40th Armored Division

• Nickname: The 40th Armored Division was known as the "Grizzly Division," a nod to the California state animal and its origins as a unit of the California Army National Guard. • Activation: The division was officially activated as an armored division in 1954, transitioning from the 40th Infantry Division, which had seen action in World War II and the Korean War. • Cold War Role: During the Cold War, the 40th Armored Division was a key component of the U.S. Army’s strategic reserve, prepared to deploy in case of conflict with the Soviet Union. • Training at Fort Irwin: The division conducted significant training exercises at Fort Irwin, California, which would later become the home of the National Training Center. • Disaster Response: In addition to its combat role, the 40th Armored Division participated in state emergency responses, including earthquakes and civil disturbances, fulfilling its National Guard mission. • Distinctive Insignia: The division’s patch featured a grizzly bear and a gold diamond, symbolizing California’s heritage and the division’s armored might. • Annual Training: The division regularly held large-scale annual training events, often involving combined arms operations with tanks, infantry, and artillery. • Notable Commanders: Major General Glenn C. Ames, among others, led the division during its armored era, steering it through modernization and training improvements. • Deactivation: The 40th Armored Division was deactivated in 1968, as part of a broader reorganization of the Army National Guard. Its lineage and honors transferred back to the 40th Infantry Division. • Legacy: Veterans of the 40th Armored Division continue to hold reunions and preserve its legacy, celebrating their service and the unique history of the “Grizzlies.”