Volume 11 , Issue 48

The Army In WWII: Thunderbirds

Roy and Pug say, "? the 45th Division, made up largely of men from Oklahoma and West Texas. ? The men of Oklahoma were drawling and soft-spoken. They were not smart-alecks. Something of the purity of the soil seemed to be in them. Even their cussing was simpler and more profound than the torrential obscenities of eastern city men. An Oklahoman of the plains was straight and direct. He was slow to criticize and hard to anger, but once he was convinced of the wrong of something, brother, watch out."

The quiet men of the 45th, the newest division over here, have already fought so well they have drawn the high praise of the commanding general of the corps of which the division is a part. During WWII, The 45th division was relieved by the 3rd Division on the last day of July, after 22 days of hard and constant fighting. Then Came a brief breathing spell for rest and rehabilitation, repair and cleaning of the guns and vehicles and equipment. The Division would reorganize and receive replacements of its weapons and material in an assembly area near the city of Cefalu.

Following World War I, the National Defense Act of 1920 created the authority to form the 45th Infantry Division from the four states of Oklahoma, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico. The division was organized in 1923, and Oklahoma members camped together for the first time at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, in 1924.

In the period pre-dating World War II, the division was called upon to maintain order in times of disasters and keep peace during periods of political unrest. Governor John C. Walton used the Guard to prevent the Legislature from meeting when they were preparing to impeach him in 1923. Governor William H. Murray?s calls to duty included the enforcement of closing of banks and keeping open a free bridge on the Red River, in spite of a federal court order that it not be opened.

In September of 1940 the division was ordered into federal service for one year to engage in a training program. The division?s time in federal service began at Ft. Sill, and at the end of the first year they had participated in the Louisiana Maneuvers. By the end of the year the world situation had worsened, and the Thunderbirds continued their training and prepared for war.

The Thunderbirds trained at Fort Sill, OK; Camp Barkeley, TX; Fort Devens, MA; Pine Camp, NY; and Camp Pickett, VA. They had trained hard for their part in World War II, and on July 10, 1943 the division participated in their first of four amphibious landings. In all the division served 511 days in combat; fighting their way across Sicily, Italy, France, and Germany. The National Guard Division of the southwest became highly regarded by both regular army forces and the enemy for their valiant efforts and fighting abilities.

The 45th Infantry Division served with General George S. Patton?s U.S. 7th Army during the Sicilian campaign, and when the fighting was done, the commander had this to say about the division, "Your division is one of the best, if not the best division in the history of American arms.? -- The Army In WWII: Thunderbirds

45hdivisionmuseum.com is located at: 2145 N.E. 36th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73111, The Museum is just East of Marting Luther King Avenue on N.E. 36th street, South of Remington Park, Omniplex, and the Oklahoma City Zoo.
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