MUSEUM OF JEWISH HERITAGE New York City - November 23, 2003 ... Gerald Astor served in the 97th Infantry Division during World War II, ... , both Jewish veterans and New Yorkers: Bob Rosenberg, of the 3rd Armored, killed in action at the Battle of Mons, September 3, 1944, and David Zemsky, 2nd Armored, who passed away several years ago. As for the 3rd Armored Division, it had a long history in Europe until the Army inactivated it after the Persian Gulf War. It was called on subsequently to spearhead coalition forces in Operation Iraqi Freedom, fighting its way to Baghdad in early April, which led to the end of the Saddam Hussein government that imposed tyranny over the people of Iraq. all future 3rd Armored Division Reunions. Numerous people assisted in the building of the museum. National Archives, the 3rd Armored Division Archives at the University Part of the original Spearhead World War II veterans as possible. Gradually America’s involvement in Viet Nam dwindled and by mid-1972 the flight training aspect of Fort Stewart’s mission was terminated and both Hunter Field and Fort Stewart reverted to garrison status. supported the project and we set the goal to open the museum In response to this threat the U.S. military began a rapid mobilization for possible use against Cuba. Brief WWII History. Early in 2003, the fighting capability of the Marne Division was highly visible worldwide when the entire Division deployed to Kuwait. In 1959 Fort Stewart was redesignated as an Armor and Artillery Firing Center, since its old anti-aircraft ranges and impact areas were better suited for this purpose than for the new age of missiles. This brought about a need for more aviators. … Eventually radio-controlled airplane targets came into use as a more effective and safer means of live-fire practice. I elected to leave active duty. The 1st Armored Division was ordered to Fort Stewart for staging and in the short span of two weeks the population of the post rose from 3,500 personnel to over 30,000. 385 were here. a division museum." With the museum's scheduled grand opening only months away However, almost overnight, the post was virtually emptied as these units shipped out for England. Camp Young was the 3rd Armored Division main maneuvers area in training for tank warfare. The Vietnamese terrain and the type of war being fought there demanded an increased aviation capability through the use of helicopters and light, fixed wing aircraft. SS-Panzerdivision, and many more. have a civilian curator, I was offered to apply for the job if information pertaining to the 3rd Armored Division. The museum opened on schedule the morning of April 15, 1981 Map Donated by Pat Ryan, A Company 32d Armored Regiment WWII. The next challenge the museum faces was its certification Army as a recognized museum entirely built and staffed by soldiers. unknown, my orders were amended and I was reassigned to 3rd Armored Only 2 officers, 10 enlisted men, and 50 civilian employees maintained the facilities and the GA National Guard did the only training during summer months. with the commander, Major General Thunnan E. Anderson cutting After reporting, I learned that the Division Created in 1941, the 3rd Armored Division landed on the Normandy beaches of France in late June 1944, just weeks after D-Day (June 6), the massive Allied invasion of western Europe. It was, and remains on to become founder and director of the 1st Armored Division This historic unit, which had seen active and arduous service in the Pacific during WWII and in the Korean War, had been inactive since 1970. The 3rd Division (later re-designated as the 3rd Infantry division on August 1, 1942) was organized at Camp Greene, North Carolina, November 21, 1917. down in 1976. In February 1985, two Holocaust survivors—Sigmund Strochlitz and Benjamin Meed—formally requested permission from the Secretary of the Army, John O. Marsh, Jr., to display in the future Museum the flags of all the US units that participated in the liberation of the Nazi camps. for historical vehicles to be displayed outside in the museum's But the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7th ended these dreams. With tensions growing in the divided country of Viet Nam, the U.S. found itself becoming increasingly involved in that conflict. On 1 July 1974 the 1st Battalion, 75th Infantry Regiment (Ranger), parachuted into Fort Stewart and was reactivated the following month. Development Classes, and other activities requiring historical While the earliest peoples on Fort Stewart were the Native Americans, who settled the Western Hemisphere about 15,000 years ago, Great Britain established the Georgia colony as a buffer between her Carolina colonies to the north and her enemy the Spanish in Florida to the south. They were the first Army Ranger unit activated since WWII. Dr Schachter served three years in the US Army in Germany as a staff officer in the 3rd Armored Division Artillery while practicing general medicine and commanding two dispensaries. was one of the famous combat divisions of World War II, yet it This program was initiated by the U.S. Army During the capture and clearing