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7th Infantry Division Band on the capital grounds of Seoul, Korea. 1945
To replace the divisions on occupation duty in Germany that were being inactivated, the U.S. European Command organized the U.S. Constabulary. Heavily armed, lightly armored, and highly mobile, the Constabulary served as an instrument of law enforcement, supporting civil authority, quelling civil disorders, and providing a covering force to engage a hostile enemy until the United States could deploy larger tactical units overseas. The 1st and 4th Armored Divisions, both experienced in mobile warfare, furnished many of the Constabulary's units.[1]
Although the US. Army saw no action in Korea during World War II, the 6th, 7th, and 40th Infantry Divisions arrived there in September and October 1945 to occupy the southern portion of the country and assist in the demobilization of the Japanese Army. An agreement with the Soviet Union had divided the former Japanese colony at the 38th Parallel. The Korean contingent for a short time remained at three divisions but soon dropped to two, the 6th and 7th Infantry Divisions. Following establishment of an independent South Korean government in 1948, the Far East Command inactivated the 6th and moved the 7th to Japan, leaving only a military advisory group in Korea.[2]
Demobilization and the ensuing personnel turbulence played havoc with the active divisions. During a twelve-month period the 88th Infantry Division in Italy received 29,500 officers and enlisted men and shipped out 18,500. The 1st Cavalry Division in Japan operated at one-fourth of its authorized strength during
- ↑ Ernest N. Harmon, "U.S. Constabulary," Armored Cavalry Journal 55 (Sep–Oct 1946): 16; James M. Snyder, The Establishment and Operations of the U.S. Constabulary (Frankfurt. Germany: Historical Sub-Section, G–3, U.S. Constabulary, 1947), pp. 52–59; Ltr, TAG to CG, U.S. Forces, European Theater, 17 Jun 46, sub: Reconstitution, Redesignation, Reorganization, Activation and Assignment of Units for Constabulary Force in Europe, AG 322 (11 Jun 46) AG-IGNGCT-M, 4th Armd Div file, DAMH-HSO.
- ↑ James F. Schnabel, Policy and Direction: The First Year, United States Army in the Korean War (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1972), pp. 6–12; Ltr, TAG to CGs, Boston. New York and other ports of embarkation, 7 Jan 46, sub: Inactivation of Certain Army Air, Ground and Service Forces Type Units, AG 322 (4 Jan 47) OB-I-SPMOU-M, 40th Inf Div file, Ltr, TAG to CinC, Far East, 24 Jan 49, sub: Inactivation of Certain Units in FECOM, AGAO-I 322 (31 Dec 48) CSGOT (Organization and Training Division, General Staff)-M, 6th Inf Div file, and AGAZ 373, Historical Data Cards, 6th, 7th, and 40th Inf Divs, all DAMH-HSO; History of the 7th Infantry (Bayonet Division) (Tokyo, Japan: Dai Nippon Printing Co., 1967), no pagination.
