8 JUNE 1967 A DAY AT YUMA PROVING GROUND
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\ ' I • WITH THE 1ST HOWITZER BATTALION 180TH FIELD ARTILLERY ARIZONA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD MD2- ,:J. :DI ~/9b7
0 FFICE OF THE GOVERNOR JACK WILLIAMS GOVERNOR STATE HOUSE PHOENIX, ARIZONA 8 June 1967
My Fellow Citizens of Arizona:
It is with extreme pleasure11 that I welcome you to Yuma Proving Ground to participate with me in, A Day with the Artillery". The 1st Howitzer Battalion, 180th Field Artillery of the Arizona National Guard is your host for this day of activity which demonstrates its Es'prit de Corps and combat effectiveness.
As we witness the activities of this combat unit, with its tremendous fire power, let us be appreciative of these "citizen soldiers" for the many hours devoted annually to keep Arizona, and America, militarily strong. It is only through patriotic devotion to duty, as demonstrated by these men, that produces an effective fighting force which is needed in America if we are to remain a free nation.
Therefore, on behalf of the citizens of the great State of Arizona, I extend my heartfelt thanks and appreciation.
'.JJ;::��CK WILLIAMS Governor �nticrnal OFFICE OF J�.crrnix7, J\riwmt THE ADJUTANT GENERAL 8 J1,me 1967 Friends of the Arizona National Guard: It is with a great deal of pleasure that I join Governor Williams in welcoming you to Yuma Proving Ground and, "A Day with the Artillery". The 1st Howitzer Battalion of the 180th Field Artillery is one of our finest and most proficient units of the Arizona National Guard. Its military readiness and fine leadership is equal to that of any component of the National Guard. We are very proud of this outstanding unit. I sincerely hope your stay at Yuma Proving Ground will be an enjoyable one, and, as you return home, I trust that you will have a better understanding and a deeper appreciation of your National Guard and the officers and men who serve you. J. C. WILSON The Adjutant General Major General J. C. Wilson The Adjutant General - Brigadier General Jackson Bogle Brigadier General Roy A. Jacobson Assistant Adjutant General, Army Assistant Adjutant General, Air Major John L. Johnson Jr. Cormnanding Officer On 1 May 1967, the command of the 1st Howitzer Battalion, 180th Artillery, transferred from LTC Chester A. Smith Jr., to Major John L. Johnson Jr. Upon discharge from the U. S. Army, Major Johnson enlisted in Battery A, 480th Field Artillery Battalion, Chandler, on 2 August 1949. At the time of his commission as a 2d Lieutenant, he was serving as Chief of Howitzer Section in Battery A. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant on 2 August 1954 while serving as the Commanding Officer of Battery B, 480th Field Artillery Batta.lion, Casa Grande, On 10 August 1955, he was promoted to Captain and the same year transferred to a staff position, where he has served in all staff assignments within the battalion since that time. He was promoted to Major on 10 July 1964 with his last assignment, prior to assuming command of the battalion, as Operations and Training Officer. 3 HEADQUARTERS 1st HOWITZER BATTALION, 180th ARTILLERY Arizona Army National Guard Yuma Proving Ground Yuma, Arizona To Our State and Community Leaders: Welcome to Yuma Proving Ground and to the Annual Field Training of the 1st Howitzer Battalion, 180th Artillery--the ''Arizona Artillery". I hope that your II short tour" with us will be an enjoyable one and that you will return home with a favorable impression of your local Citizen Soldiers and with what you see. Please feel free, at any time, to ask any questions you desire--our Guardsmen will be most happy to explain the operation of the tools of this, their second profession. What you will see today is a normal day of service practice which we use to improve the proficiency of the individual, team and section. The second week of our camp will be used to improve our battery and battalion opera tions when we move to the field for a four day tactical field exercise. 