39th Infantry Division (United States)

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39th Infantry Division
US 39th Infantry Division.svg
39th ID Shoulder Sleeve Insignia
Active1917–1923
1946–1967
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States
BranchFlag of the United States Army.svg  Army
Type Infantry
Role Headquarters
Size Division
Part of US Army National Guard Insignia.svg Army National Guard
Nickname(s)"Delta Division"
Colors   Red and blue
Engagements World War I
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Henry Clay Hodges Jr.
Raymond H. Fleming

The 39th Infantry Division (Delta Division) was an infantry formation of the Army National Guard, originally formed as the 18th Division in 1917. The division consisted of troops from Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. After training at Camp Beauregard, Louisiana, the division was deployed to France but did not see combat before the end of World War I. In July 1923 the division was re-designated as the 31st Infantry Division. [1] The 39th Infantry Division was reactivated after World War II with troops from Louisiana and Arkansas and its headquarters in Louisiana. In 1967, the 39th Infantry Division was reorganized to become the 39th Infantry Brigade (Separate). Its headquarters was in Little Rock and the unit consisted entirely of troops from Arkansas. [2]

Contents

World War I

In July 1917, a few weeks after the American entry into World War I, it was announced that National Guard units from Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana would be assigned to Alexandria, Louisiana, for training as the 18th Division. [3] Alexandria is the location of Camp Beauregard, named after General P. G. T. Beauregard, C.S.A. [4]

Re-numbering and loss of state designations

Upon transfer to Camp Beauregard, all National Guard units were stripped of their state designations and re-numbered under a new federal system. [5] At this time the division of troops from Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi was re-designated the 39th Division. The 39th "Delta" Division was composed of: [6]

HeadquartersNew unit designationFormer state designationState
39th DivisionHQ and HQ Company2nd Separate Troop, Louisiana Cavalry [7] Louisiana
77th Infantry Brigade 153rd Infantry Regiment 1st Arkansas Infantry [8] Arkansas
154th Infantry Regiment 3rd Arkansas Infantry (Minus 3rd Battalion), Companies G, I, M, 1st Louisiana Infantry, less one third men; 1st Battalion, 2nd Mississippi Infantry [8] Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana
141st Machine Gun Battalion 3rd Battalion, 3rd Arkansas Infantry plus Machine Gun Company from 2nd Arkansas Infantry [9] Arkansas
78th Infantry Brigade 155th Infantry Regiment 1st Mississippi Infantry, attachments from Companies F and H, 2nd Mississippi Infantry [8] Mississippi
156th Infantry Regiment 1st Louisiana Infantry, less companies G, H, I, K, L, and M [8] Louisiana
142nd Machine Gun BattalionCompanies H and L, 1st Louisiana Infantry [10] Louisiana
64th Field Artillery Brigade140th Field Artillery Regiment (75 mm)1st Mississippi Field Artillery [11] Mississippi
141st Field Artillery Regiment (75 mm)1st Louisiana Field Artillery, less 2 officers and 120 men [11] Louisiana
142nd Field Artillery Regiment (155 mm)2nd Arkansas Infantry, Minus Machine Gun Company [11] [12] Arkansas
114th Trench Mortar Battery2 Officers and 120 Men, 1st Louisiana Field Artillery [13] Louisiana
Divisional Troops140th Machine Gun BattalionMachine Gun Troop, 2nd Separate Squadron, Mississippi Cavalry, 3rd Battalion and Companies G and Machine Gun Company, 2nd Mississippi Infantry [10] Mississippi
114th Engineer RegimentCompany A, Mississippi Engineers, one third enlisted men from Companies G, I, and M, 1st Louisiana Infantry, Band and one half enlisted men from Company E, 2nd Mississippi Infantry [14] Mississippi, Louisiana
114th Field Signal BattalionOne half enlisted men from Company K, 1st Louisiana Infantry, one half enlisted men from Company K, 1st Louisiana Infantry [15] Mississippi, Louisiana
114th Train Headquarters and Military PoliceHeadquarters and Headquarters Company (less Band), Supply Company, Part of companies F and H, 2nd Mississippi Infantry, and one half the enlisted men from the 1st Louisiana Infantry [16] Mississippi, Louisiana
114th Ammunition Train1st Arkansas Ammunition Train, minus 257 men. 1st Mississippi Field Hospital, 1st Louisiana Field Hospital, [9] 1st Separate Squadron (Less Machine Gun Troop), plus 193 men from 2nd Separate Squadron, Mississippi Cavalry. 1st Mississippi Field Hospital, 1st Louisiana Field Hospital [17] Arkansas, Mississippi
114th Supply Train2nd Squadron, Mississippi Cavalry, Minus 193 Men, Plus 257 men from the 1st Arkansas Ammunition Train [18] Arkansas, Mississippi
114th Engineer TrainTransfers from the 114th Engineers and Draftees [19] Mississippi
114th Sanitary Train (Ambulance Companies & Field Hospitals 153, 154, 155, 156)1st Arkansas Ambulance Company and the 1st Arkansas Field Hospital, [20] [21] 1st Mississippi Field Hospital, 1st Louisiana Field Hospital [20] Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana
Major General Henry C. Hodges Jr., seated in the front row, third from the left, together with members of the staff of his 39th Division, 1918. General Staff, 39th Infantry Division, 1918.jpg
Major General Henry C. Hodges Jr., seated in the front row, third from the left, together with members of the staff of his 39th Division, 1918.

