Miscellany
AIRBORNE CARTOONS
A Brief History of Military Vehicles
UNITED STATES ARMY CHAIN OF COMMAND
The US Army is organized into Armies (3rd, 6th, 7th, etc.). Armies consist of subordinate units of Corps, Divisions, Regiments, Brigades, Battalions, Companies, Platoons and Squads. The larger units are organized into Command structures consisting of Commander, Chief of Staff (XO) and Command Staff responsible for various functions.
The basic building block of all Army organizations is the individual soldier. A small group of soldiers organized to maneuver and fire is called a squad. As elements of the Army's organizational structure become larger units, they contain more and more subordinate elements from combat arms, combat support and combat service support units.
A company is typically the smallest Army element to be given a designation and affiliation with higher headquarters at battalion and brigade level. This alphanumeric and branch designation causes an "element" to become a "unit."
Squad - 9 to 10 soldiers. Typically commanded by a sergeant or staff sergeant, a squad or section is the smallest element in the Army structure, and its size is dependent on its function.
Platoon - 16 to 44 soldiers. A platoon is led by a lieutenant with an NCO as second in command, and consists of two to four squads or sections.
Company - 62 to 190 soldiers. Three to five platoons form a company, which is commanded by a captain with a first sergeant as the commander's principle NCO assistant. An artillery unit of equivalent size is called a battery, and a comparable armored or air cavalry unit is called a troop.
Battalion - 300 to 1,000 soldiers. Four to six companies make up a battalion, which is normally commanded by a lieutenant colonel with a command sergeant major as principle NCO assistant. A battalion is capable of independent operations of limited duration and scope. An armored or air cavalry unit of equivalent size is called a squadron.
Brigade - 3,000 to 5,000 solders. A brigade headquarters commands the tactical operation of two to five organic or attached combat battalions. Normally commanded by a colonel with a command sergeant major as senior NCO, brigades are employed on independent or semi-independent operations. Armored cavalry, ranger and special forces units this size are categorized as regiments or groups.
Division - 10,000 to 15,000 soldiers. Usually consisting of three brigade-sized elements and commanded by a major general, divisions are numbered and assigned missions based on their structures. The division performs major tactical operations for the corps and can conduct sustained battles and engagements.
Corps - 20,000 to 45,000 soldiers. Two to five divisions constitute a corps, which is typically commanded by a lieutenant general. As the deployable level of command required to synchronize and sustain combat operations, the corps provides the framework for multi-national operations.
Army - 50,000 + soldiers. Typically commanded by a lieutenant general or higher, an army combines two or more corps. A theater army is the ranking Army component in a unified command, and it has operational and support responsibilities that are assigned by the theater commander in chief. The commander in chief and theater army commander may order formation of a field army to direct operations of assigned corps and divisions. An army group plans and directs campaigns in a theater, and is composed of two or more field armies under a designated commander. The Army has not employed army groups since World War II.
Command Staff Designations: 1-Personnel, 2-Intelligence, 3-Operations, 4-Logistics, 5-Civil/Military Operations, 6-Signals (communications, etc.)
"G" designations identify the officer (and corresponding staff) is at the Corps or Division level. "S" designations indicate Regiment, Brigade or Battalion level function. Therefore An S2 would be the staff officer responsible for all intelligence activities in either a Regiment, Brigade or Battalion unit. His counterpart at Division or Corps would be designated G4.
Above Information Derived from DA Pamphlet 10-1
There is no set size (number of troops) assigned to any specific element. The size of an element of command depends primarily upon the type of unit and mission. For example, an aviation company would have a different number of troops assigned than an infantry company because it has a different mission, different equipment, and therefore different requirements.
Note: The usual structure is battalion -> brigade -> division, with battalions organized into regiments as the exception. An example of this exception would be cavalry regiments. Calvary is unique in that battalions are called "squadrons" and companies are called "troops."
However, most battalions that are actually part of brigades still have a regimental affiliation, such as 1/34 IN Rgt. 1st Battalion of the 34th. This affiliation is pretty much just historical and symbolic these days. It has no real significance as far as the chain of command goes. For example, the infantry battalions of the 3d Brigade of the 2d Infantry Division are 1st Bn 23rd Infantry, 2d Bn 3d Infantry, and 5th Bn 20th Infantry. Each battalion is affiliated with a different regiment but part of the same brigade.
