Texas Almanac, 1949-1950 Page: 384
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TEXAS ALMANAC -1949-1950.
Army Organized Reserves
The Otgantred Reserve Corps of the Army
Ground Forces is a part of one of the two
civilian components of the army and includes
both commissioned and enlisted personnel.
In the Fourth Army area. covering the
Southwest it is a part of the responsibility
of the commanding general of the Fourth
Army and handled through his staff, though
much of the actual direction is delegated to
officers specifically charged with the training
and personnel program of the reserves.
In Texas. the reserve program is handled
under the immediate direction of the Texas
Military District with Col. Oscar Abbott as
senior instructor. Offices of the district are
located in the American-Statesman Building.
Austin. Texas. The district is subdivided into
smaller areas, each headed by a senior in-
structor.
Reserve officers of the arms and services
are assigned to various units with the
amount of required training varying accord-
ing to the status of the unit. The maior com-
bat unit is the 90th Division. inactiated
after its Second World War service but re-
tained as a reserve division with units all
over Texas. It is commanded by Brig. Gen.
Arthur Watson of Austin.
Texas Niational Guard
The present-day Texas National Guard is a
link In theo chain of all the various militia
forces which have existed in Texas minee 1836.
when the irst militia unit Ias organized at
Washington-on-the-Brazos.
There were volunteer militia units which
went into the Civil War as a body. Texas
militia units, formed, equipped and trained
without federal supervision aent into the
Spanish American War in 18%. In 1903. the
Congress of the United States passed the
Militia Act od 1903. known as the Dick Law.
This law proved an important mi.estone in
the history of militia units. t combined them
all into one organization. called it the Na-
tional Guard and gae the National Guard
recognition as a part )f the National Army.
Thus the National Guard acquired ai dual
status-it had a federal orbligation and a state
obligation.
In 1917 the federal obligation became effec-
tive when the National guard was calledd into
federal service in World War I. The Texas
National Guard went as the 36th Infantry Di-
vision and distinguished itself.
During the absence of the 36th Division.
other militia units were organized t urely foi
home defense. There were two brigades of
cavalry and one brigade of infantry. WhPn
the war was over, the 36th Diision returned
to Texas Due to casualties. transfers and re-
inforcements, It had to be reorganized.
In the years between the wars. the Texas
National Guard was equipped and trained in
summer cams and armory drills and rifle
matches. In World War 11. the federal obli-
gation again became effective and the Texas
National Guard went to war again as the 36th
Division, and again performed an outstanding
role in Italy. France. Germany and Austria.
During its absence the Texas Defense Guard
was organizea in 1940. for home defense. In
1942. the name was changed to Texas State
Guard. This organization passed into history
at the end of the war when the Texas Na-
tional Guard returned.
The organization of the new National Guard
began 'n 1946. Again it has a dual status-a
federal obligation and a state obligation. In
wartime, the National Guard operates under
the maior force commander, for ground units
the Fourth Army Headquarters at Fort Sam
Houston. for air units, the Twelfth Air Force.
Brooks Field. San Antonio.
In peacetime, the guard operates under theGoicinur through the State Adjutant Gen-
eral, and under the supervision of the Na.
tional Guard Bureau. The bureau is a part of
the Wai Department Special Staff and is the
agency through which the War Department
maintains administrative and policy contact
with the National Guards of the several
states.
Federal functions include equipment. In-
spectionr. and fiscal matters. The Federal Gov-
ernment provides the uniforms and equip-
ment and the pay for armory drills and sum-
mer camp and Regular Army officers conduct
inspections and supervise the training by unit
commanders.
The state functions include recruiting.
housing and personnel administration. It Is
the responsibility of the state to provide
armories and storage facilities to local units
and to handle personnel matters such as re-
cruiting, promotions, transfers and dis-
charges. The state also provides pay in time
of state emergencies.
The National Guard receives its money by
annual appropriation from Congress, which
appropriated $192.000.000 for the fiscal year
1949. During 1949 Texas had three state-
owned National Guard installations: Camp
Mabry, Austin; Camp Hulen, Palacios; Camp
Wolters. Mineral Wells.
Enlistments.
Officers in the National Guard must have
had at least six months service subsequent to
Pearl Harboi Dec. 7, 1941. and must appear
before an examining board as to their profes-
sional qualifications. The National Guard
maintains an age-in-grade policy for officers.
Enlisted men must be 17 to 35 years old and
up to 55 for veterans. Enlistment is for three
years. All must be able to pass a prescribed
physical examination and all must attend
drill for two hours one night a week.
Texas State Organization.
Before World War II Texas had about
15.000 troops on paper. Following the Louisi-
ana maneuvers in 1940 and the screening for
federal service. Texas presented about 8,000
National Guard troops for service in World
War II.
With the consent of the state. Texas has
been allotted 30.124 troops in the new Na-
tional Guard. These will be divided into the
36th Infantry Division, the 49th Armored Di-
vision, certain nondivisional troops with an
aggregate strength of a division and air
units. The 49th Division is one of the two
armored divisions in the National Guard of
the United States. the other being the 50th
Armored Division in New Jersey.
These troops will be divided into a total ot
288 units, located in 131 cities and towns in
Texas. As of July 1. 1949. 255 units had been
authorized, located in 125 towns. The status
of the Texas National Guard at that time In-
cluded: 1.550 officers. 13.450 enlis*e- men, or
15.0010 total troops.
The Commanding Gererbl, Texas Natonal
Guard, is Lt. Gen. Ernest O. Thompson, Auts-
tin. Deputy Commander is MaJ. Gen. Ike
Ashburn, Austin. The Adjutant General is
Maj. Gen. K. L. Berry, who now represents
the Governor as head of all National Guard
troops in Texas.
The Commanding General of the 36th Divi-
sion rs\Mai. Gen. H. Miller Ainsworth. Luling.
Assistarl t Division Commander is Brig. Gen.
Carl H Phinney. Dallas. Artillery Commander
is Brig. Gen. albe-t B Crowther, San An-
tonio.
Commanding Gernert., of the 49th Armored
Division is MaJ. Gen. Albert S. Johnson, Dal-
las. Under him the Commanding General of
Combat Command A is Brig. Gen. John W.
Naylor, Fort Worth, and of Combat Command
B, Brig. Gen. Clayton P. Kerr, Dallas.
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Texas Almanac, 1949-1950, book, 1949; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth117167/m1/386/: accessed May 9, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.