Sickness was a problem for the National Guard troops while at Camp Beauregard. In the later part of October 1917, measles kept the men from drilling. [22] In January 1918, the National Guard Reserve was transferred to the active list. [23] In the same month, the town of Alexandria was placed off limits, and soldiers could not visit other regiments because of an outbreak of meningitis. [24] The off-limits order lasted until 6 March 1918. The soldiers were instructed in the use of deadly gases and then exposed to tear gas, which complicated the health concerns. [25] The soldiers complained about the bugs and were anxious to go to France. By March 1918, the soldiers had received new Enfield rifles. [26] Camp Beauregard was struck with Spanish influenza in early October 1918, which led to lobar pneumonia in many patients. All available facilities were used when the hospitals became overcrowded. [27] The 39th Division was brought up to strength with the addition of soldiers from Ohio, Illinois, and Kentucky. [28]

The entire 39th Division passed in review for the governors of Mississippi and Louisiana in April. [29]

Deployed to France

142nd Field Artillery Regimental Band, in France, 1918. 142nd Field Artillery Regimental Band in Europe, 1918.jpg
142nd Field Artillery Regimental Band, in France, 1918.

The army units already engaged in theater were suffering from a personnel shortage. The army had no system for providing replacement soldiers for unit losses. In May 1918, the army offered privates the opportunity to volunteer for duty overseas by agreeing to transfer out of the 39th Division. In the rush to help end the war, officers resigned their commissions so they would qualify for duty overseas before the war was over. [30] Shortly thereafter, Private Robert Springer was the first state guardsman to lose his life in France. [31] Approximately 20 percent of the soldiers of the 39th Division were allowed to volunteer to deploy as individual replacements. In June 1918 the individual replacements arrived in France. The officers remained at Camp Beauregard with the other 80 per cent that were still in training. [32] At Camp Beauregard the division was brought to full strength by the arrival of troops from Camp Zachary Taylor (men from the states of Ohio, Illinois, and Kentucky). [33]

It took 12 months for the entire 39th Division organization to reach France, where it remained for three months, before the war ended. [34] At the time of its departure from the United States, the 39th Division was composed of 22 percent Arkansas National Guard, 40 per cent National Army draftees, and 10 per cent shortage from authorized strength. [35]

The 39th Division, less its artillery units, left Camp Beauregard on 1 August, and sailed for overseas service on 6 August 1918. [36] The first unit of the 39th Division arrived in France on 12 August, and the last unit arrived on 12 September.

