Detroit evening times., 1945-02-03


Division,
This announcement gives me
such great personal satisfaction
that | am tempted 10 be per-
sonal in my comments upon IT.
Earlier | have referred 10
Fort Stotscnbcrg as the army
- posi- where in the first year OF
our part in World War l. | had
a brief period of service in the
Ninth cavalry.
The Ninth and Tenth regl-
mcntS of cavalry were organized
-at-the conclusion of our Civil
War. with an enlisted personnel
of colored men.
THE timbered foothills of the
L Zambales mountains come
close TO Stotsenberg on the
west,
In their forests roamed little
of the curious black pyg-
mics of the Philippines, the
"Negritos" or "Aeta."
Clark Field was built later
as the center Of army air power.
Had it been of modern
strength. il might have de-
Tended Luzon against Japanese
invasion. From today on, our
army air force, fully employing
this field, can dominate every
important point on the island
of Luzon.
Now as to the 40th Division.
When our armed forces, after
the first World War, were re-
constituted by the National De-
fenSe Act into the army Of the
United States, they had three
corponcntS =.'the regui r
army the National Guard Of
the United States and The
organized reserves.
The National Guard had Is
infantry divisions.
They were a citizen Soldiery,
but organized, armed, equipped
and paid by the war depart
ment. They were subject 10 the
same discipline and had the
same standard of duty as the
regular forces Of this nation.
The 10th Division, which had
been organized at Camp kearny,
Cal. in the first World War, had
served tn France under Gen.
Pershing.
1t was "allocated' to the
states of California, Nevada and
Utah.
It's four infantry regiments,
one artillery regiment, and sew
eral special units were In Cali
fornia: two of its three field
artillery regiments in Utah; en-
Gineers and military police in
Nevada.
The 10th Tank Co, stationed
at Salinas. was sent 10 Mac
Arthurs command in the Phil
ippines shortly before Pearl
HarbOr.
1t was lost in the bitter fight
inc Of Bataan.
The 40th Air Squadron was
merged with other squadrons IN
our great air arm,
WHEN the Japanese attack
w fell, the division was at IFS
camp al San LUIS OblSpo, Cal.
II moved Immediately 10 south
ern California 10 guard precious
airplane plants and other vital
war installations.
Then il was transferred 10
Hawaii. where the danger Of
Japanese invasion remained.
Later il was sent on 10 Mela-
nesia and occupied the island Of
New Britain. Its chance for
glorious action has come with
MacArthuES invasion of LuZon,
My personal interest in this
division is this; As a citizen sol
dicr | served IN 1t for II years;
was colonel of the l59th lnfan-
try, in 194l transferred 10 Gen,
Stillwells Seventh Division;
then commander of the 59th In
fantry Brigade, and for IL years
the division commander.
AS such l had the fortune Of
intimate acquaintance with Off
GERS and men. both of the staff
and the line. who are doing hon
orable and efficient service on
our battle fronts all around the
world
II was in that position that l
knew its present commander,
Mai Gen. Rapp Brush, who is
leading the advance element of
Gen. krugcrs Sixth Army in
the movement upon Manila.
I HAVE cited the instance OF
L the 40th Division, particu-
larly, because our public should
know the service rendered by
these organizations of citizen
robbery.
They have fought on all our
fronts, Sicily to the Philippines.
They can be distinguished by
their division numbers, which
run from 26 10 as. Many Of
them have borne a forefront
position in the battles which we
have won.
In the future reorganization
of the defense force of tins
nation, a matter already under
public discussion the place won
by the national guard of the
United States Will have con-
SldcratiOn.M .M .>
The part they have taken in
this war viii be a lifelong
inspiration TO those who partICI-
pated in their organization and
peacetIme training.