HISTORY OF TANK COMPANY

By

Sgt. M. Olson

Anti-tank Company, 196th Infantry Regiment, was awarded federal recognition on 31 Jan 47.   The nucleus of what was to become a company of six officers and 142 EM was formed in the Home Economics room of the high school at Webster, SD by two officers, Major Charles H Isackson, who served in the Fourth Division during World War II, Lt. Lloyd Fickler and 11 privates, most of them veterans of World War II.  Immediate operations of the company consisted of recruiting new men.

Early in the spring of 1947, Antitank Co. received two tanks and two jeeps, making its initial issue of vehicles. The first summer encampment for Anti-tank Co. was held in June of 1948 at Camp Rapid, near Rapid City, S. D. One officer and 26 EM were present for duty.  Because of the rain and foul weather, training was limited to driving instruction in the tanks, tank crew drill and one-rain-soaked bivouac. For the new recruits, experiences of the summer camp gave them a touch of Army life.  For the veteran NCO's it was a scale on which to weigh their past teachings.

In November of 1948, Capt. Isackson moved to Fargo. N. D., and Capt. Glenn H. Fisher, a member of the 90th Division during World War II, replaced Cpt. Isackson. In March of 1949 Anti-tank Co. was changed to Heavy Tank Co. and in June 1949 the company attended summer camp at Camp Ripley. MN, with three officers and 39 EM, five tanks, four jeeps and two trucks  During the summer camp a cadre of tankers from Camp Hood, Texas, gave instruction in crew maintenance, crew drill, tank driving and tank gunnery along with small arms firing.   Tank Co. was beginning to have teeth and personnel was increasing not only in strength but as an effective unit in the regiment.

Capt. Fisher resigned as CO in January and Lt. Fickler took command.   During this period the city of Webster, with assistance from the State of South Dakota, constructed a large armory garage. Construction of the Guard unit's new building was brought about by the increasing problems of housing equipment issued to Tank Co.

In June of 1950 Hv. Tank Co. went to Camp McCoy, WI to improve in the field it's past year a unit training as well as "show off" a little. The two-week schedule was rough and rigorous with Tank Co's own NCO's doing the instructing.   Preventive maintenance classes crew drill, radio procedure and firing of all the tank weapons high lighted the  training for the summer session.  By the end of the summer camp rumors of activation due to the Korean conflict began, and on Aug. 50 they were confined by an official communiqué that said the 196th Regimental Combat Team would be activated 1 Sep 50.

The first group consisting of three NCO's left Webster on 1Sep to get the barracks in shape for the men. The convoy of trucks and jeeps, loaded with equipment left on 6 Sept. and the remaining personnel left on 7 Sept. by train and auto.  They received an "Au Revoir" from an estimated 3,000 friends and relatives at the Webster Depot.

The first few days at Camp Carson, Colo. were spent at cleaning up the company area which had not been occupied since 1946.  Soon a training program was set up and the new men of the company began taking their basic training.  Tank Co. started sending men to service schools, some going to Ft. Riley, KS,  some to Ft. Knox, KY and some to Ft. Benning, GA.  These men returned with special training, giving the company well trained officers and NCO's.   In Jan 1950, Lt. Fickler, who was sent to the armored school at Ft Knox, KY  was replaced as CO by Lt. Russell O. Daugherty.

During this period Tank Co received reservists, draftees and regular army men into the unit. The draftees and regular army men were trained by the reservists and Guard personnel.  Some remained in the company completing their basic and were transferred to units as replacements.   Currently men are being trained as crew members of the tanks, under in of the officer and NCO's.

During the winter season, Tank Co, was active in sports and by the end of the basketball season it had succeeded in winning two company level post basketball championships.  They ended with an impressive record of 18 wins in 20 starts against other teams on the post.

The history of Hv. Tank Co, 196 Inf. Regt., is relatively short and it's future is uncertain, but the men of  Hv. Tank will be ready for  any assignment given them and will carry out to the best of their ability.