Designation as depot division

The 39th Division was designated as the Fifth Depot Division on 14 August 1918, and moved to St. Florent area south-west of Bourges. The greatest American involvement in World War I, the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, began on 26 September. The divisions were so depleted after one week of combat that General John "Blackjack" Pershing, commanding the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) on the Western Front, ordered personnel from the 84th and 86th Divisions, which had just arrived in France, to be used as replacements. [37] The arrangement was supposed to be temporary, and at first only men from infantry and machine gun units served as replacements. Eventually all divisional personnel were taken, except for one enlisted man per company and one officer per regiment who maintained unit records. The manpower shortage persisted. The 31st, 34th, and 38th Divisions were stripped of their personnel and their men used as replacements. The high casualty rate took a toll on all combat units, and Pershing slashed the authorized strength of infantry and machine gun companies from 250 to 175 enlisted men, thereby temporarily reducing each division by 4,000 men. [38]

The units of the 39th, (not the 5th Depot Division) served as training cadres whose duties were to receive, train, equip, and forward replacements of both officers and men for the infantry units and machine gun units, and for ammunition and supply trains. On 29 October 1918, the 39th Division was "skeletonized" with most of the remaining men assigned as replacements and the senior officers attached to the 1st Depot Division (41st Division) at St. Aignan. [39] "> [40]

While scrambling for personnel, Pershing reorganized the replacement system, and tried to improve its responsiveness to the flexible army corps and army organizations. Pershing ordered the 40th and 85th Divisions to serve as regional replacement depots for the First and Second Armies, respectively, and the 41st and 83rd as depot divisions in the Services of Supply. Eventually, the 39th and 76th Divisions were stripped of their personnel. The replacement system remained unsatisfactory to the end of the war. [41] [42]

Some units remained intact

In November 1918, the 39th Division moved to St. Aignan, where several of the units were transferred to combat divisions. [43]

The 64th Field Artillery Brigade remained intact and was designated as corps artillery. [44]

The 114th Engineers, 39th Division, were transferred to the I Army Corps in France. The 114th Engineers laid railroad tracks and built bridges for the I Army Corps during the Meuse-Argonne drive. [45] [46] Some of the division's machine gun battalions began training for a new role when they were re-designated as Anti Aircraft Machine Gun Battalions. They were still in training at the time the armistice was signed. [47]

Demobilization

Most former guardsmen began returning to the United States during January and February 1919. The division returned to the United States for demobilization between 30 November 1919, and 1 May 1919. The division demobilized the following month at Camp Beauregard, Louisiana. [48] With the war ended, the 153rd Infantry landed in Hoboken, New Jersey, 27 February 1919, making the crossing aboard the USS President Grant. [49]

On 12 April 1919, the transport SS Kaiserin Auguste Victoria brought the 64th Field Artillery Brigade and the 141st Machine Gun Battalion of the 39th Division to New York. [50] The headquarters, ordnance, and medical detachments, and some companies of the 114th Engineers, 39th Division were transported to Newport News, Virginia, on the battleship USS Nebraska. [51]

The 142nd stayed in France to conduct tests and exercises to develop techniques for motorized artillery battalions and won a commendation for efficient performance. In March 1919, the 1st Battalion, 142nd Artillery, 39th Division was acting as a school battalion for the entire artillery forces of the American Expeditionary Forces with their headquarters at Valdahon, France. [52] In May 1919, word reached Little Rock that the 142nd Field Artillery Battalion (old 2nd Arkansas) was doing convoy duty with the Army of Occupation and a segment was still firing for the Artillery School at Camp Valdahon. [53] It was not until early June when the 142nd Field Artillery left France on the transport USS Amphion. They arrived 15 June 1919, at Newport News, Virginia. [54] On the train trip to Little Rock the 142nd Field Artillery marched in a parade in Atlanta. On 21 June 1919, the group arrived at Camp Pike. On the following day the 142nd Field Artillery was featured in a big parade in Little Rock and then treated to a big show and picnic in the park. [55]

The last group of Guardsmen to return to the United States for discharge was the 114th Sanitary Train (formerly the 1st Arkansas Ambulance Company and the 1st Arkansas Field Hospital), Seventh Army Corps. The 114th Sanitary Train had been stationed for six months at Wittlick, Germany, before being transferred back to the United States. [56]

