WWII - The Last Warrior
XX Corps Artillery: 1942-1944
Camp Campbell
1943 – 1944
General Walker and the IV Armored Corps HQ Proceed to Camp Campbell, Tennessee
On March 29, 1943, General Walker relinquished command of the Desert Training Theatre and proceeded with the IV Armored Corps Headquarters proceeded to Camp Campbell, considered a step nearer to shipment overseas. Plans for extensive training were put into place, proving to be fruitful later on as the Corps demonstrated an aggressive fighting character that leverage the highest degree of discipline and morale.
Chow time durng a Tennessee training exercise – photo from The Ghost Corps: Thru Hell and High Water
Observing, Learning, and Adjusting Strategy and Tactics
Strategic away trips were conducted to observe other operations overseas, including those in North Africa, to learn of the progress being made in unit training and in infantry, artillery, and tank tactics. General Walker went to the North African Theater of Operations in the spring of 1943 to visit the fighting fronts for first-hand information about the soundness of American training methods, effectiveness of U.S. Army strategy and tactics, and the efficiency of weapons and equipment.
Camp Campbell Training
Training continued in Tennessee, continuing to build the morale and cohesiveness of the Corps. The Corps developed a level of excellence using innovative tactics aimed at achieving surprise on the part of the enemy, attacking from the rear and disrupting the lines of enemy communication. And the element of surprise was furthered by dropping paratroopers behind the lines of the enemy at night.
General Collier addresses the Staff Officers of the CC Corps during the Tennessee maneuvers. These manuevers served to complete the Corps Headquarters training program, and the organization received the official approval from the War Department, thus achieving a place on the list of units thoroughly qualified and trained for combat service.
IV Armored Corps Redesignated the XX United States Army Corps
On October 9, 1943, while it was still in the maneuver area, the IV Armored Corps was redesignated the XX Corps United States Army Corps.
“The colors introduced in this insignia were carried over from the Armored Force patch and are those of the main arms comprising the Corps, namely, Infantry, Artillery, and Cavalry; while the crampons represent the gripping and tenacious hold the Corps would display in its missions.”
XX Corps Thru Hell and High Water
The IV Armored Division 1st Organization Day
It wasn’t all hard training and discipline in Camp Campbell. On September 2, 1943, the IV Armored Division celebrated its first anniversary of its activation. The main event was the World Premier of the Columbia picture “Sahara,” a desert epic staring Humphrey Bogart, produced in the Desert Theater of Operations.
Photo from the movie Sahara: original photo from the site Eve’s Magazine and Kenneth Koyen.
That’s Humphrey Bogart second from the left.
You may have already noticed, but if you hover over some of the photos, you’ll see a color stylized version of the photo.
I figured that since this celebration was also about the world premier of the movie Sahara, I might as well try out my new colorizing tool. Undoubtedly there will be more.
