Today in Guard History

March 11, 1945

Seilsdorf, Germany — "Grover's Ghosts" a combat patrol from the 121st Infantry (GA), 8th Infantry Division, capture this town following a remarkable fire fight.

During the engagement many of the men ran out of ammunition for their weapons. So they started picking up abandoned enemy arms and continued the mission.

They quickly secured the town. Georgia's 121st Infantry had been mobilized as one of four infantry regiments assigned to Guard's 30th Infantry Division in 1940.

However, under new tables of organization implemented by the Army, all infantry divisions were cut from four to three infantry regiments, making them more flexible in combat.

The 121st was ‘cut away' in November 1941 and assigned to the Regular Army's 8th Infantry Division.

It retained this assignment throughout World War II, seeing combat from Normandy into central Germany by war's end.

--National Guard Bureau