First US Army in World War II
Reactivated at Fort Jay, NY, in 1933, First Army's new mission of training and readiness matched today's mission. The 1930's and early '40s, became known as the maneuver years when large troop movements were used to develop training and mobilization readiness. First Army commanded Soldiers from the Army's three components (Active, Guard and Reserve) until the eve of WWII, when it resumed a combat role.
First U.S. Army (FUSA) was activated in October 1943. FUSA took over operational control of all U.S. ground forces in Britain from V Corps. All ground forces were assigned to First Army instead of V Corps for administration and training. Bradley commanded both units. The lst Army Group's main concern was planning, mainly with the British 21st Army Group. First Army became the overall U.S. field force headquarters in Great Britain and soon controlled four corps. First U.S. Army became the nucleus of the U.S. invasion force for operation Overlord.
On D-Day, June 6, 1944, with Gen. Omar N. Bradley commanding, First Army troops landed on Omaha and Utah beaches in Normandy. Lt. Gen. Courtney Hodges served with Bradley as deputy commander of First Army. In August 1944 he succeeded Bradley, who had gone on to command 12th Army Group. First Army established an impressive record of "firsts" in World War II. Hodges' troops were the first Americans to enter Paris on their way across Northern France and through the Ardennes Forest. They were the first to cross the Siegfried Line into Germany in September 1944 and reached the Rhine in March 1945. Hodges was promoted to general after encountering Russian forces at Torgau in April 1945. Following the German surrender he was preparing to take the First Army to the Pacific theater in September, 1945 when the war ended. Hodges' promotion made him the second man to rise to four-star General from enlisted private. After World War II, First U.S. Army headquarters was on Governor's Island, NY.
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