The Georgia guardsman [Vol. 9, no. 4 (July, Aug., Sept. 1959)]

July-Aug-Sep
1969
SUMMER CAMP
EDITION
**

THE

ADJUTANT

GENERAL'S

GOVERNOR ERNEST VANDIVER

MESSAGE

MAJOR GENERAL GEORGE J . HEARN

Fellow Guardsmen: As we review the accomplishments made during the past few
months, we can reflect upon a most successful summer encampment period. An outstanding record was achieved although our Air National Guardsmen from the Wing were training with a new type jet aircraft, and Army Guardsmen had just undergone reorganization to "pentomic"
troops. The 116th Fighter Interceptor Wing was described by a 32nd Air
Division inspector as "capable of providing maximum support to the Air Defense Command mission."
And the 48th Armored Division received an accolade from Third Army Commanding General Clarke L. Ruffner when he told Guard officers at the National Guard Association of Georgia convention in Augusta that the division could be combat ready in only one month. Additionally, for the third consecutive year, the division has won the Third Army Training Plaque.
An official report by Major General T. E. DeShazo, Deputy Commanding General of Third Army, noted these commendable performan-
ces: *The enthusiasm and receptive attitude of the members of theGeorgia National Guard toward their military duties was outstand,ing * The self-reliance and self-sufficiency demonstrated by the units was outstanding. * The appearance of vehicular equipment and first echelon maintenance was excellent. * Staff operations at all levels was superior.
I would like to add my wholehearted congratulations to all of you for this fine record of patriotic service.
,.

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

Vol. 9 July, Aug, Sep 1959 No. 4
A public a tion o f th e Dep artm ent of Defen se, Milita ry Division , Stat e o f Georgia . Publ ished in th e interest of the Georg ia National Gua rd and di s tributed free to member s o f th e Na tion al Guard of Georgia . Th e Gu ards man recei ves AFPS ma t eri al.
Honorable Ernest Vandiver
Governor of Georgia
Major General George J. Hearn
The Adjutant General
MAJOR DOUGLAS EMBRY Editor
Publi c a tio n a nd Editorial Offic e 9 59 E . C o nfe derate Ave . , S. E. ,
Atlanta 16 , Ge o rg ia
T he opirtions expre sse d in th e Ge orgia Guardsman are thos e of th e Staff Writ ers of th e P ublication and me mbers of the Georgi a National Guard and do not n ec e ssarily refle ct an y official vie ws of th e Offic e of th e
Adjutant General of Georgia.
*******************
Our Cover..
A panorama of National Guard activity at summer encampments this year symbo lizes the pace of events and the versa tlllty of Georgia's Army and Air campo nents as they engaged in the pursuit of training for combat readiness. Pictured ore :signal, air defense, antiaircraft, armor and air warning missions perform ed by the State's 11,500 dedicated Guardsmen. The drawing Is by Capt. Robert H. Sprayberry, Hq & Hq Det, Go ARNG.
Inset: Lt. R. E. Drennon of Atlanta checks his F-86L Saber Jet with S/ Sgt Mike L. Lawson, Ballground, prior to taking off on a rocket firing mission over the Atlantic. Lt. Drennon, a p'llot of the 128th Ftr lnt Sq, was in training at Travis Field with other elements of
the 116th Ftr lnt Wq July 5-19,

JULY, AUG, SEP 1959

Miss Penny Singleton, famous "Biondie" of the movies, awards a special plaque to Major General George H. Hearn,
Adjutant General of Georgia, in behalf of the Muscular Dystrophy Association of the Un ited States. General Hearn repre sented the thousands of Georgia Army and. Air National Guardsmen who volunteered to " go to war" aga inst the dread disease for the past two years by campaigning and sol iciting funds for the charitable institution. Miss Singleton was in
Atlanta appearing in a theater production.

General Hearn Accepts MD Plaque; Guard Thanked By Jerry Lewis

Jerry Lewis, the popular com median who is Chairman of the nationwide Muscular Dystrophy Fund Campaign, has written Gen eral Hearn a personal letter thanking him and Army and Air Guardsmen under his command for the Georgia Guard's continued support.
It reads in part:
Your wonderful work and unselfish devotion to the cause of Muscular Dystrophy bas been brought to my attention and 1 would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to you personally for the many sac rifices and time and energy you have expended for this most worthy cause.
1 am also gratified and proud that another wonderful performer, Miss Penn y Singleton, appeared in At lanta and participated in the pre sentation of a plaque to the Georgia Arm y and Air National Guard.
1 sincerely hope that men like yourself will continue to battle this dread killer, Muscular DystrntJhy, until victory bas been reached.

3 ANG SQUADRONS
GET "SIDEWINDERS"
Three Air National Guard fighter squadrons are being equipped to handle the "Side winder" air to air missile.
First to receive the missile will be the 152d :~hter intercep tor squadron, Tucson, Arizona, which. will represent the Air Nat ional Guard in the Air Force's world-wide weapons meet at Tyn dall Air Force Base, Florida, in October.
Other squadrons whose aircraft are being modified to employ the "Sidewinder" are the 188th fighter interceptor squadron, Albuquer que, New Mexico, and the 118th tactical fighter squadron, Windsor Locks, Connecticut.
All three squadrons fly the North American F -100 Supersabre.
"Sidewinder," officially de signated the GAR-8, was devel oped by the Navy, and proved ex tremely effective when employed in combat by the Chinese Nat ionalist air force duung the Quemoy crisis last year. A solid propellant missile, it uses an infra red guidance s ystem which homes on heat generated by the target aircraft.

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

Even Khrushchev didn't get a welcome like this. Brig. Gen. Bernard M. Davey, commander of the 116th Fighter Interceptor Wing, Is given a cold drink only seconds afte.r taxiing in to Travis Field In a T-33 to begin the two week encampment. A/2C I'HIII~t L. Howell of the lSBth Fighter Interceptor Squa dron was on the reception committee replete with tray, mess jacket and a colorful 158th "rebe.l" cap. The same deluxe treatment was accorded the 128th F lghter Interceptor Squadron pilots before they climbed down from their F-86L's after their
flight from Dobbins AFB.

