Smitty – Camp Polk and the Louisiana Maneuvers
It took 22 trains and one week to transport the proud and cocky division to Camp Polk in the west-central area of Louisiana. This was the home of the armored forces and it would not take long for the two units to clash. But first, they planned to enjoy the improved living conditions and the 3.2 beer. They found time to “hit the town” and often it was a place called “Scotty’s,” just outside of Southern Pines. The tank units did not take kindly to the finely tuned troopers who were in the best shape of their lives (and they knew it!). The 11th would often “unboot” the tankers when they were in town, forcing them to return to base barefoot and find their footwear neatly lined up in their barracks.
Beginning Jan. 10, the men underwent harsh training in preparation for the tests at the hands of the Third Army. The Louisiana Maneuvers began Feb. 5 with the troopers bivouacked near Hawthorne, LA. There were 4 tactical maneuvers lasting 3 days each. First, they jumped and marched immediately after. Then they attacked and defended using an attack sequence of “flags & umpires.” Finally, the “enemy” broke through and they would retreat. The weather in the Calcasieu Swamp was snow, hail, sleet and enough rain to swallow a jeep. The men joked that the camp should be a naval base. On Feb. 20, the 11th airborne division took and passed their infantry tests.
About this time, Gen. Swing was pleased to be told that the troopers were being sent to the Pacific and MacArthur would consider the unit his “secret weapon.” This turned out to be one reason for the lack of newspaper coverage for the division until they landed in the Philippines. I discovered this after an extensive search in the Australian library and newspaper archives.
Click on photos to enlarge.
The 11th was restricted to base for one month. Swing decided the men should travel to their POE (Port of Exit/Entry) Camp Stoneman, CA incognito as Shipment # 1855 in an effort to bypass the Inspector General’s men. Orders were to look and act as a “straight-leg” unit; ALL paratrooper I.D. and clothing to be stowed away.
News from home: The Banner (Broad Channel newspaper sent to servicemen) reports: NY Governor Dewey signed a bill that would allow fishermen of Jamaica Bay to shoot an unlimited amount of eels, but the shooting had to be done with bow and arrow. Smitty’s mom says: everyone is still trying to figure that one out.
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Fellow blogger, Carl D’Agostino at “i know i made you smile”, sent me his father’s pictures and information. Arthur D’Agostino had been with the 8th Armored Division. They were stationed at Camp Campbell, KY until 1943 when they were moved to Camp Polk, LA to prepare for combat. The division was sent to the European Theater on 5 December 1943, but Mr. D’Agostino was in recovery from surgery and was spared the journey. Carl’s blog can be found HERE.
Click on images to enlarge.
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Military Humor –
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Farewell Salutes –
Albert Behrendt – Olmsted, OH; US Army, WWII
Nick Casertano – NYC, NY; US Army, WWII, CBI, 457th Infantry Regiment
Charles Keating IV – San Diego, CA; US Navy, Iraq, Spec. Warfare Operator 1st Class, KIA
Elmer Lowry – Brandon, OR; US Army Air Corps, WWII, PTO, 188th/11th Airborne
Leon Martin – Reading, PA; USMC, WWII
William Newcomb – Needham, MA; US Army, WWII
Judith Rodrigues – Aiken, SC; US Army, WWII, Nurse Corps
Robert Sanford – Louisville, KY; US Navy, WWII
Charles Smith – Largo, AZ; US Army Air Corps, WWII, PTO, 11th Airborne
Phil Tillman – Mt. Vernon, TX; US Army, WWII, PTO, Field Artillery
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Posted on June 11, 2016, in First-hand Accounts, Home Front, SMITTY, WWII and tagged 1940's, Airborne, Army, Camp Polk, family history, History, Military, Military History, Tributes, WW2, WWII. Bookmark the permalink. 72 Comments.
We lived about an hour from Ft. Polk for a number of years. I didn’t get down there much, but always thought it’d be interesting to explore more of its wartime existence. I did get to old Camp Livingston on numerous occasions, and it was both fascinating and tragic to see how time and vandalism has taken such a toll on such a historic site.
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I’ve wondered how much, if anything was still lurking under Calcasieu Swamp from their maneuvers back then! It would be interesting to find out. Many troops after Smitty were there to train also, I’d think some items went to the bottom, eh?
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I’m sure!
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Thank you MR D’Agostino for your service too.
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Great entertaining post gp, your story bought the unit to life as well as the men and incidents on their relocation.
I think the eels and bow and arrows will forever remain a mystery to all.
Cheers.
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Haha, I know what you mean – whoever thought of hunting eels that way had no idea what an eel is!!!!
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I give up GP the T beneath the stripes? Only thing that comes to mind is ‘Tanks’
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Good guess, Beari. But it stands for Sergeant Technician Fourth Grade. Hope you enjoyed the post!!
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Always do GP mostly I’m fascinated by the depth of your posts.
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A renewed interest in WWII I think arose because today’s wars are so endless and no end or winner in sight. Being as so many descendants are looking for information on their ancestors, I try to locate as much specific information as possible on the units involved.
Unfortunately – I am missing far too much as well.
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You may be missing much but not nearly as much as anyone else.
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Probably because I’ve been doing it for a number of years. I thank you for the compliment and encouragement, Beari.
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Great post it was a fun read
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Thank you very, Mary Lou.
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We deployed to Ft. Polk for training and it SUCKED! Literally, the swamp sucked at everything, the mosquitos were the worst. We could not wait to get back to Hawaii. 😉
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Ah-ha, first-hand knowledge of the situation!! Thanks, Ed!