This goes back to the old days when the structure was battalion -> regiment -> brigade -> division. Up through the first part of the 20th century a division was made up of 2 brigades, each of which had 2 regiments. This was called a "square" division. During WW2, the U.S. Army transitioned to "triangular" divisions of 3 brigades each (most other armies had gone triangular during WW1). They did this by cutting out the regiment level, but since the regiment traditionally was thought of as a soldier's "home," battalions kept their regimental designation even though the regiments as functional units were no more.
ARMY PAYSCALE - 1947
As the men began returning home after the was ended, the Army and other services, lost headcount in droves. It was clear that a large majority preferred to return to civilian life. In order to persuade some of them to re-enlist, a new pay scale was devised that would entice some of them o stay in uniforms.
Essential Facts about the NEW Army Pay Scale
FOR ENLISTED MEN UNITED STATES ARMY RECRUITING SERVICE
NTRODUCTION
The attached "fact sheet" gives a detailed breakdown of the new higher pay benefits and other advantages provided for U. S. Army soldiers under the pay-increase bill recently passed by Congress.
Submitted for your information, this material supplements previous data on the same subjects which were distributed prior to the passage of the new pay measure.
Almost a million men have already volunteered for peacetime service in the Army during the current recruiting campaign, and it is expected that the new pay scale will further stimulate voluntary enlistments.
This Army recruiting program has now become of unusual public significance because of the current "draft holiday" which has been called by the War Department. ;
Pay of enlisted personnel raised The new pay bill passed by Congress provides substantial raises for all U. S. Army enlisted personnel, ranging from increases of $25 monthly for a private to $27 for a master sergeant. In addition to the immediate cash benefits, the bill also increases the retirement income of a peacetime enlisted man. Thus a soldier's "real income," when free services and facilities are considered, compares favorably with and often exceeds civilian pay scales.
Extra pay allowances for special duties are not affected by the bill. Soldiers continue to receive 20 percent above base pay for overseas service, and 50 percent additional pay for flying duty. Paratroopers also get $50 a month extra.
New scale and old
Ranging from 20 to 50 percent, the increases for enlisted grades are shown in the following table comparing the new and old monthly rate of base pay:
Master Sergeant orNewOldIncreaseFirst Sergeant $165.00$138.0020 percentTechnical Sergeant 135.00114.0019 percentStaff Sergeant 115.0096.0020 percentSergeant 100.00 78.0028 percentCorporal90.0066.0036 percentPrivate, First Class80.0054.00
48 percent
Private75.0050.0050 percent
Base pay is increased five percent for each three years of service. Thus, the master sergeant with 20 years service will get $214.50 monthly. He formerly received $179.40.
30-day furlough annually
Every soldier also is entitled to a 30-day vacation each year with full pay, plus a furlough ration allowance which averages about 70 cents a day. Passes for brief absences from his post are not applied against this annual furlough time.
Higher retirement benefits
Under the Armed Forces Voluntary Recruitment Act, a soldier can retire on half pay after 20 years' service. Or, as formerly, he can serve 30 years and retire on three-quarters pay.
This means that an untrained young man, enlisting at the age of 17, can leave the Army after 20 years of service — at the age of 37 —and if he has attained the noncommissioned officer grade of master sergeant, he will receive a monthly check of $107.25 for life, 20 percent more than under the former retirement pay schedule. After 30 years—at the age of 47—this master sergeant can retire at three-quarters pay, $185.63 a month, also an increase of 20 percent over the old figure.
Here's how the new monthly retirement rates work after 20 or 30 years' service:
Master Sergeant or20 Years30 YearsFirst Sergeant $107.25$1185.63Technical Sergeant 87.75151.88Staff Sergeant 74.75129.38Sergeant 65.00112.50Corporal58.50101.25Private, First Class52.9990.00Private48.7684.38
Other factors add to "real" income
In addition to base pay and extra pay for certain duties, there are many factors which make up a soldier's "real" income, which is considerably higher than his cash pay, because he gets free facilities and services that the civilian must pay for himself.
Free food, clothing, quarters, and medical and dental care represents large cash savings for a soldier each year. Purchases at post exchanges and commissaries are at prices below civilian scales. Sports, social and amusement facilities are available at a fraction of civilian cost.
The enlisted man's pay is not subject to Federal income tax. He gets National Service Life Insurance at reduced premiums and is entitled to free mailing privileges and special rates on common carriers for travel while on furlough or pass.