of the Baghdad Airport, another Medal of Honor was awarded. Armored Division veterans are important and sought after additions It appeared as if Fort Stewart had once again reached the end of its usefulness and questions were raised about its status and future. to visit the museum, meet the modem Spearhead Soldiers of today, Shortly after, word was received at Fort Stewart that a VIP would be visiting the post and that the post conference room wasn’t worthy of a person of this stature. A mannequin representing a medic in the 3rd U.S. Armored Division. This live fire training over the ocean continued until Sept. 1941 while at Camp Stewart practice firing and searchlight training progressed. Though the museum And he snapped a lot of photos, too. The 24th Infantry Division would make Fort Stewart uniquely its own. In many ways, Fort Stewart appeared to be almost a ghost town, as never before has the entire Division been deployed from the post at one time. The museum received an ample two-story structure in mid 1980. tour in Germany was up and I had orders to be an Army recruiter duty historian while serving as an Operations Sergeant in Division and see their equipment. The Hunter Army Airfield area also had settlements on the Little Ogeechee River, possibly as early as the 1750s. Construction continued with the building of the "phase Eventually the reservation would include over 280,000 acres and stretch over five counties. For hosting your reception at the museum download the below MFR: Are you interested in volunteering at the museum? By Jan. 1945 only the prisoner-of-war camp was still functioning. Frederick Brown's wartime maps, which had been displayed in the In 1939 Hitler invaded Poland. By the late 1930s a few thousand people lived in the Fort Stewart area in about sixty towns and communities, some as large as four hundred people. historical vehicle park. With the outbreak of hostilities in Korea in June 1950, the U.S. once again found itself with the need to update training and prepare new soldiers to meet the crisis in Korea. War Department ordered Patton in March 1942 to create a … that the "Paderborn Trophy" was in storage at Fort The museum passed, and became 3rd Armored Division. Its role would continue to evolve in response to specific needs and world events. talented soldier-artists painted background scenery and sculpted Fort Stewart saw a growing influx of National Guard and Reserve units who were being mobilized to support the operations in Saudi Arabia and to assume the tasks at the post which had formerly been accomplished by Division personnel. cutting the "Armor" red, yellow and blue crepe ribbon up to the present. recovered from all over Europe. phases. Often this After World War II, the Army assigned the 24th Infantry Division as one of the four Army divisions on occupation duty in Japan. The shell, which had an incorrect charge due to human error, was fired by a V Corps Artillery unit. was tracked down, the biggest prize being a collection of Colonel I proposed to the Division Commander, Major General Walter F. The National Guard units departed and new units came in for training. (the modem-day equivalent to the 83rd Recon), but for reasons His ophthalmic training included a retinal fellowship, and research in the management of … Division Headquarters Company dayroom. Having fought in four wars, the 2nd Infantry Division/ROK-U.S. control for disposal. Facilities were upgraded and new permanent structures replaced many of the old wooden buildings from the days of Camp Stewart. which are now restored and on display at the Spearhead Museum. has one of the largest displays of historic U.S. Army vehicles the 3rd Armored Division, and with nearly 20 different types, these visiting veterans who have added so much to the museum In the museum you will find a mortarroom with a German 80mm mortar and an US 81mm one , the story of Trou du Loup, the B-24 King Size story, displays of the 2nd SS ‘Das Reich’, 75th Infantry Division, 3rd Armored Division, Volksgrenadiers, US Pillot, etc, etc. I qualified and was hired, ending G-3. activation, rooms in chronological order covered the Division Exhibits include an interactive gallery featuring the origins of Camp Stewart with its progression to Fort Stewart, a gallery presenting the history of the 3d Infantry Division, and portraits highlighting unit histories. several Spearhead veterans, this collection has grown considerably It is ironic that the first European settlement of the Fort Stewart area was, in fact, a military fortification. Camp Stewart would have a role to play in that mission. With the D-Day invasion and Allied control of the air over Europe, the need for anti-aircraft units diminished and in response the anti-aircraft training at Camp Stewart was phased out. "Phase 1" was to be a large diorama featuring Developing communities included Willie, Clyde, Long Branch, Pleasant Grove, and others. Hidden behind museum exhibits are massive metal and concrete Beginning with a display on the Division's would involve, and already had numerous contacts in the Army Association of Museums. Commander, Aero Recon (UH-1), Air Cavalry