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I’m always fascinated by the symbiotic relationship be military bases and nearby towns.,
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That’s an excellent way to put the it, Sheryl. They both really do support each other, don’t they?!
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Reblogged this on KCJones.
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Thank you very much, Penny. When dad was alive, I tried to get him to have his letters, etc. published, but he scoffed at the idea that anyone would be interested. I hope he’s seeing the reaction here these days!!!
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Thank you ich wünsche dir einen schönen Sunday Interessanter Beitrag wieder lieber Gruß und Umarmung Gislinde
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Ich wünsche Ihnen das gleiche, Gislinde.
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I’ve heard of bootlegging, but boot de-legging? 🙂
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What can I say – the antics of the males species.
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Another very interesting story. Thank you! -Jennie-
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Thank you, Jennie, glad you liked it.
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I did, and you are welcome.
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Enjoyed the “unboot” story. Boys will be boys.
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Isn’t that the truth, Bev!!
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You know times are tough when you enjoy 3.2 beer.
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Whoa, I was beginning to think I was the only one old enough around here to remember the term 3.2 beer! And yes – I agree!!!
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Another interesting read by an outstanding blogger. Actually, this was a fun read. Will you be writing about how they did in the Pacific? Am also curious. Have you written about Fort Benning in Columbus Georgia before and during World War II? cMy Dad did his boot there. We live an hour and 15 minutes away from there. He never told us where his Boot actually was only that there was a town off limits for everyone across the river (It still is). After visiting aWWII barrack at their museum I figured it out.
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I’ll be following the Smitty (Dad) and the 11th Airborne as they train enter the war. I’m afraid I did not do anything on Fort Benning. As it was your father who was there, perhaps that should be a job for yourself? I love reading posts like that on other blogs.
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I don’t know enough about it other than what I learned at the museum. They told us that Patton commanded Ft. Benning before WWII and actually had tanks go over to that town threatening to blow up the jail house unless his men were released from jail.
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Haha, I believe it. Only a commander can harass his men – no one else!!
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I am thinking the guys probably went through the toll to check out the toll booth staff! As for the boot caper, I can see why the tank guys might be just a little irritated. I’d be tempted to see how well the 11th’s tents stood up when being driven over by a tank. 🙂 –Curt
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Good one, Curt! As I told John, I never heard of any repercussions, but I KNOW something had to happen!
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You bet. Guys with big machines don’t like to be bested. 🙂
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Interesting story. There must have been a few bruises as a result of the unboot process.
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Not that I ever heard of, but you KNOW something must have come out it!! Thanks for the visit, John.
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Ha ha ha. 🙂
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Great stories!
My oldest brother was at Ft. Polk in LA before going to Vietnam. I was just a little girl, but I think it was called Fort Polk when he was there. He was at Ft. Bliss for basic training…in El Paso, TX…not sure it was blissful there. 😉
We went to visit him when he was there. I remember that road trip. 🙂
It was the first time he (a boy from the West) saw an armadillo. 🙂
HUGS!!! 🙂
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Thanks for the first hand story of Camp Polk. If your brother is still with us, please shake his hand for me.
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He is still with us! A great man…one of my heroes. He has kids and grandkids. And is still an amazing big brother to me. 🙂
I will!
Thanks, GP! 🙂
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GREAT to hear!!
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I really enjoy the Smitty stories. I identify with them so much.
A paratrooper is a paratrooper be it the 40’s or the 50.
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So true, Don! And the USMC think they have a brotherhood?!
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Mr D’Agostino isn’t showing too many of his 90 years. I hope I look as good if I get that far!
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I already look worse, but best of luck to you, John!!
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Very interesting and agree a long walk back without shoes. Smiling at the humor section with the toll..lol.
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Glad you liked it!!
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Fascinating. I love how clever we are when that line in the sand is crossed.
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Ah-ha, and I knew never to draw to that line with dad!!
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This was a fascinating post. I enjoyed seeing the pictures and learning more about the war in the Pacific.
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I’m glad to hear it is interesting for you, Lori, because that’s about all this site is about. I hope I’ll continue to hold your interest.
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This was a fun read. Boys will be boys, regardless of age. Love the idea of sending them back without their boots.
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This sounds like my father too. He had a dry, ingenious sort of sense of humor. He could go to great efforts to be subtle. 🙂
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That must have been quite an experience. I’m sweating, just thinking about summers, there.
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Very true, Adam, but it wouldn’t even come close to what was waiting for them in the Pacific.
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My prospective son-in-law likes to wind me up by sitting in my favourite chair, and leaving his mark on it. I tend to be in bed much earlier than him. One morning recently, I came down to find his, very clean, shoes on the seat. He came down later and found one in a waste paper basket. The other took him rather longer to seek out.
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Haha, I take it you don’t get mad – you get even – eh, Derrick?
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Absolutely, GP 🙂
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Always interesting to read about the rivalry between different units. I bet that was a long walk back, minus their boots!
Best wishes, Pete.
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Could you just picture the steam coming from those guys during the walk?!!!
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Wow, I think my dad spent time at Polk. Not jail time, but military time. 🙂 Not sure, but the name sounds part of my upbringing.
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More and likely, Peggy. LA was pretty much the center for “jungle warfare training.” If you remember more, give us the story, OK?
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Wish I could, but so much is so sketchy. Your mention of Polk was the trigger, but nothing else surfaces. Hope someone else has details.
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No problem. Someday something may occur to you; another trigger.
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I particularly enjoyed the Camp Polk humor. I was at what by then was called “Fort Polk” in 1968 and it looks like nothing had changed.
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Are you serious? I suppose the Army has something against change, eh?
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Thank you very much!
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