1966 was our first year at Yuma Proving Ground for Annual Field Training. The friendly reception, outstanding cooperation and excellent range area available convinced us all that we should return, if at all possible. Col Joe C. Cullen, Post Commander, and his personnel have provided every thing we have desired, except cool weather. This I believe will be evident as we go through our tour of the battalion in the field. Since the reorganization of the Guard after World War II, we have overcome many difficult and trying obstacles. With seventy percent of our officers coming from the enlisted ranks of the battalion and the other thirty per cent having Army or other Guard enlisted service, we have built a unit that has ·c.pmpiled a massive list of accomplishments and "firsts" equalled by few units within the Guard today. Our potential today is greater than at any other period and we are all confident that the future will see even bigger and better things from II Arizona's Finest", the 1st Howitzer Battalion, 180th Artillery. l '') ·, ..• :,, I' ,•· . �-/:�·c;.� .t-;.,.:·--:.J- ::. :r.-.;··s-:;�;;- · -..:., .... -• JOHN L. JOHNSON JR ; Major/ Arty, ArizARNG Commanding 4 THE HISTORY OF THE 1st HOWITZER BATTALION, 180th ARTILLERY The 1st Howitzer Battalion, 180th Artillery, has a history of which each member, past, present and future may be justly proud. It has served the State of Arizona and the United States of America since 1921. During World War II, the battalion was actively engaged in three campaigns in Europe. The battalion traces it's lineage and history back to Battery "B", 1st Field Artillery Regiment, Arizona National Guard. This battery was constituted on 16 July 1919, and was federally recognized on 24 March 1921, at Mesct. On 19 October 1921, the battery was redesignated as Battery "E", 2d Battalion, 158th Field Artillery Regiment, thereby becoming a part of the later famed 45th Infantry Division. (At that time the 45th Division included National Guard units from Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Arizona.) This battery was originally equipped with horse-drawn 75-mm Guns, Model 1897 - the "French 75" of World War I fame. In 1933, the battery was motorized and went to summer camp at Flagstaff, in four Chevrolet trucks and one station wagon. On 16 September 1940, along with other National Guard units from throughout the country, Battery "B" was inducted into the Federal Service at Mesa. As part of the 45th Division, the battery soon joined the parent regiment and the division at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. After a period of intensive training at Fort Sill, and at Camp Barkley, Texas, including maneuvers in Texas and Louisiana,11 11 the 2d Battalion, 158th Field Artillery Regiment, including Battery E and many of it's original men, were ordered to the Panama Canal Zone. On 4 January 1942, nearly sixteen months after their mobilization, the battalion embarked from New Orleans, Louisiana, and arrived in Panama on 10 January 1942. In Panama, the battalion was outfitted with 105-mm Howitzers. On 22 February 1942, the 2d Battalion, 158th Field Artillery Regiment was redesignated 11the 207th Field Artillery Battalion, and Battery "E" became Battery 11 B • Almost a year and a half later, after rugged service in the jungles of Panama, the battalion was ordered back to the States. On 15 June 1943, it departed from Quarry Heights, Canal Zone, on the U. S. Army Transport "George Washington", and arrived in San Francisco on 25 June. In California the battalion again underwent intensive training at Fort Ord and at Hunter Liggett Military Reservation. Also, after some 23 years as Light Artillery,11 the battalion was reorganized on 1 February 1944 as a tractor-drawn 8 Howitzer Battalion. The time had now arrived to head towards the "shooting war" across the ocean. On 20 July 1944, the battalion arrived at Camp Shanks, New York, and less than one month later, on 14 August, the battalion boarded the transport "Aquitania" and crossed the Atl.antic to England. After a short 5 month in England, to complete equipping, the battalion arrived in France on 8 September 1944, D-Day plus 94. The 207th Field Artillery Battalion fought in France, Belgium, and Germany. It was credited with participating in the campaigns of Northern France, Central