troublesome Middle Eost is o ne of the policies instituted by the 116th Fighter-Interceptor Wing ot Dobbins AFB . Know ing that a well-informed airman is the best equipped fighter, the Wing belie ves in
keeping its members abreast of the latest news developments. Here Major Will iam P. Ramsden, Wing Adjutant, briefs A/ lC Elmer 0 . McDonnell, S/ Sgt Leslie Jone s and
A/ 2C Clarence H. Hillhouse.

4

JAN, FEB 1957

THE GEORGIA GUARDSMAN

Supersonic Jet Shrinks Space

Mauldin swears in Lieutenants lrtez Flake and Betty Silas who became Air National Guard nurses with t he 116th Tactical Hospital. Vacancies
exist for three more nurses, Col. Mauldin revealed.
LTS. FLAKE, SILAS BECOME ANG NURSES

Mauldin, hospital

and Atlanta surgeon,

ve the oath of office to Betty Silas, 26, and Inez Flake, 22, both of 942 N. Avenue, N.E., Atlanta.
tlaey received commissions as

caod lieutenants. Neither had
prior military service.
The first woman in the Guard,
Lt. Ellen Jones of Atlanta, was orn in last November. She is also
a nurse in the hospital unit which
lllpports the 116th Fighter-lntercepIDr 1'ing.

Lt. Silas is a native of Langley, C., near Augusta. She works in the ~pedic department at Georgia lapust Hospital where she has served for the last four and a half years.

Lt. Flake is also a graduate of

Georgi a Baptist where she worked

the emergency clinic. She is now

laployed with Drs. Florence and

Scott, Atlanta urologists. Lt. Flake

a native of Brooklet Ga. near

Yannah.

' '

ANG Aids Families
Signs of Ch ristmas cheer were generated by members of the Georgia Air National Guard in December when nine Cobb County families felt the generosity of the airmen of the 116th Fighter Interceptor Wi ng at Dobbins Ai r Force Base.
Each year the men of the wing who are on permanent duty arrange to sponsor several families in the area and supply all their Christmas needs.
The nine families had 24 children from three months to 15 years old.
Capt. George H. Green, one of the leaders of the project, said local stores and merchants were a big help in providing some of the toys, clothes and food that the families needed.
Funds for the project were taken from contributions of the airmen. Capt. C. D. Simpson and Sgt. Robert J. Austin worked with Capt. Green on the project.
The Chevron Club of the Waycross National Guard sponsored a Christmas dance over the holidays. P. E. Weathersbee is president of the Chevron Club. The dance was held in the new armory of H/ S Co, 17lst Armd lnf Bn.

A man who has flown the world's fastest jet fighter says there seems to be less space in the sky these days.
"Modern ultrasonic jets can actually run out of fl ying room -- and very quickly," according to A.W. (Tony) LeVier, one of America's pioneer jet test pilots, who is well-known in the Atlanta area and has told his flying experiences to the LockheedGeorgia Management Club.
"We're now able to reach the fringes of space so fast that the sky seems to be getting smaller," LeVier said in a talk in Detroit.
"One thing we have really succeeded in shrinking," he added, "is the unknown."
"Today's fighters are nudging right into aviation's next frontier, the thermal barrier, in which heat could impair structural strength."
LeVier, now director of flying 1 operations for Lockheed's California
division at Burbank, said that technological advancements within the aircraft industry, particularly in supersonic flight , are making it possible to fly and live at high speeds and high altitudes which a few years ago seemed unattainable.
"And it doesn't take a superman to do the flying job, for ttlle new, future-looking planes are engineered and built to be flown by any properly trained and conditioned pilot.''
As an example of the easier-to-fly improvements being incorporated in modern supersonic aircraft, he described the built-in "sensory system" of 'Lockheed's new F-104A day-andnight fighter for the U.S. Air Force.
This device is capable of sensing minute angular motions and automatically adjusting for them to keep the airplane in stable flight throughout its speed range.
When the sensory mechanism is tied into the aircraft's power control system, a pilot can enjoy a ride which is smoother than a transporttype plane -- and at three times the speed.

5

THEGEORGIAGUARDSMAN------------------------------~---------------------------------

NG Assn. Opposes &-Months Training,

Recommends Adoption of Eleven Weeks

Compulsory six-months basic training for all non prior service Guardsmen

has been ordered by the Department of Defense in Washington beginning 1

April. This change in the reserve train-
ing program as established by the Reserve Forces Act of 1955 was announced 14 January by Secretary of the Army, Wilber M. Brucker.
The new proposal is being vigorously opposed by the National Guard and Adjutants General Associations of the United States which are supporting a shorter period of basic training. This and other counter proposals were agreed upon by the Adjutants General and other general officers of the Army National Guard at a conference in Washington 23
January. Essence of the new Army pro-
gram, which was described as "measures to improve the combat readiness of the Army Reserve components," called for these changes:
At present, for the Army National Guard, a man between the ages of 17 and 18Y2 can enlist and then is obligated to continue his training until age 28. Under the new program,

a period of sixty days, during which time the Army National Guard is free to recruit and enlist him for the re-
mainder of his Ready Reserve obligation. At the end of sixty days, if the man has not been enlisted by the Army National Guard, the Army assigns him to an Army Reserve unit.
A third measure would enable draft-eligible men between 18 and 25 to escape induction by volunteering for six months' active duty, followed by about five years in the civilian reserves.
Four counter proposals have been recommended by the Executive Council of the National Guard Association of the United States. Based on the unanimous recommendations of the AG' s and other general officers at the 23 January conference, the Council on 27 January adopted this Active Duty Training Resolution.
1. That all men who have attained the age of 18Y2 years and who are members of the Army National Guard

an Army National Guard enlistee takes on 31 March 1957 be permitted to

six months active-duty training, and volunteer for a six months active

is required to serve only an addition- duty training program provided they al 4Y2 years in the Army National have not already comp~eted a pre-

Guard, in order to be eligible to be scribed basic training course.

transferred to the Standby Reserve

2. That all men who have attained

for an additional three years. This the age of 18Y2 years who become

would also apply to the Army Reser- members of the Army National Guard

ves.

on or after 1 April 1957 be required

Another measure announced by to perform six months active duty

Secretary of the Army Brucker con- training provided they have not al-

cerns the enlistee who completes ready completed a prescribed basic

his normal two-year training with the training course.

