General Headquarters Southwest Pacific Area Public Relations Office

PRESS RELEASE 31st Infantry (DIXIE) Division The 31st Inf Div is a National Guard outfit made up originally of men from the deep South - Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida - and although there have been many replacements, especially from the states of New York and Pennsylvania, most non-coms, unit commanders, and higher staff hail from somewhere below the Mason-Dixon line. The 31st was mustered into federal service in November 1940, and after a seemingly endless succession of Louisiana and Carolina maneuvers, left for overseas service in February of 1944, with about half of its Southern personnel intact.  The Division debarked at Oro Bay, British New Guinea, and four months later moved Northward - one Regimental Combat Team (124th) reinforcing Aitape where they experienced very heavy fighting along the Druinimor River, and the other two regiments (167 and 155) relieving units on the perimeter at Wakde-Sarmi, Dutch New Guinea, where the fighting was light. About two months later all units staged for the Morotai Island landing, which came off successfully on Sept 15.  They have maintained the perimeter defense and carried out patrol missions continuously since that date.  On November 15, a battalion combat team was sent to assault Mapia and Asia Islands where the Japs were manning stopper stations; the mission was successful.  Another BCT has been holding the base at Sansapor. The Commanding General:  Major General Clarence A. Martin (RA).  Led 128 Inf Regt (32nd Div) in Papuan Campaign at Buna, 1942-43; was Asst Div Commander 32nd Div, 1943-44, and Commander of Task Force in Saidor landing; was Asst C of S, G-4 and G-3, I Corps, in 1942.  Graduated 1917 Virginia Military Institute, served in France in WOrld War I, as rifle company commander; served in Philippines during peacetime.  His decorations: Silver Star w/Oak Leaf Cluster, France and New Guinea; DSC, New Guinea; Distinguished Service Order (British), New Guinea; Legion of Merit, New Guinea.  He assumed command 31st Division 25 Sept 1944, 10 days after Morotai landing.  Promoted to Major General on 10 November 1944.  Wife: Mrs. T. Johnson Martin, Columbia, S. Carolina; only son, 2nd Lt Clarence A., Jr., 20, now serves with rifle company of 24th Inf Div. The Asst Div Commander:  Brig General Joseph C. Hutchinson, a National Guard officer.  OVerseas eight months during World War I.  Promoted to Brig Gen at time of induction into federal service with 31st Division in Nov 1940.  AB degree, Wofford College, Spartanburg, So. Car.; is president of J. C. Hutchinson & Co. of Sanford, Fla., and Newark, N.Y., carlot distributors of fruits and vegetables.  Wife: Mrs. J. C. Hutcinson, Sanford, Fla. The Infantry Regiments 167th Infantry (Alabama):  Some companies organized as early as 1836; participated Civil War; stationed Mexican Border in 1916; returned to Alabama and sent to France with 42nd (Rainbow) Division where it was part of MacArthur's Brigade.  Authorized streamers: World War I - Chamgagne-Marne, Aisne-Marne, Mouse-Argonne, St. M ???, Lorraine, Champagne.  Carried entrenched Croix Rouge Farm below Fere de Tardenois in the Soisson Offensive July 1918.  Commanded by Lt Col Leon L. Mathews, 1304 Fulton Ave., Birmingham, Ala., who led assault on Mapia and Asia Islands in November 1944.  1st Bn, Major James N. Brown, 227 Devon Drive, Birmingham; 2nd Bn, Major Abbot B. Walton, Sayre, Ala., 3rd Bn, Major James E. Barber, 114 E. 22d St., Anniston, Alabama. 