First US Army
History: First Army in World War II and the Cold War
Reactivated at Fort Jay, New York in 1933, First Army's new mission of training and readiness matched much of its post-World War II 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 3 components (Active, Guard, and Reserve) until the eve of World War II, when it resumed a combat role.
After a period of inactivation, First Army was reactivated in October 1943. First Army took over operational control of all US 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 US field force headquarters in Great Britain and soon controlled 4 corps. First Army became the nucleus of the US invasion force for Operation Overlord.
On D-Day, 6 June 1944, with General Omar N. Bradley commanding, First Army troops landed on Omaha and Utah beaches in Normandy. Lieutenant General Courtney Hodges served with Bradley as deputy commander of First Army. In August 1944 he succeeded Bradley, who had gone on to command the 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 4-star General from enlisted private.
After World War II, First Army headquarters was relocated to Governor's Island, New York. There First Army was designated as one of 6 continental US Armies, being redesignated as First US Army in 1957. First US Army was responsible for supervising and training Army National Guard units, as well as commanding all installations in its area of control. First US Army mobilized and deployed thousands of soldiers during the Korean War and for deployment to Vietnam.
On 1 January 1966, First and Second US Armies merged and First US Army headquarters moved to Fort Meade, Maryland. In 1973, First US Army transitioned from an Active Army oriented organization to one dedicated to improving the readiness of Reserve Components.
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