23d Infantry in Alaska

I have had the honor to have served in the 1st, 2d, and 4th of the 23d Infantry as part of the 2d Infantry Division, USARAL (US Army Alaska), and the 172d Brigade (SEP). I have seen all and parts of the published histories and noticed that none of the "cold war" service has been written. There is virtually nothing between the Korean War and Vietnam. The 23d is now serving valiently in the Mid-East. I think these soldiers need to know the history of those dark days between the wars.

Monday, March 09, 2009

Ski Training at Fort Richardson

The 23d Infantry trained its beginner skiers at the Fort Richardson Ski Training area which was on-post. We had a number of beginners who had arrived after the annual ski training that was usually started in September or October each year, it was decided that the Company would go through it again. We first went to the "Bunny Slope" where we learned snowplow stops and turns and to herringbone back up the slope. It would have been funny except that I was one of the neophytes.

The Ski Training area had three ski trails. The Red trail for absolute beginners, the Blue trail for moderately proficient skiers, and the Yellow trail where even the experts were taking their lives in their own hands. Unfortunately, I don't have any photos of this training. I was too busy cleaning the snow out of my eyes to take pictures!

A farm boy from Illinois tries cross-country skiing


Our individual soldier training started shortly after Willow Freeze. B Company was scheduled to ski to Davis Range. First Sergeant Caldwell felt sorry for us newbies, so he allowed us to be trucked to the range on one of the company's three-quarter ton truck. We were so thankful! Bear in mind the First rule of Infantry Transportation...We non-skiers had to ski home! Slide one step forward, slide one back, fall on you butt (or face), get up and try again. It was one of the most miserable couple of miles I ever traveled. Thank God that Specialist J.D. Gilmore was there to help pick me up!

Third Rule of Infantry Transportation

If there are vehicles for the return trip, they will take Infantry soldiers somewhere where they will be even more miserable than their current location!

Second Rule of Infantry Transportation

If Infantry soldiers are transported by vehicle, it will take them farther from home than if they had walked. This means that the sole purpose of the transportation was to cause them to walk farther to get home!

First Rule of Infantry Transportation

If a vehicle (Truck, Boat, Helicopter, Dogsled or whatever) hauls Infantry troops somewhere, its a given that the Infantry troops will WALK back on the return trip!

Sunday, March 08, 2009

Davis Range



The Army had a two-year training cycle. after Willow Freeze, it started with "Training of the Individual Soldier and Patrolling". The above photos are of Davis Range, and the 2d Squad, 3d Platoon of "B" Company.

Davis range was (is?) a live fire range capable of taking up to a company. A lot of ammunition was expended during the years I was there. The range was about two miles South West of the Fort Richardson cantonment area. The view is toward the Ship Creek watershed.

Coming Home


We three cheechakos were wondering if we'd died and gone to hell. The Company came in looking like death warmed over. The wind, subzero temperatures, lack of sleep had turned all the men into a form of zombie. We got really insecure.

The commander proclaimed a day off, us newbies pulled the duties while everyone else slept for nearly two days. There followed the cleaning of the stoves, drying of tents, and preparation for the post-operation inspection.

I met my squad leader, Staff Sergeant Salazar. He was a quiet professional type who went through my gear with a fine tooth comb. He nearly lost it, though, when he found the wool boot socks that my grandmother had darned. He had me set up my wall-locker and foot-locker displays. The amount of measuring, folding and polishing that went into that was absolutely astounding.

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Operation "Willow Freeze"


We were packed up and sent by train to the maneuver area just in time for the end of the operation to help load the Battle Group up for its return to Fort Richardson. The maneuver had seen the 23d act as aggressors against the 1st Battalion of the 187th Airborne from the 82d Airborne Division. In these exercises, the aggressors always lose. It is interesting that the Airborne Commander had his Battle Group jump into the landing zone wearing Steel Helmets, black finger gloves, black leather combat boots, and field jackets with no liners or hoods. None of the Arctic gear that had been provided. They hit the blast at -40 degrees ground temperature. It was a simple matter to capture the whole outfit, by trading a chunk of firewood for their rifles. These guys were in sad shape. This stopped the exercise while they re-equipped themselves. At one point, Bravo Company of the 23d, on snowshoes, outran a ski equipped 187th company to put them out of action.