1952

Jan 4, 1952 - CAMP ATTERBURY and Public Housing Authority officials will meet in Chicago in the near future to make plans for starting work on 190 prefab houses at CAMP ATTERBURY.  The Department of Army announcement from Washington said that the prefab housing area could be "on or off the post as desired It left the decision as to whether the area would be on or off the post up to the Commanding General.

Jan 10, 1952 - Three Public Housing Administration officials visited CAMP ATTERBURY this week to look over sites for the construction of 190 emergency housing units.  The PHA officials, who came from Chicago, inspected four sites. Two of these sites now are under consideration and a decision on where the pre- I fabricated units will be built is expected to be made in the near future.  The two sites under consideration are:  1. An area on top of the hill near Atterbury's East Gate. This site which overlooks the Camp, is on the south side of Hospital Road. and 2. A 23-acre area in Block 8 extending approximately from the U. S. Army Hospital to an area near VI Corps. This area is bounded by Edinburg St. on the south, Harrison St. on the east, Division St. on the north and Quinny St., on the west.

Jan 13, 1952 - The deadly sycamore tree at the Road 31 curve at Taylorsville has claimed two more lives.  The tree has taken at least 13 lives over the past decade.

Jan 20, 1952 - Minnesota, Mining & Manufacturing Co., offers materials to reflectorize the large sycamore tree on US 31 near Taylorsville that has claimed many lives.  (Tree still there on abandoned portion of US 31, in 2003).

Jan 26, 1952 - Maj Gen Paul W. Kendall is made an Honorary Hoosier by Indiana Governor Henry F. Schricker.

Feb 1, 1952 - Maj. Gen. Paul W. Kendall became an Honorary Hoosier Jan. 26 at a banquet of the Indiana National Guard Association.  The following letter was presented o Gen. Kendall by Gov. Henry F. Schricker”.  General Paxton arrives to make plans for 31st Division to move to CAMP ATTERBURY.

Feb 2, 1952 - New York adopted the three-colored traffic lights.

Feb 8, 1952 - Elizabeth became Queen of England after her father, King George VI, died.

Feb 15, 1952 - Workers in CAMP ATTERBURY’s Salvage Yard built themselves this shed out of old ammunition boxes.  Using the empty crates like bricks saved the government $3,000.  --  By utilizing equipment left behind by the 28^th Division, CAMP ATTERBURY’s Signal Section is saving over $30,000 a year.  The wire, 144 miles of it, is being reclaimed, re-spliced and rewound for use as training wire for training units stationed here.  Ten miles of the wire is being salvaged and reconditioned daily for re-use.

Feb 29, 1952 - CAMP ATTERBURY’s outstanding fire safety record was marred this week when a fire, which broke out shortly before dawn Wednesday, damaged VI Corps Headquarters building.  Cause of the fire is under investigation, Army officials said, and an early estimate of the damage was placed at several thousand dollars.  --  The first pedestrian "Walk/Don't Walk" signs were installed at 44th Street and Broadway at Times Square.

March 7, 1952 - Fighting VI Corps Lt. Col. O. M. Barsanti Has DSC, Three Silver Stars, Six Purple Hearts.  The young battle-scarred Colonel (he’s only 34) is CAMP ATTERBURY’s most decorated officer.  In all, he has been awarded 44 decorations - most of them for heroism in combat. The include the Distinguished Service Cross, the nation’s second highest military award; three Silver Stars, America’s third highest award for bravery; eight Bronze Stars for valor, six Purple Hearts and many others.  In Korea, he was the Army’s youngest regimental commander.  He was also one of the first 12 Americans to arrive in Korea after the surprise North Korean invasion on June 25, 1950.

March 8, 1952 - A Cardinal reader asked the PIO staff what the initials A S stand for.  These initials are carved into a boulder in front of the Judge Advocate’s office on Division Street at Milroy.  The staff racked their brains and searched the CAMP ATTERBURY background and information file.  No answer could be found.  Can any of our readers tell us ?  Please phone PIO at 689 if you know the answer.  No prizes are offered, naturally.

