Arkansas Democrat-Gazette November 12, 2008
Bits of History : Tale of a WW I helmet
By Terrilyn Wendling
On May 25, 1917, Everett Russell of Gravette did his civic duty and enlisted in the U. S. Army. He was sent to Camp Pike, Ark., for training with the 142 nd Field Artillery Brigade. The unit was mustered into federal service in April 1917 as an element of the 39 th Division. The 39 th Division was a group of National Guard troops from Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi.
Russell left Camp Pike for Camp Beauregard, La., in August 1917 to begin training with this new group of soldiers. By August 1918 Russell found himself in France where he spent one year. While in France, Russell served with the 64 th Field Artillery Brigade along with three other Artillery Regiments and one Trench Mortar Battery. Russell left France in June 1919 and arrived at Camp Pike to be honorably discharged. During his few years of service Russell made the rank of corporal.
As a reminder of his service in the world's first Great War, Russell kept his helmet. This metal head protector was a necessity and was very often picked up by soldiers as they marched through previous battle sites. Many German helmets from World War I and World War II have found their way into museums across the United States after being picked up by many a soldier while on tour in Europe.
This helmet has the 39 th Divisions unique insignia on the front. Each unit within the army has an insignia that is placed on the shoulders of their uniforms and their helmets. This insignia shows the Greek letter delta (the triangle ) which signified the Mississippi delta from which many of the soldiers came. This insignia was never approved by the American Expeditionary Forces.
In January 1919 the unit was demobilized at Camp Beauregard, La. Part of the division was reorganized in Alabama, Mississippi, Florida and given a new designation as the 31 st Infantry Division. After WW II the 39 th Division was reorganized and reconstituted; and federally recognized in September 1946 in Louisiana and August 1947 in Arkansas. They were ordered into service October 1957 only to be released from that service a month later. In December 1969 the unit became recognized by the Department of the Army as "The Arkansas Brigade. "The 39 th Infantry Brigade trains throughout Arkansas to remain at combat readiness with their headquarters at Ricks Armory in Little Rock. Today, it is the largest combat unit within Arkansas.
Terrilyn Wendling is the collections assistant for the Rogers Historical Museum and can be contacted by e-mail at twendling @ rogersark. org.
"39 th "Delta"Division," The Digital Bookshelf, featured on http: // www. thedigitalbookshelf. us / division _ 39. htm "39 th Infantry Brigade (Light ) (Separate / Enhanced )," Globalsecurity.org, featured on http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/39inbde htm "142 nd Field Artillery Brigade "Razorback Redlegs"," Globalsercurity.org, featured on http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/142fa-bde.htm
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