HISTORY OF A COMPANY

By

Cpl. R. Applegate

Company A, 196th Infantry Regiment was first recognized as Company I, 196th Inf. Regt.   Company I was organized 5 Jun 47 at Winner, SD with Cpt Darell L Taylor as company commander and 33 enlisted men.  The company was redesignated Co A on 18 Sep 49.

The Legion Hall at Winner was used as an armory and an office and supply room was built for the company in the rear of the Legion Club.  These facilities were used until activation into federal service on 1 Sep 50.  Elliot L King and Gerald E Shoemaker were commissioned Second Lieutenants on 13 Jan 48.

The unit took summer training at Camp Ripley, MN, 11 through 27 June 1949.   Three officers and 38 EM attend this encampment.  James A Jacobson was given federal recognition as a Second Lieutenant and assigned to Co A on 14 Nov 49.  Cpt Taylor was transferred to Headquarters, 1st Battalion as Bn S-4 on 3 Feb 50.  At this time Lt Shoemaker became CO of the company.

The unit took summer training at Camp McCoy, WI from 11 to 27 Jun 50.   Three officers and 41 enlisted men attend this camp.  By order of the President of the United States and Fifth Army Headquarters, General Order 119, dated 7 Aug, the company was ordered into active service on 1 Sep 50.  Company A departed from it's home station for Camp Carson, CO with three officers, one warrant officer and 38 enlisted men.

Until arrival of filler personnel, in the latter part of October, the members of the company attended various filler and cadre schools on the post.  Lt Shoemaker left Camp Carson to attend officers school at Ft Benning, GA on 26 Oct 50 and Lt King assumed command of the company during his absence.

With the company at full strength basic training started the first week of November.  At completion of 14 weeks of basic training the company went into squad, platoon, company and battalion level tactical training.

Lt Shoemaker returned from FT Benning and reassumed command of the company on 8 Mar 51.  At this time Lt Kink left to attend officers school at Ft Benning.  The company was again brought up to strength by the addition of more filler personnel who replaced members of the company who had shipped out.  While the new fillers began basic training the rest of the company continued tactical training.