Cpl. Raymond Weaver didn’t know much about the history of the North American Army until he donned a World War II-era uniform and presented his commander with a battle streamer Thursday morning.
By the time the ceremony ended at the historic quadrangle of Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, he had been educated. Hundreds of people attended a birthday party that looked like a college history class, but commanders from Canada, Brazil, and Mexico showed up.
All three nations were associated with what was then known as the 5th U.S. Army, created in 1943 and the first American military organization to land on the European continent during World War II.
Army North celebrated its 80th birthday with a ceremony full of glitz, circumstance, birthday cake and live music amid deer and peacocks roaming the quads.
Its commander, Maj. Gen. Philip Barrett, and its commander, Lt. Gen. John Evans, Weaver, 22, of Millville, New Jersey, and several other GIs in period uniforms from World War II held a ceremony that included
Evans was surprised by the beautiful weather when he took the podium. Early January could be rainy and cold, and Command was talking about where the event would be held if the worst happened, but no contingency plan was needed.
He emphasized the importance of history and how the Fifth Army evolved from a key cog in the global conflict into the Union Army. The Union Army supports the homeland defense missions of the Northern Command and can assume operational control of ground forces anywhere on the continental United States.
Its forces are ready to assist government officials in disaster or emergency response, a post-9/11 role in dealing with attacks, chemical, biological and nuclear threats to the United States, not just hurricanes. After Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico nearly five years ago, it has mostly been caught in natural disasters.
The motto of Army North, “Strength of Nation,” stands in an era that saw entire armies fight in long conflicts on remote battlefields.
Evans said World War II was different from the global war on terrorism.
“It was existential,” he told the crowd. “People read books about it, they saw docudramas and series about it, they watched the History Channel and they thought they had a good feeling about it. .
“Our world was on the precipice. Our world had two wars in 30 years on the continent of Europe, stretched across the Pacific, stretched across Africa, stretched across South America. It was the Great Fire of the World.”
Evans said many of the final victories were due to “very quickly building capabilities not only in the United States, but across allied forces, some of the many partners represented here today in Mexico, Brazil and Canada. to include
When the 5th Army was created in January 1943, Russia maintained a front along the Eastern Front, constraining a large concentration of Nazi forces. The Allies had driven the Axis powers out of North Africa, and Washington and London were contemplating an attack on Europe, Evans said, adding, “The numbers were staggering when you consider the cost to a human life across the Allies. ‘ added.
With that in mind, the decision was made to raise US forces, train them in Morocco, and use them as spearheads for a group of British forces attacking the Italian peninsula. It would attract the attention of a German commander who was in trouble, paving the way for the eventual fateful landing in Normandy in 1944.
“We were the first U.S. military to attack mainland Europe in World War II, and that is important. I got it,” said Evans.
This is half the size of the entire current active military.
Before the war ended, the 5th Army had suffered over 199,000 casualties, including 20,000 dead.
“That’s why this birthday is important, because we need to remember our history,” he said in 1917 at the historic Fort Sam, where General John J. Pershing lived. Evans, who lives in Pershing House, a mansion, said. General Jonathan Wainwright, who was taken prisoner by the Japanese after the fall of the Philippines in 1942 and was later awarded the Medal of Honor.
The 5th Army was dormant for about a year after World War II, responsible for the continental defense and training of the National Guard and Army Reserves in the western United States. Headquarters was originally in Massachusetts and moved to Chicago until San Antonio in 1971.
“Frankly, this is the foundation of America’s national security and our ability to protect the free world,” Mayor Ron Nirenberg said, noting a banner proclaiming the Army North motto. “We are very proud to have this institution as part of Sun,” he added. I am proud of Antonio’s history and the “national power” that celebrated its 80th anniversary. ”
The 323rd Army Band, often referred to as “Fort Sam’s Own,” performed a patriotic song made famous as one of the themes from George C. Scott’s movie “Patton.”
Texas civilian aide and Secretary of War Christine Wormuth Joseph Bray notes that the military’s history with San Antonio dates back to the mid-19th century, a partnership that continues under the name Military City of the United States. Did.
After the ceremony, Weaver, a corporal in a World War II uniform, said, “Today I really learned a lot.” When I first came here, I was new to this unit. …It was really nice to hear about all the campaigns and what they actually did.Knowing that now is perfect.”
“World War II history is a lot of fun,” added Weaver, who is in his fourth year in the Army. “I don’t think it was fun to be there, but I actually like hearing about it and all the experiences…but it brought everyone together very well and very strongly. We have created a bond that cannot be broken.”
sigc@express-news.net
