HISTORY OF HEADQUARTERS COMPANY

By

Lt. E. R. Egan

Headquarters Company, First Battalion,  the South Dakota National Guard unit at Chamberlain, SD was first given federal recognition on 29 Aug. 47 and was designated Co A, 109th Engineer Battalion (C).  The initial roster included the commanding officer, Cpt Ellis Egan, the executive officer, Lt. Ralph Greig, and 22 enlisted men.

An intensive recruiting campaign was put into effect and the unit was soon up to the strength of two officers and 56 enlisted men.  This strength was maintained until the summer encampment of 1948, when a number of men received discharges because of their inability to attend camp.

In April 1948, Cpt Egan was forced to resign from the unit due to an incompatible occupation and Lt. Greig was put in command.  Summer encampment at Camp Rapid, SD in 1948 was attended by the one officer and 19 EM.  The unit had an excellent record at Camp ranking as one of the top companies in the battalion.

At the completion of the 1948 camp, the company returned to its home station for another year of basic engineer training and in June 1949 attended  summer camp at Camp Ripley, MN with an attendance of one officer and 49 EM.  The company maintained the fine record that it had gained the year before at Camp Rapid.

In September 1949, orders were carried out which redesigned the unit as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, First Battalion, 196th Infantry Regiment and resulted in the transfer of equipment and a definite change in the MOS's in personnel.  They learned their new jobs quickly as personnel for a headquarters company.  The unit attended summer camp in 1950 at Camp McCoy,  WI with an attendance of two officers - Lt. Bryan Baughman joined the company in March  - and 44 EM.  At this camp the unit functioned as a headquarters company for the first time.

Following the summer encampment in 1950 Hq Co returned to it's home station ceasing drills until the order was received from the Adjutant General to resume drills at the rate of three per week during the month of August in preparation for federal service on 1 Sept. 50.

The company left Chamberlain the early part of September 1950 by several modes of travel and arrived at Camp Carson, CO on 9 Sept.  Military life began with house keeping details that were necessary and buildings and areas were prepared for  the vigorous training which everyone knew was ahead.  The first impression of the camp was unfavorable for most of the men.  The weather was rainy  and the area to which they were assigned had been vacant for five years.  The ground was covered with weeds and barracks were a little on the drab side.

Lt. Col. Coglan, formerly of Third Battalion, was assigned as battalion commander, replacing Major Perry, who was discharged prior to Sept. 50.  Cpt Fraser, who was the battalion senior National Guard instructor, was acting in the capacity of battalion executive officer.  Cpt Darrel Taylor was assigned as S3, Cpt Leon Scoblic as S1, Lt. Ellis Egan as S4 and Cpt Elmer Caddes as S2.  Major James Boocock, who was previously regimental S4, replaced Cpt Bruce Fraser as Executive officer when Cpt Fraser received orders to report to Korea.  Lt. Robert Strickler was assigned to the unit late in October and given the position of assistant S3.  Major Lanier Buford was assigned as executive officer of the First Battalion on December 1950.  Major Boocock was assigned as battalion S3 and attended an 18 week course at Ft Benning, GA.

Filler personnel, consisting of volunteers and draftees, were assigned to the unit the latter part of October for training.  Approximately a month later the organization was materially strengthened by the assignment of recalled enlisted reserve NCO's.   The men were permitted to got home in two separate groups during the Christmas season of 1950 in order that training would not be affected.

A levy was required in February of 1951 and as Hq Co, 1st Bn had received its fillers first, it was levied the heaviest.  The unit was forced to lose some of it's potential leaders.  Shortly after the levy the unit was filled up once again.   It now faced the problems of another cycle of training.  The situation was alleviated by the organization of the Provisional Training Battalion.

In March the CO, Lt. Greig, was sent to the Infantry School at Ft Benning, GA and the command was turned over to the P&A platoon leader, Lt. Baughman.  Also leaving for school in March was the communication platoon leader, 2nd Lt. Paul Jacobson, who went to Communication School at Ft Benning.  Lt. Jacobson came to Hq Co from Co D in Oct. 50.