Leaving their jets behind them, three pilots of the 128th F ighter Interceptor Squadron head for the barracks. The Guardsmen had just landed their F86L Saber Jets at Travis Field. The pil ots are, left to right, Lt. W. C. Bussey, Decatur, Lt. Dav id C.
Norvell, Decatur, and Lt. Robert A. Snider, Atlanta.

Rocket-Firing GaANG Saber Jets Featured at 1959 Wing Encampment

Rocket firing jet pilots at the Georgia Air National Guard's 116th Fighter Interceptor Wing field training harnessed them selves to their F-86L Saber Jets, and blistered the runways with their afterburners on take-off to rondezvous with Delmar targets high out over the Atlantic ocean.
Energetically supported by ground~bound airmen and officers of the Wing, the pilots were glued to their cockpits on the bright sunny days at Travis Field from July 5 to 19. Georgia ANG flyers "lock on" to their elusive targets by radar. When the Saber Jet's ra dar calculator registers a correct pass, the rocket pod drops from the fuselage of the plane, fires its rockets and returns to its san ctuary within 4 seconds.
When the delicate radar compo
2

nents were operating properly, hits were scored with amazing regu larity. The erratic steering dot requires a maxium of concentration and skill from squadron pilots as they fly toward the targets at 500 mph with only a radar scope as a guide.
While the pilots were mastering the technique of intercepting and shooting at targets by radar, other Air Guardsmen of Brigadier General Bernard M. Davey's Wing were capably manning the other op erations which keep the planes in the air, ready for the time. when and if they are alerted for action.
A new innovation this year at the Permanent Air Guard Field training Site was the grouping of support elements in a single com mand, designated the 116th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, or CAMRON as it was

popularly referred to. With 1,518 officers and airmen
on duty, 98 percent of assigned personnel, the Wing , was operating at peak efficiency. At the end of the first week, charts in the briefing room, prepared under the su pervision of Major Tom Luck, Wing Comptroller, indicated a healthy start toward nteeting Air Defense Command's programmed objectives for the Georgia squadrons.
Arriving at the Air Guard training site to visit with the Georgia airmen were Governor Ernest Van diver, Lieutenant Governor Garland T. Byrd and Major General George
J. Hearn.
Governor Vandiver, a former Air Force pilot himself, made an unscheduled trip to Travis by T-33 jet when other transportation could not get him to Savannah in
JULY, AUG, SEP 1959

-------------------------------------------------------------------THE GEORGIA GUARDSMAN .. ..' .

Rocketmen S/ Sgt. Jan E. Pruitt, Canton, and A/ lc Allen King, Cartersville, members of the 128tl, Wea~ons Seeton, load 2.75 in. aerial rockets into a "rocket dolly' which will transport
them to the flight line.

An unidentified pilot of the 128th Fighter Interceptor Squadron lands his F-86L Sabre Jet at Travis Field.

A/ 3c C. R. Hawkins of Atlanta, and A/ lc R. T. Parris of Smyrna, mechanics of the 116th Maintenance Squadron, repair the
distributor on the engine of a five ton dump truck.

A/ 3c H. P. Harrison and S/ Sgt. R. Nail, members af the 165th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, inspect a para
chute before checking it out to Air Guard pilots.

sufficient time to attend a meet ing there. Flown by Captain Charles H. Allen, the Governor stepped agilly from the jet and walked briskly to a waiting car as if he normally made it from Atlan ta to Savannah in 30 minutes.
(It was not the first ride the Guard's Commander-in-Chief had made in a T-33. When he served as Adjutant General, Governor Vandiver flew in the jet trainer on several occasions.)
A Wing review was held on Governor's Day, Saturday, July 25 , and 12 Saber Jets swished over the reviewing stand in a special salute to the Governor. Prior to the Wing parade, Governor Vandiver, Lt. Gov. Byrd, General Hearn and General Davey commended the Guardsmen on their out standing accomplishments the first week of duty at Travis.
JULY, AUG, SEP 1959

A special guest was Deputy Secretary of the Air Force for ROTC and Reserve Affairs, Ben jamin W. Fridge, who also praised the Georgia Airmen.
Three outstanding officers were honored at the ceremonies. Pre\ sented the Distinctive Service Medal of Georgia by Governor Van diver were:
Colonel John T. Mauldin, Commander of the ll6th Tactical Hospital
Chief Warrant Officer John Love, Commander of the 530th Air Force Band
Colonel Robert E. Dawson, Senior Air Force Advisor to the Ga ANG
All were cited for their out standing contribution to the Geor gia Air National Guard in their fields of endeavor.

Inclement weather the second week curtailed the flying activity but the Wing posted the following accomplishments at the termination . of its encampmentt
Savannah's 158th Fighter Inter ceptor Squadron, which was con sidered ready to begin it's F86L training April did not fire rockets. However, Dobbins Air Force Base ed 128th Fighter Interceptor Squa dron pilots, with ADC keeping tabs on them since January 1st, launched 479 rockets in 200 miss ions and registered 10% hits.
The 128th practiced 235 Nadar intercepts (passes using video type tape that "plays back" the scope image on a recording rna chine) and made 202 ifiUccessful passes. In commission rate of 128th aircraft was an amazing 96%.
3

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

A/ lc E. T. Crowe, Marietta, member of the 116th Communications Squadron with five years experience in the Air Guard, is wearing a new type of headgear that is is sued to telephone line repairmen in the Guard. Crowe, formerly employed by Southern Bell as a lineman, is a patrolman on the
Marietta Police Farce.

Governor Ernest Vandiver, Commander-in-Chief of the Georgia National Guard, congratulates three Georgia Air National Guardsmen whom he had just decorated with Georg ia's highest medal, the Distinctive Service Medal. Governor Vandiver shakes hands with,left to right, Colonel John T. Mauldin, Chief Warrant Officer John Love, and Colonel Robert Dawson. Brigadier General Bernard M. Davey, Wing commander, is at far right. Col onel Mauldin was cited for his efficient operation of the 116th Tactical Hospital unit which he commands. CWO Love, director of the Guard's 530th Air Force Band, was cited for his supervision of the band which has achieved national recognition for its profici ency. Colonel Dawson, Senior Air Force Advisor of the Air Guard in Georgia, was commended for his professional competence and for greatly enhancing the quality of the Air Guard
programs.

