But Sand Hill, Harmony Church, and Kelly Hill were outlying garrison areas that were a little behind the times. The Fort Benning main garrison was actually a very nice place. It was the general opinion that if you wanted to give the world an enema, Sand Hill would be the place you'd put the tube! It was October of 1960 when we gathered together for AIT at Fort Benning Georgia. He had a broken leg from a skiing accident, and was charged with getting us all ready to join the unit up north. There was a Staff Sergeant who was the Charge of Quarters. Three if us were assigned to B Company and three each to the other companies. We parked in Bravo Companies empty barracks which was used a a transient billett till the unit came back. It was a big deal, and included the Alaska Scouts, Princess Patricia's Royal Canadian Light Infantry, and a lot of other specialized units. This was a Major Field Training Exersize (FTX) where the 23d was playing the Aggressor to the 1st Battle Group of the 187th Airborne Infantry from the 82d Airborne Division at Fort Bragg. The truck stopped at the headquarters of the 1st Battle Group, 23d Infantry, and was told to take us all to Bravo Company since the Battle Group had already departed for Operation Willow Freeze. Of course, the heater didn't work half the time either. The shuttle was an M34 multi-fuel duece and a half (it didn't run well on either diesel or gasoline) with an insulated canvas top and a heater in the cargo compartment. You landed in Elmendorf AFB, and waited for a shuttle truck to Fort Richardson. When you got to McChord, you waited for the weekly (or thereabouts, depending on the weather) then flew on a contract flight in a DC-6 (4 reciprocating engined Propeller) aircraft. It wasn't enough to fly, so you added a little to it and took the train. Late in 1961, or early 1962, an Airborne Company was formed (Foxtrot Company) to add an Airborne capability for the BG Commander.Ĭolonel Wright, Commanding, must have had orgasms while planning our units deployme nt.įirst of all, the Army gave you $47.00 to get from Fort Benning to McChord Air Force Base, In Washing ton State. The 1st Battalion of the 37 th Field Artillery (Teddy's Redlegs) was the organic fire support. Foxtrot was supported by the Air National Guard's C119 Flying Boxcars. Ultimately, A and B Companies were considered Airmobile (H-21 Flying Bananas), C,D & E Companies went "Mechanized", with Foxtrot being Airborne. This didn't work, so the transportation company was broken up, and it's drivers and APCs assigned to C, D, and E companies. The Transportation company was used much like an armored truck company. To Make it even more fun, the Battle Group had D Company of the 40 th Armor, the 536 th Transportation Company (M-59 Armored Personnel Carriers) assigned. This later split into HHC and a Combat Support Company. There was a Headquarters and Headquarters Company. The 1st BG consisted of 5 companies, Alpha thru Echo companies. USARAL had the 23d and the 9 th Infantry (Ft Wainwright) as its only two subordinate Infantry units. The 23d Infantry in Alaska, for example, reported directly to USARAL (US Army Alaska). Unlike the WW II battalion, the Battle Group Stood alone, and reported directly to the Division or other higher headquarters. Actually, the Battle Group was just about one and one-half the size of a WW II battalion. It was supposed to be 5-part replacement for the WW II "Triangular" organization. These were the days of the " Pentomic" Army Organization. He made us put up and take down the 10-man tent and stove till we could do it in the dark in 5 minutes flat.He said this was important when it was 40 below. stove, fuel, and pioneer tools), between drawing field equipment and other in-processing activities. The Sergeant showed us the intracacies of the Ahkio, (a 300 pound capacity sled full of tent.
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