155th Infantry (Mississippi): Organized in 1798, is 7th oldest Inf Regt in U. S. Army; once commanded by Confederate President Jeff Davis; made Sabine Campaign in 1806; made Burr Insurrection in 1807; fought in War of 1812, and Creek Indian War; fought in Mexican War in 1846; fought in Civil War as First Mississippi Volunteers; stationed Mexican Border until 1916, then organized for service in France with 39th Division.  Authorized streamers: Indian Wars, ??eaks; War of 1812 - Florida, 1814, and New Orleans; Mexican War - Monterey and Buena Vista; World War I - no inscription. Commanded by Col Walter Jones Hanna, 2143 14th Ave., Birmingham; former Southeastern Inter-collegiate boxing champ and crack pistol shot; 1st Bn, Lt Col Virgil S. Adkins, 506 Catalpa St., Clarksdale, Miss., 2nd Bn, Lt Col Harold "Boots" Rand, Tylertown, Miss.; 3rd Bn, Lt Col Leslie L. Evans, 301 Dobson Ave., Canton, Miss. 124th Infantry (Florida):  Stationed Florida and Alabama during Spanish War; three companies in France in 1918, used as replacement; In SWPA, July-August 1944, it fought heavy Jap forces at Aitape, along Druinimor River; 3rd Bn caught brunt of actions, suffered most casualties.  Commanded by Col Edward M. Starr, 3950 166th St., Flushing, L. I., who holds Legion of Merit for Aitape; 1st Bn, Major Wilbur E. Koonce, 1048 Congress St., Jackson, Miss; 2nd Bn, Lt Col Robert M. Fowler, 312 SW 11th St., Birmingham, Alabama; 3rd Bn, Lt Col George D. "Pappy" Williams, 2504 Aberdeen Rd., Seale, Alabama, who holds DSC for Aitape. The Artillery Battalions Brig General Thomas F. Hickey, 31st Inf Div Arty Commander (RA), date of rank, 17 Sept 1944.  Was a 2nd Lt, Cav, during World War I; took commission in infantry in 1920, transferred to FA in 1922.  Decorated with order of Palms (French) in 1919, and won Bronze Star in Philippines in Dec 1944.  Formerly C of S, 11th Corps; CG, 10th Corps Arty; C of S, 10th Corps.  Wife: Mrs. Estelle K. Hickey, 3031 Sedgwick St., NW, Washington, DC.  Assumed command 31st Arty on 13 Jan 1945. 114th Field Arty (Mississippi): Armed with 155-mm howitzers; organized 1926; commanded by Major Joseph J. Hill, 195 Standford Ave., Bartow, Florida. 116th Field Arty (Florida): Armed with 105-mm howitzers; organized 1917, in France in World War I, but no action; commanded by Lt Col Frank C. Paul, 2516 Prospect Rd., Tampa, Florida. 117th Field Arty (Alabama): Armed with 105-mm howitzers; organized 1916 as cavalry; stationed Mexican Border 1916, then to France with 31st Division for World War I, but no action; commanded by Lt Col George N. Sagin, 5609 Bayshore Blvd, Tampa, Florida. 149th Field Artillery (Florida): Armed with 105-mm howitzers; organized Camp Bowie, Texas, 1942, from 116th FA; commanded by Major Milton E. Hull, 205 N. Thomas, Plant City, Florida. Special Units 106th Engr Combat Bn: Organized World War I; served in France with 39th Div, participating in Mouse-Argonne; commanded by Lt Col Marshall E. Bush, 4 Glenwood Circle, Vicksburg, Miss. 106th Med Bn: Commanded by Lt Col Joseph W. Ford, Gadsen, Alabama. 31st Signal Co: Div Sig Officer: Major Roy Benton, 151 Macy St., Mobile, Alabama. 31st QM Co: Div QM - Lt Col John Tom Kizer, Senatobia, Miss. 731st Ord (LM) Co: Div Ord Officer: Lt Col Mark W. Lance, 240 Lafayette Circle, Tallahassee, Florida. Division Staff Officers Chief of Staff: Col Laroy S. Graham, Alpine, Texas G-1, Lt Col John L. Goodwyn, 111 Gilmer Ave., Montgomery, Alabama. G-3, Lt Col Charles P. Lykes, Lykes Bros, Steamship Co., Houston, Texas. G-4, Lt Col Hal Hardenbergh, Eutaw, Alabama.

Source: J. D. Bowen. 31st Reference # 37

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