The Wilmington morning star., 1947-06-08
By T c. A


WASHINGTON - Swift striking,
heavily armed divisions of air
borne troops are being provided
for in atomic age defense plans.
Bulwarking regular army air
borne divisions will be an ''M-day"
force of Organized Reserve and
National Guard airborne divisions.
Maj. Gen. Floyd L. Parks, COM
mander of the First Airborne
Army in World War II, says: The
war demonstrated the effective
ness of these airborne divisions,
and our peacetime structure is
recognizing this fact"
Parks. now chief of the army's
public relations division, says en-
phasis on flying armies is pointed
up by the fact that, of two effective
divisions now in the United States,
one is airborne-the Sind at Fort
Bragg, N. c.
War department strategists have
contended that airborne troops
would be of paramount Importance
should the United States be SUBJ
jected TO a sudden attack by long
range rocket missiles, airplanes
and airborne troops. They would
be needed to strike at the bases
from which such attacks are
launched as well as to help to
defend and maintain order in the
attacked areas of the United
States.
Some generals contend, after
observing tests on men and equip
ment III army ground forces tests
in Alaska, that only an airborne
army could operate in the sub
zero cold of the Arctic. The tenn
perature solidifies lubricants,
makes the starting of gasoline
engines difficult and narroWs the
physical efforts of soldiers to the
mere business of keeping alive,
with no energy left for fighting
or moving.
While details of plans for the
National Guard r not yet ready,
five Organized Reserve airborne
divisions have been authorized.
Two-the Tooth and 8Oth-aEeady
are ACTIVE ed.
The Tooth, redesignated from
the Century" infantry division
which fought in the Rhineland and
General Europe in World War II,
has it's headquarters at Louisville,
Ky. The 8Oth, the Blue Ridge"
infantry division, which fought in
Europe in both wars, is based at
Richmond, Va.
Some units of the three remain
ing divisions also have been &C
tivated. One is in the 1st Army
Area, embracing the northeastern
states. l. will be designated as
the 98th Infantry Division, but in
event of mobilization will be
trained and used as an airborne
division. The other two are the
10Sth, in the 3rd southeastern
states Army Area, and the S4th,
in the 5th (~northcentral states)
Army Area.
Because former airborne officers
and men are SO widely scattered,
training Of airborne reserve divi-
sions will parallel that of reserve
infantry outfits-100 hours a year
in two-hour weekly home or
-armory periods, plus two weeks
of active duty summer field train
ing. Until Congress approves
pending appropriation proposals,
home training will be without pay,
although pay will be made for
field training.
Men assigned to Organized Re-
serve airborne divisions will
be given opportunity to attend
courses at the Army's Fort Bragg
airborne base as far as facilities
will allow.
The regular Army has one
other airborne division-the 18th,
in Japan-in existence in addition
to the 02nd at Fort Bragg, now
strength. The 18th, however,
maintains only an organizational
form. Its chief duties are those of
occupation.
The Army organized its first
ward. OF Whiteville, Route /, and
Jessie Tyner of Whitevil1e: five