By Maj. William Carraway
Historian, Georgia Army National Guard
In August 1955, the units of the 48th Infantry Division completed annual training maneuvers at Camp Stewart, Ga. and Fort McClellan, Ala. The next month, the National Guard Bureau approved a radical redesign of the primary combat unit of the Georgia Army National Guard. On October 17, 1955, the National Guard Bureau officially ordered the reorganization of the 48th Infantry Division as the 48th Armor Division effective November 1, 1955.[1]
Brief History of
the 48th Infantry Division[2]
The 48th Infantry Division was constituted July 3, 1946.[3] At the time, the units of the 48th ID were split between Georgia and Florida, with two thirds of the division’s troops in Georgia. Maj. Gen. Henry D. Russell, former commander of the 30th Infantry Division, was appointed commander of the 48th ID when the division was constituted.
The establishment of the 48th ID saw
the return of decorated World War II units to the Georgia National Guard. The 121st
and 122nd Infantry Regiments were incorporated into the division and the 118th
Field Artillery played a key role in Division Artillery along with the 230th
and 179th FA Battalions who, like the 118th had served in
the European Theater during World War II.
Russell commanded the 48th ID from
1947 to March 1951 whereupon Maj. Gen. Joseph Hutchinson of the Florida National
Guard assumed command of the division. Hutchinson presided over the first
division annual training event at Fort McClellan, Ala. He retired in 1952 and command
was passed to Maj. Gen. Joseph Fraser.
The Fraser Era
Fraser enlisted as a private in The
Liberty Independent Troop in 1915 at the age of 19. He would remain in the military
for 38 years. During World War I, Fraser, then an artillery officer, served
with the 129th Field Artillery Regiment alongside future president Harry S.
Truman. Returning from France, Fraser rose through the ranks and in 1936 was
placed in command of the 108th Cavalry Regiment. At the time, Fraser was the
youngest regimental commander in the U.S. Army.
In 1941, Fraser commanded the 101st
Coast Artillery Battalion comprised of former elements of the 108th Cavalry.
Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the 101st CA was sent to Australia, then
Papua New Guinea where, as the first U.S. combat troops on the island, they defended
Port Moresby against relentless Japanese bombing raids. Transitioning to the
European Theater, Fraser commanded the 23rd AAA Group.
Returning from the war, Fraser assumed
command of the 108th AAA and was promoted to brigadier general. During the
Korean War, Fraser, and two battalions of the 108th AAA mobilized to Chicago
with the mission of providing antiaircraft defense. At the conclusion of the Chicago
mobilization, Fraser was given command of the 48th ID taking charge of the division in May 1952.
Within two weeks, Warner Robbins
was struck by a tornado that killed 18 and injured 300. Once again, within 24
hours, Macon Soldiers of the 121st Infantry Regiment and the heavy
mortar company from Perry, Ga. were onsite assisting with recovery operations.
Transition to
Armor
Fraser guided the 48th ID through its
transition to an armored division in 1955. Under Maj. Gen. Fraser’s guidance,
nearly 100 Georgia Guard units were reorganized and redesignated. Prior to the
conversion, the 48th ID had an authorized strength of 9,803 officers and
enlisted. The 48th Armored Division would be authorized 7,727 officers and
enlisted, but the creation of a non-divisional Armored Combat Group would
provide slots for 2,911 personnel. This group, designated the 160th Armored
Group, would be commanded by Lt. Col. Wesley Willingham and comprise eight new
units. In addition to the establishment of the 160th Armored Group, the two
infantry regiments of the 48th ID were designated as combat commands. The 121st
Infantry was designated Combat Command B while the 122nd Infantry was
designated Combat Command C. The 124th Infantry Regiment, Florida
Army National Guard constituted Combat Command A under the command of Col.
Robert Harkness.[4]
New Commands, New
Commanders[5]
![]() |
Col. Roy Hogan, commanding, 121st Infantry Regiment in 1955. Georgia National Guard Archives |
Colonel Roy Hogan commanded the 3rd
Battalion 121st Infantry Regiment in World War II and received the Silver Star,
Bronze Star and Combat Infantry Badge during his service with the regiment.
Prior to his appointment as commander of Combat Command B, Hogan served as regimental
commander of the 121st Infantry Regiment. Combat Command B headquarters remained
in Macon, home of the 121st Infantry.
Colonel Edward Mackey, former
executive officer and commander of the 122nd Infantry Regiment was placed in
command of the Atlanta-based Combat Command C. Mackey enlisted as a private in
Company B, 122nd Infantry Regiment in 1929 and advanced to the rank
of master sergeant before commissioning as a 2nd Lt. in 1939. During World War
II, Mackey commanded Headquarters Company, 30th Infantry Division. As a member
of the 119th Infantry Regiment, Mackey served in the European Theater campaigns
from Normandy to Germany. He was awarded two Bronze Stars and the Combat
Infantry Badge for his service. After the war, Mackey rejoined the 122nd Infantry
Regiment.
