THE SECOND ARMORED DIVISION'S FORMATIVE ERA, 1940-1944 By DONALD EUGENE ...

367 Pages·2014·4.29 MB·English

THE SECOND ARMORED DIVISION'S
FORMATIVE ERA, 1940-1944
By
DONALD EUGENE HOUSTON
•l
Bachelor of Science in Education
Midwestern University
Wichita Falls, Texas
1960
Master of Arts
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, Oklahoma
1969
Submitted to the Faculty of the
Graduate College of the
Oklahoma State University
in partial fulfillment of
the requirements for
the Degree of
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
July, 1974
OKLAHOMA
ST ATE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY
MAR 13 1975
Copyrite 1974
by
Donald Eugene Houston
All rights reserved; No part of
this thesis may be reproduced or utilized
in any form or by any means, electronic
or mechanical, including photocopying,
recording, or by any information storage
and retrieval system, without permission
in writing from the author.
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ii ii
PREFACE
Unknown to me, this dissertation had its beginnings in 1959, while
I was a cadet attending the Reserve Officer Training Corps summer encamp
ment at Fort Hood, Texas, home of the 2d Armored Division. The following
year, as a newly commissioned Second Lieutenant, I was assigned to the
First Howitzer Battalion, 14th Field Artillery, 2d Armored Division,
where I spent six months waiting for-artillery school at Fort Sill,
Oklahoma. Little thought was given to the topic until ten years later,
when searching for a dissertation project, I discovered that the 2d
Armored Division did not have a detailed narrative concerning its
existence. This was especially disappointing because of the relation
ship of the 2d Armored Division and General George S. Patton, Jr., and
the fact that the division served under this colorful individual in
North Africa and Sicily.
No writer has ever compiled a history without incurring debts.
This is especially true of this effort. The author wishes to publicly
acknowledge the' aid and support given by the 2d Armored Division
Association, for many years under the able leadership of Colonel Redding
F. Perry. He announced the project in the Association's Bulletin,
which led to some favorable responses. Members of the "Hell on Wheels"
Association agreed to be interviewed and spent many hours recounting
their experiences. Especially valuable for the very large view were the
conversations with Generals Jacob Devers and William H. Simpson.
Former Division Commanders, Lieutenant General Willis D. Crittenberger,
iii
Major General Ernest N. Harmon, Brigadier General Allen F. Kingman, and
General I. D. White, were extremely valuable for their detailed thoughts
on the operations in which they participated. Others interviewed were
most helpful in reliving experiences at division or lower levels. Major
Generals Robert W. Grow, Harold Peckham:, and Lawrence R; Dewey, Brigadier
Generals Sidney R. Hinds andWheelerMerrian:,·and Captains James M. Burt
and Donald A. Chace helped to clarify many of the·questions raised.
Archivists of various research libraries, including Dr. Richard
Sommers, the United States Army Military History·Research Collection
Carlisle, Pennsylvania; Timothy Nenninger, Charles Phillips, and especial
ly Mrs. Gloria Wheeler of the National Archives, Washington, D. C.; and
Mrs. Ann Turner, Reference Librarian at the Henry·Prescott Chaplin
Memorial Library, Norwich University, Northfield, Vermont, were most
valuable in their assistance. With their expert knowledge these dedi
cated librarians often anticipated this researcher's needs.
The Office of the Chd.ef of Military History, Washington, D. C.,
provided much assistance through its collection of unpublished materials,
and extensive knowledge of the topic. Mrs. Mary Lee Stubbs and Stanley
Russell Conner of the Unit History Section provided guidance on the
formation of the 2d Armored Division. Mr. Detmar Finke and Miss Hannah
Zeidlik of the Reference Section opened their collections to this
researcher and helped him to find what was needed. The Deputy Chief
Historian at the Office of the Chief of Military History, Mr. Charles
B. MacDonald, was most helpful. As the author of several volumes in the
United States Army in World War.!!, he was more than familiar with the
role of the 2d Armored Division on the European Continent. He loaned
me the Manuscript to the forthcoming volume, "The Last Offensive,"
iv
which concluded the European phase of the War.
The United States Armor School Library at Fort Knox, Kentucky, under
the supervision of Brigadier General Robert W. Galloway and his succes
sor, Brigadier General George S. Patton, loaned studies of 2d Armored
Division actions done by advanced course students. Armor and its two
able editors, Colonel 0. W. Martin, Jr., and Major Robert E. Kelso,
also loaned materials and scheduled appointmentswithseveral of the men
interviewed.
