AI
Tuesday, June 29, 2010 2:07:03 AM
MTNG = Montana (Army) National Guard.
Before WWII many states, if not all had National Guard units, that were similar to the state militias of the civil war and 19th century and earlier. Shortly after WWI, these were organized into Army National Guard units as an active reserve, often manned by veterans, and equipped and organized by the US Army, but at the disposal of the Governors of the various states for use in disasters, riots, etc.
Many of these NG units stayed together as fighting units; often the Army would join them with Guard units from 2 or 3 nearby states together to form a unit usually of division strength and they were sent overseas in WWII. Already training regularly and fairly well equipped and operating under a military command structure, these units were basically militarily as sound as most units in the regular Army at that time and were closer to being ready to go than any new draftees the Army could put together. So they were often some of the first units in. For instance, the Virginia Nat'l Guard joined with units from Maryland and NC and became the 29th Inf Division and led the assault on Omaha Beach.
The 41st ID that hap is posting about was obviously one of these units, and they were originally stationed in Australia in 1942 where they trained with and by the Australian Army in Amphibious landing tactics.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/41st_Infantry_Division_(United_States)
Recently arrived troops of the 41st Infantry Division are reviewed by Australian Army Minister Frank Forde on 14 April 1942, accompanied by Major General Horace H. Fuller. Note the World War I style Steel helmets? That was typical of these NG units which at this early date were equipped with WWI equipment and arms.
I don't tend to agree with hap's inference that they somehow saved Australia... as I believe the Australian Army was probably fully capable of defending their Country on their own. In fact, the Australian Army was the US Army's MOST valuable ally in the battle against the Japanese in the South Pacific, and fought very capably side by side with US Soldiers and Marines in hundreds of engagements.
Before WWII many states, if not all had National Guard units, that were similar to the state militias of the civil war and 19th century and earlier. Shortly after WWI, these were organized into Army National Guard units as an active reserve, often manned by veterans, and equipped and organized by the US Army, but at the disposal of the Governors of the various states for use in disasters, riots, etc.
Many of these NG units stayed together as fighting units; often the Army would join them with Guard units from 2 or 3 nearby states together to form a unit usually of division strength and they were sent overseas in WWII. Already training regularly and fairly well equipped and operating under a military command structure, these units were basically militarily as sound as most units in the regular Army at that time and were closer to being ready to go than any new draftees the Army could put together. So they were often some of the first units in. For instance, the Virginia Nat'l Guard joined with units from Maryland and NC and became the 29th Inf Division and led the assault on Omaha Beach.
The 41st ID that hap is posting about was obviously one of these units, and they were originally stationed in Australia in 1942 where they trained with and by the Australian Army in Amphibious landing tactics.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/41st_Infantry_Division_(United_States)
Recently arrived troops of the 41st Infantry Division are reviewed by Australian Army Minister Frank Forde on 14 April 1942, accompanied by Major General Horace H. Fuller. Note the World War I style Steel helmets? That was typical of these NG units which at this early date were equipped with WWI equipment and arms.
I don't tend to agree with hap's inference that they somehow saved Australia... as I believe the Australian Army was probably fully capable of defending their Country on their own. In fact, the Australian Army was the US Army's MOST valuable ally in the battle against the Japanese in the South Pacific, and fought very capably side by side with US Soldiers and Marines in hundreds of engagements.
Later and Best, bulldzr
"So often times it happens, that we live our life in chains, and we never even know we have the key."
-The Eagles
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