Douglass, Robert M., scrapbooks

Robert M. Douglass started his military career when he enlisted as a private in company B, 3rd Minnesota Infantry Regiment on January 16, 1916. Shortly after enlisting in the Minnesota National Guard, he and his unit were sent to New Mexico to help capture Pancho Villa during the Mexican Border War, and 1917 he was send to fight in France during World War I. Douglass was commissioned as a second lieutenant, artillery, once he completed the Officer Candidate School at the Saumur Artillery School in France. On November 2, 1923 he was promoted to first lieutenant in the Officer Reserve Corps. Three years later, he was federally recognized as a captain and assigned to the Headquarters, 2nd Battalion, 125th Field Artillery Regiment. On August 12, 1940 he assumed command of the 2nd Battalion, 125th Field Artillery, and entered into active duty with that battalion just prior to the start of World War II, with the 34th Infantry Division. On February 1, 1942 he was assigned as Regimental Executive Officer, 194th Field Artillery Regiment. In January 1943, he assumed command of the 995th Field Artillery Battalion, which was to serve during World War II in Africa, Italy, Southern France, and Germany. After the surrender of Germany, Douglass was assigned to the United States Control Group Council, G5 Division, Headquarters U.S. Forces, European Theater, to assist in post war operations in Germany. After the war, he was instrumental in the reactivation of the Minnesota National Guard, and on September 16, 1946 he was assigned as the executive officer of the 47th Division Artillery. On January 16, 1951, Colonel Douglass re-entered federal service for the Korean War. On December 23, 1953, after the Korean War, he returned to Minneapolis to take over command of the 47th Infantry Division Artillery during the period of reorganization of the Minnesota National Guard following the Korean War. He remained at this assignment until November 30, 1955.