Army Dismantling Patton's `Hell On Wheels'

FORT HOOD, Texas - Gen. George Patton's 2nd Armored Division helped win the Battle of the Bulge, but now it has lost the battle of the budget.

The Army has decided to deactivate the unit, ending its colorful history as the armored division with the longest active service record. Formed in July 1940 for European service in World War II, the division is being dismantled 50 years later in anticipation of European peace.

``This division has the most glorious history of any combat unit in the U.S. Army,'' said Lt. Charles MacMaster at Fort Hood.

Patton dubbed the division ``hell on wheels,'' promising it would terrify enemies. Its troops adopted the nickname as their motto. Today, its soldiers still proudly wear ``hell on wheels'' on their division patch.

Patton had urged armored units as early as World War I. It took until just before the outbreak of World War II, though, for military technology to advance enough to demand tank support units.

For demanding the armored units, Patton was officially reprimanded. But his persistence paid off. The 2nd Armored landed on Omaha Beach, pushed through France and was the first allied unit to enter Belgium.

After moving a record 100 miles in a single night, the 2nd Armored helped win the Battle of the Bulge in the winter of 1944 and was the first U.S. unit to enter Berlin on July 4, 1945.

The division previously had been badly defeated in 1943 when 25 of its tanks fought with the British in the Battle of Baja. Only one tank survived that battle.

Parts of the 2nd Armored also participated in the Korean and Vietnam wars. One of its most famous soldiers was Elvis Presley, who was honored in the 2nd Armored war museum here.

Under pressure to cut spending in anticipation of a cutback in European troop strength and more warming of superpower relations, the Army announced that it is deactivating the division. During peacetime, Army divisions are periodically deactivated.

That means 3,537 military jobs will be cut by Sept. 30 at Fort Hood. An additional 8,615 in the division will be cut by Sept. 30, 1991.

The division's goal - supporting U.S. troops in Europe - is less important because ``as the Warsaw Pact disintegrates, the threat is lessened,'' said Army spokesman Maj. Joe Padilla.

Angry at the prospective loss of military personnel, central Texas residents near Fort Hood filed a lawsuit in state court to try to stop the action. The court has not ruled.