Europe, and the Rhineland. Although the fighting in Europe ended on 5 May 1945, the battalion remained in the European Theater of Operations until 5 November 1945, when it departed from Marseille, France, on the transport "Westerly Victory". The battalion arrived at the New York Port of Embarkation and Camp Kilmer, New Jersey on 14 November 1945. The battalion was inactivated at Camp Kilmer two days later. Less than one year later the history of the Arizona Artillery resumed. It began on 24.June 1946, when Battery B, 207th Field Artillery Battalion was expanded to battalion size and designated the 480th Field Artillery Battalion (105-mm Howitzer). The first units of the battalion to receive federal recognition were the Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, and the Service Battery, both located in Mesa. They received federal recog nition on 9 July 1947. The battalion grew rapidly adding the following units: Battery B, at Casa Grande, on 22 October 1947. Battery A, at Chandler, on 23 October 1947. Battery C, at Tempe, on 23 March 1948. �edical Detachment, at Mesa, on 4 August 1948. On 1 March 1959, the battalion was reorganized as a 155-mm Howitzer (towed) Battalion, and redesignated the 1st Howitzer Battalion,1 180th11 Artillery. In September 1959, the battalion traded in their 1 105's and were issued the 155-mm Howit.zers along with the 5-Ton Cargo Trucks and prime movers. On 1 March 1963, the battalion was redesignated as a self propelled 155-mm Howitzer Battalion, although the battalion still has vehicle towed equipment as a substitute for self-propelled howitzers. 6 MISSION The National Guard of the United States is organized to serve a dual role; one a Federal and secondly a State role. The primary Federai:·_mission of the National Guard is to be prepared to furnish military units �o the Active Services eo trained, organi�ed, and equipped as to be able to serve in combat inI any part of the world as an effective and integral part of our Nation s Armed Forces. Within this primary mission, there well may be the mission of effect ing the recovery of our nation from devastating aftack. The National Guard, together with the other reserve components, could well be our Nation's most importavh domestic asset in event of a nuclear attack. Dispersed as it is throughout the 50 States, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia, it would be virtually impossible to destroy all or even a major part of its strength. National Guard equipment, facilities, communications nets, and disciplined, trained personnel would be invaluable in expediting military and civilian recovery from the initial effects of a nµclear attack. No other immediately available and ready force is as well trained, organized, and equipped to do this job. With all available active forces deploying for immediate military operations, the National Guard would be on hand to help devastated areas until civilian authority could take over. Today's functions are a significant departure from the traditional concept of the Army and Air National Guard as a mobilization force, and it provides a prime contribution to the "One Army" concept. Now, for the first time, National Guardsmen are joined with the active forces in peacetime to carry out an essential portion of the Nation's defense responsibilities. In order to accomplish its missions, the Guard is consistently improving its mobilization readiness of both Army and Air units. As the Congress foresaw, States and communities often have need for trained and disciplined military forces. The National Guard in each State is under command of the Governor, available immediately in event of disaster or local emergency. This responsiveness to State as well as Nation in time of need is the essence of National Guard service. 