Army voluntarily or under the Selec-

3. That all men age 1{ to 18Y2

tive Service Act. If the man has a years who are members of the Army

remaining Reserve obligation, he can National Guard on 31 March 1957 be

volunteer for a unit of the Army Na- permitted to volunteer for either

tional Guard. Normally, at the completion of his active service, the Army would have assigned him to an Army Reserve unit, since the men for

eleven weeks active duty basic trammg or the six months active duty training program provided they have not already completed a pre-

the Army National Guard units must scribed basic training course.

be volunteers. Under the new in-

4 . That all men age 17 to 18Y2

structions, the Army will not assign years who become members of the

the man to an Army Reserve unit for Army National Guard on or after 1

April 1957 be requircK! to perform e. leven weeks active duty basic tratntng or volunteer for the six month active duty training program provide: they have not already completed a prescribed basic training course.
Major General Ellard A. Walsh President of the National Guard Association of the United Sta~es and
chief spokesman for the National
Guard postUon, charged that the
Pentagon was trying to "foist on the
Guard a program it has been unable
to solve." Walsh said the association argued vigorously for a three months' training program to be followed by three months' special instruction
later in Army schools. He said this was the intent of Congress in the 1955 Rf A. He pointed out this was "immeasurably successful" in the
Air National Guard but was bluntly rejected by the Army.
The new Guard proposals were outlined to all Army NG command~rs in GeQrgia by Major General George J. Hearn, The Adjutant General, who said "It was the feeling of all that a
required six months' training would interfere with education and would consequently be very difficult to sell to our prospective enlistees."
The House Armed Services Committee began hearings on the new
Army proposals on 4 February. Natior,al Guardsmen were urged to sup port the Guard position by communicating with their senators and con
gressmen, requesting acceptance of
the National Guard program.
Army Slows Forming Of NG, Reserve Units
Washington (AFPS) - The Army has postponed activation of most new units planned for the National Guard and Reserve pending determination of active combat forces needs.
Except for "mobilization priority" and air defense units of the U.S., no additional reserve organizations will be formed until the exact requirements for regular divisions to meet future emergencies is established, the Army said.
The temporary deferment will enable existing understrength Reserve units to fill their ranks and will not affect recruiting efforts under the Reserve Forces Act of 1955, Army officials emphasized.

6

JAN, FEB 1957

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

VA Loans Expiring
A top loan official of the VA has jnted out that there are hundreds
~veterans who are yet to be served Ia tbe home market.
The VA official's remarks apparent
LI were made to refute reports that veterans home market has been
esbausted. ID a recent speech, Thomas J.
Sweeoey, Director of VA' s loan -mary service, noted that the GI T;;-cut-off dates are still far enough awaY to provide time for large numbers of veterans to buy homes.
It was pointed out that World War II
.eterans have until July 25, 1958 to
,er their loan applications into VA
offices. In addition, the homes do not ...e to be completed until July 25,
1fS9.
Vererans with service during the arean War have until January 31,
1965 to obtain GI loans.

Griffin's Co C, 48th Recon Bn, and 117th Surgical Hospital sponsored a very successful visit of the Red Cross Bloodmobile to their city 27 December when a total of 254 Guardsmen and civilians contributed to the blood bank. Three Guardsmen of Co Care shown making their donations. They ore, 1-r, Sp3 Paul W. Clifford, Sp3 Henly E.
Beall and Sp3 Harold G. Goodson

Irvin Guards Form

An organization of officers and men from Wilkes County was formed ill December under the name of Irvin Guards Assn. The meeting, held in Washington, was presided over by Col. Jack Johnson, commander of the 214th AAA Gp.
The organization was mimed in honor of Capt. Isaiah Tucker Irvin. who headed the first company of 10ldiers to leave Wilkes County during the War Between the.States.
Purpose of the new association is to support and aid National Guard .Uts of Wilkes County.
First Lt. Jack L. Bentley is the &rst elected president. Vice president is M/ Sgt Grady E. Rogers; aecretarytreasurer is 1st Lt. Parks
S. Newsome.
Five council members elected were W/SgtJames P. Callahan, Sp/2 R.A. Adams, SFC M. T. Davis, Capt. James O.J. Taylor and CWO Neal Merritt.
Member ship is restricted to active aad past members of the local National Guard units and honorary lle'?berships awarded by the organization.
JAN, FEB 1957

One of the great war-time commanders of the army field forces, General Mark Clark, was honored by Georgia's Lockheed Aircraft Division 2 November. On hand to greet the popular general were Governor Marvin Griffin, center, and Major General George
J. Hearn, Adjutant General of Georgia. General Clark, who is now president of The
Citadel, was given a tour of the bose, luncheon, and a visit to the Governor's mansion. Gov. Griffin is an alumnus of The Citadel.
New Georgia National Guardsmen listen to Mojor General George J. Hearn, TAG, as he welcomes them into the newly activated Co A, 878th Eng Avn Bn, in Lawrenceville. Commanded by 1st Lt. Harold Craig, the unit was federally recognized 27 Nov when 14 recruits and 20 transferees became charter members. Eighteen Guardsmen transferred from the 179th Armd FA Bn and two from Hq, 878th. CWO Frank Farris, construction engineer, has been assigned to the new unit which is housed in a new foci lity provided exclusively for Co A by the City of Lawrencevi lie.
7

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

Colonel Plunkett rides. the wing of o Stearman bi-plane

Dare-devil Wing Walking, Delayed Chute Openings, Close Calls

Mark Spectacular Barnstorming Career of Lt. Col. Emmett Plunkett

Climbing out of the cockpit of a Curtiss JN4D - fighting against the 80

mile-an-hour blast of air - the 14-year old boy looked straight down. Only

300 feet below several hundred cheering spectators were awaiting the feature

event of the Mabel Cody Flying Circus.