April 11, 1952 - Mass Airlift Is Slated To Start At Dawn.  9,000 Men To Arrive At Atterbury Base !n Two-Day Period.  Final plans for the arrival of the Infantry Division, scheduled to be airlifted from Texas to Indiana early next week, have been completed.  The first plane-load of Dixie Division men is schedule to take off from San Angelo (Tex.) Air Force Base shortly before dawn Monday (Apr. 14) and to launch the around the-clock air movement of nearly 9,000 combat-dressed men.  Thirty buses will transport 31^st men from Atterbury Air Force Base, 10 miles south of here, to the camp.  CAMP ATTERBURY Military Police and Indiana State Police will work together to control traffic on highway US 31 between the air base and camp.

April 10, 1952 - A major change will occur in CAMP ATTERBURY’s administrative scene next week when Post Headquarters moves into the building formerly occupied by VI Corps (Bldg. 205), now being reconditioned after a fire last month.  Major James T. Coleman, assistant to Post G-1, announced that all sections now located in Bldg. 206 will be moved to their new quarters during the weekend of April 19-20.  The 306^th Transportation Truck Company will provide trucks for the operation.  The entire movement will be accomplished without interference to normal administrative operations.  All telephones will be transferred without change of numbers.  Looking back into Post history reveals that Bldg. 205 was originally built to house Post Headquarters.  However when VI Corps moved to CAMP ATTERBURY in February 1951, CAMP ATTERBURY’s administrative operations were moved into the old NCO Mess in Bldg. 206.

April 15, 1952 - President Harry Truman signed the official Japanese peace treaty.

April 17, 1952 - Atterbury Truck Unit Is Enroute To Flood Area.  CAMP ATTERBURY Transportation Truck unit raced toward St. Joseph. Mo., today to give assistance to civilians in that flood -threatened city.

April 21, 1952 - 31st Division arrives CAMP ATTERBURY from Texas Maneuvers.

May 2, 1952 - One-hundred and fifty members of the 31^st Infantry Division arrived at CAMP ATTERBURY early this week from Yucca Flats, Nev., where they participated in the recent Atom test.  The men, all members of Company B of the Dixie Division’s 167^th Infantry Regiment, took part in the atomic explosion along with some 2,000 other Army and Air Force personnel.  “The earth shook - and felt like it was going to fall apart,” was the comment of Sgt. Lawrence McDonald on the A-Bomb blast.  “But,” he added, “it was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen and I’ll never forget it.”   Lt. Lewis Leverett, the unit’s Commanding Officer, said that all of his men were happy to have taken part in the test.  We feel it was a privilege to have been there.  Not many people can say they were four miles from the heart of an A-Bomb blast,” he said.  The Dixie Division men, along with ground troops form four other Infantry Armored and Airborne divisions, were in trenches and were enveloped in the boiling dust.  Later, after radiological teams indicated the area was safe, the troops advanced directly across “ground zero”.  Members of Company B went through the explosion without suffering a casualty. 

May 6, 1952 - The first section of CAMP ATTERBURY's 190-unit public housing project will he completed and ready for occupancy in about two weeks, it was announced today.  The PHA said base rent for the two-bedroom houses will be $50 a month while soldiers living in three-bedroom units will pay $55 a month.  This rent does not include utilities, such as electricity, gas, and telephone. The PHA estimates that the total cost of living in a two-bedroom house will be about $70 a month while the three-bedroom units will run about $5 more each month.
All of the units will be equipped with the basic utilities. They include electric refrigerators, cooking ranges and hot water haters, oil space heater, shower, and kitchen sink.  In addition. a laundry building and a play area for children will be located in the center of the housing area.

May 14, 1952 - One of the largest displays of military equipment ever shown to Indiana civilians will highlight CAMP ATTERBURY's observance of Armed Forces Day, Saturday.  Elements of every unit stationed at CAMP ATTERBURY. with members of the 31st Infantry (Dixie) Division playing a leading role, will participate in the gala day-long Open House program which will 'Include displays, band music. free lemonade, and demonstrations of some of the Army's newest equipment.

May 31, 1952 -  31st Division, Co B, 167th Regiment witnesses Atomic Blast in Operation Tumbler Snapper, at Camp Desert Rock, Nevada.  Immediately after the blast the troops are ordered to walk thru the blast area.

