Page 70 - history-of-military-units-in-columbia-county-fl-(1970)-robert-gary-shields

History of Military Units in Columbia County, FL (1970) Robert Gary Shields

1947 - Present

From soon after the end of World War II in August of 1945 until the
early part of 1947 there was no local military unit in Lake City, because
the volunteer civilian militia (Florida State Guard - Co. E 2nd Bn.) that had

been formed during the war, had disbanded, and no local National Guard unit
had been reorganized. Many people were interested in the reorganization of

a local National Guard company, but none would assume the leadership to
personally organize and command a new unit. The 124th Infantry, Florida
National Guard had been reorganized with headquarters in Jacksonville under

the command of Colonel Maxwell Snyder, now retired Lietenant General.
Colonel Snyder was most interested in the reorganization of a unit in Lake

City. Colonel Bob Harkness, later retired Brigadier General, was appointed
to Colonel Snyder's staff. In -mid 1946, they persuaded James Y. Wilson
to organize and command a new unit. Capt. Wilson had joined the Lake City'

Guard unit in 193 2 and had risen +--inr rank until he was a battalion
commander at the end of World War II.

Capt. Wilson knew that a mechanized cannon unit or tank unit would be
highly attractive to both the returning veterans and young men in the future
for developing good personnel in the unit. In addition to riding instead of

walking, there were many more rank ratings for the enlisted men. Capt. Wilson
specified a cannon company but the table of organizations had already been
changed and included a tank company. Capt. Wilson accepted the change to

a tank company and during the fall of 1946 began the process of organizing
the new unit for Lake City.
On Feb. 27, 1947, the Anti-tank Company, 124th Infantry, was Federally

recognized. Officers were: Capt. J. Y. Wilson &lst Lt. H. G. Cochran.
Leonard Witt was 1st Sergeant and Cecil W. Register was Supply Sergeant.

Quite a few World War II veterans , many who had been members of the
local unit prior to the war, were recruited.
This was the basis of what was soon to become :one of the finest

and most outstanding Guard unit in the State, as evidenced by the large
number of awards and commendations received during the 1950's

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