The star performer had not shown her confident that he could perform

up and the local Georgia sheriff had the hazardous stunts safely.

demanded that the show fold up un-

The veteran pilot, Norman Wise,

less the advertised wing-walking act kept the jenny on an even keel as

was performed. The patrons of the the boy eased himself out onto the

show being held in a field somewhere wing and clutched the guy wires

between Cochran and Hawkinsville, separatin8 the wings. The spectators

were demanding their money back. No must have gasp ed in disbelief as the

more carrying of passengers for pay youth stood on his head between the

was allowed. The Flying Circus was wires. No ropes were used as he pois-

grounded until the eager youngster ed there briefly and swung down demanded the chance to fill-in for the on to the axe 1 between the landing

missing aerialist.

gear. Flirting with death, the boy -

Mabel Cody, Queen of the barn- in that summer of 1926 - hung by his

storming dare-devils and grandaughter legs from the axle, his teeth gritted

of Buffalo Bill, at first refused the against the foil of air that threatened

request, but the enthusiasm of the to tear him from his precarious

youth and his demonstrated interest perch.

1n becoming an aerial acrobat made

This was the hair-raising start of

a spectacular career of aerial stunting that achieved for Lt. Colonel Emmett L. Plunkett -- a Geo rgia National Guardsman -- a well-earned place in the legend of American barnstorming.
Now as the 45-year old State Maintenance Officer for Georgia, Lt. Col. Plunkett -- once known on the handout circulars as Buddy Plunkett -- is so modest and personable that few of his close acquaintences know how
many times he cheated death while flying as the star performer in aerial circuses throughout the nation. It was a era that has never lost its historic flavor.
While others were romping and stomping to the tunes of the jazzy Charleston numbers, a band of featless youths were writing history across the skies of the American continent and - while they may not

8

JAN, FEB 1957

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

it - blazoned the chatpower across a depresnation. The courage of Emmett Plunkett a symbol of that era. .
e1orn in Clayton County In 1911
che 26th of September, he spent Gilery available minute of his spare . e at the racetrack, once known as
~dler Field, Atlanta's Municipal .uport He was there not to witness
81fney Oldfield behind the wheel but absorb a knowledge of aviation
froiD che early aviators who occasion-
ally used the 2Yz mile track for landiDS their ancient jennies.
He was the protege of Doug Davis, Beel er Blevins, Johnny Kyde and oeher famous pioneers of aviation in Georgia. His early interest was concentrated in learning the parachute packing trade and he was subsequently iss utd parachute rigger's license
19 after the first 15 were issued to che Department of Commerce inspeceors. He estimates he had over 1,000 hour s pilot time before private licenses were issued in 1930.
His first parachute jump was made at Candler Field at the tender age of fifteen . Shortly after, during a five-day air show at Winder, he made five more jumps before he reached his 16th year.
From thi s beginning he has packed into his career 497 jull"ps, more than 300 of them delayed openings. He estimates he has fallen through
.:.iii:. l T. COL. EMMETT L. PLUNKETT
State Maintenance Officer JAN, FEB 1957

space the distance of some 150

miles. Then the soft-spoken colonel

made a few more rough calculations

and figured it had taken him some

eighteen hours to desend those

497 times.

A complete account of his daring

exploits and all of

would fill them would

sbeevoenratlheboboeskts~

seller lists from the adventure stand-

point alone.

Playbills and handout circulars

featured the stunts of Buddy Plun-

kett. He was the drawing card, and

many was the time when the deck

was stacked against him . Yet he

was never dealt the Ace of Spades.

He performed his dangerous stunts

in every state of the union but two

and the countries of Cuba, Puerto

Rico, Canada, England, France,

Belgium and Germany have witnessed

his daring.

He participated in four National

Air Races in 1928, 29, 30 and 31,

winning the grand prize in 1929 for

compiling the highest total points in

individual events. Spot jumping was

his specialty, and his nylon and silk

landings were executed with perfec-

tion. His valuable experience with

parachutes was utilized to great ad-

vantage during Wor1d \\ar II when, as

~Jaintenance Officer for the 109th

Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron,

he demonstrated proper chute techni-

ques to the squadron's P-51 pilots.

Incidentally, the versatile colonel

designed and installed the first aerial

camera mountings to go i1..o the swift

Mustangs.


Fainting among the spectators was

mostrampant, they tell him, when he

did the famous "break-away." This

stunt consisted of tyi'lg a 20-foot

rope to his ankle while walking the

wings of a jenny. The other end of

the rope was fastened to the axle be-

tween the landing gear. Cleverly

hiding the fact that he had been

tied to the plane by a rope, he would

work his way out near the tip of the

wing and fall off -- without a para-

chute. Since this trick was unan-

nounced, casualties on the ground

exceeded those in the air. Emmett

would swing like a pendulum, hang-

ing head-down by one ankle. Then

Emmett at an early Air Show

came the problem of pulling himself

up again. This was not easy.