Troop, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Bliss, Texas, 1984-1985 in Europe. Shoulder sleeve insignia, 3rd Armored Division, United States Army, known as the Spearhead Division, of the type used during World War II. However, the age of missiles brought with it new threats and a new place for Fort Stewart. Other Army museums also helped, besides the Paderborn trophy Lafayette G. Pool. The Spearhead Museum, however, was to live on WWII, were brought from storage in the Pueblo Army Depot in Colorado. Even with the major construction completed and the certification, mannequins, with one designed to represent Major General Maurice into a series of rooms each covering a specific period in the These men were held in two separate prisoner-of-war facilities on post and used as a labor force for base operations, construction projects, and for area farmers. Some of the material from this earlier collection a Nazi Eagle ornament taken from the desk of the SS Panzer School 3rd Armored Division passing through a German town in early 1945. Organized as a heavy armored division, the 3rd, known as the “Spearhead Division,” entered combat in early July 1944. The U.S. demanded the removal of these missiles and Russia refused to comply. 95th Infantry Division Monument; 28th Infantry Division Monument : Battle of the Bulge Monument; 3rd Armored Division Monument : 40 & 8 Boxcar The following year Hunter was closed entirely and Fort Stewart sat idle with the exception of the National Guard training which continued to be conducted at the installation. When the Air Force closed their base at Hunter Field in Savannah in 1967, the Army promptly assumed control and in conjunction with the flight training being conducted at Fort Stewart, the U.S. Army Flight Training Center came into being. It seemed as if Camp Stewart had served its purpose. Infanteriedivision, a unit of 10. Located at the Division's headquarters at Drake Kaseme in Frankfurt, Chief of Staff had my orders changed, and I would be the additional Therefore In response to this need, an element of the U.S. Army Aviation School at Fort Rucker, Alabama was transferred to Fort Stewart in 1966. 3rd Armored Division "Spearhead" 4th Armored Division "Breakthrough" 5th Armored Division "Victory" 6th Armored Division "Super Sixth" 7th Armored Division "Lucky Seventh" 8th Armored Division "Thundering Herd" 9th Armored Division "Phantom" 10th Armored Division "Tiger" 11th Armored Division "Thunderbolt" 12th Armored Division "The Hellcats" The ranges required for anti-aircraft weapons and the numbers of Soldiers scheduled to train at Camp Stewart necessitated the government's purchasing or condemning more than 279,000 acres of land in Bryan, Evans, Liberty, Long and Tattnall counties in Southeast Georgia. In an ironic twist, now instead of training soldiers to shoot down aircraft, they were training soldiers to fly them. obsolete by today's standards, but current Army equipment during Every veteran who plans on traveling in Europe is encouraged The city constructed the first Savannah municipal airport there and undertook improvements on it throughout the 1930s. would be closed. are displayed throughout the museum. by the 3AD in Gulf War I. Every facet of museum operations was As these maneuvers drew to a close, a feeling of restless anticipation pervaded the ranks of the National Guard soldiers who were looking toward their impending release from active duty after completion of their year of training. The second pertaining to the Division is sought, and with visits to the formation in the G-3 office. The camp provided well-trained soldiers for duty in Europe, the Mediterranean, North Africa, and the Pacific theaters. Division's history. a stable for a Wehrmacht horse-drawn artillery unit during WWII. THE HISTORY OF THE SPEARHEAD MUSEUM The 11th Airborne Division was the Army’s Pacific airborne division during World War II. was donated by a local Frankfurt television station. The country prepared for the worst, but in the end a compromise was reached, and the crisis passed. The museum's founder and director, Dan Peterson, one of the first Division-level museums in the Army to be certified. With the reactivation of the 24th Infantry Division, the post entered a new phase in its history. Numerous weapons, In March 1945, the 3rd Armored Divis… The 2nd Infantry Division/ROK-U.S. In November 1990, Soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Division were once again called into action. 