7 1st Howitzer Battalion, 180th Artillery The mission of the Artillery is to give close and continuous fire support to the ground gaining arms and to add depth to the battlefield. The mission of the Battalion is to provide general Artillery support, including its component of artillery observation, communication, liaison and survey systems, and to reinforce fires of other Artillery units. Battalion Strength Warrant Officer Officer Enlisted Total Full Strength 29 3 548 580 State Authorized Strength 29 3 427 459 Actual Strength 27 3 427 459 Battalion Commander Major John L. Johnson Jr. Executive Officer Major Charles A. Hall Operations and Training Officer Major James H. Lewis Motor Officer Vacant Battalion Surgeon Captain Thomas H. Ross Communications Officer Captain Arden A. Rowley Liaison Officer Captain James S. Sturdevant Adjutant Captain Bobbie L. Nickell Intelligence Officer Captain Albert K. Crandell The Battalion Headquarters is located at 615 North Center Street, Mesa. Telephone 271-5103 8 Major John L. Johnson Jr. Commanding Officer Major Charles A. Hall Major �ames H. Lewis. Executive Officer Operations anct Training Officer �aptain Bobbie L. Nickell Captain Albert K. Crandell S-1 s-2 Captain Thomas H. Ross Captain Arden A. Rowley Battalion Surgeon Communication Officer Captain James S. Sturdevant SGM James w. West Liaison Officer Sergeant Major Captain Terry G. Fandel US Army Advisor MSG Clinton E. Daniels US Army Advisor Captain Leo E. Mahoney Connnanding Officer, Hq & Hq Btry Captain Lavern May Captain Robert W. Taylor1 S-4, Svc Btry Commanding Officer r.omm:mding Officer. 11 A 1 Btry Captain Jinnnie J. CarpenLer11 Captain Edward E. Pomeroy11 11 Connnanding Officer, 11 B B try Commanding Officer, C Btry Headquarters Battery The mission of the Headquarters Battery is to provide the facilities with which the battalion commander controls the battalion. Strength Warrant Officer Officer Enlisted Total : :17 Full Strength 115 132 State Authorized Strength 17 84 101 Actual Strength 15 86 101 Battery Commander Captain Leo E. Mahoney Asst Operations Officer Vacant Recon-Survey Officer lLT Benny P. Anderson Asst Communications Officer 2LT Chester A. Smith III Forward Observer 2LT David H. Pilcher Forward Observer Vacant Fixed Wing Aviator Captain Richard A. Horvet Fixed Wing Aviator Captain Richard D. Gehlbach Headquarters and Headquarters Battery is located at 615 North Center Street, Mesa, Arizona. Telephone 271-5110. 12 Service Battery The mission of the Service Battery is to procure, break down, and distribute all classes of supplies to units of the battalion, maintain appropriate personnel and supply records, and perform motor maintenance not otherwise accomplished within the battalion. Strength Warrant Officer Officer Enlisted Total Full Strength 3 3 82 88 State Authorized Strength 3 3 64 70 Actual Strength 3 3 64 70 Battery Commander Captain Lavern May Motor Officer 2LT Richard H. Pearce Ammunition Officer 2LT Christian A. Anderson Unit Maintenance Technician WO James L. York Unit Supply Technician CWO John R. Matthews Unit Personnel Technician WO Manuel R, Arambula Service Battery is located at 615 North Center Street, Mesa, Arizona. Telephone 271-5111 13 Battery "A" The mission of Battery "A" is to provide a firing component of the battalion and to furnish its portion of the battalion communications system. Strength Warrant Officer Officer Enlisted Total Full Strength 3 117 120 State Authorized Strength 3 93 96 Actual Strength 3 93 96 Battery Commander CPT Robert W. Taylor Executive Officer 2LT William K. Poston Asst Executive Officer 2LT Michael B. Logan Battery "A" is located at 161 Commonwealth, Chandler. Telephone 963-3176. 14 Battery "B" The mission of Battery "B" is to provide a firing component of the battalion and to furnish its portion of the battalion communications system. Strength Warrant Officer Officer Enlisted Total Full Strength 3 117 120 State Authorized Strength 3 93 96 Actual Strength 3 93 96 Battery Commander CPT Jimmie J, Carpenter Executive Officer 2LT Sherian A. Salge Asst Executive Officer 2LT Leroy W. Tuttle 11 Battery 11B is located at 310 East Cottonwood, Casa Grande. Telephone 836-7532., 15 1 11 Battery 1 C The mission of Battery "C" is to provide a firing component of the battalion and to furnish its portion of the battalion communications system. Strength Warrant Officer Officer Enlisted Total Full Strength 3 117 120 State Authorized Strength 3 93 96 Actual Strength 3 93 96 Battery Commander CPT Edward E. Pomeroy Executive Officer 2LT Gordon E. Davis Asst Executive Officer 2LT Manuel Davila Battery 11C" is located at 322 East 6th Street, Tempe. Telephone 271-4811. 