Three times out of the 25 that he

tried this spectacle, he failed to

have the strength to chin himself

20 times against the drag of 80 mph

air. Of course he could not have

survived a landing in this percarious

position.

The talented colonel had care-

fully provided for this eventuality.

He studied his stunts minutely and

made sure a lake or good- size river

was nearby when he was scheduled

to do the "break-away." He arrang-

ed for a boat to be stationed on the

body of water, ready for the emer-

gency which occured three times.

Arching his back, the wind whip-

ped him around until he was facing

the rear of the plane. Hereleased

the rope a few feet above the water

and skipped-bombed along until he

submerged

another dangerous

stunt the paying customers some-

times saw for nothing.

Changing from a moving car to a

fl ying plane in one leap was the

source of some income and a little

out-go for the fearless Guardsman.

The most embarrassing stunt of his

C;!reer occurred at Daytona Beach in

the late twenties.

Standing up in the back of a con-

vertible, racing full speed across the

sandy beach, Plunkett let the first

pass of the jenny go by -- too fast .

The second time, an air current

lifted the craft out of reach of his

(continued on page 1O)

9

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

EMMETT PLUNKETT--
clutching fingers. On the third try, the wing skid was lined up perfectly; the jenny was slowed to just above a stall. Plunkett grabbed the skid and hung on, wrapping his legs through the loop. Suddenly, the wing dipped. The pilot gave the jenny full throttle, but it was slow to take hold. Aileron pressure was applied, but the airspeed was too slow to support the additional weight of the agile aerialist. In this embarrassing position he skipped across the sand. He hit three times, scorching his pants, before the plane swept him mercifully across the breakers of the surf and finally into the air.

Times were not always good for Emmett during the early days of barnstorming, and it was during one of those lean periods that he accepted a proposition that he would aot have made otherwise.
A Tampa, Florida real estate agency wanted to attract attention ~o potential development sites on the
Gulf coast facing Tampa Bay. It cost them $2,000 but they contracted with the ingenious colonel to perform the most spectacular stunt of his career.
For two weeks before the event, Emmett had to assemble a junked jenny and get it ready for a one-way flight. For $800 he pieced it together, not daring even to test fly the cumbersome crate. He fastened a gall on can of gasoline onto the center section strut and attached two copper tubes, feeding out from the can, along each side of the lower wing. Small holes were drilled in the tubes, and a stop-cock, in the base of the can, held the gas in check. He placed two spark plugs slightly to the rear of the end of each tube and connected them by wire to a booster magneto in the cockpit.
The day of the show he cranked the ancient power plant and nursed the fragile craft into the air. At 3,000
feet over Tampa Bay he turned the stop-cock, releasing the gasoline which flowed into the copper tubes then vapocized when it hit the slipstream. A swift turn of the magneto

crank, and Emmett's craft blossomed into an inferno of fire. Without hesitation he dove over the side, into and out of the ball of fire. His parachute opened, and he drifted into the bay where he was picked up, wet and we.ary but sol vent for the time being.
Three times he was a "bat man," executing bird-like maneuvers for several thousand feet with the aid of canvas webbing stretched under his arms and between his feet. A wrenched shoulder convinced him it was not worth the risk on his last try.
Premeditated jumps he performed were spectacular, particularly for
those who saw some of his first 125 which were done with only one chute. In 1930 the Department of Commerce aviation branch, now CAA, required that an auxiliary chute be carried in the event the first didn't open. The first time Emmett was required to wear an extra chute, he needed it -badly.
It was at Candler Field when it happened. Snagging his pack on a door handle when leaving the cabin plane, his shroud lines twisted close to the silk and kept the first chute from opening. Already too close to the ground for comfort, he pulled the second rip cord. When it became tangled iri the first streamer, he looked down for what he thought was the last time. The ground was coming up at him at the rate of 120 mph. He lost all hope. l!is chute had not opened when he disappeared behind one of the rows of hangers. The spectators rushed to view the body.

At the last instant, the second chute became disengaged and blossomed enough to catch one gulp of air. Emmett landed in some bushes and was on his feet when the crowd desended upon him. A few minutes later, at the snack bar, he nearly collapsed, realizing how close he had come to the grim reaper's scythe.
Space does not permit even a brief synopsis of Emmett's other adventures, but we hope to continue the saga of his exploits in the next edition. You'll learn how he "comman deered'' a railroad train and almost set a delayed jump record.

Officers of the newly-organi zed Atl-.
Chapter of the U.S. Mil itory Chaplahl'
Association pose with the Chapttr'
new charter and Chaplain (Col) John p
Gaertner, Third Army. Chap lain (Ma~ Robert C. Pooley, Jr. , left, of G"'lll ANG's 116th Fighter In terceptor WI. . is secretary of the new organlzatl.., Chaplain (Lt. Col. - USAR) Jameal.
May, center, Is President. (US A_,
Photo)

LaGrange Company
Gives 133 Pr. Shoes

Two hundred and s ixty-six litde

feet were put on a firmer foundatioa

recently when LaGrange' s Co A,

48th Recon Bn, presented 133 gift

certificates for shoes to 5 LaGrange

and 6 Troup County Schools.

The unit, commanded by L t. Thomaa

Brinkley, donated the shoe s for the

use of needy children in gramm

schools. School officials acceptc4

the certificates.

A new recruiting drive was starte4

by this intrepid unit 1 Dec when they

began giving $5 for each ne w recruiC.

Another incentive of $5 is given as a

door prize each drill nig ht. Eacla

enlisted member has hi s name in the

"pot." The winner of the last dra ing selects a name to be called ~

the end of roll call. If the winner II

late or not present, he fo rfeits hil

elegibility for the mone y. Then anodt-

er name is drawn.

