National Guard History

 

Waupaca County Post

February 26, 1959

 

Waupaca National Guard History Begun by Capt. Andrews in 1917

 

            At the entrance of the United States into World War 1, Company C, Fourth Regiment Infantry, was organized June 6, 1917 in Waupaca and was composed of men from surrounding villages and towns.

            Capt. C.W. Andrews was in command.  After a month of organization and drill, the unit responded to the call of the President July 15, 1917, and was sent to the present Camp Williams for further preparation.

            Inducted into Federal Service Aug. 5, 1917, it entrained for Waco, Texas for more training.  Capt. Andrews, after arrival in Waco, transferred to the Medical Corps, and as he was the sole officer in the company, the unit was broken up and the members were assigned to various arms of the service.  They served on the various fields of France and several forfeited their lives that democracy might live.

            Following the war, Waupaca was without an organization until July 8, 1920, when the company was reorganized as the 36th Separate Company Infantry, with Capt. Roy. H. Holly as commander.  This unit remained as such until April 1, 1921, when it was assigned as Company D, First Regiment Infantry.

            After less than two weeks, the organization was redesignated as Howitzer Company, 127th Infantry, April 12, 1921.  Shortly after this final reorganization, Capt. Holly resigned and was succeeded by his first lieutenant, Bradley McBarne, who became captain and commanded the unit for approximately six months.  He resigned and was succeeded by Capt. Loren L. Gmeiner on Oct. 22, 1923.

            Compared with some other units, howitzer company had a relatively short history, but it may be pointed to as a unit ably commanded, and always high in military proficiency and drill attendance.

            On Oct. 1, 1939, this company was reorganized as the anti-tank platoon, Headquarters Company, 127th Infantry.  Capt. Loren L. Gmeiner remained the commanding officer of the unit and First Lieutenant Philip A. Jenson and Second Lieutenant Edward C. May wer the company lieutenants.

            War was going on in Europe, and in the Far East, Japan was rattling its sabers of war.  Congress became increasingly aware of the danger to our country, and realized that the regular forces would be far inadequate to defend our interests locally or elsewhere.

            It therefore agreed with the administration that the National Guard divisions would be called to active duty for intensive training.  On Oct. 15, 1940, the 32nd Infantry Division was ordered to active duty for a supposed twelve month period.

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            ASSEMBLING at the armory on the 15th, the antitank platoon, 127th Infantry Regiment, commenced getting into physical shape by taking long practice marches, and conducted a review of basic subjects.  Administrative personnel closed the records, made ready to carry on physical examinations, and prepared the final armory drill payroll

            This went on for about a week, when the unit loaded its gear and entrained for Camp Beauregard, La.  Officers with the platoon at this time were Capt. Loren L. Gmeiner (attached), and lieutenants LeRoy N. Danielson, Phillip A. Jenson and Edward C. May.

            Enlisted men with the platoon were Sergeants Wallace J. Jameson, Harold C. Nelson, Ward L. Sage; Corporals Howard e. Bailey, Miles F. Buelow, Lawrence W. Court, Robert J. Green, Laverne A. Jahsman, Jack K. Quimby; Privates First Class Roger W. Ayres, Kenneth O. Cook, Leonard L. Green, Gordon H. Holman, Allen A. Jahsman, John J. Kreeger, Lawrence J. Trader, Howard A. White; Privates Harlan N. Barton, Phil T. cook, Garth O. Craig, Arland C. Danielson, Ernest Flitz, Charles A. Hammond, Paul D. LaHaie, Frank H. Nelson, Phillip A. Olson, Gerald R. Polly, Stanley N. Polly, James R. Robinson, Glen L. Sheveland, Rufus F. Tetzloff, Ralph G. Trader, Hubert W. Vandergate, Donald O. Ware and Leslie A. Heath.

            In Louisiana additional equipment was received and intensive training began.  The Army, meanwhile, believed that an antitank company was a necessity.  Accordingly, in Feb. 1941, the local organization was expanded to company status rather than platoon.  Trainees were received from Wisconsin and Michigan and the company was soon at full strength.

            By the narrow margin of one vote in Congress, the active duty scheduled to be completed on Oct. 14, 1941, was extended.  On Dec. 6 the Japanese struck Pearl Harbor, and the war was on.

