HISTORY OF G COMPANY

By

By Cpl. D.E. Cross

This is the story of the organized and development of Company G, 196th Infantry Regiment. On 28 Feb. 47, Co G became a reality in the community of Redfield, S. D., with the appointment of Capt. Robert E Hassell as commanding officer, and Wendell E. Knapp was commissioned second lieutenant. The appointment of officers having been made, Edward W. Dosh started the body of the company by being the first man to enlist. By the end of 1947 there were two officers and 42 enlisted men in the company.

Co G acquired the basement of the Court House at Redfield as an armory and it remained the headquarters until activation on 1 Sept. 50.  There was no summer camp held in 1947, but in June 1948, Co G moved to Camp Rapid, S. D., for two weeks of training. At this time the strength of the company was two officers, nine sergeants, three corporals, 18 privates first class. and 45 privates.

The next summer camp attended was at Camp Ripley. Minn. in June 1949.   Meantime Co G gained another officer, 2nd Lt. John Anderson, and 2nd Lt. Wendell E. Knapp had received his first lieutenant's bar. The strength of the company was then three officers and 69 enlisted men.

The 1950 summer camp was held at Camp McCoy, Wisc. The roster now read four officers and 48 enlisted men. This was affected by the commissioning of Karltron J Peters, second lieutenant and the loss of 21 EM through honorable discharge at the termination of their three year enlistment period.  During the middle of July and August 1950 2nd Lt. John Anderson, and 2nd Lt. Karlton J. Peters went to Ft Benning, Ga., to Officers Infantry School.  While at school Lt. Peters was transferred to Co E, 196th Inf. Regt.

On 1 Sept. 50, Co G was called to active service. 1st Lt. Wendell E. Knapp was made 2nd Battalion S4. He was replaced by 1st Lt. Richmond W. Noble, and the company also added WOJG Azor M. Dewell as unit administrator. On 7 Sept. 50, the nucleus of Co G, which was five officers and 57 enlisted men, departed for Camp Carson, Colo.

As Camp Carson had not been in use for approximately five years. the first few weeks were spent in general cleaning. Twenty-one EM were then selected to attend Cadre School on the Post to prepare them to give classes to incoming men. On 8 and 9 Nov. 50, Co G received its first shipment of 147 men. As soon as they were assigned to their squads and platoons, they started basic training.

1st Lt. William L. Recklinghausen. who was assigned to the company on 23 Oct. 50, was Platoon Leader of the first platoon, 2nd Lt. Schoonover, who came into the company 6 Mar 51, was second platoon leader and 2nd Lt. John Anderson was assigned third platoon leader after returning from Ft Benninq Infantry School on 27 Nov. 50. M/Sgt. John W. Bettridge, one of a few Enlisted Reserves assigned to the company, was placed in charge of the weapons platoon.

At Christmas time 1950 and New Year's 1951, all of the men in the company were given a chance to have a five-day furlough.  One of the first men to leave the original Co G was Sgt. Clayton H. Hufteling, who transferred to Headquarters Company to be the Sgt. in charge of the I & E Office. Cpl Carol W. Schmidt transferred to Service Company to be a truck driver. Sgt. Robert Gates transferred to Hq Co, 2nd Bn, where he is the battalion sergeant major.  During the last two weeks of April 1951, one officer and 18 EM attended mountain training.  On 23 Apr. 51, 16 men left for Ft Benning, Ga, for shipment overseas with the 4th Infantry Division.