Recent History
On 6 September 1961, with the heightening of the tensions due to the Berlin Crisis, the 32nd Infantry Division of the Wisconsin National Guard was alerted to an impending call-up. Commanding officer Major General Herbert A. Smith was notified a few days later that the Division was to report on 15 October 1961 to Fort Lewis, Washington for active duty. This was exactly 21 years after their activation date for World War II, at which time then Lt. Col. Herbert A. Smith had been commander of the 2nd Battalion, 128th Infantry. The unit served until August 1962 at Fort Lewis, Washington, and was assigned to the Strategic Army Command. The Division began training as replacements for the 4th Infantry and the 2nd Armored Divisions at Fort Lewis, Washington, and Fort Hood, Texas, in case they were deployed overseas as reinforcements for the Seventh Army in Germany. They returned to Wisconsin without being deployed overseas.
The 32nd Division (as were all U.S. infantry divisions at the time) was organized in a Pentomic Division, composed of five line (rifle) companies, a combat support company, and a Headquarters company. From 1940 until 1959, divisions had contained three regiments. This divisional structure was found unwieldy and was eliminated in 1963.
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