June 5, 1952 - 1,000th baby born on the post since CAMP ATTERBURY was reactivated in 1950

June 6, 1952 - The most decorated hero of the Korean War has been assigned to CAMP ATTERBURY.  M/Sgt. Anthony Herbert, who wears 27 decorations for his actions in the Korean Conflict, arrived Wednesday for assignment with the 31^st Infantry (Dixie) Division.  Corporal Raymond D. King, a Korean War veteran from Sellersburg, Indiana was tagged the 20,000th patient  as he entered CAMP ATTERBURY's Hospital for surgical observation.  --  CAMP ATTERBURY’s U. S. Army Hospital this week admitted its 20,000^th patient since the start of the Korean War.  Corporal Raymond D. King, a Korean War veteran from Sellersburg, Indiana was tagged No. 20,000 as he entered the Hospital for surgical observation.  The 1,600-bed Hospital, which was known as Wakeman General Hospital during World War II, was reopened in September 1950, two months after war broke out in the Far East.  Less than one-tenth of the patients treated at the Atterbury Hospital have been battle causalities flown here from Korea.  The majority of those treated are soldiers stationed here or from other camps in this area.

June 19, 1952 - 31st Division Band from CAMP ATTERBURY presents concert at Atterbury AAF.   --  Army and Air Force cooks attending CAMP ATTERBURY's Food Service School learn how to prepare food scientifically "by the numbers."  A comprehensive eight-week course, in which a student learns every phase of cooking for large numbers of men, is held for Army personnel from the 13-state Fifth area and for Air Force men from bases throughout the U.S.

June 20, 1952 - CAMP ATTERBURY's housing picture brightened up considerably this week when Post Engineers announced that construction of a new 72 site trailer park will begin July 10th.  Lt. Henry E. Damon, construction operations officer, said that the new trailer court will be located south o f t h e present permanent park and is scheduled for completion within 90 days.  Upon completion of the newly announced permanent trailer park CAMP ATTERBURY will have on-post housing facilities for 315 families.

June 26, 1952 - a complicated gauge formerly used to correct  the front sights of 30 caliber carbines is now being done by the light-weight gauge developed by Evick, Stephen and Bob Lucas, of Seymour. Ind.  It corrects the sights 15 times faster than before.

June 27, 1952 - Camp G.I. Gets Highest Award:  WASHINGTON. June 27 (INS).  President Truman today presents the 19th and 20th Congressional Medal of Honor to be awarded heroes who have returned alive from Korea. One, Cpl. Ronald E. Rosser, of Crooksville. Ohio,  is a soldier now at CAMP ATTERBURY. Ind.  General Gay arrives at CAMP ATTERBURY to command 6th Corps.

July 25, 1952 - General receives Thank you letter from Mayor of Indianapolis. CAMP ATTERBURY Mine Detection Squad used to locate gun missing in field after a city police officer was gunned down.

July 27, 1952 - Several sightings of 'flying saucers' in the Columbus, Indiana area led the Air Force to set up a reporting station at Atterbury AFB.

July 30, 1952 - 31st Infantrymen to sport a new look. After Sept. 1st, they will wear distinctive blue scarf's, blue shoulder cords and blue patches under their unit insignia.

Aug 1952 - General Kendall leaves and Maj. Gen. Paxton assumes command of CAMP ATTERBURY

Aug 1, 1952 - 31st Division's 114th Engineers work to re-build 20 miles of CAMP ATTERBURY range roads

Aug 5, 1952 - BIG TIME newspaper to be published at Atterbury Army Air Base. A monthly magazine was formerly published at the air base, but it has been converted into a weekly format.

Aug 6, 1952 - The Dixie Division Band is being directed by a Hoosier. He is WOJG Dick Bragg, a native of Indianapolis. Mr. Bragg directs the band in about half of its performances, and CWO Daniel Miller from Union, S.C., the ranking member of the band officiates at the other half. -- Atterbury's 114th Engineer Battalion is rebuilding more than 20 miles of camp roads leading to the target ranges.