On the Oklahoma State University campus,· the author is deeply
indebted to the late Mrs. Marguerite Howland, and to Mr. Josh H.
Stroman, who guided me through the documents section of the library.
Mrs. Heather MacAlpine Lloyd and her assistants kindly secured the
other needed materials on interlibrary loan.
Special consideration is owed the· faculties of the Departments of
History and Political Science. The author's graduate studies committee,
composed of Drs. Harold F. Gordon and Harold V. Sare of the Department
of Political Science; Drs. Douglas D. Hale, H. James Henderson, John
A. Sylvester, and chaired by Dr. LeRoy H. Fischer, led me through the
tangles of graduate study, rendering valuable advice and assistance
along the way. A special tribute goes to Dr. Homer L. Knight, Professor
and Head Emeritus of the Department of History, who provided a graduate
assistantship which permitted me to pursue graduate· study. Dr. Fischer
read, edited, and supervised the dissertation from the opening word
to the final period; without his able directions, encouragement, and
most of all friendship, this project may never have been completed.
Special thanks have been saved for last. John and Carole Albright
provided a home away from home while I was doing research in Washington,
v
D. C. John led me through the many mazes at the Office of the Chief of
Military History, introducing me to those who aided my search for
materials. Captain William K. Emerson, an enthusiastic student of
history, read the manuscript, rendering invaluable.service and advice
to clarify points which might have confused the reader.
My parents, Mr. and Mrs. Truman P. Houston·,· a±ded and encouraged
me in my entire graduate program, giving constant encouragement to
finish the project. My son, Donald Jr., could not· understand why I
did not stop to play with him, nor did he know that loud noises and
concentration do not mix. My wife, Guyla,edited, typed, critiqued, and
supervised the study from the selection of the topic to the last word,
while serving as full-time serials librarian at·Oklahoma'State University.
In spite of all the valuable assistance, advice, and aid, this is my
work; I alone assume responsibility for any errors ·in factor interpreta
tion.
vi
TABLE·OF CONTENTS
Chapter Page
I. A FOREWORD VIEW. 1
II. CREATING AN IDEA: THE· INFANTRY ERA 6
III. CREATING AN IDEA:· THE- CAVALRY ERA 38
IV. FORT BENNING ERA: ACTIVATING AN-ARMORED DIVISION 71
V. FORT BENNING ERA: TRA1IN'ING AN· :AfilfORED DIVISION 96
VI. THE TENNESSEE MANEUVERS. 127
VII. THE LOUISIANA MANEUVERS •• 149
VIII. THE CAROLINA MANEUVERS 178
IX. PREPARATION FOR WAR • 199
X. OPERATION TORCH: THE INVASION OF NORTH AFRICA 224
XI. NORTH AFRICAN INTERLUDE ••••• 250
XII. OPERATION HUSKY: THE INVASION OF SICILY 269
XIII. THE SICILIAN-ENGLISH INTERMISSION. 304
XIV. A BACKWARD GLANCE • • • • • 337
. . . . . . . ....
345
BIBLIOGRAPHY •. , ...
vii
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Figure Page
1. An Armored Division, 1940 •• 72
2. The Tennessee Maneuvers, 1941 128
3. The Louisiana Maneuvers, 1941 • 150
4. The Carolina Maneuvers, 1941 179
5. An Armored Division, 1942 200
6. North Africa, 1942 251
7. Sicily, 1943 ...•
270
viii
CHAPTER I
A FOREWORD VIEW
A former chief of staff of the 2d Armored Division once commented
that the only thing more difficult than fighting a war was attempting to
write about it. Perhaps that comparison could be taken one step further
to say that the only thing more difficult than writing about a war is
attempting to write about one unit in that conflict.
The American Tank Corps came into existence during World War I
because of the stalemated situation in Europe. The armies had battled
for almost two years with little change in the territory gained or lost.
The tank was the technological answer to restore movement to the battle
field. Once the war ended the Tank Corps returned to the United States
and for a moment it appeared that it was to become a separate branch
of the service. Unfortunately, Congress agreed with General of the
Armies John J. Pershing that the tanks had been an infantry support
weapon and should remain with that branch.
With the assignment of the tanks to the infantry, Congress became
the·author of a conflict which was to dominate military thinking for the
following two decades. One group of officers wanted to use the tanks
as cavalry, while the other group wanted to maintain the tanks in their
traditional infantry support role. Inability to compromise the issue,
together with branch jealousies, forced the Chiefs of Infantry and
Cavalry to assume dogmatic positions which only served to slow the
1