16 SYNOPSIS OF TRAINING Annual Field Training - 1st How Bn, 180th Artillery - 3 - 17 June 1967 Saturday, 3 June Night convoy movement to Yuma Proving Ground from Valley Communities. Preparation of Camp. Sunday, 4 June Preparation of camp and reconnaissance of position areas. Maintenance and preparation for Monday training. Monday, 5 June Artillery firing, service practice, maintenance. Tuesday, 6 June Artillery firing, service practice,,to include direct fire demonstration. Wednesday, 7 June Artillery firing, service practice, to include a demonstration of assault fire. Thursday, 8 June Artillery firing, service practice, to include direct and assault fire demonstration. Friday, 9 June Care and maintenance of equipment. Saturday, 10 June Full field inspection. Free time in afternoon. Sunday, 11 June Free time. Monday, 12 June thru Thursday, 15 June Move to field for 4 days and 3 nights of field exercises - designed to integrate all elements of artillery, tactics, procedures, and conduct of artillery firing. Friday, 16 June Battalion awards ceremony, Payment of troops, Loading for convoy move ment home, Evening and night convoy movement to home stations. Saturday, 17 June Unloading and storing of equipment, Dismissal of troops. 17 COMMANDING OFFICER YUMA PROVING GROUND Colonel Joe C. Cullen HISTORY OF YUMA PROVING GROUND YUMA, ARIZONA The million acres of southwestern Arizona presently known as Yuma Proving Ground has been called by such names as Yuma Test Branch, the Desert Training Center, and Yuma Test Station in its 24 years of history. Originally activated in 1942 as the Research and Development Laboratory of the Corps of Engineers, the primary activity was located between the present headquarters site and Imperial Dam. Concrete slabs can still be seen where the old temporary buildings were located on the banks of the Colorado River. Most of the Research and Development effort at that time was con centrated on the construction and testing of pontoon and Bailey bridges. Concurrently the northern and eastern portions of the reservation were being utilized (in 1942 and 1943) by General George S. Patton, Jr. as a maneuver area in preparation for the North African Campaign of World War II. That portion was known as the Desert Training Center. Tracks made by General Patton's tanks and wheeled vehicles can still be seen in those areas. In 1949, the Yuma Test Branch was inactivated by the Engineers and the Army sought to sell the land. This plan was relatively short lived, as, in March 1951, the Department of the Army instructed the Commanding General of the Sixth US Army to activate what was to be called Yuma Test Station. As of 1 April 1951, Yuma Test Station began its testing activities. The station's main purpose was the support of hot weather research and development for all the technical services of the Army. The station was announced as a permanent Army installation by General Order 38, 21 August 1956. A change came in jurisdiction and classification when, in 1962, the station was rcdcsignated as class II and placed under the command of the Commanding General, US Army Materiel Command. The change was effective on 1 August of that year, with a concurrent placing of the installation under the Commanding. General, US Army Test and Evaluation Command. The current designation of Yuma Proving Ground came as the result of General Order 35, 1 August 1963, and was retroactive to·1. July of the same year. Some of the capabilities of the proving ground at the present time include ballistic measurement, mobility testing, air drop projects, geodetic studie·s, data reduction capabilities, electronic testing, 18 photographic engineering, calibration of instruments, chemical and petroleum analysis, meteorological support and testing of aircraft and equipment. The proving ground has progressed from the hot weather and desert testing for which it was originally set up, to a year round program which not only retains these capabilities and missions but also takes advantage of the near-perfect weather during other than summer months to achieve