HISTORY OF L COMPANY

By M/SGT C.R. Weidner

On 10 June 50, a convoy of five men and four vehicles from Co L departed from Miller for Camp McCoy. The balance of the company left by special troop train the following day. Total attendance at the first summer encampment was 28 officers and enlisted men. The two weeks were spent in various phases of infantry training with the company returning to its home station 26 June 50.

First Lt. Rex W. Jordeth took over the duties of commanding officer on 12 July 50. succeeding Capt. Kortan who was discharged.  Regular weekly meetings continued until 7 Aug. 5O when a presidential directive alerted Co L for federal service beginning 1 Sept. 50. During August four men were placed in inactive service to allow them to finish high school and one man was discharged. During the same period one officer returned to active duty and nine men enlisted in the unit.

On 1 Sept. 50 the unit was officially activated and began training eight hours daily at Miller. On 4 Sept., three enlisted men acting as an advance party left by jeep for Camp Carson, CO, to prepare the barracks and company area for occupancy. Two days later the Co L convoy left Miller with equipment and supplies and the remainder of the unit boarded the special troop train which left Miller at 1830 hours on 7 Sept. 50. The Miller High School Band and a large delegation of citizens were at the depot to bid farewell to the company.

The trip to Camp Carson was uneventful but enjoyable. The ·men arrived in camp at 0400 hours, 9 Sept. and immediately undertook the large task of cleaning up the barracks and area they were to occupy.  Capt. Robert L. Schwartz of Stillwater, Minn., took command of the company on 14 Sept., when Lt. Jordeth and Lt. Morris were scheduled to attend the Infantry School, at Ft Benning, Ga.

Training on a battalion level was started 18 Sept. with the men in two groups, cadre and pre-cycle. The men were assigned to these groups according to their previous training and military experience. This training was designed primarily to acquaint the troops with all the infantry weapons. Many of the company's NCO's assisted in teaching and conducting these classes.

Sixteen draftees, all from the vicinity of San Antonio Tex., were assigned to Co L on 13 Oct. 50, bringing the unit's strength up to 44 enlisted men.  Second Lt. John W. Schoonover of Kirkwood. Mo., was appointed to the unit as a platoon leader 24 Oct.   and Lt. Jordeth and Lt. Morris left for the Infantry School two days later.   On 1 Nov.  the company continued a pre-cycle form of infantry training while awaiting for additional filler personnel to bring the unit's strength up to par.

During the month of November the long-awaited filler personnel arrived and for the first time Co L was up was up to its T/O strength. Three fourths of the men were from Texas and the others were from the East Coast.  Some Enlisted Reservists were assigned to the company at the same time to help fill out the cadre. Among them were: M/Sgt. Shuman, M/Sgt. White, SFC Grove, SFC Marple and SFC Mims. Sq. White was later transferred to the 147th Field Artillery and Sgt. Mims was discharged from service.

Basic training was started on 1 Dec. The winter was marked with some extremely cold and windy weather and. at those times training was conducted indoors. During the Christmas holidays many of the men were fortunate enough to get leaves. The training up to this point had consisted mainly of weapons familiarization, dismounted drill, manual of sums and some range firing.

The new year ushered in a few changes in the table of organization. Lt. Schoonover was a platoon leader, Wendell Augspurger was first sergeant and the platoon sergeants were: M/Sgt. Shuman; M/Sgt. Weidner, SFC Bennett and SFC. Dalton. Sgt. Dalton was discharged later in January and his platoon was taken over by SFC Grove.  The training became more rugged and the troops were introduced to bivouacs, overhead artillery, infiltration courses and combat courses. First Lt. Jay Hendrickson and 1st Lt. U. S. Bond were assigned to the company at this time and Lt. Schoonover was transferred to Co I.

Lt. Hendrickson left  to attend school at Ft Knox, KY, in February and 1st Lt. Jack Mills was assigned to the unit as a platoon leader. Lt. Mills was later transferred to the Far East Command.
Lt. Morris and Lt. Jordeth, the company's original National Guard officers, completed their courses at Ft Benning and returned to Camp Carson in mid March. Lt. Morris relieved Capt. Schwartz as commanding officer and Lt. Jordeth was assigned to Co K. On 16 March, Capt. Schwartz left Camp Carson to attend Infantry Weapons and Tactics School at Ft Benning.

When filler personnel had completed 16 weeks of training - also about mid March - 53 were shipped out of Co L. About one-half of the men reported to Ft Lawton. Wash. and the other group reported to Camp Kilmer; N. J. Eventually these men were sent to Korea, Alaska and the ETO.

With the advent of spring training for the remainder of the company was stepped up considerably. Two or three day bivouacs and four hour night problems were not uncommon.  From time to time, more recruits were being assigned to the company to fill vacancies left by the men who shipped out or joined the Regular Army. Eight draftees from Michigan were assigned to the company the last week in January. Three more filler personnel were assigned two weeks later and 25 men were transferred from Co M to Co L during April. All of this group was trained by Provisional Battalion and returned to the company at the completion of 11 weeks of training.

By 1 Apr. 51 the company strength was five officers and 262 enlisted men, including 2nd Lt. Weinauer, who was assigned at that time. However, only Lt. Morris and Lt. Weinauer were actually on duty with the company since three of the officers were on detached service.

