This Date in SDNG History May 14, 1977 - 147th Field Artillery in World War II, Col. Harding interviews Col. Scurr Col. Ken Scurr and Col. G. Homer Harding were both from Pierre, and both were 147th Field Artillery commanders for long periods of time in their military careers. They were, arguably, the two individuals most influential in securing the field artillery as one of the main branches in the South Dakota National Guard force structure. Harding closed out his career, with the rank of brigadier general, as the assistant adjutant general. Scurr, a veteran of World War I and later commander of the 196th Regimental Combat Team, was commander of the 147th Field Artillery in the South Pacific for almost two years in World War II. In order to capture the history of Scurr, Harding, who was commander of the 147th Field Artillery Group from 1969-1977, took it upon himself to interview the retired colonel. The recorded responses were transcribed into a book entitled, Reflections of Service, 147th Field Artillery Group by Col (ret.) Kenneth R. Scurr. In this interview Scurr told Harding that replacements who were assigned to the 147th became as loyal as the original South Dakotans. Two examples that Scurr cited were first from the infantry commander, Gen. MacNider, whom the South Dakota artillery gunners were supporting. MacNider said, “The 147th Field Artillery Battalion was an integral part of the hardest fighting Independent Task Force in the Pacific. The Bushmasters were outstanding from its organization to the routing out of the last of the enemy from the southwest Pacific. No infantry was ever better served by any group of gunners in any Army. It was a privilege to be associated with that magnificent group of South Dakotans.” The second quote comes from 36-year-old Pfc. Thrum of LaPorte, Indiana as he leaned against a pillar to watch the 147th go to work on Japanese entrenched on a nearby ridge. Thrum swore softly and admiringly as he told a correspondent from the Chicago Tribune, “Maybe you don’t know about artillery. Take a look at the best artillery outfit in the world, the 147th. We love those boys. They are so good we let them fire 40 yards ahead of us.” Thrum yawned and stretched drowsily, “I’m getting sleepy. When the 147th gets going I can sleep like a baby.” Photos: (1) Col. Ken Scurr (2) Brig. Gen. G. Homer Harding, assistant adjutant general
Posted on: Wed, 14 May 2014 15:27:06 +0000
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