Over the unit placed a

Christmas large tree

ohnoltihdeaytsopd~at

their new armory and decorated 1

with lights. ~

JO

JAN,FEB J957

NCO's selected for the new leadership course hear John W. Payton. Twenty airmen began the sixty four hour

Henderson explain blackboard procedures to S/ Sgt

course. (ANG Photos)

A.NG NCO'S BEGIN ERSHIP COURSE
first class in a new NCO LeaCourse being conducted by
Georgia Air National Guard's Fighter Interceptor Wing has at Dobbins AFB. to provide NCO's with training in subjects that
not contained in normal training the course will increase

wing units at Dobbins.
R l. .:ruc:tors are officers within the
Subjects being taught include comability, appearance and voice, the NCO's responsibilities in rship, training, administration
management techniques. Cenificates of completion will be
ded to successful graduates of sixty-four hour course.
Captain Alvin L. Siebert, Hq, 118th
Aa.d FA Bn, Savannah, has complet-
dae 50 Series of the Extension C..ae Program offered by The Ar-
tillery and Guided Missile School at
fort Sill, Oklahoma. The completion
dais Series represents over 235 of borne study on the part of
Siebert.

Typical of the considerable talents of Warrant Officer Bradford C. Driggers is this colorful sign which advertisesthe Georgia Air National Guard's 116th Fighter-Interceptor Wing at Dobbins Air Force Base at Marietta, Georgia. WO Driggers, a member of the 116th M::l intenance Sqdn, has added many decorating accomplishments to his ortis tic career. Although he is a maintenance speciaList chief, he is often called upon to design and decorate floats, do art work on Wing publications and paint flags and other ' appropriate pictures on unit aircraft. Recently he helped design the pilots' briefing
room, one of the mast eye-catching in the Air National Guard.

Redesignation of the 878th Engi neer Aviation Battalion. to the 878th Engineer Battalion (Heavy Con struction) became effective 15 Janu ary. The new designation, expected for several months, affects ll / S Co in Atlanta, Co A in Lawrenceville and Co l3 in Lavonia. Organizational structure of the battalion was not changed except for the deletion of the Med Det as an organic part of H/ S Co. Major Earl Bodron is Batta lion commander..

Five Georgians have been selected to important committee posts by the National Guard Association of the United States.
They are: Major Gen. George J. Hearn -Legislation Major Gen. Ernest Vandiver and Lt. Gen. Joseph B. Fraser- Retired Officers Major Gen. George G. Finch -Finance Brig. Gen. Homer Flynn -- History
ll

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

W. Point Accepting 1958 Applicati'ons

The U.s. Military Academy at West
Point, N.Y., forl55yearsthenation's number one military school, in January began accepting applications for July, 1958, appointments.
Each year, about 600 new cadets enroll at West Point, to begin an intensive four-year course at the famous school which has produced such great Americans as Lee, Grant, Pershing, MacArthur, Eisenhower, etc.
Most West Point appointments are controlled by members of Congress.
However, there are 180 competitive appointments at the tradition-rich institution open to Army and Air Force enlisted men 90 cadetships for active duty personnel and 90 for Reserve component personnel.
"A West Point appointment is a highly-coveted honor", said Lt. Gen. Thomas F. Hickey, Third Army Com mander, "and I certainly hope a large number of Third Army Area young men w,ill make application."
The application period for active duty Army and Air Force personnel began January 1st and is expected to end June 30th. Reservists and National Guardsmen will likely be able to apply until August 31st.
Basi c entrance requirements are as follows: be 17-22 years of age, be a citizen of the U.S., be in good physical condition, be a highschool graduate, be of good moral character, and must never have been married.
Reservists and National Guardsmen who pass preliminary exams may continue in school or on their jobs until final entrance exams are given in March, 1958.
About one-third of the active Army and Reserve component personnel in Third Army who applied for West Point appointments in the Spring of 1956 have passed all preliminary eliminations and will take final exams this March, hoping to enroll in July.
Detailed information about West Point appointments may be secured from Personnel sections at any active military installation.

Retirement ceremonies honoring two former Georgia National Guard officers we re hel4 in December. Lt. Col. Willi am M. Crawford, left, and Colonel James Skelton, Jr., both
former members of the Hq Det Selective Service Section, are shown with Bri g. Gen. Charlie F. Camp, second from right, Asst. Adjutant General for Army, and Bri g. Gen. Ben T . Hui et, who retired 1 Apr il 55 as Sel Svc commander. Col. Crawford was retired in Nov 56 and Col. Skelton will be retired in Feb 57. General Huiet is Commis-
sioner of the Georgia Department of labor.
Dedication of Jackson , Georg ia 's new National Guard armory on 12 December brought together a colorful group of the historic unit's commanding officers. Among the com manders were two charter members of the famous organization which was activated 18 Feb 1902. A speaker for the dedicat ion was Lt. Gen. Henry D. Russell, retired commander of the 48th Divis ion, who appea red on the program with Congressman John J. Flynt, Major General George J. Hearn, The Adjutant General, and Lt. Col. Robert F . Zeigler, battalion commander of Jackso n's H/ S Co, 48th Reconnaissance Battali on They ore, 1-r, 1st Lt. Will iam L. Fletcher, company commander, Capt. E.M. McCord, Gen . Russell , Brig. Gen. G. E. Mollet, Dr. R.A. Franklin, Brig. Gen . E.S. Settle ond R. P. Newton. Both F rank I in and Newton were charter members of what was then the
Jack son Rifles.