            Antitank Company, along with the balance of the division, moved to Fort Devens, Mass., in February 1942 for shipment to the European Theatre.  At what was reported to be the request of General MacArthur, the 32n Division shipped by rail in Fort Ord, Calif., in April, and sailed from San Francisco on April 22, 1942 for Adelaide, Australia.

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            AUSTRAILIA quickly became fond of the Red Arrow boys, and that fondness was returned in full by the troops.  It is believed that only pleasant memories to that gracious country remain in those who were there.

            Training was complicated, hard and long.  However, when the Japanese approached Port Moresby in New Guinea, the time had arrived for commitment of the American troops.  Antitank Company arrived in New Guinea on Thanksgiving Day 1942 and had its first bombing raid the same night.

            There were no casualties, although fragments of the rain of Australian anti-aircraft fire thrown at the Jap plans fell in a manner resembling hail.  Antitank Company, along with the rest of the 127th Infantry Regiment, was officially committed in combat on Dec. 10, 1942.

            The Japanese in the Buna area were wiped out after hard bitter fighting and the division returned to Australia for rehabilitation, rest and further training.  Replacements were received to take the place of the dead, wounded and ill.  October 1943 found Antitank Company in Milne Bay, Guinea, ready for another match with the Japs.

            In Jan. 1944, they left Milne Bay for Finschsutien, on the north coast of the island.  The stay there was short, and soon it was on the way to a Jap infested area at Aitape, New Guinea.  Hard fighting followed before the enemy was finished.

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            AGAIN, reorganization and refitting, and the troops were on the way to Leyte in the Philippines.  Again the division was victorious, and followed the Leyte campaign with an equally rough task on the island of Luzon.

            The latter sounded the death knell of the Japanese forces, and the war in the Pacific was over.  Members of the Antitank Company, 127th Infantry received Battle stars for participation in the Papuan campaign, New Guinea campaign, Southern Philippines campaign and the Luzon campaign.

            The 32nd Infantry Division took part in the occupation to the Japanese home islands, and was deactivated in that country on Feb. 28, 1946.

            Three of the enlisted men who entered service with the platoon in 1940 were later commissioned lieutenants.  They were Wallace J. Jameson and Harold C. Nelson who attended officer candidate school, while Miles F. Buelow received a direct commission wile in Australia.

            Immediately following World War II, plans to reactivate the National Guard commenced.  On July 14, 1947 the Antitank Company, 127th Infantry Regiment was reorganized in Waupaca.  Capt. Phillip A. Jenson was assigned to command the unit and Lieutenants LeRoy N. Danielson and Harold C. Nelson were the company lieutenants.  Capt. Jenson and Lt. Danielson were transferred to other units in June, 1948 and Lieutenant Nelson was promoted to Captain and named as the commanding officer.

            Company lieutenants at that time were James R. Bowersox and Kermit C. Claussen.  Capt Jenson became the executive officer of the 127th Infantry with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and Lt. Danielson became the commanding officer of the ?3rd Battalion, 127th Infantry with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

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            IN MODERNIZING  the Infantry Division, the Antitank company was eliminated from the Regiment and the Waupaca unit was redesignated as Heavy Mortar Co., 127th Infantry Regiment on November 16, 1948.  Captain Harold C. Nelson commanded this company until his death on June 16, 1949, when he was succeeded by Captain James R. Bowersox.

            The Waupaca National Guard unit is and always has been one of the very best units in the 32nd Infantry Division.   1948 Heavy Mortar Company was awarded the Eisenhower Trophy in recognition of being the most outstanding unit of the Wisconsin National Guard in that year.

            The present Heavy Mortar Company has a strength of six officers, one warrant officer and 78 enlisted men.  The present officers are Capt. James R. Bowersox, First Lieutenants Arlin C. Barden, Robert R. Conroy, Gary R. Peterson, Second Lieutenants Gary L. Nelson, William J. Pope, Chief Warrant Officer Myron E. Halstead.

            After over two years of intensive preparation the 32nd Infantry Division reorganized as a “(?) Division” on Feb. 15.  At this time the Waupaca unit was redesignated as Battery A  (?) 2nd Howitzer Battalion, (K?) combat Arms Regiment, Capt. Bowersox remained as Commanding Officer while the other officers of the unit were transferred to other units in the Field Artillery.