This is broadcast number eight in the 158th regimental combat team series.
Ada are feeling
I am speaking to you now directly from the 158th regimental combat team
headquarters. The home and office of General Mcn Eider. General Hanford
muk Neider who presently commands the 158.
It's a privilege to have this opportunity to speak with the general
privately and to bring to you his expression of interest in the 158th as
Arizona holds that interest and to refer with pride to the current
accomplishments of the 158 as well as the past accomplishments of this
combat team. I want to tell you a little bit about general mcknight.
Before we began our informal interview.
He is a native of mason city Iowa and one of the oddities about it all is
that it develops that we now have more Iowa man in the 158 than we have.
Arizona man. I don't know whether we should call that sabotage or by some
other term. But anyway, the islands seem to have taken over the 158. But
with real credit, I might add to the brilliant record of the group in
civilian life. General McN Eider was president of the northwestern state
cement company. As far as I know, he still retains that post except for
the fact that he is an absentee at the moment and without pay. He voices
in my ear here a little historical data. General Mcknight who was
Assistant Secretary of war. Under Calvin Coolidge. He was the Minister to
Canada under Herbert Hoover. Which means that he must be a republican,
which pleases me mightily being from Arizona a Democratic state and a lone
republican in most circles. I welcome him politically as well as
professionally. He was at one time National Command of the american legion
, I think it was in 1921. He was a World War veteran and came out of the
conflict a major, he was wounded at Buhner when serving with a 32nd
Division. He is legendary with his man for his knowledge of the situation
at any point and his close proximity to the fighting. Under all conditions.
He had coffee with the mayor of Batangas about two hours before the
infantry took the city. So, you know, he works well out in front of the
boys. He took his aide de camp to a small town northeast of the tangles
and asked his aide if he knew where he was. And the aid didn't know, says
you are in Lanka, the infantry is going to attack here tomorrow. The
infantry did attack and killed 83 Japs and destroyed three artillery
pieces before it could reach the town. The general is self styled as the
best all gone jeep driver in the United States. And from what the boys
tell me it's about 99% truth. Uh, there is some debate on that, he adds,
but we won't discuss the point here. He puts down here in his own
handwriting, that he's bald and homely but tremendously proud of the 158
and his association with it. That gives you a thumbnail sketch of the
background and personality of general, handwritten igniter the present
commanding general of the 158th regimental Combat team. Uhh, General Mcn
Eider. How do you think the 158 compares with other groups with whom you
have served?
The 158 is a unique organization and as much as it is the only permanent
infantry regimental combat team now in the army,
it's built up to have a tremendously heavy striking power and with the
spirit of those men of Arizona who put it together and the inspiration
clear back to the days of general title. When he put it into shape, it is
going on. It's way still bringing fame, I hope, and a good name to the
state which gave it its inception. It is a cracker, Jack of an outfit and
of course the infantry regiment which does the fighting all the rest of us
are here to help it. And two give it the backing that it needs when it
puts on our battles for us.
Um, holds a very deep place in the hearts of everyone I think, who has
ever been connected with it. I hope it has a good name with those who have
fought alongside with, I hope it has a very bad one with a nip. We try and
make it a personal matter to see that the point in the line where the 1 58
meets him is the sorest one for the whole little
cringing star of japan
general. I have heard it said that the japanese have learned by the hard
method that there is no more savage fighting team in the american ranks
over here than the 158. Would you say that is true? Well, we'd like to
think it was true. We certainly have got the men who try and make it that
sort of an affair every time they meet them. General, perhaps you could
explain just a little bit what is meant by a combat team. As I understand
that there are only two. I'm a tad combat units in the entire theater. And
I think it's rather a mystery to a lot of people why we should have
outside of the divisions, groups of men operating as the 158 does
unattached except on occasions when it is adapted to a particular
assignment and moved in. Perhaps an associate command with one of the
divisions as was the case once upon a time. I believe in the 32nd Division.
What is the real purpose for maintaining a regimental combat team of this
type?
Well, the regimental combat team is an infantry regiment supported by a
battalion of artillery, battalion of engineers, armored force, all the
other branches that go to make a complete little army in itself. It takes
on any job that any division takes on and is used in places where it's
impossible because of transportation and other difficulties to put in a
whole full size division 1 58 has got is saying, and it's always relieved
by a complete division. And to tell the truth, it has been in the last
three operations and I think they found that they needed most of the
people that they had when they got there to take the place of this tiny
little army of ours. When did you join the 158 General? Just about a year
ago. But long before that, I had heard of their reputation and took pride
in knowing that they were a part of our army. How do you think the Legaspi
operation, which was your last one? Compares with the other assignments
that have been given to the 158? We thought we had caught a lot of bad
country down in New guinea. We thought probably that we were out of that
and the jungle was left behind us. But we found when we got to Legaspi
that the nip had holed himself up in one of the worst pieces of
mountainous jungle. It was ever conceived anywhere in nature. It was a
tough fight. There's a mean fighter. It was one of these blind fights and
we were fighting Japanese naval personnel who were left here to die and
who had all the necessary armament to put on a first class battle. It took
us nearly two and three weeks to do the job completely. And there were
times in that thing when we had to cheer the jap ourselves because he put
on such a grand Children. Thank you Gentleman Neider. I think that it is
my place as a representative of the people of Arizona and more personally
General Tuthill to congratulate you as the present commander of the 158
for the brilliant job of leadership which you have instituted not only in
the rest areas, but likewise under the actual combat conditions. I want
you to know that General Tuthill met with me a few days before I left and
he made me promise almost on an oath, but I would not come to the pacific
without being absolutely certain to visit the 158. There were two
assignments I had especially one was to reach if possible. The crews of
phoenix, which I traveled a long way to accomplish and the other was to
reach you and the 158, sorry to find so many of our Arizona boys absent
glad to know that they have gone home and that that is the reason for
their abs So I know that those fellows who are at home, Colonel Wood and
perhaps Colonel stopped who has a long memory of associations with the 158
and the other boys in the ranks who will be listening to this broadcast
when it's presented at home, will welcome the opportunity to hear your
voice. And I wonder if you'd like to say just a word to them knowing that
they're there and probably list. Well, all I want to say is that they and
I think every one in Arizona, you can be sure that the men of this outfit
will do their best to keep the high reputation of this grand old Arizona
regiment where it belongs. Thank you very much. General Mcknight are
friends. We've been visiting informally with General Hanford Mcknight er
who now is an active command of the 158th regimental combat team. Point of
interest to me is the fact that the general has three sons and the
youngest one is too young still for military service. The next oldest is a
private in the marines and was on evo Jima and tom who is 18 is an air
cadet. So it may be said that they are following in the footsteps of an
illustrious father and will ultimately take his place no doubt in the
ranks of the Armed Forces of the United States. Again, thank you General
McN Eider and especially thank you for the courtesy of the treatment
you've given me during my visit here at the 158. I'm positive that Arizona
will never forget you and that General Tuthill particularly will be glad
to have had this opportunity to hear from you personally. And now this is
howard Pyle returning you from the area occupied by the 158 to phoenix
Arizona and the entire state through fred macpherson.