72

JAN, FEB 7957

I

- - - - - - - - - -- -- - - - -- - - - : - - - - - - - - -- - - - THEGEORGIA GUARDSMAN

I

LT. COL WILLIAM G. HAUPT
,_d The battalion commander of the 118th FA Bn, Lt. Col. William G. Haupt
e1 Savannah, has graduated from the
1010clate command and general staff
....,an -'lege, Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. A of 31 years service, Col. Haupt ... served through all enlisted and - -lssioned grades up to his present ...... He assumed command of the 118th
15 April 1948.

LT. R.G. ABBOTT
First Lt. Reginald D. Abbott, Bt ry B, 118th Armd FA Bn, Savannah, recently graduated from the as s ociated fie ld artillery battery officers cours e, Ft. Sill, Okla. In civil l ife, Lt. Ab bott i s employed by the Un ion Bag and Pape r Corp, a firm which granted him leaveto
attend this valuable sc hool.

SP3 RI C HARD L. HANSEN
SP/ 3 Richard L. Hansen, Svc Btry, 11 8 t h Armd F A Bn, has c omp leted the rad io repair and maintenance course at Ft. Sill , Ok la. A former proj e ctioni st wit h WTO C in Savannah, he is now qua l ifi e d to ta ke examinati on for radio en gineer wi th t he FCC a nd obtain his license. SP / 3 Hansen is a nother e xample o f a G ua rd sman who in creases hi s ci vil ian s k i ll s while beco ming of mor e val ue to his Guard unit by completing a
valuable service s chool.

The Old Guard Battal ion of the Gate City Guard changed
: mandants 18 January at their annual installation ceremon1 In Atlanta. Brig. Gen . Homer Flynn, Asst. AG of Ga. for
~lr, relinquished the reins of the historic organization to Col.
.L. "Shorty" Doyle at the Cherokee Country Club. Lt. Gover-
~r Ernest Vandiver was guest speaker. At left a group of ate City Guardsmen and the ir wives enjoy the hospitality of
JAH, FEB 7957

the Old Guard Battali on. They are, 1-r, Lt. and Mrs. L awson B. Owen, Capt. and Mr s. William D. Jordan, Capt. and Mrs. Herman 0. Gist, Capt. and Mrs. Ben L. Upchurch a nd Major and Mrs. Clarence B. Irw in. At rig ht, 1-r, are Mrs. Betty Vandiver, Bainbridge Mayor R. A. "Chen ey" Griffin, Gene ral Flynn, L t.
Governor .Vandiver, Mrs. Doro thy F lynn and Co l. Doyle.
73

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

General Hearn with Mrs. Lillian Schumpert at the annual Christmas Party of the Department of Defense

Lillian J. Schumpert
Recalls NG Service
A familiar figure to veteran Guardsmen around the State is Mrs. Lillian J. Schumpert, an employee of the State Department of Defense since 1933.
At 60 she has served in the Adjutant General's office under seven AG's and five Governors.
Affectionately known as "Schump" to many of her Guard friends, she recalls many incidents in the recent history of the Guard in which she was directly involved.
Among those whose papers she has processed were Capt. Marvin Griffin, in 1937, and in 1933 M/Sgt George J. Hearn. In the early days Mrs. Schumpert worked in the old Jackson home, the site of the present State Office building. Later she moved out to the present NG reservation in 1937 and worked in th e white buildings there which were remo deled hospital buildings for the Ol d Sol diers Home acro s s the s treet.
Among the other highlights, s he recall s issuing p as s es to relative s of the Gaine sville tornado victims and wo rked many hour s over time duri ng the re de signation of the 122nd Infantry to the 179th Field Artillery 30 J uly '38. She al so made up papers for units called to active service 16 Sept '40.
14

CAPTAIN EDWARD A. WOODARD, JR.
Captain Edward A. Woodard, Jr., member of Savannah's 158th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Georgia Air National Guard,
was killed on Friday evening, 4 Janu ry 1957, when hi s F-84
crashed approximately six miles east of Fredericksburg, Virginia. The crash oeeured as Captain Woodard was return ing to Travis Field (Savannah, Ga.) from Andrews Air Foree B ase, near Washington, D. C.
Captain Woodard was a veteran of 14 years mi Iitary se rvice and had been with the 158th since 3 December 1954. He was employed by the Air National Guard an 16 December 1954 and performed duties of Flying Training Supervisor at Travis Fiel d. On 5 December 1955 he was promoted to the rank of Captain, and on 18 December 1956, was granted the aeronautical rating of Senior Pilot. During the 116th Fighter Intercepto r Wing's annual field training exercises in 1955 he was awarded a trophy for having been selected the most proficient air teehieian fighter pilot of the Wing.
On 14 October 1942 he began his initial phase of military training in the United States Navy. He successfully compl eted pilot training and, on 1 August 1947, was designated a naval av iator in ceremonies at the naval air training bas e, Pensacol a, Florida, He was born on 7 June 1922 in Portland, Oregon, a nd reee1ved his schooling at Tigard High School, Tigard, Oregon; Oregon State College, Cornall is, Oregon; and Benhke-Walker Business College, Portland, Oregon.
Captain Woodard is survived by his wife, Mary Pauline, and parents, Mr. & Mrs. Edward A, Woodard, of Tigard. In additio n, he Is also survived by three children, Carol Suzallne, Robert Edward, and Teresa Marie Woodard.

She served under Adjutants General Lindley Camp, John E. Stoddard, Marion Will iamson, Sion Hawkins , Alpha Fowl e r, Earnest Vandi ver and
George J . Hearn. Governors during this tim e we re E ugene Talmadge , Ed Rivers, M. E. Thompson , Herman Talmadge and Marvin Griffin.