Members of the Atlanta Fire Department on duty at Travis are wearing the new light weight crash rescue suits recently made available to firemen of thp 116th lnstallat ions Squadron. Left to right (kneeling) are A/ lc R. E. McElreath, and A/ 2c J. E. Evans. Standing are M/ Sgt. H.L. Alden, fire chief, A/ 2c R. B. Mize, A/ 2c Lamar Cagle, A/ 2c W.O. Hilton, and Captain T. H.
Baker, base fire marshal and squadron commander.

Major General George J. Hearn, left, Adjutant General of Georgia arrived at Travis Field to observe the train ing of the 116th Fighter Interceptor Wing. Brigadier General Bernard M. Davey, right, wing commander, and 2nd Lt. Oliv er E. Trotter, pilot of the 128th Fiqhter Squadron, show Genera l Hearn the intake duct of the Air Guard's powerful F-86L
Saber Jet.

Installing a gun camera on the wing of an F-86L Sabre Jet, airmen adjust the cameras used to photograph hits made by the pi lot on the target area during gunnery and rocket firing missio.ns. Left to right are A/ lc D. S. Reddy and A/ 2c L. I. McFall, both of Atlanta, and A/ 2c H. B. Johnson of Jasper.

Pilots of the 158th Fighter Interceptor Squadron are bri efed by their flight leader before take-off on a rocket firing missio n over the Atlantic Ocean. Left to right are: 1st Lt. I.M. Everton, flight leader, 1st Lt. D. S. Young, 2nd Lt. L. F. J iran, a nd 1st
Lt. C. W. Taylor, all of Savannah.

4

JULY, AUG, SE P 1959

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

An early morning survival class of 128th Fighter Interceptor
Squadron pilots watches Lt. Louis E. Watts Jr. Jump into the Travis Field pool. A demonstration of the proper techniques Involved In hitting the water and Inflating the rubber life boat and life preserver prepared the jet pilots for their rocket missIons which carried them far out over the Atlar>tic firing range
off the Savannah coast.

Wallowing In thousands of gallons of foamlt ~ . airmen of the 116th Installations Squadron's fire-fighting ~ rew smother a self-started blaze that was rapidly consuming an F -84F used by the Guardsmen to simulate a real emergency condition. The fast working airmen lifted a dummy pilot from the cockpit be fore the fire enveloping the jet was fully extinguished.

Flight line personnel of the 116th Fighter Interceptor Wing place a protective covering over the nose of a F-a6L Sabre Jet after a busy day of servicing the aircraft. They are, L-R, T/ Sgt. James A. Edwards, Smyrna; S/ Sgt. Hugh Thacker,
Canton; and S/ Sgt. Odis Owens, Calhoun.

Mechanics of the 116th Field Maintenance Squadron, in the p cess of building up the engine of an F-86L Sabre Jet, M/ Sgt. Forrest 0. Williams, Smyrna; A/ 2c R. N. Hou: Atlanta; A/ lc Scott Howell, Marietta; and A/ 2c Lawton
Parson, Smyrna.

Cooks of the ll6th Food Service Squadron, dole out "chow" to two hungry airmen. In the serving line, left to right, are S/ Sgt. R. L. Wolfe, Marietta; S/ Sgt. C. E. Finney and T / Sgt. A. W. Pollard, both of Atlanta; A/ 3c Gary Gall ONay, Cedartown; and
lst/ Sgt. of the Food Service Squadron, M/ Sgt. H. E. Ryle of Marietta.

Airmen of the 16Sth Weapons Control Section adjust the del ieate wiring system of an airborne radar unit that is a part of
an F-86L Sabre Jet. Left to right: S/ Sgt. W. T. McDonald, Faulkville, A/ 3c L. G. Brown, and M/ Sgt. J. R. Reese, section
chief.

JULY, AUG, SEP 1959

5

THE GEORGIA G U A R D S M A N - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- -- -
Ga"s 108th Artillery Brigade Gunners Sweep Stewart Skies July 19 August 2

Newly redesignated and reorganized to include an additional battalion, the 108th Artillery Brigade (Air Defense), 214th Artillery, got its feet on the ground and its projectiles in the air at Fort Stewart July 19 - August 2.
Moving onto the ranges with their usual professional-soldier awroach, Major General George J. Hearn's troops emplaced their 90mm and 75mm guns on the firing line and were test firing Monday, July 20.
The new arrival in the Brigade is the 3rd AW Battalion, 214th Artillery, commanded by former tanker Lt. Col. James D. Teague of Milledgeville. Their weapon is the 40mm self-propelled gun, one which Lt. Col. John P. Wallis's battalion used for several years except that it was single barrelled and towed.
Sporting twin 40's, the weapon (designated the M-42) is propelled on an M-41 tank chasis. Those former members of the 161st Tank Battalion that now crew the M-42 expressed delight with their new equipment.
Three new 90mm batteries, con-
6

verted from non-antiaircraft units, got in a good look and a little firing before they were pronounced oriented on the complex weapon and its radar components.
Guardsmen from Reidsville, former 560th Engineers, checked the 90 for booby-traps and were about to build a bridge around it when they discovered it was a mighty reliable piece of equipment that would keep them busy for the next two weeks. Eagerly they held daily classes on its components in a special area with former tankers from Lyons and Sparta.
Meanwhile, the experienced gunners of the 1st Gun Bn, Augusta, and 2nd Gun Bn, Statesboro, along with Lt. Col. Wallis' 4th Gun Bn, Elberton, proceeded to shoot up all the available ammunition set aside for the first week's encampment.
Therefore, an additional supply had to be procured for a firing demonstration scheduled for Governor's Day. At 9:00 a.m., Saturday, July 25, Guardsmen of the Brigade trained their 90's, 75's and 40's on some elusive RCAT's sent aloft by Washington, Georgia's, 5th detachment (Air Trager).