Colonel Wesley Willingham assumed
command of the 160th Armored Group headquartered in Forsyth. Willingham
enlisted in the Georgia Guard’s 30th Tank Company in 1924. He commanded Company
A of the Georgia Guard’s 193rd Tank Battalion in 1940 and served as a tank
battalion commander during World War II. Returning from the war, Willingham was
promoted to colonel. He accepted a one-grade reduction to Lt. Col. In order to
serve as battalion commander of the 190th Tank Battalion. Upon assuming command
of the 160th Armored Group, Willingham was again promoted to colonel.
Equipping the
Division
In the intervening months between the conversion and the 48th Armored Division’s first annual training in 1956, units across the state received hundreds of M-41 Walker Bulldog light tanks and M-47 Patton medium tanks. Drivers, gunners, and vehicle commanders trained on new tanks, self-propelled howitzers and artillery pieces. In November 1955, curious attendees of the Coastal States Fair in Savannah could view the first M-7 tank-mounted 105 mm self-propelled howitzers assigned to the 118th Field Artillery and Division Artillery.[6] Massive self-propelled 155 mm howitzers would add additional firepower and range at a cost of $194,000 per howitzer.[7]
![]() |
M-41 Walker Bulldogs of the 48th Armor Division. Georgia National Guard Archives. |
Infantry of the former 121st and 122nd
Infantry Regiments adapted to their new mechanized role as armored infantry
battalions. They were joined by the 171st AIB and 144th AIB.[8]
By July 1956, the division’s
transition was complete. But more changes would follow. The division upgraded to
M-48 Patton heavy tanks in 1958.[9] In
1963, the division reorganized into a three-brigade structure with all units belonging
to Georgia. The 121st Infantry expanded to four battalions and the 108th
Armored Regiment was composed of five battalions. The 748th Cavalry Squadron,
560th Engineer Battalion and 148th Aviation Battalion rounded out the division
while Division Artillery was composed of three battalions from the 118th Field
Artillery, and a battalion each from the 179th and 214th Field Artillery. For the
remainder of its existence, the 48th Armored Division conducted annual training
at Fort Stewart.
After months of conversion, training,
equipping and planning, Maj. Gen. Joe Fraser commanded the 48th AD’s
first annual training at Fort Stewart in July 1956. At the conclusion of AT, Fraser
retired with the rank of lieutenant general passing command to Maj. Gen.
Patrick Seawright, former commander of the 48th ID Artillery.[10]
Units of the 48th Armored Division,
October 17, 1955 with previous 48th ID designations
Headquarters Company, Combat Command C
– Atlanta – Formerly Headquarters, 122nd Inf Regt
48th Armored Signal Company – Atlanta
– 48th Signal Company
48th Military Police Company – Atlanta
– Service Company, 122nd Inf Regt
48th Replacement Company – Newly
created unit
48th Reconnaissance Battalion
![]() |
48th Recon Bn |
Company A – LaGrange – 48th Recon
Company
Company B – Newnan – Company C, 122nd
Inf Regt
Company C – Griffin – HQ Company, 48th
ID
Company D – Marietta – Tank Company,
122nd Inf Regt
Medical Detachment – newly created
unit
121st Armored Infantry Battalion
![]() |
121st AIB |
Headquarters Company – Albany – HHC
3-121st Inf Regt
Company A – Dawson – Company I, 121st
Inf Regt
Company B – Albany – Company B, 121st
Inf Regt
Company C – Thomasville – Company F,
121st Inf Regt
Company D – Bainbridge – Tank Company,
121st Inf Regt
Medical Detachment – newly created
unit
162nd Tank Battalion
![]() |
162nd Tank Bn |
Headquarters and Service Company –
Macon – HHC 1-121st Inf Regt
Company A – Perry – Heavy Mortar
Company, 121st Inf Regt
Company B – Thomaston – Company K,
122nd Inf Regt
Company C – Macon – Company C, 121st
Inf Regt
Company D – Montezuma – Company B,
less Sep Det, 121st Inf Regt
Separate Detachment, Company D –
Reynolds – Sep Det, Company B 121st Inf Regt
Medical Detachment – Macon – Separate
Detachment, Company B, 121st Inf Regt
163rd Tank Battalion
![]() |
163rd Tank Bn |
Headquarters and Service Company –
Calhoun – HHC 2-122nd Inf Regt
Company A – Rome – Company E, 122nd
Inf Regt
Company B – Cedartown – Company F,
122nd Inf Regt
Company C – Canton – Company G, 122nd
Inf Regt
Company D – Dalton – Company H, 122nd
Infantry Regt
Medical Detachment – Calhoun – Med
Det, 122nd Inf Regt
190th Tank Battalion
![]() |
190th Tank Bn |
HQ and Service Company –
Americus – Company C, 190th Tank Battalion