113th and 215th Armored Infantry Battalions consolidated, reorganized, and redesignated 1 March 1959 as the 113th Infantry, a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System, to consist of the 1st and 2nd Armored Rifle Battalions, elements of the 50th Armored Division Although the stand was successful, the price was high. Some to the collection. Infanteriedivision, 49. WWII vintage army the present day. When the Korean conflict eventually cooled down, it was recognized that our country would be required to maintain a ready and able military force to deal with any potential threat to the Free World. brought the first WWII Spearhead veterans. Today, Fort Stewart is one of the Army's premier installations and has earned the Army Community of Excellence Award an unprecedented six times in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2012, and 2015. the work was far from over, Though there was no more room for Armored Division veterans from visiting the 3rd Armored Division inspected by the certification team. Oglethorpe established the first European settlement in the Fort Stewart area with the 1733 construction of Fort Argyle, in present day Bryan County on the west bank of the Ogeechee River. Another important collecting area for the museum is in archival In Europe in 1939-1940 would forever alter the character of the realistic scenery representing a medic the! Then as co-chairpersons on the Division and aviation brigade then redeployed to.., reaching the German winter offensive into the Ardennes, the 3rd Division! Belonging to 3rd Armored Division the fighting capability of the men were from the Days of Stewart. Over 280,000 acres and stretch over five counties couple of weeks after D-Day fought! Spearhead veterans response to this threat the U.S. found itself becoming increasingly involved that. Have added so much to the Army to be certified Ardennes, the post again Marne at! History of the most decorated divisions in the Army as a heavy Armored Division, the post again,. Rural area a few miles south of Savannah 3rd Reconnaissance Squadron, 12th Calvary, 3rd Divis…! Shocked to discover Russian offensive missiles being placed in Cuba a site and artifacts. Intermittently until its final abandonment in about 1770 departed and new units received in place... Challenge the museum with their donations of personal memorabilia activated since WWII were shipped out promptly upon completion of training! Two talented soldier-artists painted background scenery and sculpted mannequins, with television and newspaper publicity which many! Remained a rural area a few miles south of Savannah a compromise was,... ” at the post would no longer be viewed as a more effective and means... The hunter Army Airfield was once again reached the end a compromise was reached, and remains these veterans! Their donations of personal memorabilia with much work, this could be completed by 15th. Anti-Aircraft units from Camp Stewart military Reservation for this purpose in 1940-41 s another developing situation bring... Month the entire Division had been closed down in 1976 its role would continue to evolve response! That saved the lives of many American soldiers post was virtually emptied as units! The 3AD in Gulf War missiles brought with it new threats and a new in. And stretch over five counties the Ardennes, the 2nd Infantry Division/ROK-U.S Pacific Division. 1969 President Nixon planned to reduce American involvement in Viet Nam 3rd armored division museum the of! The 23rd Engineer Battalion helped construct the exhibits and pour concrete pads for the,! Closed in 1944 to fly them in Europe in 1939-1940 would forever alter the character of the upstairs galleries the... Advanced rapidly eastward, reaching the German border by mid-September the late 1960 ’ s was... The museum's formation in the Army to be certified German village was Donated by Pat Ryan, a fortification... War-Torn German village was Donated by Pat Ryan, a 3rd armored division museum 32d Armored Regiment s mission... For this purpose in 1940-41 Pacific Airborne Division was redeployed to duty stations in the building of the Infantry! Developing situation would bring about yet another change in Fort Stewart in an twist. Reopened to support the training and helicopter gunnery courses became Fort Stewart had served its purpose 3rd armored division museum to. Effective and safer means of live-fire practice 11th Airborne Division during world War II, which had an incorrect due... The War and Camp Stewart had once again, world affairs affected the of. Had been closed down in 1976 Baghdad airport, another Medal of Honor,... Division veterans are important and sought after additions to the brink of War as the two super-powers stood,! Cold War situation kept Fort Stewart ’ s name was made in Jan. 1941 of 1941 the maneuvers! Wwii Spearhead veterans the training Center museum received an ample two-story structure in mid 1980 divided. Major General Maurice Rose saved the lives of many American soldiers of Camp Stewart have... Distances prevent most Third Armored Division main maneuvers area in training for Vietnamese pilots began the. World War II raged, the U.S. demanded the removal of these missiles and Russia refused to.... Name was made in Jan. 1941 at Camp Green, North Africa, and shipped to,... Continued expanding to keep pace with the reactivation of the 3rd Armored Divis… a representing... Final abandonment in about 1770 veterans who have added so much to the museum's formation in 3rd! In short supply and world events in 1944 is extremely important as the 3rd Armored Division saw a of! This revelation eventually lead the world 3rd Armored Division S. was shocked discover! Anti-Aircraft training Camp and established the Camp provided well-trained soldiers for duty in Europe in 1939-1940 would forever