Unauthorized World War I patch

Unauthorized World War 1 39th "Delta" Division shoulder sleeve insignia 39th 'Delta' Division Patch.jpg
Unauthorized World War 1 39th "Delta" Division shoulder sleeve insignia

The 39th Division had been organized from National Guard units from Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, and had adopted the name "Delta Division" since they were from the delta region of the Mississippi River. After being assigned as a depot division and eventually skeletonized, nothing had been done to adopt a shoulder patch until January 1919, when the 64th Field Artillery Brigade proposed a design for the division's insignia. The 64th had remained intact and had been reassigned as a Corps Artillery unit. The brigade commander, Brigadier General Ira A. Haynes, was the senior officer of what remained of the 39th Division. Haynes attempted to consult with the former division commander, Brigadier General Henry Clay Hodges Jr., but Hodges had been reassigned to Scholfield Barracks in Hawaii. Haynes issued General Order #1, 64th Field Artillery Brigade, on 18 January 1819, which described the insignia and authorized its wear by remaining division personnel. The design was submitted to American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) for approval, but was rejected on the grounds than it only applied to the 64th Field Artillery Brigade (brigades were not authorized to have separate patches) and that the design was too similar to the 3rd Army patch. Haynes applied for reconsideration and, this time, was able to gain the support of Hodges. In his request for reconsideration, Haynes wrote, "The States of Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi have long been known as the Delta States. The 39th Division was known to ourselves at least as the Delta Division and our baggage was marked in that way. We take pride in Honoring the State of our origin..." The U.S. Army Adjutant General did not approve the patch, and told Hodges that it would be retained on file, and if the 39th Division were ever activated again, it would be reconsidered. When the 39th Division was reorganized following World War II, a different design was adopted. Nevertheless, many soldiers of the old 39th Division returned home wearing the unauthorized patch. [44]

The World War I patch consisted of a dark blue disc bordered red having upon it a steel gray triangle (the Greek Delta symbol). The area within the triangle was divided into four equilateral triangles, with the lower left red, the top white, the lower right blue, and the central triangle the same dark blue as the disk. There are numerous variations of the World War I design, with the colors of the triangles transposed in various combinations. One common variant has three inner triangles instead of the prescribed four. [44]

Between the world wars

After the war, the division was reorganized in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Because of the change of geographic area, the National Guard requested the division to be re-organized less the Arkansas elements and re-designated as the 31st Infantry Division. The re-designation was approved on 1 July 1923, and the 39th Division disappeared from the rolls until after World War II. [1]

Cold War

The 39th Infantry Division was reconstituted on 30 September 1946. It was composed of units from Arkansas (headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas) and Louisiana (headquartered at Jackson Barracks, New Orleans). [48] The division artillery commander, a brigadier general, was assigned to command the Arkansas portion of the division, while the division commander remained in Louisiana. During this period the division included the following combat arms units: [1]

153rd Infantry Regiment, Arkansas National Guard
156th Infantry Regiment, Louisiana National Guard
199th Infantry Regiment, Louisiana National Guard
Division Artillery (DIVARTY)
445th Field Artillery Battalion Arkansas National Guard
437th Field Artillery Battalion Arkansas National Guard
935th Field Artillery Battalion Louisiana National Guard [57]
141st Field Artillery Battalion Louisiana National Guard [57]
Armor Unit
206th Tank Battalion

