- Home
- Residents & Visitors
- History of Brownwood
- The Fighting 36th Infantry Division
The Fighting 36th Infantry Division
36th Division's long trail began in Brownwood
By Gordon Rose, K-143
The trail of the 36th Infantry Division in World War 11 began at Camp Bowie, Brownwood, Texas. Volunteer soldiers from 75 Texas cities and towns, in the tradition that had lasted 155 years, once more reported for duty to fight for freedom and to end oppression in the world. Youngsters left farms, schools, jobs, sweethearts, wives and families, many for the first time, to become part of a military unit with a bunch of strangers in coping with an unforeseen disciplined life. Hard training made buddies of them all; combat made them brothers.
"T-Patchers" became a major part of the Brownwood civilian scene as well. Strangers they came to this Central Texas city, but friends they were when they left. The old friends have now returned. 'They were proud to wear on their shoulder the division insignia, an Infantry blue arrowhead with the dusty "T" brand on it. Early beginnings of the division were traced to the Texas War for Independence (1835-36) which overthrew despotic rulers and created the Republic of Texas. Ten years later, the young nation voluntarily agreed to be annexed to the United States.
The aura that surrounds the name, "Texas," known worldwide, was established by those volunteer fighting military units which could not stomach oppression by the Spanish, the Mexicans, Poncho Villa or anyone else. The Texas Rangers had its beginnings with the division. Fiercely independent, Texans could always be counted on to enter the arena to fight all enemies of freedom wherever or whomever they may be. As the division expanded, soldiers from other states, learning the Texas tradition, were imbued with the same fierce pride. Proud, too, were those who also wore the regimental insignias of "Remember the Alamo," "Arms Secure Peace" and "I'll Face You."
As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Mobilization of the Texas National Guard, we are reminded of a part of the little-known and rarely sung fourth verse of the Star Spangled Banner: "Oh Then thus be it ever when free men shall stand Between their loved home and the war's desolation." It was here, 50 years ago, that "free men" began the uncharted "Trail of the 36th" which led them to Louisiana, Florida, North Carolina, Massachusetts and then overseas. Held in reserve in the waning North African campaign, the 36th Division was pulled back and prepared for the invasion of Europe. Along the '36th Division Trail' were deadly obstacles at Salerno, Cassino, Rapido River, Rome, Southern France, and in Belgium and Germany. Casualties of the 36th number more than the present population of Brownwood.
Brownwood folks, who developed a close affinity for "T-Patchers," exulted in our victories, wept at our casualty reports, prayed for our mission, and empathized with their friends who fought and died in the hostile environment of mud, mountains, ice and snow in Europe, and while others endured disease, torture and starvation in the steaming jungles of Java as prisoners. This we know, and for this we are grateful and appreciative. Cheers at military victories, unlike wins at ball games, developed from a strange and remarkable human recipe. In combination with the initial exhilaration and jubilation are elements of prayer, pain, sorrow, relief and thanksgiving. After the shooting stops, after the treaties are signed, after the parades are over, and after the grand speeches are made, the more sobering permanent elements of hard-won bloody victories abide forever in the hearts and minds of soldiers, their kin and their friends. With effort we can forgive; we can never forget.
As we reflected on the hardships and trauma suffered in WWII after 45 million casualties world-wide, we took welcome refuge in the arms of loving families and friends. With renewed spirit, we took up our new lives and began carving out a future for ourselves and for those who follow in a world at peace. 'The "Trail of the 36th" has led us back to our starting point, Brownwood, where we have been welcomed once again with open arms. You have shown that "Mi casa es su casa," another tradition.
We brought along a gift, a 10 ft. high monument which will express forever the mutual respect between a wonderful Texas city and your temporary military visitors, the "T-Patchers of the Fighting 36th," which has lasted a half-century. The bond we acknowledge today will remain long after the winds of Texas have totally eroded this granite symbol of our esteem and gratitude. Division's casualty figures revised.
Battle casualty reports for the 36th Infantry Division were reported in "The Fighting 36th" book published shortly after World War 11. They were the "official" figures from the Department of the Army's publication, "Battle Casualties of the Army," as of Dec. 31, 1946. Some of these figures were changed after the War Department reviewed all records of all military units in 1949.While researching figures to be included in the monument inscription, Gordon Rose (K-143) of Dallas met in Austin with Col. John Scribner, 36th Division Historian on the Adjutant General's Staff at Camp Mabry.
Col. Scribner produced a report entitled, "Army Battle Casualties and Non-battle Deaths in World War II, Final Report 7 December 1941- 31 December 1946," published by the Department of the Army. The document was reviewed, and it was discovered that figures in use since the war had been updated. The report stated, "The statistics presented herein include all changes processed in the card file records through 31 December 1949." It also stated that "statistics presented herein supercede similar data appearing in previous reports. The following figures are official and are engraved on the Brownwood monument: 36th Infantry Division World War II Combat Casualties 19,466 Total casualties 3,717 Killed in Action 12,685 Wounded in Action 3,064 Missing in Action.
