HISTORY OF THE 31ST DIUISIOn ARTILLERY Although the history of the 31st Infantry Division Artil- the U. S. That night four batteries of 116th Field Artillery lery as such, begins with the triangulation of the Division Regiment were alerted as parts of Battalion Combat Teams on February 26, 1942 at Camp Bowie Texas, a large and for coastal defense. important part of its activities took place as the 56th Field In February 1942 the division made its first of many Artillery Brigade from which it was derived, permanent changes of station and the entire brigade again The Brigade was first established as a unit in September moved overland by truck to Camp Bowie, located near 1917 when the 116th, 117th and 118th Field Artillery regi- Brownwood, Texas. In 1933, the brigade had changed from ments were mobilized as part of the 31st (Dixie) Division horse drawn artillery to truck-drawn artillery. It was one at Camp Wheeler, Georgia. By the latter part of September of the first units of the army to make this change and 1918 it was in France as a part of the 31st Division, how- much thought and effort had been devoted by all units ever, since the Division was broken up to be used as re- to development of the new tactics and technique which placements soon after its arrival, the brigade did not act evolved from motorization. Many long road marches were as a unit but its personnel was assigned to various organi- performed by all regiments both prior to and after induc- zations of the AEF. Following the Armistice, the brigade tion and .a high state of perfection had been reached in was returned to the United States and demobilized. During the training of drivers, careful planning of each movement 1924-25 the 56th Field Artillery Brigade was reorganized and the continuous supervision of convoys while on the as a part of the Federally recognized National Guard, march. During the years 1933-1941 this brigade marched with the 116th Field Artillery Regiment in Florida, and 3,152,130 vehicle miles in convoy without a single serious the 117th Field Artillery Regiment in Alabama. The third accident. regiment the 114th Field Artillery was organized in Mis- Almost immediately upon arrival at Camp Bowie, and sissippi as a part of the brigade during 1933. pursuant to instructions contained in General Order No. 11, On November 25, 1940 the component units of the brigade .Headquarters VIII Army Corps, dated February 25, 1942, under the command of Brigadier General Sumter L. Low- the division was reorganized as a triangular infantry divi- ry Jr. were inducted into Federal Service at their home sion, with the following changes in the Artillery: stations and by December 19, 1940 had arrived at Camp Blanding Florida named in honor of Major General Albert Old Designation New Designation H. Blanding, former commander of the 31st Division for a Hq. & Hq. Btry. 56th F. A. Hq. & Hq. Btry. 31st Inf. year of intensive training. On August 21, 1941 the period of Brig. Div. Arty. Training and Service was extended for eighteen months Headquarters 116th F. A. Disbanded and with the attack on Pearl Harbor and the declaration of Headquarters Btry. 116th Headquarters & Serv. Co. war against Japan December 8, 1941, and against Germany F. A. 175th Engrs. and Italy on December 11, 1941, the period of service was Band, 116th F. A. Band, 31st Inf. Div. Arty. extended for the duration of the war and six months. 1st Bn. 116th F. A. 116th F. A. Bn. (less AA&AT Training at Camp Blanding Florida with its many limi- 2nd Bn. 116th F. A. Plat.) stations, its Dixon-Mason line, SNAFU, Simulated weapons Med. Det. 116th F. A. 149th F. A. Bn. (less AA&AT sibley stoves, three day passes and short leaves notwith- I Headquarters 117th F. A. Plat.) standing proved very beneficial to the Artillery. It was soon Headquarters Btry. 117th Med. Det. 116th F. A. Bn. welded into an efficient fighting force capable of working F. A. Disbanded with and furnishing support to the infantry of the division. Band 117th F. A. Pioneer Co. 631st Tank July through September 1941 found the brigade parti- 1st Bn. 117th F. A. Dest. Bn. cipating with the division in the Third Army versus Second 2nd Bn. 117th F. A. Band, Ft. Bragg N. C. Rec. Army maneuvers in Louisiana. Many valuable lessons were Med. Det. 117th F. A. Center learned and troops became accustomed to living in the Hq. & Hq. Btry. & Band 117th F. A. Bn. (less AA&AT field. One interesting phase of these maneuvers was the 114th F. A. Plat.) Artillery's engagement with the Second Army's Armored 1st Bn. 114th F. A. 2nd Bn. 137th F. A. (155mm Division in the "Battle of Good Hope Church." Returning 2nd Bn. 114th F. A. How. Trk.-D) to Camp Blanding in October it left again in November to Med. Det. 114th F. A. Med. Det. 117th F. A. Bn. participate in maneuvers against the First Army in North Hq. & Hq. Btry. & Band Carolina and returned to Camp in December. 137th F. A. (155mm How. Trk.-D) A rather dramatic sequence took place on December 8, 1 F 1941. The 56th Field Artillery Brigade left for Tampa, Flor- 4th F. A. Bn. (less AA&T ida in accordance with previous plans for a ceremony to s 1th F ( dedicate the Tampa armory, which was to be named Fort Hstn. rD A. (5mm Homer Hesterly, in honor of Colonel Homer W. Hesterly How. Trk-D) commander of the 116th Field Artillery Regiment. The Med. Det. 114th F. A. Bn. Jap attack on Pearl Harbor alerted one and all to the This reorganization reduced the amount of artillery in fact that they knew not what the next few days would the Division from three regiments of two battalions each, hold for the division, which was by now a well trained to four separate battalions. The reduction in artillery outfit. The Brigade arrived in Tampa in the morning and was in line with the reduction in the number of infantry the scheduled parade was held early in the afternoon. It regiments but the functions and tactical employment of was quite a sombre crowd that watched the long column the Artillery was not appreciably affected. Brigadier Gen- wind its way through the Tampa streets, in a misting rain eral Sumter L. Lowry, Jr., remained in command of the just as the EXTRA papers hit the streets telling of the Division Artillery. Officers and enlisted personnel gener- U. S. Declaration of war on Japan. It is believed that this ally were retained in their units, and either remained was the first wartime parade of World War II to be held in with the division or were transferred out with the redes- 123