The following narrative was published in a booklet form for members of L Co in August 1952, at Fort Richardson, Alaska, while commanded by Orville Marcellus.

Just two years ago this September 1, 1952, the 196th RCT was called to active duty with just one-third its present strength. Since then men have left and new arrivals have taken their place's. In the following pages are the names of men who served with L Company since Sept. 1951, to help you remember and renew old friendships when you leave the service.

To all members--former and present—I would like to express my thanks for your cooperation and sense of duty, without which my job would have been more difficult. As I take leave to return home I feel that with your help L Company developed into a unit capable of performing any mission. I wish you all good lack now and on your speedy return to your families.

Company L. 196th Infantry Regiment, was originally organized and given federal. recognition on 19 Sept 1949, at Miller, S.D. Drills and meetings were held in the Miller City Auditorium. These regular meetings continued until 7 Aug 1950, when the 196th Regimental Combat Team was alerted for active service. The company went on active duty 1 Sept 1950.

                                                            1st It Rex Jordeth was commanding officer with 1st Lt John E Morris as executive Officer.

After arriving at Camp Carson, Colo, the 31 National Guardsmen that formed the company began a precycle training while awaiting the arrival of men to fill the company to T/O strength.

Capt Robert Schwartz took command of the company on 14 Sept 50 when Lt Jordeth and Lt Morris were sort to Infantry School at Ft. Benning, Ga.

On Oct 13, 16 Texans from the San Antonio area arrived. In November the company was completed with the arrival of 39 Easterners on the 20th and approximately 120 Texans on the 23rd.

On 1 Dec 1950 basic training began with the first six weeks consisting mostly of weapons familiarization, dismounted drill, physical training, manual of arms and some range firing. The cold wind of winter forced the training to be conducted in doors at times. The new year of 1951 ushered in some more rugged training---and the arrival of seven more recruits from the mid-west. The first bivouacs, undergoing overhead artillery training, combat courses and infiltration courses were among this training.

In mid-March, after completing 16 weeks basic training 56 of the men were shipped out of Company L for overseas. Eventually these men were assigned to units in Alaska, Korea and Europe. About the same time the company changed commands again with Lt Morris taking over after returning from Ft Benning. Capt Schwartz was sent to Ft Benning to attend school. Replacements poured into the company with 25 men, transferred from Company "M" and new draftees from. Kansas, Indiana and Iowa. By 1 Apr 51 the company had 5 officers and 262 enlisted men.

Capt Robert W Hauser, Reservist from Chicago, Ill, was recalled to active duty and assumed command of company L on 9 Apr 51 with Lt Morris becoming executive officer.

April and May training was devoted to company, battalion and regimental tactics and the training brought out the exceptional coordination among the units within the company including the individual squad and an platoon. With the arrival of May came good news for the older men of the company--the long awaited two-week furloughs. Only a few men were able to take advantage of the five-day leaves granted during the Christmas holiday, so there was a scramble to see who would go home first in May.

On May 25th the 196^th with attached units was alerted for shipment to Alaska. Training almost came to a standstill upon the announcement. Immediately preparations began for the big movement. Details were the order of the day. Some of the men were on regular details during the day while other crews worked nights at the railhead loading the equipment in box cars. The men were also instructed on the climate, terrain, etc., to expect in Alaska, along a demonstration of arctic clothing and equipment to be used in the cold, cold winter of Alaska.

July 25th found the company boarding troop trains bound for Seattle POE. After finishing POE processing the unit loaded aboard the MARINE ADDER on 31 Jul 1951. After three days at sea the troops finally went ashore at Haines Alaska. Soon afterwards a truck convoy was formed and underway. The unit was to maneuver to Fort Richardson on "Operation Totem Pole”. Beating back a determined aggressor force the 196^th entered Fort Richardson and the maneuver was ended at 11:39 on 25 Aug 19 51.

Due to a delay in the contractor's schedule, barracks were not ready for the troops to enter. A "Tent City" was erected by advance details and although it was a miry, muddy mess, it looked good to the men after the maneuver. After a short recuperation period the men began improving "Tent City" by hauling in gravel and constructing floors for each tent.

October came quickly and the third battalion moved into the first three barracks ready and settled down for the forthcoming winter training. Before the snows fell the men dug defensive positions in Fort Richardson and Elmendorf. Skiing and snowshoe training began in December when sufficient snow had fallen. The Arctic clothing and equipment was put to good use with the men participating in bivouacs, ski training, etc., at temperatures dropping as low as 40 degrees below zero,

In the meantime, several transfers were made in and out of the company do to changes in profiles, accepted requests for transfers, etc. During the month of March the first of the National Guardsmen were released from active duty--the first of five monthly shipments in the plan to release the Guardsmen. July 24th the last of the Guards left for the states.

The next day, Capt Robert W Heuser was relieved of his command for re-assignment to the states and release from active duty. Lt Orville H Marcellus, formerly Second Platoon Leader, took over the company.

The first group of draftees are expected to be released in August, followed by monthly rotations. Present strength is 5 off officers and 204 EM.

Commander Orville M Marcellus

Executive Officer Jay E Hendrickson

Editor Herbien H Meiske

Ass’t Editor Lloyd E Walker

Unit Historian Genie R Turner

Cover C.M. Yeary Jr

3D BE 196TH INF REGT
APO 949, c/o Postmaster
Seattle, Washington