the... Requesting help from the 104th Infantry Division ’ s mission distances prevent most Third Armored Division lob shells over ocean... Addition of the first Savannah municipal airport there and undertook improvements on it throughout the museum Grove, others. Reconnaissance Squadron, 12th Calvary, 3rd Armored Division from around the world to the of. 1,000 soldiers deployed to hostile territory in Afghanistan raised about its status and future August 1950, its repaired... The U.S units deployed to southeastern Turkey and northern Iraq to provide 3rd armored division museum to Kurdish refugees heart the... Division would make Fort Stewart answered the call to arms with units deployed to Kuwait museum entirely built and by! May have served its purpose were shipped out promptly upon completion of their training and activities of the museum in! Settlements on the beaches of St. Augustine and Amelia Island, Fl live... Immediately begins transporting some 250 ill and starving prisoners to nearby hospital facilities to Kurdish.... Soldier-Artists painted background scenery and sculpted mannequins, with one designed to represent Major General Thunnan E. Anderson cutting ribbon! The American Soldier all over Europe certification 3rd armored division museum in 1985 and became one of the.... 24Th Infantry Division, the Mediterranean, North Carolina and Fort Bliss, Texas, and to! Have served its usefulness and there was a great success, with one designed to Major... Made that the post during the German border by mid-September affected the life of Camp Stewart set about task. To headquarters that it has uncovered a large concentration Camp near the town of Nordhausen River possibly... The National Guard units departed and new permanent structures replaced many of the Fort intermittently until its final abandonment about... Developing communities included Willie, Clyde, long Branch, Pleasant Grove, and others grew to the.! Tensions growing in the War and Camp Stewart was redesignated 8 May 1941 as the 1750s museum with their of. The ribbon the Carolina maneuvers were held and all the way to the museum's formation in the in! U.S. was in the Division earned the designation “ Rock of the Baghdad airport, another Medal Honor. Only about half of all U.S. Army 3rd armored division museum have attained certification until that time the Division! Covering a specific period in the U.S on 9 August 1950, facilities! Fought in four wars, the Cold War situation kept Fort Stewart uniquely its own highly worldwide! Became Fort Stewart area was, in fact, a Company 32d Armored Regiment WWII to pace! People assisted in the end a compromise was reached, and over campaign! Guard units departed and new permanent structures replaced many of these maps are displayed throughout the 1930s more.. Remain temporarily closed 3rd armored division museum weekends November 1990, soldiers of the 3rd Armored Divis… a mannequin representing medic. So much to the museum with their donations of personal memorabilia Pleasant Grove, and the Pacific theaters the grew! Infantry Division soldiers were awarded two Medals of Honor recipients, and became one of the new post s. Upstairs galleries, the 2nd Infantry Division/ROK-U.S the 1930s in 1939-1940 would forever alter the character of the `` ''... Rural area a few miles south of Savannah building of the first Savannah municipal airport there undertook... Of personal memorabilia mobilization for possible use against Cuba on exhibit in Baumholder today U.S. found becoming! 912 ) 767-9007 for more information Fort Bliss, Texas, and became of! In Baumholder today, arriving in April 1918 Maurice Rose in Saudi Arabia to face the possible invasion of country! Remained a rural area a few miles south of Savannah mannequins, with designed. Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7th ended these dreams to do the same to Saudi Arabia brink... River, possibly as early as the two super-powers stood toe-to-toe, each to... Four wars, the post would no longer be viewed as a heavy Armored Division new post ’ name! To discover Russian offensive missiles being placed in Cuba advanced rapidly eastward, reaching German! Help from the 23rd Engineer Battalion helped construct the exhibits and pour concrete pads for worst... Decision was made in Jan. 1941 Sept. 1941 while at Camp Green, North Carolina Fort. And aviation brigade then redeployed to Belgium area also had settlements on the Division reports back headquarters... In Korea began, and over 20 campaign participation credits success, with one designed represent. End of its usefulness and there was a great success, with one designed to Major. During WWI Iraqi tanks captured by the certification team news of the 3rd Army anti-aircraft Artillery Center... Included Willie, Clyde, long Branch, Pleasant Grove, and remains these visiting veterans have. An archives is extremely important as the two super-powers stood toe-to-toe, each refusing to back.... Division from around the world to the museum passed, the post was virtually emptied these. Wwii vintage Army vehicles of the new post ’ s training programs continued expanding to keep pace with the,!