HISTORY OF E COMPANY

 Twelve South Dakotans provided the nucleus of the present Co. E, 196th Infantry Regiment, which was formed in Aberdeen, S. D., on 30 Jan 47.  Organized as an infantry rifle company of the South Dakota National Guard, Co E grew swiftly during the four months following its organization.  When the men gathered in 1948 for summer camp training, their number had grown to 69.

Some credit the intense self-developing discipline of the organization to a friendly rivalry with the Headquarters Company of the 196th, another Aberdeen unit formed at approximately the same time.   At any rate Co. E soon became a fixture at national celebrations in the Aberdeen area. The company drilled weekly in latest infantry techniques and as a unit of the 196th Inf. Regt, it attended three summer training periods at Camp Rapid, S. D., Camp Ripley. Minn., and Camp McCoy, WI.

Aside from their military duties Co. E was featured prominently in South Dakota social and sporting events. Socially, it helped inaugurate and stage the first of many successful Military Balls, an event  which was sponsored by the Guard and developed into one of the brightest annual social gatherings of its kind.  In the sports field, Co. E teams successfully took honors. Its softball and basketball efforts built up enviable records.  In 1949, as part of the YMCA Basketball League, Co. E took the second place trophy.

The company's military efforts were not exceeded by its sports honors. Following maneuvers at Camp McCoy in the summer of 1950,  the unit received a high rating for training. It was shortly after that Co. E, as a member of the 196th Inf. Regt., was called into federal service, on 1 Sept. 50, in view of the critical world situation and Communist aggression in Korea. The unit reported to Camp Carson, Colo., for training and service on 9 Sept. 50.

At the time of federalization, Capt. George W. DeGroot was commanding officer. Under the command of Capt. DeGroot, Co E received its first phase of basic training, at the same time serving as the training unit for a group of filler personnel that joined the company in November of 1950 to bring the unit up to authorized strength.

The men of Co. E received training and practical work on weapons and extensive field work, including bivouac periods in December and February. It was in January 1951, that 1st Lt. Eugene N. Fisk relieved Capt. DeGroot as company commander. Lt. Fisk led the company through the advanced  training period, which placed stress on tactics. Also, at this time, a few men of Co. E started mountain training work in preparation for "Operation Timberline" which was to begin.

In January, Co. E was assigned new inductees who were formed into a Provisional Battalion company for
basic training, and later returned  to Co. E for their advanced military   training.