BY RICKEY ROBERTSON
The United States had elected a new president John F. Kennedy, in 1960 and there was hope that the world situation would be more peaceful. But in 1961 the Soviet Union started what is called the “Berlin Crisis”. The Soviets under Nikita Khrushchev were concerned about the status of Berlin, which was divided into 4 parts at the end of World War II. Hundreds of Germans were fleeing from East Germany into the safety of West Germany as they tried to avoid the Soviets. At Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin US Army tanks and Russian tanks had a 16 hour standoff at this access point into Berlin.
With the Berlin Crisis about to explode into possible nuclear war in Germany, President Kennedy called up thousands of Army reserve and National Guard troops to active duty. One such unit called into active service was the 49th Armored Division of the Texas National Guard. This National Guard Armored Division was activated and was sent to Fort Polk, La. for extensive armored training. On October 15, 1961 the division was activated into federal service. Thousands of Texas National Guardsmen and many from our local area’s here in Louisiana filled the division rolls.
While at Fort Polk the 49th Armored trained heavily on the ranges at Fort Polk and on Peason Ridge. This training gave all the attached units the opportunity to work together as a team. But in May 1962 the division staged a very large-scale maneuver known as EXERCISE IRON DRAGOON.
Exercise Iron Dragoon was one of the largest training exercises in the history of the National Guard. All exercise training during EXERCISE IRON DRAGOON was realistic with no equipment, units, or personnel being simulated with the exception of toxic chemicals, nuclear weapons, and live ammunition. As the units convoyed to their assemble areas all movement was orderly and upon arrival to their areas units began to camouflage both vehicles and tents. Much of the tactical activity consisted of attacking, seizing, and defending Peason Ridge . As the 49th advanced into Peason Ridge the AGRESSOR FORCES fell back but by the next day there was a large counterattack when the AGRESSOR FORCES set off a simulated atomic bomb southeast of Eagle Hill near the Sabine and Vernon Parish line. The 49th counterattacked and pushed the AGRESSOR FORCES back. When the 49th counterattacked the divisions missile unit became the very first Army National Guard Unit to fire the Honest John missile . The Honest John was fired with a training war head but in time of actual war the missile could fire a nuclear tipped surface to surface warhead.
EXERCISE IRON DRAGOON was the first training exercise involving an entire armored division since EXERCISE SAGEBRUSH in 1955. The 49th Armored would have been rushed to Germany if the Russians had started a war during the Berlin Crisis. The 49th Armored would have been sent to stop the Russian Army from advancing through the Fulda Gap straight into Germany. But thankfully cooler heads prevailed in the Russian Army and it was decided to not push into Germany and Berlin especially. EXERCISE IRON DRAGOON accomplished one great thing. The exercise and other training made the 49th Armored Division combat ready. As the Berlin Crisis subsided the 49th Armored Division was returned to Texas State control in August 1962 and each unit returned to their home station in Texas.
EXERCISE IRON DRAGOON was another large training exercise that took place in Natchitoches, Sabine, and Vernon Parishes. This area from 1941 to the present day continues to be one of the major training areas for the United States military as units train to defend our great nation.