Aug 8, 1952 - 31st Division gets 1,000 draftees.  -- CAMP ATTERBURY's combined Army - Air Force Food school is scheduled to close soon. With the closing, only three will be left. Since it activation here in January 1951, the school has graduated 43 eight-week classes of cooks, 28 sixteen-week classes of meat cutters, for a grand total of more than 3,000 students. All equipment will be sent to Fort Sheridan.

Aug 9, 1952 - CAMP ATTERBURY's Education Center called "Indiana's Largest College".

Aug 13, 1952 - General Paxton denies charge that the venereal disease rate for the 31st division is double the national average.  -- The 900th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital returned from Camp Grayling where they supported the 38th Division.

Aug 14, 1952 - Civilian and Army health officials meet at CAMP ATTERBURY. Issue a joint statement that the VD rate of the 31st Division has seen a steady decline, matching that of Indianapolis and Indiana.

Aug 20, 1952 - The 102 piece DIXIE Division band leaves tomorrow morning for it's trip to New York and points east. The band will participate in the Grand Parade that kicks off the American Legion's National Convention next Tuesday. The Dixie musicians will also play at Gettysburg, Pa., scene of the Civil War battle on their way back to Indiana.

Aug 23, 1952 - Maj. Gen. Hobart R. Gay assumes command of VI Corps and CAMP ATTERBURY.  Gen. Gay is Camp's 14th Commander.  M/Sgt. Hubert L. Lee, who won the nation's highest military award for heroism in Korea, has been assigned to the 31st Infantry (Dixie) Division at CAMP ATTERBURY.  The battle-scarred Sgt., a native of Leland, Miss., is an instructor in the Dixie Division's Non-Commissioned Officer's School where it is his job to train the men who later will give basic training to young draftees

Sept 11, 1952 - Local Rotarians Guest at Camp Hospital. Col Doan, CO of the hospital told them that 24,570 patients had been admitted as of August 1st. Of those, 11,198 were medical and 11,263 were surgical cases. 23,326 tons of supplies have bee received at a cost of $4,000,000.  --  Harold R. Linville of Shelbyville has been appointed Chief of CAMP ATTERBURY's Management Division. His job is to improve the utilization of manpower at this base.   --  Pvt William T. Green of Winslow, Ind., was presented the Bronze Star for Heroism, by MG Gay, for his actions neat Tombstone Hill, Korea.

Sept 12, 1952 - Nearly 100 CAMP ATTERBURY children, who live in the camps new housing development ride 4 Army buses to schools in Edinburg each day.

Sept 15, 1952 - Reception held at Camp Sunday. Approximately 2,000 persons attended a reception Sunday for MG Hobart Gay and Mrs. Gay. The party was held in the Officer's Open Mess. Also attending were MG Alexander G. Paxton and Mrs. Paxton. The 31st Division band played.

Sept 19, 1952 - CAMP ATTERBURY's huge combined Army-Air Force Food Service School to close Sept. 19 and all personnel will move to Ft. Sheridan.  Since its opening in Jan 1951, it has graduated more than 3,000 students.

Sept 23, 1952 - Republican vice-presidential candidate Richard M. Nixon went on television to deliver what came to be known as the "Checkers" speech as he refuted allegations of improper campaign financing. Nixon denied that he maintained a private slush fund and all financial allegations except for the gift of a cocker spaniel dog named Checkers from a Texan who heard that his daughters wanted a puppy.

Oct 3, 1952 - Gen. Collins named new Dixie Division Commanding General.  Gen. Paxton will leave Atterbury about October 15.

Oct 16, 1952 - Rifle range at CAMP ATTERBURY named in honor of Major General Leslie Lee Evans.

Oct 17, 1952 - Maj. Gen. Collins takes command of 31st Division and CAMP ATTERBURY. 

Oct 18, 1952 - 10,000 troops line Hospital Road in CAMP ATTERBURY and loved General Paxton leaves.

Oct 31, 1952 - The United States exploded the first hydrogen bomb at Eniwetok Atoll in the Pacific.

Nov 1, 1952 - 87th Troop Carrier Wing at Atterbury AFB given name of "Airlifters"

Nov 4, 1952 - Dwight D. Eisenhower (Ike) was elected  the 34th president, defeating Democrat Adlai Stevenson in presidential elections.

Nov 19, 1952 - Dwight Eisenhower elected President.

Dec