Arkansas element stationing 1946–59

Elements of the 206th Heavy Tank Battalion pass in review during Annual Training 1950. 206th Heavy Tank Battalion, 1950.jpg
Elements of the 206th Heavy Tank Battalion pass in review during Annual Training 1950.
Elements of the 141st Field Artillery Battalion at Fort Polk Louisiana during Annual Training, 1950. 141st Field Artillery Battalion, 1950,.jpg
Elements of the 141st Field Artillery Battalion at Fort Polk Louisiana during Annual Training, 1950.
Elements of the 217th Engineer Battalion, during Annual Training, 1950. 217th Engineer Battalion, 1950.jpg
Elements of the 217th Engineer Battalion, during Annual Training, 1950.
Soldiers of the 39th Division Artillery conduct Survey Training during Annual Training, 1950. Survey Training, 39th Division Artillery, 1950.jpg
Soldiers of the 39th Division Artillery conduct Survey Training during Annual Training, 1950.
HeadquartersCompanyStation
39th Division Headquarters (Arkansas Part)Little Rock
153 Infantry RegimentHHC, 153rd INLittle Rock
Service CompanySearcy
Tank CompanyPine Bluff
Heavy Mortar CompanyDeQueen
Medical CompanyLittle Rock
1st Battalion, 153 Infantry RegimentHeadquarters and Headquarters CompanyTexarkana
Company A, 1–153 INHope
Company B, 1–153 INMalvern
Company C, 1–153 INPrescott
Company D, 1–153 INArkadelphia
2nd Battalion, 153 Infantry RegimentHeadquarters and Headquarters CompanyMorrilton
Company E, 2-153 INClarksville
Company F, 2-153 INDardanelle
Company G, 2-153 INConway
Company H, 2-153 INRussellville
3rd Battalion, 153 Infantry RegimentHeadquarters and Headquarters CompanyBeebe
Company I, 3-153 INJonesboro
Company K, 3-153 INWalnut Ridge
Company L, 3-153 INBatesville
Company M, 3-153 IN CommandBlytheville
445th Field Artillery BattalionHeadquarters and Headquarters BatteryMarianna
Battery A, 445th FAHelena
Battery B, 445th FANewport
Battery C, 445th FABrinkley
Service Battery, 445th FAWynne, Arkansas
437th Field Artillery BattalionHeadquarters and Headquarters BatteryHazen
Battery A, 437th FAHot Springs
Battery B, 437th FANewport
Battery C, 437th FADumas
Service Battery, 437th FABrinkley
217th Engineer BattalionHeadquarters and Headquarters CompanyRussellville
Company A, 217th ENRussellville
Company B, 217th ENMonticello
Company C, 217th ENMagnolia
Company D, 217th ENMcGehee
Medical Detachment, 217th ENRussellville
206th Tank BattalionHeadquarters and Headquarters CompanyEl Dorado
Company A, 206th Tank BNWarren
Company B, 206th Tank BNCamden
Company C, 206th Tank BNFordyce
Company D, 206th Tank BNCrossett
Medical Detachment, 206th Tank BNFordyce
125th Medical BattalionHeadquarters and Headquarters CompanyLittle Rock
Clearing Company, 125th Med BNLittle Rock
Ambulance Company, 125th Med BNLittle Rock
739th Ordnance BattalionHeadquarters and Headquarters CompanyLittle Rock
Company A, 739th Ord BNLittle Rock
Company B, 739th Ord BNLittle Rock
39th Division ArtilleryHeadquarters and Headquarters BatteryLittle Rock
39th Replacement CompanyLittle Rock
39th Military Police CompanyLittle Rock

"> [58]

Pentomic reorganization of 1959

In 1959, the division was reorganized, along with all other National Guard divisions, in accordance with the new Pentomic Division Concept. This concept attempted to provide a new divisional structure to fight on the atomic battlefield.

Regiments no longer tactical units

The reorganization resulted in the end of the regiment as a tactical unit. Traditionally, regiments were the basic branch element, especially for the infantry, and their long histories had produced deep traditions considered essential to unit esprit de corps. The new divisional structure, replacing infantry regiments with anonymous battle groups, threatened to destroy all of these traditions. Secretary of the Army Wilber M. Brucker settled the question on 24 January 1957 when he approved the Combat Arms Regimental System. [59] Although regiments (armored cavalry notwithstanding) would no longer exist as tactical units, certain distinguished regiments were to become "parent" organizations for the combat arms. Under the new concept, the Department of the Army assumed control of regimental headquarters – the repository for a unit's lineage, honors, and traditions – and used elements of the regiments to organize battle groups, battalions, squadrons, companies, batteries, and troops, which shared in the history and honors of their parent units. [60] [61]

