Evening star., 1951-11-23
Guards 43d Division
In Germany Wheeled
Into Fighting Trim
BY the Assoeioted Press

AUGSBURG. Germany. Nov. %.
Anybody who says "cry baby" to
q soldier of the United States 43d
Infantry Division is looking for
a punch in the nose.
Months ago, when the 43d was
going through the pains Of post
war reorganization, the usual
gripes led some one to dub 1t
rashly the Cry Baby" outfit.
The name calling didn't lastI
long. but the men still are angry
about it.
The 43d, first National Guard
outfit ever sent to Europe in peace
time, is honed down to a pretty
fine fighting trim right now. Maj
Gen. Kenneth F. Cramer, an old
National Guard officer, is point
ing his men toward the ultimate
in preparing for defense against
Soviet aggression.
Fought in South Pacific.
Gen. Cramer, a veteran of both
World Wars, has headed the 43d
since 1916. In World War I he
fought in three big Allied often
sives. was wounded and briefly
held by the Germans as prisoner
In World War II he became in
turn deputy commander and COM
mander of the tough Oath Infantry
Division and saw heavy action in
the South Pacific.
He had a sized job re-
organizing the 43d but says today:
In all the years I've been
soldier this is the finest group
Of young men that I have ever
had the privilege of training
About half of the 43d is already
billeted in this Bavarian city where
Julius Caesars Tenth Legion once
pulled occupation duty. The re-
manning units are due soon.
Morale here is good. judging
from the men themselves and
their smart military appearance
Gen. Cramer has been a great
factor in turning the 43d from a
civilian-crammed National Guard
formation into soldiers division.
Evolution Is Gradual.
Morale is something that is
built up over a period of time" he
says. 1T is a gradual evolution
resulting from mans confidence
in himself, his weapons, his unit
and his division. think morale
in the 43d is high"
Originally the 43d was made I'D
Of Guardsmen from Maine, Ver-
mont, Rhode Island and Connec-
ticut, but under stress of the Ko-l
rean war and the draft, every
State but Montana and Idaho is
represented now.
There's a lot of history behindl
division units. The 102d Regi-
ment. for example, includes thel
old I'd Connecticut Infantry which
dates from 1872 The 169th Regi-
ment had its origin among Ethanl
Aliens Green Mountain Boys.
Gen. Cramer is going to get the
boys ready to make some more
history, if events call for it. he
intends to bear down on training
again, emphasizing unit work.
Education Level Is High.
And then. he says, the menl
are going to be kept in trim for
"any tactical missions which we
might be called on to perform.
This is army talk for fighting
Red troops if the Soviet Union at
tacks.
Like some other outfits made up
largely of selectees, the 43d hasl
q heavy complement of high
school and college graduates.
Division figures show 43.7 per cent
finished high school, and II per
cent went to college.
There also is a good sprinkling
of combat veterans from World
War II, both among officers and
men.
Gen. Cramer's men have had
intensive field training, including
work with both jet and conven-
tional aircraft in air-ground ma
neuvers, and are deft hands at
operating virtually all types of
tanks. The division includes sew
eral tank companies.
Gen. Cramer, 81, whose ances-
tors used to live near Mainz, Ger
many. is a soldiers soldier who is
sharpening his outfit to do a
tough job. His officers and mem
say he's just the commander to
do 1t.