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The 50th Anniversary of the activation of the 3rd Armored
Division was celebrated with pomp and circumstance on April 13,
1991 at a ceremony held at Camp Beauregard, Louisiana, initiated
by Major General Ansel M. Stroud, Jr., Louisiana Adjutant General,
who in his introduction outlined the duties of the citizen soldier.
Command Sergeant Major Joe T. Hill of the current Spearhead
Division delineated the action of the division in the attack
on the Republican Guard in Iraq, resulting in excess of 300 tank
and vehicular losses to the enemy.
Representing the Third Armored Division Association were Shelton
Picard of TF Lovelady, Tom Bell representing TF Hogan, they being
past and present Presidents of the Deep South Chapter, and Haynes
W. Dugan, the Association historian, who on behalf of the Association
presented a portrait of Lt. Gen. Alvan C. Gillem, Jr., our first
commander, and a copy of our wartime history to the post.
Central to the ceremony was the dedication of a plaque mounted
on a stone monument commemorating the event, read by Bob Courtney,
master of ceremonies, dedicated to the Spearhead Division and
"its courageous men who earned the name of SPEARHEAD and
laid the foundation for lasting peace in Europe."
Spirited marches played by the 156th Army Band of Bossier
City, LA, added to the festivities and the invocation and benediction
rendered by Chaplain (Colonel) Hildebrandt. Colors were posted
and retired by the Region VI NGB ACDY.
Special thanks are due Col. James K. Corley, Chief of Staff
to MG Stroud and LTC William R. Hilborn of Camp Beauregard and
his secretary, Jan, for their work in coordinating the affair
and for the reception following.
Also representing the active division and present were 2nd
Lt. Alice LeDoux of the Public Affairs Office in Frankfurt, Germany,
and two soldiers of the Persian Gulf War - Corporal Jeffrey Rice,
on compassionate leave to see his wife, suffering from complications
following childbirth, and Specialist Gary West, suffering from
partial hearing loss and wounds in his right arm.
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