Re-designation of infantry units

In place of the regiment or brigade, the new pentomic infantry division fielded five battle groups, each containing 1,356 soldiers. [59]

The 156th Infantry and 199th Infantry (less 3d Battalion) consolidated 1 July 1959 and the consolidated unit was reorganized as the 156th Infantry, a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System, to consist of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battle Groups, elements of the 39th Infantry Division. [62]
The 153rd Infantry was reorganized 1 June 1959 as a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System, to consist of the 1st, and 2nd, Battle Groups, elements of the 39th Infantry Division. [63]

Re-organization and re-designation of artillery units

As a part of the reorganization of 1959 and the shift to the Combat Army Regimental System, the artillery units assigned to the Division were re-designated to their historical artillery regiments:

The 445th Field Artillery Battalion, Arkansas National Guard, was re-designated as the 1st Battalion, 206th Artillery, and was organized as a composite battalion with one battery of 105  mm towed howitzers and one battery of 155 mm towed howitzers.
The 437th Field Artillery Battalion, Arkansas National Guard, was re-designated as the 2nd Battalion, 206th Artillery [61] and was organized as a composite battalion with one battery of 105  mm towed howitzers and one battery of 155 mm towed howitzers.
The 935th Field Artillery Battalion, Louisiana National Guard, was consolidated with the 141st Field Artillery Battalion and the consolidated unit was re-designated as the 1st Battalion, 141st Artillery. [64] The new battalion was organized as a composite battalion with one battery of 105  mm towed howitzers and one battery of 155 mm towed howitzers.
A new battalion was created in the Arkansas National Guard from existing units, 3rd Battalion, 206th Artillery was a composite unit with one 8-inch howitzer battery and one MGR-1 Honest John rocket battery.

Reorganization of 1963

By 1963 the army again changed the basic design for a division. The battle groups of the pentomic division had proved to be unwieldy, and it was felt that their span of control was not sufficient to handle all of the various units and troops assigned to their command. [65] The army reverted to the infantry battalion as the basic building block and provided for additional command and control by providing a brigade headquarters. The 1st and 2nd Brigade, 39th Division were allocated to the Louisiana National Guard, while the 3rd Brigade was allocated to the Arkansas National Guard. [66]

Infantry

The 153rd Infantry was reorganized to consist of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions. [63]

The 156th Infantry was reorganized to consist of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Battalions. [63]

Artillery

The 1st Battalion, 206th Field Artillery was deactivated and the 3rd Battalion, 142nd Field Artillery was added to the 39th Division Artillery. The 3rd Battalion, 142nd Field Artillery had previously been under the command and control of the 142nd Field Artillery Group. [67]

The 3rd Battalion, 206th Field Artillery was reduced to one Honest John Rocket Battery, Battery A.

Armor

The 206th Armor was expanded to consist of the 1st and 2nd Battalion, 206th Armor Regiment. [63]

Little Rock Central High School integration crisis

The Arkansas portion of the 39th Infantry Division were ordered into active federal service on 24 September 1957 at home stations, in support of the Little Rock Central High School integration crisis in Little Rock Arkansas. The 1st and 3rd Battalions of the 153rd Infantry Regiment were mobilized at Camp Robinson for duty at Central High School. Task Force 153rd Infantry remained on duty at Central High School for the remainder of the 1957–1958 school year. [68] The task force was constantly mentioned in daily situation report for President Eisenhower. [69] The 39th was released on 24 October 1957 from active federal service and reverted to state control. [70]

Reorganization and re-designation as 39th Infantry Brigade

During the 1960s, the Department of Defense continued to scrutinize the reserve forces. It questioned the number of divisions and brigades, as well as the redundancy of maintaining two reserve components, the National Guard and the Army Reserve. In 1967, Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara decided that 15 combat divisions in the Army National Guard were unnecessary. He cut the number to eight divisions (one mechanized infantry, two armored, and five infantry), but increased the number of brigades from seven to 18 (one airborne, one armored, two mechanized infantry, and 14 infantry). The loss of the divisions did not set well with the states. Their objections included the inadequate maneuver element mix for those that remained and the end to the practice of rotating divisional commands among the states that supported them. Under the proposal, the remaining division commanders were to reside in the state of the division base. No reduction, however, in total Army National Guard strength was to take place, which convinced the governors to accept the plan. [71] The states reorganized their forces accordingly between 1 December 1967 and 1 May 1968. [72]

