California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories

49th Infantry Division

 

The 40th and 52d Divisions were allocated to the State of California after World War II. The 52d Infantry Division was activated on 15 August 1946. Since the Centennial celebrations lay ahead for the state in 1949 and the division was to be stationed in the general area of "the days of 49" in Northern California, it was requested that the 52d Infantry Division designation be changed to 49th Infantry Division.

 

The designation was changed to the 49th Infantry Division by a National Guard Bureau Letter, CSNGB, dated 24 October 1947, Subject: "Change in Designation of 52d Infantry Division" and an Adjutant General Letter, AGAO-I 325 dated 20 October 1947, Subject: "Allotment of National Guard Units (California)." The change was retroactive to 5 August 1946 in both documents.[1] Thereafter the division was known as the "Argonaut Division" and its shoulder sleeve insignia depicted a 49er mining gold.[2] The 49th Infantry Division was federally recognized on 14 October 1946 and it was deactivated on 29 January 1968.

 

Division Commanders

 

The following is a list of the 49th Infantry Division Commanders and the dates that they served:

MG Richard E. Mittelstaedt	15 August 1946 - 23 January 1948
MG John U. Calkins Jr.	24 January 1948 - 30 September 1949
MG Otto E. Sandman	1 October 1949 - 31 May 1950
MG Curtis D. O'Sullivan	1 June 1950 - 30 October 1954
MG Roy A. Green	1 November 1954 - 13 May 1957
MG Clarence H. Pease	14 May 1957 - 31 October 1961
MG William J. Lange	1 November 1961 - 15 July 1964
MG Paul R. Teilh	16 July1964 - 29 January 1968

 

 

Divisional Orders of Battle

 

49th Infantry Division Order of Battle, 1953

49th Infantry Division Order of Battle, 1960

49th Infantry Division Order of Battle, 1966

 

 

Footnotes

 

1. The original General Orders Number 7, dated 15 August 1946 indicated an effective date of activation as 0001 hours 15 August 1946. The AG Letter and NGB Letter both give an effective date of 5 August 1946. The latter date is probably an error since the GO was not amended.

2. An Argonaut is defined as any of the men who sailed with Jason after the Golden Fleece in Greek Mythology and/or a person who took part in the California gold rush of 1848-49.

 

 

Search our Site!

Search the Web Search California Military History Online

 

Questions and comments concerning this site should be directed to the Webmaster

 

Updated 19 July 2017