In February, 1955 a reorganization of the Army National Guard included reorganizing the 27th Infantry Division as the 27th Armored Division.[1] This included exchanging the black and red "NYD" (New York Division) shoulder patch for the triangle-shaped patch of the Army's armor divisions. The 27th Armored Division was called the "Empire Division," after New York's nickname, the Empire State.[2]
The division headquarters was originally in Buffalo, and was later moved to Syracuse.[3][4]
Composition, 1955edit
In 1955, the composition of the 27th Armored Division was:
Three individuals served as commander of the 27th Armored Division:
Major General Ronald C. Brock (1955–1957).[6] Brock had been commander of the 27th Infantry Division.[7] He subsequently served as commander of the New York National Guard.[8]
MG Almerin C. O'Hara (1957–1959).[9] O'Hara later served as commander of the New York National Guard, and state Commissioner of General Services. When Albany County shifted to a county executive/county legislature form of government in 1975, O'Hara was the unsuccessful Republican nominee for Albany County Executive.[10]
MG Collin P. Williams (1959–1968)[11] Williams had served as commander of Combat Command B, 27th Armored Division and the division's Assistant Division Commander.[12] He retired in 1968.[13]
Deactivationedit
The 27th Armored Division was inactivated in February, 1968 during another reorganization of the Army National Guard.[14] During its existence the 27th Armored Division was not activated for federal service and saw no combat.[15] It was activated for state service, including the response to the 1964 Rochester riot.[16]
Subsequent historyedit
The division was reorganized in 1968 as the 27th Armored Brigade, a unit of the 50th Armored Division.[17]
The 27th Armored Brigade was reorganized as an Infantry brigade in 1975 and aligned with the 42nd Infantry Division.[18]
The 27th Brigade was later reorganized as the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, and reestablished use of the 27th Infantry Division's NYD shoulder sleeve insignia.[20] The 27th Infantry Brigade carries on the lineage and history of the 27th Infantry Division.
Referencesedit
^J.B. Lyon Company, New York State Legislative Documents, Volume 6, 1955, page 13
^Jack Raymond, The New York Times, Most Reservists Could Join Guard: McNamara Plan Envisions Initial Overstrengths, 20 December 1964
^Peter B. Taub, Gannett News Service, Newburgh Evening News, Upstate Shift Due National Guard, 28 February 1963
^John B. Wilson, Center of Military History, Armies, Corps, Divisions, and Separate Brigades, 1988, page 361
^New York National Guard, History of the 27th Infantry Division, 27th Armored Division composition 1955, 1960, 1966. Retrieved 26 July 2013
^Toledo Blade, Ike Pledges Guard to be Maintained, 4 February 1957
^Schenectady Gazette, Kearney Resigns Post in NY Guard, 5 June 1948
^New York Secretary of State, State Legislative manual, 1958, page 446
^Williams Press, New York Red Book, 1959, page 367
^Associated Press, Newburgh Evening News, Coyne 'New Look' County Executive, 5 November 1975
^U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, Hearing Record, Military Cold War Education and Speech Review Policies, Biographical sketch, Collin P. Williams, 1962, page 2662
^Army and Navy Journal Incorporated, Army, Navy, Air Force Journal, Volume 94, Issues 27–52, 1957, page 955
^Ruth Collin Stong, John Collin, Stem and Branches, 1980, page 209
^New York Times, State Guard to Disband Division That Once Chased Pancho Villa, 19 January 1968