Evening star., 1951-07-08
Preparing Fight Necessary 2h Division Gumdmen Closely EyePeoce Move
By ChorIes J. Yorbrouek
Stor Stoff Correspondent

| Star Stoff Correspondent
| CAMP PICKETT, Va, July Z.
The busy 29th Division, mid
way in it's two-week annual Ma
tional Guard war stint here. has
one ear turned to cadence count
and the other to Korean peace
! talk.
A year ago, with the Korean
conflict but two weeks old, the
Maryland and Virginia guards
men encamped at Pickett, grim
faced over possible Federal duty
and quick shipment to the Far
East.
Today, their purpose is as earn
est and their training as inten-
sive, but unless peace prospects
fade at Kaesong, the tension of
July, 1850, is off.
At the sun-splashed Blackstone
Air Base near here, the 1851 ver-
sion of the famed Blue and Gray
Division of World War II marched
in proud review today before Vir-
ginia's Gov. Battle and Marylands s
Gov. McKeldin.
Few Combat Veterans.
But in their ranks were only a
handful of the men who helped
slug the NaziS from Normandy's
Omaha Beach, through st. Lo and
the hedgeroWs to Aachen and the
Cologne plain.
One of them-bruSque, colorful
Maj. Gen. William H. Sands of
Norfolk, who commanded the 29th
wartime artillery-was in the
stands as Division commander.
In the places of some of the
$4,000 Blue and Gray casualties
of Western Europe were men like
Tanker Sergt. Watson Edgin. 90,
of 5000 Hamilton street, Hyatts-
vile. Or platoon leaders like 1t.
Harold Thomas, %, of La Plata.
Md.
Brig. Gen. William c. Purnell
of Baltimore, assistant division
commander, led the troops across
the hot field today. Compared
with last years review, when
heavy rains poured down, even the
heat was pleasant.
AS the 29th's band played Car
ry Me Back to Old Virginny" and
Maryland. My Maryland" Gen.
Sands presented the division to
the two Governors.
One of the review highlights was
when Maj. Gen. Milton A. Reck-
ord, Maryland's adjutant general,
received a gold, 50-year bar to his
State of Maryland service medal.
He formerly commanded the 29th.
Other Awards Given
Other service awards were pre-
sented to 1t. Col Thomas S.
IDelahay, Is years; 1t. Col. Robert
c. Kimberly, 10 years, and Maj
Benjamin Cassell, Is years.
Company B of the 115th In
ifantry Regiment, with headquar-
ters at Hagerstown, Md, was
awarded the Eisenhower Trophy
for the unit in the division show
ing the best training proficiency
coupled with good drill attendance
during the last year.
The National Guard of the
United States trophy for rifle pro-
ficiency went to Headquarters and
Headquarters Company, 3rd Bat
talon, 115th Infantry of Sails
bury, Md.
Company A, 115th Infantry of
Frederick, Md, won the Gov
ernor's Trophy for winning the
division indoor rife match. while
Sergt. Benjamin R. McNew OF
Battry C. 224th Field Artillery
Battalion, Laurel, Md, won the
Adjutant Generals Trophy for the
best individual rifle score.
/ Folio wing presentation OF
awards, the 29th Band led off the
march, followed by the division
headquarters company.
Fixed Bayonets Displayed.
/ Troops OF the 116th Infantry
Regiment with fixed bayonets on
shoulder followed. The 116th, from
Virginia, is commanded by Col
Arthur T. Sheppe of Staunton.
Next came the 175th Regiment
commanded by Col. William c
Baster of Baltimore.
The 115th Regiment, command
ed by Col Ralph Milholland OF
Cumberland, Md, then swung by
the reviewing stand Men of the