First US Army
"First In Deed"
Command authority for the Army National Guard in peacetime belongs to the governor of each state and is exercised through the state Adjutant General to subordinate commanders. First Army oversees the training and monitors the mobilization readiness of Army National Guard units within its area of responsibility. Since the activation of the Army Reserve Command in October 1992, First Army no longer commands the Army Reserve units in its area of responsibility; however, it retains the mission of providing training assistance and training support for Reserve Component units in preparation for war and other missions. First Army has the additional missions of preparing to mobilize and deploy Reserve Component units, planning for the security and key assets protection of the eastern United States, and, on order, providing assistance to civilian authorities during peacetime crises. In 1995 all but two of the Continental United States Armies (CONUSA) were inactivated. First Army's area of responsibility include all states east of the Mississippi River, and Minnesota.
First United States Army was formed in France on August 10, 1918 with General John J. Pershing commanding. As America's FIRST numbered Army, First Army engaged in two major operations - the reduction of the St. Mihiel salient, east of Verdun, and the great Meuse-Argonne offensive, west of Verdun. Listed among First Army's distinguished soldiers were Lt. Gen. Hunter Liggett, Brig. Gen. Douglas MacArthur, Col. George C. Marshall, Maj. Eddie Rickenbacker, Brig. Gen. Billy Mitchell and Sgt. Alvin York. After World War I ended and after a short period of occupation in Europe, First Army was deactivated in 1919.
Reactivated at Fort Jay, NY, in 1933, First Army's new mission of training and readiness matched today's mission. On D-Day, June 6, 1944, with Gen. Omar N. Bradley commanding, First Army troops landed on Omaha and Utah beaches in Normandy. First Army established an impressive record of "FIRSTs" in World War II: First on beaches of Normandy; First out of Normandy beachhead; First into Paris; First to break Siegfried Line; First to cross the Rhine; and First to meet the Russians. After World War II, First U.S. Army headquarters was on Governor's Island, NY.
On January 1, 1966, First and Second Armies merged and First Army headquarters moved to Fort Meade, MD. In 1973, First Army transitioned from an Active Army oriented organization to one dedicated to improving the readiness of Reserve Components. Once again, in 1983, another reorganization took place. Second U.S. Army was reactivated at Fort Gillem, GA, and assumed responsibility for Reserve Component matters in seven states and two territories formerly belonging to First Army. In 1991, Fourth U.S. Army was deactivated and its seven midwestern states became part of First Army. In 1995, First Army left Fort Meade, MD and was reorganized at Fort Gillem, GA.