Company A – Hawkinsville – Company M,
121st Inf Regt
Company B – Fitzgerald – Company B,
190th Tank Battalion
Company C – Cordele – Company K, 121st
Inf Regt
Company D – Moultrie – Battery C,
250th AAA Battalion
Medical Detachment – newly created
unit
48th Armored Division Artillery
Headquarters and Headquarters Battery
– Savannah – HQ and HQ Battery, 48th ID Arty
Medical Detachment – Savannah – Med
Det, less 3 BN Dets, 48th Div Arty
179th Armored Field Artillery Battalion
![]() |
179th AFA Bn |
HQ and Service Battery –
Atlanta – HHB and Service Battery, 179th FA
Battery A – Atlanta – Battery A, 179th
FA
Battery B – Atlanta - Battery B, 179th
FA
Battery C – Atlanta – Battery C, 179th
FA
Medical Detachment – Atlanta – Med
Det, 179th FA
118th Armored Field Artillery Battalion
![]() |
118th AFA Bn |
Headquarters and Service Battery –
Savannah – Headquarters and Service Battery, 118th FA
Battery A – Savannah – Battery A,
118th FA
Battery B – Savannah – Battery B,
118th FA
Battery C – Savannah – Battery C,
118th FA
230th Armored Field Artillery Battalion
![]() |
230th AFA Bn |
Headquarters and Service Battery –
Savannah – HQ and Service Battery, 230th FA
Battery A – Savannah – Battery A,
230th FA
Battery B – Savannah – Battery B,
230th FA
Battery C – Springfield – 48th MP
Company
560th Armored Engineer Battalion
![]() |
560th En Bn |
Headquarters and Service Company –
Columbus – HHC, 560th Eng Bn
Company A – Columbus – Company A,
560th Eng Bn
Company B – newly created unit
Company C – Reidsville – Company C,
560th Eng Bn
Company D – Columbus – Company D,
560th Eng Bn
Company E (Bridge) newly created unit
Medical Detachment – Columbus – Med
Det, 560th Eng Bn
122nd Armored Infantry Battalion
122nd AIB |
Headquarters and Service Company –
Atlanta – HHC, 122nd Inf Regt
Company A – Atlanta – Company A, 122nd
Inf Regt
Company B – Atlanta – Company B, 122nd
Inf Regt
Company C – Gainesville – Company L,
122nd Inf Regt
Company D – Douglasville – Company D,
122nd Inf Regt
Medical Detachment – Atlanta – Medical
Company, less 3rd BN Platoons, 122nd Inf Regt
160th Armored Group (Non-Divisional)
Headquarters Company, 160th Armored
Group – newly
created unit
160th Tank Battalion (90 mm)
Headquarters and Service Company –
Dublin – HHC, 286th Infantry Battalion
Company A – Lyons – Company A, 286th
Infantry Battalion
Company B – Sandersville – Company B,
286th Infantry Battalion
Company C –Louisville – Company I,
122nd Inf Regt
Company D – Eastman – Company A, 190th
Tank Battalion
Medical Detachment – Dublin – Med Det,
190th Tank Battalion
161st Tank Battalion (120 mm)
HQ and Svc. Company –
Milledgeville- HHC, 3rd Bn 121st Inf Regt
Company A – Covington – Heavy Mortar
Company, 122nd Inf Regt
Company B – Forsyth – HHC, 190th Tank
Battalion
Company C – Eatonton – Company D,
190th Tank Battalion
Medical Detachment – Milledgeville –
Med Det 3-122nd Inf Regt
144th Armored Infantry Battalion
![]() |
144th AIB |
HQ and Svc. Company –
Brunswick – HHC 2-121 Inf Regt
Company A – Brunswick – Company H
121st Inf Regt
Company B – newly created unit
Company C – newly created unit
Company D – newly created unit
Medical Detachment – newly created
unit
171st Armored Infantry Battalion
Headquarters and Services Company –
Waycross – Company G 121st Inf Regt
Company A – Valdosta – Company E,
121st Inf Regt
Company B – Douglas – Company B, 560th
Eng Bn
Company C – newly created unit
Company D - newly created unit
Medical Detachment - newly created
unit
[1]
NG-AROTO 325.4 30 Sep 55 – Ga. National Guard Bureau, Washington DC, October
17, 1955.
[2] The
48th Armored Division Georgia Army National Guard, 1946-1965 Scrapbook.
Georgia National Guard PIO, Atlanta, 1965.
[3] The
48th Armored Division Georgia Army National Guard, 1946-1965 Scrapbook
provides July 3, 1946 as the date of activation for HHC, 48th ID. July
11, 1946 is given as the activation date in “Allotment of National Guard Ground
Force Units for the State of Georgia” War Department, Washington D.C. July 11,
1946 as amended August 8, 1946.
[4] “Sikes
to Speak at NG Banquet.” Tallahassee Democrat, December 18, 1955, 13.
[5] “Shift
to Armor Provides New Assignments and Promotions.” Georgia Guardsman, Oct.-
Dec. 1955, 15-16.
[6] Georgia
Guardsman, Oct.-Dec. 1955, 1.
[7] Georgia
Guardsman, May-June 1956, 1.
[8] “New
Armor Units,” Georgia Guardsman, Aug. – Sept. 1955, 14.
[9]“Newer
M-48 Tanks Replacing M-47s. 256 ‘Iron Monsters’ Authorized.” Georgia
Guardsman, March-April 1958, 1.
[10]
Scrapbook, 9.
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