Steven E Clay

The purposes of US Army Order of Battle 1919–1941 are threefold. The first is to fill a void in the published record of US Army units documented by Order of Battle of the United States Land Forces in the World War published by the Center of Military History and Mr. Shelby L. Stanton's Order of Battle, U.S. Army World War II. The second is to provide Army command historians, unit historians, and other individuals who are trying to research specific unit histories a basic overview of what these units were doing in the interwar period, where the units were located, and who commanded them. The third is to provide a private individual who had a relative who served during this period, and who wishes to know what that service may have consisted of, an account of the major activities in which the relative's unit was involved. The scope of the work covers units from the size of separate battalions from all arms and services to field armies, as well as the actual order of battle of each as applicable. Each unit is represented by a unit entry block. The entries contain a host of information that is standardized in its presentation as far as possible. Each entry includes the unit title and type, the headquarters to which the unit was assigned, the geographical area to which the unit was allotted (if National Guard or Organized Reserve), the unit's headquarters location, the unit's physical location (or the unit's headquarters location if dispersed) on 7 December 1941, a unit service narrative, the unit's organization day, the unit's status as of 2001, and a chronological listing of the unit's commanding officers. Depending on the type of unit, additional information may include a listing of subordinate units and their years of assignment; "snap¬shot" orders of battle for divisions, corps, and armies for selected years; and the subordinate components of nonstandard units such as harbor defense commands. Also included in this work are the headquarters, a unit service narrative… (mere)

The US Army Order of Battle, 1919-1941 is an important addition to the library of all Army historians, professional and amateur. More than a simple listing of units and the headquarters to which they were assigned, this book is an encyclopedia of information on Army tactical organizations in existence during the interwar period. This four-volume work, based on almnost 20 years of research, fills a distinct void in the history of Army units, especially those of the Organized Reserve (now known as the US Army Reserve). Clay's comprehensive work details the history of every tactical organization from separate battalion to field army, as well as certain other major commands important to the Army in the 1920s and 1930s. It also includes the varios units' change of station, commanding officers, accomplishments, and key events such as major maneuvers and, for National Guard units, active duty periods for state emergencies. Also included are the organizations' distinctive unit insignia, as well as maps showing command boundaries and charts illustrating the assortment of tables of organization germane to the organizations of the time.… (mere)

Steve Clay’s massive work, “US Army Order of Battle, 1919–1941,” is, in many respects, the story of the American Army, its units, and its soldiers, during a period of neglect by a parsimonious Congress and others who perhaps believed in the notion that a “War to End All Wars” had actually been fought. Indirectly, it tells the story of a diminutive Regular Army that continued to watch faithfully over the ramparts of freedom in far-flung outposts like Panama, Alaska, the Philippines, and China, as well as the many small and isolated garrisons throughout the United States; a National Guard that was called on frequently by various governors to prevent labor troubles, fight forest fires, and provide disaster relief to their state’s citizens; and an Organized Reserve whose members attended monthly drills without pay and for 20 years creatively and conscientiously prepared themselves for another major war. The “US Army Order of Battle, 1919–1941” is an important addition to the library of all Army historians, professional and amateur. More than a simple listing of units and the headquarters to which they were assigned, this book is an encyclopedia of information on Army tactical organizations in existence during the interwar period. This four-volume work, based on almost 20 years of research, fills a distinct void in the history of Army units, especially those of the Organized Reserve (now known as the US Army Reserve). Clay’s comprehensive work details the history of every tactical organization from separate battalion to field army, as well as certain other major commands important to the Army in the 1920s and 1930s. It also includes the various units’ changes of station, commanding officers, accomplishments, and key events such as major maneuvers and, for National Guard units, active duty periods for state emergencies. Also included are the organizations’ distinctive unit insignia, as well as maps showing command boundaries and charts illustrating the assortment of tables of organization germane to the organizations of the time. In short, this “Order of Battle” is the “go to” reference for the historian who wishes to understand the history, organization, and evolution of Army units between the World Wars.… (mere)