Firing beautiful cours es but failing to bring down the 220 mph targets, the gunners turned around to hear Governor Vandiv er, L t. Gov. Byrd and General Hearn praise them for their devotion to duty and sacrifices they make in coming to Guard encampments.
As if to echo the praise, Sky sweeper crews of the 4th Gun Bn swept the Fort Stewart skies clear of 14 out of 18 RCAT's during its Army Training Test (ATT) to wind up the encampment with a superior rating of 92%.
The expert marksmanship came at an opportune time, for Lt. Col. John P. Wallis' Guardsmen had given him a final salute upon his retirement. A veteran of 33 years and 8 months of continuous Nat ional Guard service, Lt. Col. Wallis retired in ceremonies at Fort Stewart July 31 at the age of 55. Upon his retirement, Colonel Wallis received the eagles of a full Colonel from General Hearn.
Stepping in to the command of the 4th Gun Battalion was Lt. Col. George M. Johnson, veteran executive officer of the Elberton battalion, who received his silver leaf at the ceremonies.
JULY, AUG, SEP 1959

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

Battalion commanders of the 108th Artillery Brigade (Air Defense) gather around their commanding general, Major
General George J. Hearn, center, The Adjutant General of Georgia. General Hearn is flanked by, left to ri~ht, Lt. Col. John Wallis, 4th Gun Bn, Lt. Col. Bothwell A. 'Snag" John
son, 2nd Gun Bn, Lt. Col. Albert J. Twiggs, 1st Gun Bn, and Lt. Col. James D. Teague, 3rd AW Bn.

Three Guardsmen from Thoma s ton greet Fort Stewart with mixed expressions as they unload their luggage and head for their tents. The Guardsmen, left to right, display joy (?), resignation and wonderment as they prepare to begin their first training as antiaircraft artillerymen. They are, left to right, Pfc Grady McCrary, Pfc Terry B. Harrison and Sp4
Ernest R. Boyt.

Two Guardsmen from Elberton , ore getting some topnotch training in tuning radar from Warrant Officer James W. Dove. Members of Headquarters and Head quarters Battery, 4th Gun Battalion, they ore, 1-r, W. 0. Dove, Sgt. Floyd King and
SFC James E. Williams.

Sp4 Robert M. Conolly of Toccoa, is one Guardsman who will testify to the fact that, while summer encampment with the Brigade does not have all the modern conveniences of home, it does incur some of the usual inconveniences. Busily repairing a lawn mower, he is a member of Battery C, 4th Gun
Battalion, 214th Artillery.

I...

Members of Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 3rd Auto matic Weapons Battalion, formerly belonged to one of sev era I tonk battalions reorganized July 1st to meet the demands of the nuclear age. Gassing up their new weapon, the 40 mm self-propelled antiaircraft gun, ore, 1-r, Sp3 H. M. Martin, Jr., Haddock, P FC Eugene E. Caraway, Mi lledgevi lie and Sp2
Glynn R. Hudson, Milledgeville.
JULY, AUG, SEP 1959

Firing a 90mm antiaircraft weapon con be fun, but it also in curs a certain amount of work. Members of Battery B, 1st Gun Battalion, 214th Artillery, Augusta, are getting first hand -experience at cleaning one. They ore, 1-r, Sgt. James E. Beard, Aiken, S. C., and PFC Harold T. Clark, Sp4 Thomas M. Powell, Sgt. John T. Duncan and Major James E. Slaton,
all of Augusta.
7

THE GEORGIA GUARDSMAN

GOVERNOR'S DAY ceremonies at Fort Stewart July 25 were attend e d by Governor Ernest Vandiver, center, and Lt. Gov. Garland T . Byrd, right. Host for the occasion was Major General George J. Hearn, left, Adjutant General of Georgia and Commanding General, 108th Arti llery Br igade (Air Defense). General He.arn treated the d i stinguished visitors to a firepower demonstration by 90mm, 7Smm and 40mm self-
propell e d antiaircraft weapons of his command.

A Rad io Control led A ircraft T arget is " cranked up" by Guards-
men of Washington' s 5t h De tachment (A ir Target). 214th Arty at the ci rcular launch ing area a t Fort Ste wa rt. The 220 mph' ta rget costs approx imately $3,000 and is fired on by Brigade gunner s wi th 90 mm, 7S mm and 40mm se lf-propelled anti-
airc raft guns.

Former engineers get acquainted with their new weapon, a 90mm antiaircraft gun. Now members of Battery B, 2nd Gun
Battalion, 214th Artillery at Reidsville, they are, 1-r, 1st Lt. L. C. Miller, Reidsville, SFC Willis Lanier, Undine, Sgt.
Billy A. O'Neal, Reidsville, SpS Victor Flournoy, Reidsville and 2nd Lt. Carl A. Sherrod of Statesboro.

These Monroe Guardsmen from Battery A, 3rd Automati c Weapons Battalion , seem to be accepting the ir fate wi th a look of resignation . Mov in g in cots and luggage and swee ping out their temporary quarter s are , 1-r, Sp4 John F. Peters, SFC Willie R. Garrett, PFC Willi a m F . Malco m and- Sp4 Emmett L. John s on, all of Monroe, and P FC Marion H. Stapp
of Social Circle.

Guardsmen from the Atlanta area, four civilian-soldiers from the 201 st Ordnance Co. (Direct Support), stand in front of a radar van. Pictured are, 1-r, SFC Charles Clarke, Atlanta, SpS William C. Standridge, Austell , Sp4 H. R. Pinyan, Austell and
SpS J. M. Hamby of Atlanta.
8

Members of the 117th Surgical Hospital Unit, Gr iff in, inspect supplies at Post Hospital . Obv iously pleased with their new surroundings they are, 1-r, Lt. William C . McBerry, Forest Park, SFC Russell F. Staton, College Park, Lt. Joyce Chap man, Griffin and Lt. Clarence C. Dixon, Atlanta. Lt. Chapman is one of only two women nurses in the Georgia Army National
Guard .
JULY, AUG, SE P 1959

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

Launching a weather baloon which is e quipped with a small radio transmitter Guardsmen of the 108th Artillery Brigade (Air Defense) prepare to gather winds aloft data for the Bri
god e's antiaircraft batteries. Members of the 108th's Metero logical Section from Winder, Go., they are, L-R, Warrant Off icer Charles E. Ridge, Athens, Sp2 Charlie l. Smith, Sp2 Ben jom in D. Smith and SFC William R. Miller, all three
of Winder.