The Ricks Memorial Trophy Race, the Air National Guard's an nual crosscountry test of men and planes, will take place in the latter part of J ul y or ea rl y Augus t . The planes, F-84F '~ will ta keoff from Fresno, Calif. , and set down in Washington , D. C. This will be the longest Ricks Event.
JA N, FEB 7957

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

Tifton Fishes For Men

unity relations took the

spoCtoc1m'.gmht172l8st

January when AlB, held a

T1'fton , s fish fry.

GCsapcouqeaucr daus'vnmet e ne ntolhifesmtCeoe swC.tttoh.b r ot htuhegeh teNva3eu2n.otpnratool-

d program. MaJor Robert T.

Guar Hudson

made

an

m. formaI

1. nspect1.0n

0ref ctrhueitidnrgi

ll and rep pro gram

ocrrteeadtetdhi

s t an

yt.pnet

of er-

est ln the unit hy the local populau.on. Mr Shell Hartley, city manager, was a guest for the occasion which was covered by the local press.

Capt. Mikie Wolff commands the

Tifton unit.

Unity and Aviation To Keynote Big Day
Washington (AFPS) - The tenth anniversary of military unification and the 50th anniversary of military aviation will keynote this year's Armed Forces Day observance May 18.
Power for Peace is the slogan for the day-the same phrase used since 1953.
S/Sgt Silous F. Clements, 202nd
Comm Maint Sq, Ga ANG, was the honor graduate of the Automatic Tracking Radar Specialist Course
at Keesler AFB,_ Miss.

SNAFU

TOP 3 GRADE PROMOTIONS, ARMY & AIR NG

Hq, 48th Annd Div M/Sgt James L. Kirkwood M/Sgt Claude W. Massey SFC Dascom S. Stevens, Jr.
48th Annd Sig Co M/Sgt Donald K. Bowers SFC William L. Barnett SFC Dilly C. Green SFC Duford A Sneed Sp2 Johnny L. Edwards
48th Repl Co SgtJack A. Laseter
Co C, 48th Recon Dn SFC Wesley L. Hubbard SFC George R. Lassiter Sgt Herman E. Bannister Sgt Andrew J. James Sgt Lamar E. Martin Sgt James R. Pounds Sgt Paul M. Reems Sgt Richard D. Richards Sgt Jim M. Steele Sp2 Robert E. Caldwell Sp2 Leland M. Swain
Co D, 48th Recon Bn SFC James E. Lord SFC Rex H. Phillip!O SFC James C. Jordon Sp2James J, Evans Sp2 Glenn L. Keeter Sgt Marvin R. Lee Sp2 James L. Martin Sp2 J d!n W. Millwood Sp2 Francis J. Scarr Sp2 Charles C. Smith
~ D, 12lst AID Sgt Jimmy W. Starr Sgt Jimmy W. Ramsey Sgt Otis L. Segroves
JAN, FEB 1957

Co C, 12lst AlB M/Sgt William A Ergle Sgt Rodney J, Alligood Sgt Homer T. Brown, Jr. Sgt Paul J. Green, Jr. Sgt Andrew P. Henderson Sgt Johnny E. hopkins Sgt Robert W. Hurst Sgt Richmond R. Ouzts Sgt Raymond P. Stewart Sgt I. B. Whidoon Sp2 William B. Kelley
CoD, 12lst AlB SFC Bobby H. Hatcher Sp2 Billy W. Coleman
Co B, 122nd AlB Sgt Michael L. Callahan
Co D, 122nd AlB SFC Robert E. Camp SFC Hubert W. Daniell Sgt Richard D. Feltman Sgt Larry G. Gable Sgt Clark A. Hudson
Co D, 190th Tank Bn SFC Franklin M. Perldns SFC Dewey R. Hannon M/Sgt William I. Miller Sgt Wallace H. O'Neal Sp2 Carson G. Suber
Co A, 560th Armd Engr Bn Sgt Henry A Houston Sgt Ronald S. Murray ~2 James E. Bryan Sp2 Norman G. Harper Sp 2 George K. Martin Sp2 Foster W. Mitchell Sp2 Irvin L. Travis
Co B, 560th Armd Engr Bn SFC John R. Griggs SFC Alfred Massey

Co D, 560th Armd Engr Bn Sgt Albert Caldwell Sgt Noah F. Jinright Sgt Kenneth H. Davidson SFC Jimmy C. Jordan
Med Det, 560th Armd Engr Bn SFC Robert J. Wortley
Co A, 162nd Tank Bn SFC Tom L. Edwards
CoD, 162nd Tank Bn Sp2 Abraham L. Beavers
HIS Co, 16lst Tank Bn M/Sgt Wilbur J. Raley
Co A, 16lst Tank Bn SFC Julian W. Alexander
Co C, 16lst Tank Bn SFC Bradley T. Brake SFC Bobby F. Studdard Sgt Fred L. Johnson Sp2 Leonard Bryant, Jr.
Co D, 16lst Tank Bn SFC Wilbur S. Humphrey Sgt Ira M. Garner
Hq & Svc Co, 144th AID Sp2 Chandler H. C:;.pps, Jr.
Co A, 144th AlB SFC Charles V. Ransom Sgt Henry A Powell
Co B, 144th AlB SFC Lawrence A. Harden

