The 32nd 'Red Arrow' Veteran Association
	Organization of The 32nd 'Red Arrow' Infantry Division During the Berlin Crisis

In August of 1961, construction of the Berlin Wall began. The Soviet Union decided to halt the flow of East Germans escaping to the free West. The Berlin Wall completely surrounded and sealed off West Berlin from East Berlin and the rest of East Germany. Tensions between NATO and the Warsaw Pact dramatically increased and for a while it seemed like the Cold War in Europe would turn hot. In the U.S., it was deemed necessary for an overnight strengthening of our conventional forces for the possibility of a less-than-nuclear war. This meant the activation of Army and Air National Guard units and individual Army Reservists for about one year (depending on what the Soviets did). By 1 October 1961, around 171,000 citizen soldiers had been activated into federal service. The 21,000 officers and men of eleven Air National Guard fighter squadrons, and about 260 high performance jets, were immediately flown to Europe to reinforce the Seventeenth Air Force.

The 32nd Infantry Division (Wisconsin), 49th Armored Division (Texas), and 150th Armored Cavalry Regiment (West Virginia), plus other smaller, non-divisional units, were activated and commenced training to be ready to replace the 4th Infantry and the 2nd Armored Divisions in their home posts at Fort Lewis, Washington, and Fort Hood, Texas, if it became necessary for a similar overnight reinforcement of the Seventh Army in Germany. (Army heavy equipment for the two Regular Army Divisions was prepositioned in Europe, so the personnel could be quickly flown to Germany if they were needed.) Two other National Guard Divisions were alerted to the possibility of being called to active duty.

"In February and March 1962, the [32nd] Division was at Ft. Irwin, California conducting Division Army Training Tests entitled 'Operation Bristlecone.' The 'aggressor' opposing force was a Brigade [including 1st Battle Group, 28th Infantry; 1st Recon Squadron, 4th Cavalry; & 2nd Howitzer Battalion, 33rd Artillery] provided by the 1st Infantry Division from Ft. Riley, Kansas. Good Training!", according to J. Parmenter, a visitor to our web site who was a soldier in the 1st 'Big Red One' Infantry Division at that time.

Mr. Parmenter continues, "Our Brigade from the 1st Infantry Division wore dark green "aggressor" uniforms (dyed WW II light wool shirts & trousers) and red garrison caps. At that time, as you might recall, Ft. Riley had the Army's 'Aggressor Center' which closed down, I think, in 1962. Air Force F-100s flew very low ground support for both sides. There were some tankers from a reserve Armor unit supporting the aggressors the first week or so then changed sides & supported the 32nd Division. I remember being surprised at how cold the desert was at night. Happily, troops from the 'side of right,' 32nd Infantry Division, overran positions of the nasty old aggressors on the last day of battle."

The 32nd Division returned to Wisconsin in August of 1962.
 
 

The Minute Man in Peace and War
The 1962 Wisconsin Blue Book

Back To Berlin Crisis History of the 32nd Division

Contact the 32nd 'Red Arrow' Veteran Association Webmaster