(Reprinted with permission from the Brownwood Bulletin, November 18, 1990 Sunday Edition)
By Gordon Rose, K-143
The trail of the 36th Infantry Division in World War 11 began at Camp Bowie, Brownwood, Texas. Volunteer soldiers from 75 Texas cities and towns, in the tradition that had lasted 155 years, once more reported for duty to fight for freedom and to end oppression in the world. Youngsters left farms, schools, jobs, sweethearts, wives and families, many for the first time, to become part of a military unit with a bunch of strangers in coping with an unforeseen disciplined life. Hard training made buddies of them all; combat made them brothers.
"T-Patchers" became a major part of the Brownwood civilian scene as well. Strangers they came to this Central Texas city, but friends they were when they left. The old friends have now returned. 'They were proud to wear on their shoulder the division insignia, an Infantry blue arrowhead with the dusty "T" brand on it. Early beginnings of the division were traced to the Texas War for Independence (1835-36) which overthrew despotic rulers and created the Republic of Texas. Ten years later, the young nation voluntarily agreed to be annexed to the United States.
The aura that surrounds the name, "Texas," known worldwide, was established by those volunteer fighting military units which could not stomach oppression by the Spanish, the Mexicans, Poncho Villa or anyone else. The Texas Rangers had its beginnings with the division. Fiercely independent, Texans could always be counted on to enter the arena to fight all enemies of freedom wherever or whomever they may be. As the division expanded, soldiers from other states, learning the Texas tradition, were imbued with the same fierce pride. Proud, too, were those who also wore the regimental insignias of "Remember the Alamo," "Arms Secure Peace" and "I'll Face You."
As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Mobilization of the Texas National Guard, we are reminded of a part of the little-known and rarely sung fourth verse of the Star Spangled Banner: "Oh Then thus be it ever when free men shall stand Between their loved home and the war's desolation." It was here, 50 years ago, that "free men" began the uncharted "Trail of the 36th" which led them to Louisiana, Florida, North Carolina, Massachusetts and then overseas. Held in reserve in the waning North African campaign, the 36th Division was pulled back and prepared for the invasion of Europe. Along the '36th Division Trail' were deadly obstacles at Salerno, Cassino, Rapido River, Rome, Southern France, and in Belgium and Germany. Casualties of the 36th number more than the present population of Brownwood.
Brownwood folks, who developed a close affinity for "T-Patchers," exulted in our victories, wept at our casualty reports, prayed for our mission, and empathized with their friends who fought and died in the hostile environment of mud, mountains, ice and snow in Europe, and while others endured disease, torture and starvation in the steaming jungles of Java as prisoners. This we know, and for this we are grateful and appreciative. Cheers at military victories, unlike wins at ball games, developed from a strange and remarkable human recipe. In combination with the initial exhilaration and jubilation are elements of prayer, pain, sorrow, relief and thanksgiving. After the shooting stops, after the treaties are signed, after the parades are over, and after the grand speeches are made, the more sobering permanent elements of hard-won bloody victories abide forever in the hearts and minds of soldiers, their kin and their friends. With effort we can forgive; we can never forget.
As we reflected on the hardships and trauma suffered in WWII after 45 million casualties world-wide, we took welcome refuge in the arms of loving families and friends. With renewed spirit, we took up our new lives and began carving out a future for ourselves and for those who follow in a world at peace. 'The "Trail of the 36th" has led us back to our starting point, Brownwood, where we have been welcomed once again with open arms. You have shown that "Mi casa es su casa," another tradition.
We brought along a gift, a 10 ft. high monument which will express forever the mutual respect between a wonderful Texas city and your temporary military visitors, the "T-Patchers of the Fighting 36th," which has lasted a half-century. The bond we acknowledge today will remain long after the winds of Texas have totally eroded this granite symbol of our esteem and gratitude. Division's casualty figures revised.
Battle casualty reports for the 36th Infantry Division were reported in "The Fighting 36th" book published shortly after World War 11. They were the "official" figures from the Department of the Army's publication, "Battle Casualties of the Army," as of Dec. 31, 1946. Some of these figures were changed after the War Department reviewed all records of all military units in 1949.While researching figures to be included in the monument inscription, Gordon Rose (K-143) of Dallas met in Austin with Col. John Scribner, 36th Division Historian on the Adjutant General's Staff at Camp Mabry.
Col. Scribner produced a report entitled, "Army Battle Casualties and Non-battle Deaths in World War II, Final Report 7 December 1941- 31 December 1946," published by the Department of the Army. The document was reviewed, and it was discovered that figures in use since the war had been updated. The report stated, "The statistics presented herein include all changes processed in the card file records through 31 December 1949." It also stated that "statistics presented herein supercede similar data appearing in previous reports. The following figures are official and are engraved on the Brownwood monument: 36th Infantry Division World War II Combat Casualties 19,466 Total casualties 3,717 Killed in Action 12,685 Wounded in Action 3,064 Missing in Action.
(Reprinted with permission from the Brownwood Bulletin, November 18, 1990 Sunday Edition)