Retirement ceremoniee honoring Lt. Col. John P. Wallis,. cen ter, were attended by Major General George J, Hearn, left, and the new commander of the 4th Gun Battalion( 214th Artiller-y, Lt. Colonel George M. Jt.hnson. Colonel Wal is was promoted to full colonel, NG Retired, and his "eagles" were pinned on
by General Hearn at the July 31 ceremonies,

Members of Battery B, 4th Gun Battalion, Hartwell, strip down a big 75mm skysweeper for action. Pictured, 1-r, are
Sp4 James W. Sorrells and Sp4 George E. Whitfield .

Swainsboro Guardsmen from Battery C, 2nd Gun Battalion, 214th Artillery join Lt. Colonel "Snag" Johnson and Brigadier General Charlie F. Camp in watching Sp3 Hermon Wilkes load a 90mm shell. They ore, 1-r, Sp3 Wilkes, Lt. Col. Johnson, Brig. Gen. Camp, Sgt. Freddie C. McNeely and PFC William
R Brown.
JULY, AUG, SEP 1959

Lt. Col. Emmett L. Plunkett, State Maintenance Officer of Georgia, hoists aloft a by-product of National Guard maneuvers at Fort Stewart. Col. Plunkett says he will skin this 5-ft.,S-inch rattlesnake caught and ki lied by another member of the Guard. The healthy specimen had 13 rattlers. He was
killed with a small stick.
9

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

Bridging the Canoochee River at t'ort Stewart, Guardsmen af the 560th Armored Engineer Battalion erect a floating bridge capable of supporting a weight of 60 tons. The versatile en gineers are being directed by Capt. C. B. Marshall, left fore
W. ground, commander of Reynold's Co B who indicates con
struction progress to Lt. Col. Ernest Higgins, battalion

commander, and Major Garland T. Byrd, right, farmer combat engineer and present Lieutenant Governor of Georgia . At ri ght, o team of demolition engineers from Reynolds sets off a charge of dynamite to show the newly converted engineers
from LaGrange how to demolish bridges and other installoions.

"PEITOMIC" HURRICAIE DIVISIOI GUARDSMEI PRAISED FOR READIIESS BY THIRD ARMY CG

Sporting the "new look" of a so-called "pentomic" fo rce, the 48th

Armored Division converged on Fort Stewart for its annual stint of activE'

duty training August 9 and began a grueling two weeks of maneuvers which

resulted in high praise of the division from the commanding general of the

Third United States Army:

"Give me the 48th, and in one seemingly overnight and adminis-

month I'll be ready to take it into trative burdens hung heavy over the

combat," said Lt. General Clarke heads of commanders.

L. Ruffner at the annual convention

Formed from a nucleus of already

of the National Guard Association highly qualified officers and men,

of Georgia September 12.

the following organizations made

Reorganized, redesignated and/ their premier encampment:

or converted July 1st of this year,

54Bth Administrative Co, 14Bth

Georgia elements of the Georgia- Aviation Co, 248th Transportation

Florida division were under pres Vet, 1st Rocket Howitzer Bn and

sure from the first day to measure the 24Bth Signal Bn

up to tratntng requirements. New

Former armored infantry battal-

units had sprung into existence ions were redesignated armored

10

rifle battalions, of the 121st Infan try, tank battalions were renamed me.dium tank battalions of the 108th Armor, two field artillery battaljons were changed to howitizer battalions of the 118th Artillery and the di vision's reconnaissance battalion became the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron, 108th Armor.
The division commander, Maj or General Maxwell E. Snyder, kept a sharp eye upon his troops by fre quent use of helicopters. Brigadier Generals B. F. Merritt and Charles L. Davis, assistant division com mander and artillery commander re spectively, also made many inspec ion trips into the field where they
JULY, AUG, SEP 1959

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

Poised to leap from the rear of their new armored personnel carrier, Guardsmen of Tifton's Company C, 1st Armored Rifi.Battol ion, 121 st Infantry, ore set to charge from the om phi bious troop carrier. L-R, ore Sp4 Thomas C. Souls, Adel, Sp4 Harry G. Griffin, Pfc John B. Chapman, Pfc Jimmy Cauthen,
and Sp4 Doyle W. Cheek.

Looking over their powerful new armored personnel carrier, Guardsmen of the 2nd Armored Rifle Battalion, 121st Infantry, ore briefed on its operation by Warrant Officer Fred H. Word, in the driver's turret at left. Word, on Albany Guardsman,
instructs, LR, SFC Ken R. J3ush, Donaldsonville, SFC William Swann, Guitmon, SFC Roy Nelson (in gunner's turret),
Albany, and SFC Fred Todd, Valdosta. The Troop carrier, like the one in the background, carries 12 fully equipped Guardsmen over any land or water. The 35mph vehicle is shielded with %-inch steel and is propelled by two 162 HP
engines.

Moster Sergeant George A. Bennett, a veteran Georgia Not ionol Guardsman from Butts County, is spending his lost en campment with his fellow Guardsmen of Jackson's Troop A, 1st Reconnaissance Squadron, 108th Armor. M/Sgt Bennett, 59, custodian of the Butts County Courthouse, loined the Old Gray Bonnets in 1922 and has served 28 years as a member of the Notional Guard. The mess steward of Troop A, he has served hundreds of thousands of meals to Guardsmen through out the years. Shown here slicing tomatoes, M/Sgt Bennett is
scheduled to retire in April.

