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BEGINNING with World War I, the National Guard and the Regular Army have often disagreed quite strongly about the ability of Guard officers to prepare large, combined arms units and then lead them in combat. Regulars do not believe anyone could master these skills on a part-time basis, while Guardsmen believe that they can. These beliefs have often led to bitter fights between the two components, and to this day continue to sour their relationship.1
Mobilized in September 1950, Oklahoma's 45th (Thunderbird) Infantry Division was one of only two National Guard divisions deployed to the combat zone during the Korean War, arriving there in December 1951. The division remained Guard in character until May 1952, when almost all its Guardsmen had returned to America for release from Federal service. While Guardsmen comprised only about 22 percent of the 45th's strength during these twenty months, they held the great majority of senior positions and were sprinkled throughout the division. The division's performance during this period thus can be judged as that of a Guard unit.
From Mobilization to Korea
During World War 11, the 45th Infantry Division earned a reputation as one of the best American divisions in the European Theater of Operations. While a majority of the 45th's units came from Oklahoma, the division also included units from Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico when mobilized in 1940. The 45th quickly began building its reputation, earning praise as the best Guard division of the 1941 General Headquarters Maneuvers. The division acquitted itself well during its first combat, in the Sicilian campaign, but its reputation soared with excellent performances under intense pressure at Salerno and Anzio. After participating in the invasion of Southern France, the 45th marched with Seventh Army into Germany. In addition to its battlefield performance, the 45th gained renown as the cradle of two of the war's most famous Guardsmen, Raymond S. McLain and Bill Mauldin. McLain began World War II as commander of the 45th's field artillery brigade; he ended the war a corps commander, and was one of only two prewar Guard general officers to be offered a postwar Regular Army general officer commission, which he accepted. Mauldin enlisted in Arizona's 120th Quartermaster Regiment as the 45th prepared to enter Federal service...