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Show Utah Guard Readies Trip to Puerto Rico Effectiveness of the Utah National Na-tional Guard as a first line component com-ponent will be tested next month when the 2nd Howitzer Battalion moves into Puerto Rico to participate par-ticipate in "Operation Big Slam! Puerto Rico." A strategical operation of the Armed Forces, "Operation Big Slam" is designed to test the effectiveness of Army combat units and MATS, Military Air Transport Service. Utah's sharp shooting artillery men will represent all National Guard units in the nation. An Army Reserve Unit from Pennsylvania Penn-sylvania has also been selected to participate in the operation. The Utah Battalion was selected select-ed from all other National Guard units because of its operational excellence and high record attained at-tained as a heavy weapons force, further evidence of the superiority superior-ity of the Utah National Guard as one of this country's military backstops. More than 30 officers and enlisted en-listed men, mostly from Utah's southernmost areas, will participate parti-cipate in "Operation Big Slam." They will be air lifted from Hill Air Force Base to Puerto Rico aboard C121G Transports supplied sup-plied by MATS. Five transports, each capable of transporting 75 men and their equipment, will be required to air ntt me uuardsmen. The first place is tentatively scheduled to depart Hill Air Force base on the evening of March 14. While in Puerto Rico the Utah Guardsmen will be under the Antillies Command. The Utah Guardsmen will spend 11 days training on the tropical 10 Oby 40 mile island in temperatures of 80 and above. Training will be identical to that the Guardsmen have under gone in the past at Camp W. G. Williams, south of Salt Lake City. Normal Battalion tests and small unit tactical exercises will be completed with use of 105mm towed howitzers. All necessary equipment will be supplied the Utah Guardsmen by units of the Puerto Rico National Guard. Regular Army identification "dog tags" and overseas immunization immu-nization treatment against disease dis-ease will be compulsory for all Guardsmen who will participate. Only once before have Utah Guardsmen received technical training outside of the state. The Howitzer Battalion claims the1 distinction of special training only second to Salt Lake City's 14t4h Evacuation Hospital which trained at Fort Ord, Calif., last summer. |