Guardsmen of Baxley's. Btry B, 2nd Howitzer Bn, 118th Artillery, ore briefed by their 1st Sgt prior to moving out with their 105mm self-propelled Howitzers. The artillerymen Oi"e, left to right, Sp4 Albert G. Taylor, M/Sgt Don Harrell, 1st Sgt James E. Johnson, Sgt Albert Shinner, and M/Sgt George
W, Poole

.lbserved their hard-working Guardsmen molding the division into a combat-ready force.
Reviewing the 9,000-man division August 15, Governor Ernest diver praised the Guardsmen for their devotion to duty and pointed out that the role of the Guard was vital to the defense of the nation.
The Governor, making his 11th consecutive visit to the division encampment, also presented awards and decorations to outstanding Guard units and personnel.
The second week of training began early. Pre-dawn activity pre saged the departure of the division for a three-day bivouac. Working on
JULY, AUG, SEP 1959

a tight time schedule, units moved rapidly into position in the field and
set up command posts, motor pools, mess tents and communications centers.
Widely dispersed and expertly camouflaged, Guardsmen and their equipment were rarely discernable from the air. Division Liaison aircraft sought out the tell-tale dust raised by the pulverizing pressure of tanks, personnel carriers and self-propelled howitzers on the sandy soil.
Pilots dropped small bags of flour to simulate bombing runs as the heavily tracked vehicles scurried for the protection of the

Fort Stewart pines. By the time duffle bags were
packed, vehicles were refueled and sharp commands signaled the end of the encampment, weary but intensly trained Guardsmen had chalked up another record year for the division. Units were judged highly polished by NGB evaluators and other inspectors who undoubt edly were impressed with the pro ficiency and enthusiasm of the troops.
No higher tribute could be paid the Guardsmen than General Ruff ner's observation that the 48th Armored Division is within on,. mnnth of being combat ready.
11

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

Lt. Col. Horace T. Clary, right, Commander of 2nd Medium Tank Bn, 108th Armor, talks from his communications truck in a camouflaged area, With him is M/ Sgt Sam Edwards. The Rome Guardsmen were on a three-day bivouac with other
elements of the 48th Armored Division,

The Hurricane Divis ion switchboard was manned by Guards.
men of the 248th Signal Battalion. Capabl e of hand ling traffic from 60 phones, the board is be ing tune d up by, 1-r. SFC Joe Johnston, SFC Forrest Waddle, CWO Randell Stone
and Sp2 Von Fuller, all of Atlanta.

Getting a fe w pointers on the operation of their 10Smm selfpropelled ho witzer, Savannah Guardsmen of Btry B, 1st Howitzer Bn, 118th Arty, perch atop their weapon. From left to right, they are Cpl. Ronnie Huggins, Pvt. Donald Bell,
Pvt. James Cannon, Sgt. Joe Pritchard and 1st Lt. Emmet Bridges.

Mechanics of Savannah's newly activated 248th T ransporta tian Detachment (Aircraft Maintenance), tune up th e 450 HP engine of an L-20 Beaver, one of 20 aircraft of the 48th Armor-
ed Division. Sgt. Joseph D. Jones , left, supervises the work being done by SpS Grady A. Bragg, center, and Sp4 Raymond
W. Thomas. All are from Savannah.

Col. Wesley D. Willingham, Commander of Combat Command "C", located In Forsyth, pins new gold bars on 2nd Lt. Paul H. Jossey, Jr., recently returned from OCS. Malor George Darden, left, obsesves the ceremonies, In the 2na photo, Col.
12

Willingham sits In the hatch of an armored personnel ca rri er and discusses the afternoon's training with M/Sgt John E.
McGuire.
JULY, AUG, SEP 1959

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

Guardsmen of Thomasville's CaB, 4th Medium Tank Bn, 108th Armor, try out their rocket launcher prior to taking the weapon out ta the firing range. They are, left to right, SFC George
Pharis and Sp4 Guerry Fleming of Thomasville.
Gov. Ernest Vandiver, Lt. Gov. Garland T. Bryd and Maj. Gen. George J. Hearn watch the annual division parade as Lt. Col. William V. Crowley of Dublin leads his 1st Armored Rifle Battalion, 121st Infantry, by the reviewing stand on Governor's Day. The entire 48th Armored Division was reveiwed by Governor Vandiver August 15. As a finale to the parade, L-19's flew over the field in a salute to Georgia's
Commander-in-Chief.
Two eight-inch self-propelled howitzers of the 1st Rocket/ Howitzer Battalion, 179th Artillery, poised on the Fort Stewart range, were fired by the artillerymen from Atlanta for the first time this summer. The mammoth weapon is capable of firing an atomic shell, giving the division nuclear capability for the first time. The weapon is 'lssigned to Btry C, commanded by Capt. Billy Brinkley. Over a hundred rounds were fired by the Guardsmen, who pronounced the howitzer extremely
accurate.

Guardsmen from Macon's Hq & Co C, 3rd Medium Tank Bn, 108th Armor, prepare to take their rocket launcher to firing range. Left to right, are SFC James D. Cope, Sp2 L. E. Strip ling, Sp4 Richard Branch, and SFC General F. Gossett.
JULY, AUG, SEP 1959

They thought it wouldn't be done. But Guardsmen from Dalton's Company D, 2nd Medium Tank Battalion, 108th Ar mor, spruce up their company area with familiar garden tools they thought they had been able to leave behind for two weeks. The Guardsmen, all from Chatsworth, are, L-R, Pfc Charles L. Pritchett, Pfc Henry T. Rogers and Sgt. Montie
R. Robinson
13

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

Checking tools ond equipment in their new shop truck, Guardsmen of the 878th Engineer Batta Iion show Brig. General Charlie F. Camp, Assistant Adjutant General of
Georgia for Army, how well they are supplied In the field. On active duty at Travis Field, June 27 July 5, they were engaged In Improving the Air National Guard facility. In the
photo are, 1-r, PFC William Biggers and Sp3 Calvin Nabors, 1st Lt. Robert Sutton, General Camp and Lt. Col. Earl Bodron, commander of the engineer battalion headquartered
In Atlanta.

Pav ing a parking area adjacent to the flightline, Guard smen
of the 878th Engineer Battalion, on duty at Travis Field give this Air National Guard facility their full attention. The Guardsmen, all of Lawrenceville's Company A, are, 1-r, Pfc Thomas Hunter on water distributor, and Sp2 Bobby Roberts
and Sp2 Thomas Britt, on a 1O.ton road roller.