Value of soldier's maintenance In civilian life, the annual cost of medical and dental care ranks high in the family budget. The peacetime soldier receives this care free. It also is furnished to his dependents where facilities are available. U.S. Department of Labor figures released on December 9, 1945, show that the average city family in the $2,000 to $2,400 income bracket pays $104 a year for medical and dental expenses, while in the #2,500 to $3,500 income group the cot rises to $123.
The food bill also is a most important one in civilian life. In the Army, the same quality and quantity of food prepared and served to each man would cost $50 a month or more if obtained by any other way than through the facilities of the Army mess.
Other important savings to the soldier and his family can be
effected at post exchanges and commissaries where meat, butter, groceries, toilet articles, stationery, tobacco, clothing, gifts, and other articles can be purchased at prices under those charged through commercial sources.
The cost to the Army of clothing and shoes initially issued to an enlisted man, plus the cost of a year's replacements, furnished due to normal wear, averages $212, depending on his type of duty and location of his station.
At all Regular Army posts, and in many of the semi-permanent stations both here and overseas, such facilities as the following are available to soldiers and their dependents: service clubs, noncommissioned officer clubs, swimming pools, bowling alleys, tennis courts, baseball diamonds, motion picture theaters, and libraries. When any charge is made, the cost is only a fraction of what a civilian would pay.
More left over in soldier's pay There's another important factor in considering a soldier's income. Good pay is not just the money in the pay envelope — it's the money left at the end of the month after bills are paid and expenses met.
Department of Labor figures show the average annual wage during 1945 in American manufacturing industries, including durable and nondurable goods was $2,300. That's about $191 cash a month. But an Army private with his $75 cash base pay actually will have more money left at the end of the month than the civilian.
This comparative table illustrates the monthly expenses for the average unmarried civilian and an Army private:
EXPENSES Civilian Worker
Army Private
Lodging $30.00
$.00
Meals50.00.00Clothes15.00.00Medical, dental care5.00.00Insurance10.006.50Income Tax22.00.00Transportation 6.00.00Laundry, cigarettes, haircuts15.0010.00Incidentals 10.0010.00 -------------------- $163.00$26.50
Out of his $191 pay, the civilian has $28 remaining. The Army private has $48.50 left over from his $75 pay envelope.
But the soldier each month is also getting an unseen credit for his retirement at no cost to him. A civilian would have to pay about $1,000 a year for an annuity if he wished to retire after 20 years and receive a monthly income equivalent to that of an Army technical sergeant, $87.75. While a soldier's retirement pay moves up steadily as he advances in grade, at no extra cost to him, the civilian would have to add to his monthly premiums if he wanted to retire on $107.25 monthly, which the master sergeant gets at the end of 20 years.
The Army also encourages saving by making it possible for the •soldier to open a savings account with the Army Finance Department. The money deposited pays four per cent per annum.
College education an added value Over and above high annual real earnings, the Regular Army offers physically and mentally qualified soldiers a free college education after honorable discharge on a scholarship that is the equivalent of at least $5,120.
Under the G. I. Bill of Rights, a young man enlisting in the peacetime Army on or before October 5, 1946, is entitled to a period of education without cost to himself. A soldier joining for three years, for example, can obtain 48 months of free higher education at a college, trade or business school of his own choice. The Government pays $500 for an ordinary school year for tuition and other fees, plus $65 a month for living expenses—$90 if the soldier has dependents.
G. I. Bill of Rights also provides that the Government will pay for correspondence courses for soldiers while in the service and for veterans. In the service, a soldier may obtain training in more than 200 trades.
GINTJEE ARTWORK
Artwork Treasured By The Goudy Family
Tom Gintjee was a highly talented cartoonist and designed the original 508th Red Devil logo. He went on to produce many pieces of art for the regiment such as those used for seating or table placards at many reunions.
He also produced the "prayer" seen here which, as far as we know, is a one-of-a-kind and which was presented to Bill Goudy. Amongst the many details to be seen here is what may be the first and only rendition of the red devil logo as seen from the rear
Gintjee Christmas Card
This hand drawn 1992 Christmas card is a Gintjee classic with its timeless plea for word peace and some unique symbolism included in its motif.
Note the map coordinates bathed in the light of the Christmas Star that denote the location of Jerusalem . Note also the cross formed by the shadow of the knife thrust into the ground. Tom Gintjee was not only a great artist but a man with a clever mind.
Tom wrote on the card that we should "Once in A While Remember Gintjee".
We do, Tom, we certainly do.