Hq Btry, 214th AAA Gp M/Sgt Manis T. Davis M/Sgt James M. Lokey
Dtry A, lOlst AAA Bn Sgt Thomas P. Waters Sp2 Colyon S. Kaney
Co D, 10 1st AAA Bn Sgt Huey 0. Dixon
Med Det, 10 1st AAA Bn Sp2 Roger R. Peebles
Btry C, 950th AAA Bn M/Sgt Rocco J. Kovacic
117th Surg Hosp Sp1 Theodore D. Nofio Sp2 Horace H. Finch
Hq, 878th Engr Const Bn Sp2 Tommy S. Patten ~2 Daniel J. McMillan
129th AC&W Sq M/Sgt Larry L. Probst M/Sgt Charles B. Brundage M/Sgt John A Davis T/Sgt David L. Nixon T/Sgt Raymond L. Head, Jr. S/Sgt Wyman L. Sanders S/Sgt Robert N. Bryans S/Sgt Ralph R. Orrie S/Sgt Lewis D. Partain S/Sgt Giles W. Sheperd
117th AC&W Flight S!Sgt Morgan A Pye S/Sgt Christopher F. Russell
224th Radio Relay Sq S/Sgt John L. Cowman S/Sgt Carris W. Gay, Jr. S/Sgt Perley B. Homans, Jr. S/Sgt William L. Owens
15

THE PEORGIA GUARDSMAN

J

Macon's National Guard Auxiliary has been active in sponsoring projects which benefit the communities charitible institutions. Here Mrs. Issac L. Bittick, seated, holds up a check for the March of Dimes. The money was obtained by the auxiliary from a round and square dance held 21 January. Mrs.
Bittick, president of the Macon auxiliary, is flanked by Mrs. James L. Brake, finance chairman, and Mr. Dee Lee, bandleader, who donated his time and music. The ladies also have contributed old shirts, which are made into hospital gowns, to the
local Cancer office.

Third Consecutive "Superior" For Brigade

For the third consecutive year, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery,

l08th AAA BrigaC:.e, Winder's Nationa l Guard Unit, received a Superior Rating

on its annual armory inspection. It was conducted Monday, 26 November 1956,

by Col. James H. Fish, assistant Inspector Gt:neral for Third Army.

Major Gen. George J. Hearn, The by men in ranks revealed that the

Adjutant General, commands the l08th ma jority had a wide range of achieve-

AAA Brigade. First Lt. William T. ment. All personnel presented a most

Esco commands Headquarters Bat- military and neat appearance. Morale

tery. His assistants are 2nd Lt. was obviously high and the high

Billie A. Guthrie and CWO William calibre of individuals indicated a

H. Stephens.

successful recruiting program. Armory

The inspection report read as facilities were outstanding and

follows : "Unit was outstandingly well
organized. Administrative and sup-

display of all equipment was superior."
Brigade headquarters has an au-

ply records were superior. Staff appeared very we II qualified and was following a well-planned training program to further staff proficiency.

thorized strength of 16 officers, 6 warrant officers and 72 enlisted men and an actual strength ( as of 26 November) of 14 officers, 5 war-.

Maintenance of equipment was superior. Training observed was excellent. A program for training in Methods of Instruction was planned for all

rant officers and 69 enlisted men.
The drill a~ tendance, as follows,
indicates the exceptional quality of
the unit: officers, 99.9%; warrant .

instructors. Answers to questions officers, 95.2%; and EM, 97.3%.

Ga. NGA- Sponsors
2nd Essay Contest

The second annual National Gllatd Essay . ~ontest began 20 J anu
again being sponsored by the Geo~'
Assoct.at.ton andfo fen.ng $875.008i'n
scholarships. .

The association, h~~ded by Col Wesley D. Willingham, announcedt~

the title this year will be, "The Eco-t

nomic Significance of the National Guard to the Community ."

Open to high &chool. senior boya

in communities served by the Guard,

the contest will close 16 April.

Length of the essay should be fro 1500 to 2000 words.

Purpose of the contest is to stimu-

late interest in the National GU!Ud

among high school senior boys while

assisting them in the futherance ol their education.

Each of the 150 Army and Air

National Guard units in Georgia will
serve as local sponsors of the coo-

test. Guardsmen will explain the

rules to principals of schools which

serve Guard commurfities.

The 10 best entries in the State

will be selected by,the association,

and these will be forwarded to the

National Guard Bureau in Washington.

The bureau will determine the top

three winners.

'

'

First place will receive a $500

scholarship, second $250 and third

$125.

~HOW DID IT GO WITH THE PROMOT10N SOARD DEAR?'

l6

JAN, FEB l957

Stout-hearted Georgia Guardsmen can help mend the broken heart of curvey Warner Bros.' starlett Angie Dickinson by filling up the ranks with well-qual ified recruits and veterans. This Val en
tine Heartbreaker appeals to you (obviously) to Keep Your Guard Up with high-cal iber, ale rt personnel who realize the value of a well-trained National Guard. Shootin ' irons are not unfamilia r to Angie either. She received her train ing while appear ing in the "Cheyenne" TV series an d in the Warner Bros.' feature " Shoot-O ut at Medicine Bend." Volunteer heart-menders step forward
with recruits!

.....
NATIO NAL
Gli.~RD
{. Q.} . OE~f-NDS
..... AMERICA

:: 03 :

Ac ~u i s itions Divi 3ia n The Unive r sity of Ge or g ia Libraries The University of Georgia At he ns, Georgia

VETERANS SALUTED BY ARMY & AIR NG COMPONENTS


A gigantic Veteran's Day parade in Atlanta commemorated the
memory of members of the armed forces who paid the supreme sacrifice for their country. The event, held Nov 12th since the 11th fell on Sunday, demonstrated the potency of local co~ ponents of the armed forces. Jets of the Georgia Air Nation?l Guard's 128th F ighter-lnterceptor Squadron zoomed over down

town Peachtree Street after taking off from Dobbins AF Base. Lt . Col. Wyant Bean led a powerful contingent of his 179th Armored Field Artillery Battalion as tl-ey displayed their new lSSmm self-propelled Howitzers. Lt. Edgar Banks of Combat Command C led a column of M-41 tanks and armored pe rso nne l
carriers belonging to CCC and the 122nd Armd lnf Bn.