Bulldozing 878th Engineer Battalion Tackles Travis Field Tasks with Zest

By WO Bob Sneed
When the 878th Engineer Battalion (Heavy Construction) departed from its Annual Active Duty for Training at Travis Field in July, it left the Permanent Field Training Site at Savannah a safer, more efficient place to train Air National Guard personnel.
The engineers bulldozed their way through two intensive weeks of training, June 21 - 5 July and scraped together the admiration of all familiar with the "before" 'lnd "after" operation.
The 878th is commanded by Lt. Col. Earl Bodron and is composed of companies from Atlanta, Lawrenceville, Gainesville, and Lavonia.
Projects selected for the training period required extensive pre-planning and were considered necessary for flying safety, relief of congested parking areas for military and civilian vehicles, health and welfare of
14

personnel, and soil conservation. After assignment of the projects
to line companies, the skilled and the unskilled alike tackled the jobs with a keen sense of teamwork. As the end of the training period approached, the versatile engineers worked into the mght to complete projects not previously scheduled.
At the end of the extensive two week period, including the bivouc requirement, the engineers could boast of the following accomplishments:
completion of two concrete block barrack buildings.
construction of frame and earth revetment for rocket loading.
Patching of runway with asphalt. Dredging of lake site for NCO Club. Installation of wooden guide posts along roadways. Installation and painting of approximately 100 parking bumpers and painting of all fire plug guards

within the PFTS area. Installation of insulation in con
solidated dayroom. Paving of 10 ,872 sq. yd~> . of
parking area. Laid 36 sq. yds. of asphalt plant
mix for walkways. Provided seal coat asphalt tr.eat
ment for 1350 sq. yds. of parkin)! area.
Clearing, grubbing, and rough grading for drainage of 103.5 acres of swampy second growth woods.
Grubbing and shaping for drain age and grassing of 12.36 acre s of thick underbrush.
construction of a class 50 timber trestle bridge 30 feet in length to enable crash vehicles to reach areas beyond airfield during em er gencies.
Use of the 878th to make these improvements saved approximatelY $65,000, considering labor cos t alone, if the federal government had contracted the work.
JULY, AUG, SEP 1959

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

Guardsmen af Waynesboro's Company B, 111th Signal Battal-
ion, seem happy over the prospects of learning how to operate
a giant switchboard at Fort Gordon. Recently converted from. Antiaircraft Artillerymen, the Guardsmen get the word from Sp / 5 Eugene T. Davis, left, their instructor. The new Signal-
men are, left to right, M/ Sgt. Tracy M. Carter, Sgt. Howell R.
Harper, Sgt. Chavous Hobson, and Pvt. Sidney Cox, Jr.

Governor Ernest Vandiver visits Guardsmen of Co A, 110th Combat Area Signal Battalion on Governor's Day AugtJst 22. With Gov. Vandiver at left is Major General Ge.brge J. Hearn, Adjutant General of Georgia. Guardsmen in the photo are,
left to right, Sgt John H. Drew, Sgt H. L. Drew, Jr, and Sgt
R. S. Ponsell, all of Brunswick.

Ga's Newly Formed Signal Organizations Train for Communications Role at Ft. Gordon

To meet the requirements for a flexible Army, an 800-man force of Georgia National Guardsmen began its initial field training lt Fort Gordon August 16th for two weeks of intensive indoctrination in the operation, maintenance and supply of communications equipment.
Three newly formed signal organizations emerged from the Army Guard's reorganization in Georgia July 1st, formed from units formerly skilled in infantry, artillery and armot.
Armed only with a few flash lights in the way of organic equip ment, Guardsmen of Atlanta's 102nd Signal Base Depot joined with Washington's lllth Signal Battalion and Brunswick's llOth Combat Area Signal Battalion at the southea!>tern signal training center.
Colonel Jack G. Johnson, former commander of the 214th AAA Group, commands the 102nd - a key organization which furnishes staff and supervisory personnel for the operation of a theaterw ide signal base depot. Mission of the 102nd is to supervise the supply and main tenance of all signal equipment in the Army's inventory. Although it has few personnel, it is a highly-
JULY, AUG, SEP 1959

charged outfit having one full colonel, six lieutenant colonels, 9 majors, 2 captains and 5 warrants authorized in its TO.
As potential employers of some 2,000 personnel in the event of mobilization, officers of the 102nd were given special training and briefings on the function of a signal base depot. The officers were flown to Lexington, Kentucky, for three days the second week of their encampment at Fort Gordon. In Lexington, they toured the facilities of the Lexington Signal Depot, a trip many regarded as the most beneficial phase of their training. Norm ally, the depot would be located in a Theater of Operations.
Lt. Col. Edwin G. Lambright's llOth Combat Area Signal Battalion, with units from Brunswick and Savannah, was trained to provide Sigsupport for Armies in combat. The llOth will operate in the grid net system on a field of battle visualized as being widely dispersed in nuclear warfare.
Mission of the I lOth is to provide Army communications personnel to operate in the grid system and to establish communications centers within ari Army network or between two or more Armies.