the maximum in outdoor testing during the other nine months of the year. Of particular emphasis are those projects and tests which, of necessity, utilize large and/or remote land areas. Additionally, the proving ground controls, to one degree or another, the airspace over it. As an example, the airspace over the firing range is restricted from gr,ound level to an unlimited ceiling at all times. Other airspace is controlled at various altitudes and times. The annual average rainfall of 2 3/4 inches and the nearly 4,200 hours (out of 4,400 possible) of sunshine make the nation's sunniest area ideal for use as a proving ground, affording maximum testing time, year round. 19 1966 Base Camp for the Battalion, Yuma Proving Ground CPT Lavern May receiving "JUG TROPHY" for Battery B, Casa Grande for Field Training - 1966, from LTC Chester A. Smith, Battalion Connnander: T.rTJI Ii . I Ii ·; .• - .. � .I - :;; Battery B, the "Jug Battery", passing in review. 1966 COMMUNITY LEADERS SPENDING A DAY IN THE FIELD WITH THE ARTILLERY / ' HOWITZER IN "RECOIL" WHILE FIRING DURING ANNUAL FIELD TRAINING- 1966 COLONEL JOE C. CULLEN, COMMANDING OFFICER, YUMA PROVING GROUND, PRESENTS A POST AWARD TO THE OUTSTANDING ENLISTED MAN, SP4 JAMES A. LEMMONS, BATTERY A, CHANDLER, ARIZONA. 1966 - ,4,� '•\ , .�-4 � ;t·' :;1;.. ;, �""�,��.. th:.€::: .. i, ..,1 ,,, u,,,.;,. ('. / /,ave 6cen ·the wstoJian, I am the Q11arJ. � I was with Washington in the Jim forests, fought the wily warrior, anJ watcheJ the Jark night 6ow lo the morning. • .-...,: 'llt ConcorJ's 6riJge, I fireJ the fatefut shot hcarJ 'ro11nJ the worlJ. ·� I 6leJ on 1311nker Hill. ·....-.=My footprinls markcJ the snows al Valley 'Forge. -� I pulleJ a muffleJ oar on the 6arge that 6riJgeJ the icy 'Delaware.·�/ s/ooJ with Washington on the sun-drenched heights of Yorktown. ·� I saw the sworJ s11rrenJereJ ... I am the QuarJ. •4f!111,: I p11lleJ the trigger that loosed the long rifle's havoc al New Orleans. ·--,.: Ohese things I knew-I was there! -� I saw 60th sides of the War 6etween the States / was there! ·4IJIIII,,: Ohe hill al San J11an fell the fury of my charge. -� Ohe far plains and mountains ofthe Philippines echoeJ lo my shout ... On the Mexican 6orJer I stood ...I am the quarJ. •� Ohe Jark fores/ of the 7frgonne 6lazeJ with my 6arrage. ·� ChateauOhicrry crnm6leJ lo my cannonade. ·� Under the arches of victory I marched in legion -I was there! -� I am the QuarJ. I 6owed 6riefly on the grim Corregidor, then saw the light of li6eration shine on the faces of my comraJes. •� Ohrough the jungle and on the 6eaches, I fought the enemy, 6eal, 6attered and 6roke him. •� I raiseJ our 6anner lo the serene air on Okinawa- I scram6leJ over NormanJy's 6eaches-l was there! ...I am the QuarJ .•....., 'llcross the 38th Parallel I maJe my stand. ·...-,= I flew MIQ 7llley- I was //,ml... I am ihe QuarJ. � ' . ,i;olJier in war, civilian in peace ... I am the Q11arJ. � \· ~·---. -,t.: ·••• . ~ I war al Johnstown, where the raging waters 6oomeJ Jown the valley. ·.-...= I craJleJ the crying chilJ in my arms anJ saw the terror leave her eyes. •� I moveJ . . . through smoke anJ flame al Oexas City. •.-.-,= Ohe stricken knew the comf or/ of ' my skill.� I JroppeJ the fooJ that fed the starving 6easl on the frozcn ficlJs of the west anJ through the lowering Jrifts I plougheJ lo rescue the marooneJ. ·� I have faceJ forwarJ lo the lornaJo, the typhoon, anJ the horror of the h11rricane anJ flooJ - these things I know-I was there! ... I am the QuarJ. -� I have 6rought a more a6unJant, a fuller, a finer life lo our youth. •� Wherever a strong arm anJ valiant spirit must JefenJ the Nation, in peace or war, wherever a chilJ cries, or a woman wups in time of Jisasler, there I slanJ ... I am the QuarJ. ·__.,:'For three centuries a so/Jier in war, a civilian in peace- of security anJ honor, I am the custoJian, now anJ forever... I am the QuarJ. � This tribute to the National Guard, originated by the National Guard Bureau, Departments of the Army and the Air Force, was produced and distributed by the National Guard Association of the United States. "~· -· - .,,.:: ;/ , , ...... - · ··-::::·. ....:..:- _,:__ .. :.=:- · ·4R1zotJ/A