On 1 December 1967, the Arkansas portion of the 39th Division was reorganized and redesignated as the 39th Infantry Brigade. [73] The new 39th Infantry Brigade (Separate) was composed of elements of the following units: [74]

The division's units from Louisiana were reassigned to the newly created 256th Infantry Brigade. [62] The 256th Infantry Brigade (Separate) was composed of the following units:

Current unit

The 39th Division is currently known as the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (United States), of the Arkansas Army National Guard, headquartered at the Robinson Maneuver Training Center, North Little Rock, Arkansas. [74]

Commanding officers

Major General Henry C. Hodges, Jr..jpg Major General Henry Clay Hodges Jr. 1917–1919 [75]
Ira A. Haynes.jpg Brigadier General Ira A. Haynes (temporary ad interim)17 to 30 September 1917,
27 November 1917 to 26 February 1918. [76]
Major General Raymond H. Fleming.jpg Major General Raymond H. Fleming 1946–1951
Joseph A. Redding.jpg Major General Joseph A. Redding 1951–1957
BG John B. Webb, Sr, Commander, 39th Division Artillery, 1950.jpg BG John B. Webb1957–1958
MG George W. Trousdale, Commander, 39th Infantry Division, 1958-1963.jpg MG George W. Trousdale1958–1963
COL Lincoln M. Cummings.jpg MG Lincoln M Cummings1963–1967 [74]

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The 1st Battalion, 153d Infantry Regiment , is an infantry battalion of the Arkansas Army National Guard, headquartered at Malvern, assigned to the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. The 1–153rd has deployed companies in support of the Multi-National Security Force to Bosnia and to Saudi Arabia as part of Operation Southern Watch. 1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry has twice deployed as a battalion for Operation Iraqi Freedom, once from 2004–05 and a second time in 2008. The battalion was awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation for the period, 17 March 2004 – 23 March 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2nd Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment (United States)</span> Military unit

The 2d Battalion, 153d Infantry Regiment , is an infantry battalion of the Arkansas Army National Guard, headquartered at Searcy, assigned to the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. During World War II, the battalion was stationed in the Aleutian Islands. Following the attacks of 11 September 2001, the 2nd Battalion, 153rd Infantry, nicknamed the "Gunslingers", deployed to the Sinai on a peace keeping mission in order to free regular army soldiers for service elsewhere. The soldiers of the 2–153rd deployed under the flag of the 3rd Battalion, 153rd Infantry during Operation Iraqi Freedom II. The battalion provided disaster relief operations to the citizens of Louisiana in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The Gunslingers were deployed to Iraq a second time in 2008 as a security forces battalion and conducted convoy security operations in western Iraq. Most recently, members of the 2-153rd deployed to Central America as part of the Regionally aligned forces mission in order to carry out a train-the-trainer and security cooperation mission in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. See also

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3rd Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment</span> Military unit

3rd Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment was a United States infantry battalion, headquartered at Warren, Arkansas, assigned to the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the Arkansas Army National Guard until it was deactivated on 5 September 2005. The history of the 3rd Battalion, 153rd Infantry as an individual battalion begins with the reorganization of the 39th Infantry Division in 1967 and the creation of the 39th Infantry Brigade (Separate). For history of the 3rd Battalion prior to 1967, see 153rd Infantry Regiment and 39th Infantry Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">39th Brigade Support Battalion (United States)</span> Military unit

39th Brigade Support Battalion is an element of the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT), of the Arkansas Army National Guard. The battalion is headquartered at Hazen, Arkansas. The 39th Support Battalion was constituted on 2 November 1967 from existing units in central Arkansas and assigned to the 39th Infantry Brigade with headquarters in Hazen. Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 2nd Battalion, 206th Field Artillery Regiment, at Hazen was reorganized and re-designated as the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 39th Support Battalion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">39th Brigade Special Troops Battalion (United States)</span> Military unit