The lllth, with headquarters in Washington and units in Sandersville, Louisville, Augusta and Waynesboro, boro, has a variety of functions. The Ill th is a beefed up signal battalion having over 1200 officers and men under full TO authorization. As a versatile organization, the lllth will be assigned to an Army Headquarters to double its potential and fl1rnis h the necessary communications from Army headquarters down to subordinat~ units. A sepapl'te organization, it will have a flexibility of placement and the potential to operate from remote locaions.
The lllth, commanded by MaErskine Wickersham, contains photographic, radio, message center and wire operations sections to support its overall mission.
The Signal Training Center furnished personnel and equipment by which the Georgia Guardsmen became acquainted with their new assignment. The first week the new sig nalmen were given classroom instruction. The second week Guardsmen were taken to signal sites on The Fort Gordon reservation for practical work in relaying messages by wire, radio and other electronic devices.
15

************************
Eatonton Guardsmen Locate Killer In Lake Sinclair

A two-day search by Georgia National Guardsmen from Eatonton ended find the murder weapon. Wading into

June lOth when the body of the Negro murderer they sought was found float

the waist-deep water, a group under

ing in a tributary of Lake Sinclair in Putnam County.

the direction of 1st Lt. John J. Bart-

Ordered to State Active Duty by sighting, Capt. Sprayberry and Col. lett groped for the gun. After some

Governor Ernest Vandiver June 9th Conner hovered over the body of the 10 minutes of examining the muddy

after the 22-yearold dairy worker victim, and the whirling rotor blades lake bottom, SFC Larry G. Manley

shot and killed his former employer blew the victim some 30 feet to came up with the weapon, an old-

early that morning in his dairy barn, shore.

model, double-barrelled shot gun.

the Guardsmen under command of

Georgia Bureau of Investigation After taking the body to the funeral

1st Lt. Sam D. McLeroy pursued the officers said the Negro evidently home in Eatonton and turning over

Negro into the nearby woods where killed himself with the murder weap- the gun to the local sheriff, the

he was thought to be armed and wait on after he had waded out into the Guardsmen returned to their armory,

in g.

water. The body was discovered only cleaned their weapons and marked

The fugitive had slain Lanier Na- a short distance from where search- their mission complete.

pier, 30-year-old dairy farmer, with ers, led by blood hounds, located

County officials and law enforce-

a shot gun and fled into a dense area the victim's shoes the first day of ment agencies commended the Na-

bordering Lake Sinclair. Knowing the the search. It was theorized, the tional Guardsmen for the successful

Negro was armed and could not swim, body sank overnight and surfaced completion of their assignment and

25 Guardsmen cautiously spread out the day it was found.

for the manner in which they had

through the area and began a sys-

Guardsmen were then directed to carried out their mission.

tematic search with other law enforcement agencies.
A National Guard helicopter, piloted by Capt. Robert H. Sprayberry of Atlanta, joined in the search when it arrived in the afternoon with Lt. Col. H. L. Conner, Deputy Director of the State Department of Public Safety, who engineered the man-hunt. The "chopper" skipped over the area until dark in an effort to pin down the fugitive who was surrounded by water, paved roads and a cordon of Guardsmen armed with carbines and

Air National Guard Jet Pilots in Ricks Race
Timed by Georgia's 117th AC&W Flight

Radar facilities for pilots in the Ricks Trophy event were operated by the 117th Aircraft Control and Warning Flight of Savannah during the mission from Memphis, Tenn., to Miami, Fla., September 2, 1959.
The 117th was the official timer for the event and also pro vided ground controlled intercept,

in completing the entire race, although one was required to make an emergency landing. An entry from St. Joseph, Mo. had to make an emergency landing at McDill Air Force Base, Fla. due to engine trouble.
After the aerial photographs had been developed, it was determined that Capt. Donald K. Reid from

45's.

air to ground communications, and

Romolous Field, Detroit, was the

Highways into the area were pa-

radar control for aircraft let-down

winner. Another aircraft from De-

trolled by Guardsmen in jeeps to aid the State Patrol and County Police in blocking escape routes.
After dark, road blocks were established and fresh Guardsmen, called out to relieve the first contingent, were stationed at bridges, highway intersections, and at houses where it was thought the Negro would come

at Miami. Ten Air National Guard pilots
took off from Memphis in RF-84F "Thunderflash" aircraft at 6 minute intervals on tactical reconnaissance missions which required them to take aerial photographs of at least three targets at an altitude of 25,000 ft. or above while enroute to Miami.

troit was second. Third and fourth places were won by aircraft from Birmingham and Montgomery re spectively.
In last year's Ricks Trophy event 1st Lt. Wylie B. Griffin, Jr. of the 117th was the intercept con troller on the winning 'team.
Personnel who participated in this event were Lt. Col. Creighton

for refuge.

Each pilot was required to call

L. Rhodes; Captain Edward C.

Captain Sprayberry accompanied the 117th AC & W Flight while o-

Martin; Chief Warrant Officer AI

State and local police in an all-night, house-to-house search of Negro dwellings.
The Guardsmen were again relieved early the next morning by 32 fresh troops who continued the cautious, bush-by-bush search. Shortly after 11 a.m., the Negro was seen floating fa:ce down in the water by a

ver Tampa in order that his aircraft could be identified before crossing the finish line 18 miles southwest of Miami International Airport. The 117th would then track the jets across the finish line to determine if each aircraft was at the required 25,000 ft. altitude.
Of the ten aircraft participating

pheus B. Nowell, Jr.; Warrant Officers George W. Adams, Harry E. Newham, and Harry R. Prince, Jr.; Master Sergeants Stephen H. Bennett and William W. Lee; TP.ch nical Sergeants Carl L. Britt, James D. Daniel, William R. Love, William F. Sullivan, Jr., and John B. Zipperer, and Staff Sergeants George G. Cunningham, Jon I.

civilian search party. Notified of the

in the event, nine were successful

Turner, and Joseph H. Wilharm.

16

JULY, AUG, SEP 1959

Climbing the ladder of success has been relatively easy for this Gear glo beauty. She Is Miss Jane Kilpatrick Henderson, Miss Augusta of 1958, and a recent visitor at Fort Gordon where she observed Georgia National Guards men In action ., Most ofthe "observing" was probabl y done by troops of the 102 nd Signal Base Depot and the 110th and 111th Signal Battalions however. Jane Is shown ascending the support for a microwave transmitter at the signal center. Earlier she visited the 102nd area and served samples of chow to members of Augusta's Company C of the 111th. Jane took time off from her job at an Augus to bank to boost the morale of the new signalmen. She enrolled this Fall at the University of Georgia to study for a teaching pro fesslon. If Jane Is a sample of the type teachers Amerl co Is producing these days, we ore sure to out-educate the Russians. The rapt attention of all students of the Homo sa.plens variety Is a foregone conclusion.

Acqui3itions Division The University of Georgia Lib~aries The University of Georgia Athens, Ceor&ia