The division participated in maneuvers in Louisiana during the summer of 1941. After the Thirty-sixth returned from the war games, the army alerted the Second Battalion, 131st Field Artillery, for assignment.
Thanks Marion. I'm familiar with that history through the Louisiana Maneuvers but had never heard about the 131st FA being selected for duty in the Pacific. It didn't make any sense that an artillery unit would have been selected without any mention of infantry. Also, your info says that they stayed behind when the other military forces evacuated.
Note that it says that "Second Battalion" was seelcted. Prior to the Army Re-org, the infantry divisions were larger and their artillery units were identified as Regiments. Each regiment consisted of two battalions of 4 Batteries each.
After the Re-org, the division contained 3 (and later 4) FA Battalions, consisting of three Batteries.
Interesting connection to the history of "Burma-Siam Death Railway"----aka Bridge over River Kwai.
Steve
131st Field Artillery Battalion
"We Play the Game"