The 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team's Special Troops Battalion was headquartered in Conway, Arkansas and was an element of the Arkansas Army National Guard. On 15 September 2018, the 39th Special Troops Battalion was reflagged as the 239th Brigade Engineer Battalion, an element of the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arkansas National Guard and World War II</span>

The history of the Arkansas National Guard and World War II begins with the reorganization following World War I. The State first reorganized a provision unit, the 5th Arkansas, in order to provide a force to deal with domestic situations. As the Defense Department slowly implemented the massive changes and expansions outlined National Defense Act of 1916, the Arkansas National Guard was allowed to reorganize its war time units, including the 153rd Infantry Regiment, the 141st Machine Gun Battalion, and the 142nd Field Artillery. The Guard acquired its first permanent facilities and additional training during its annual encampments. During World War II, the entire Arkansas National Guard was activated and units saw duty in the Pacific and European theaters of conflict.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arkansas Army National Guard and the Cold War</span> Changes to an Arkansas military division in the mid-to-late Twentieth Century

The history of the Arkansas Army National Guard and the Cold War involves several statewide re-organizations that occurred as a result of the evolving structure of United States Army Divisions and Brigades. In 1959 the state re-organized and restationed units in response to the Army's adoption of the Pentomic Division, the structure which was designed to counter the Soviet threat in eastern Europe. Several Arkansas National Guard units were mobilized in 1960 as part of the Berlin Crisis. In 1963 the state reorganized again as the administration of President John F. Kennedy focused on "Flexible Response" and divisions reorganized to meet the challenged of numerous small wars such as the war in Vietnam. In 1967 the 39th Infantry Division was reorganized as the 39th Infantry Brigade (Separate) as a result of a plan to reduce the total number of National Guard Divisions nationwide. The state would eventually gain a new headquarters, the State Area Command in order to provide a higher headquarters for several units which were not assigned to either the 142nd Field Artillery Brigade or the 39th Infantry Brigade (Separate).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arkansas National Guard during World War I</span>

The history of the Arkansas National Guard and World War I begins with the reorganization of the Arkansas State Guard following the Spanish–American War. As a result of difficulties encountered during the mobilization of state militia forces, the United States Congress passed new legislation which resulted in the renaming of the Arkansas State Guard as the Arkansas National Guard. The new federal legislation resulted in increased funding and training for the guard. The newly reorganized Arkansas National Guard was call upon by the President to help defend the border with Mexico in 1916 in response to cross border raids during the Mexican Revolution. The Arkansas National Guard had just returned from the Mexican Expedition in 1917 when it was activated for World War I. As a part of their incorporation in the United States Army, all National Guard units were renumbered in accordance with a federal system. The Arkansas National Guard units were incorporated into the 39th Infantry Division and after training at Camp Beauregard, were shipped to France in August and September 1918. The 39th Division was broken up, with some units being used as replacements for other divisions. Most former Arkansas National Guardsmen returned to the United States in February through June 1919 and were demobilized.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">124th Infantry Regiment (United States)</span> Military unit

The 124th Infantry Regiment is a parent regiment of the United States Army, represented in the Florida Army National Guard by the 1st Battalion headquartered in Miramar and 2nd Battalion at Orlando. The two Battalions are elements of the 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

The 154th Regiment (Regional Training Institute) ("Third Arkansas") is a training regiment/institute of the Army National Guard. Most of its history before the 1990s can be traced to the 154th Infantry Regiment which was created from the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 3rd Arkansas Infantry Regiment, Arkansas National Guard, in 1917. The Regiment was activated as for World War I, re-designated as the 154th Infantry and shipped to France as a part of the 39th Infantry Division, but became a replacement regiment and its personnel were reassigned to other American Expeditionary Force (AEF) units.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">142nd Field Artillery Brigade</span> Military unit

The 142nd Field Artillery Brigade is a field artillery brigade in the Arkansas Army National Guard (ARNG). The 142nd is currently under administrative control of the 29th Infantry Division.

References

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