9 Replies Latest reply on Feb 17, 2020 2:59 PM by Claudine Burnett Branched to a new discussion.

Seeking records of 76th Chemical Division, WWII

Claudine Burnett Nov 22, 2019 12:51 PM

Seeking information on 76th Chemical Division WWII. 200 black troops assigned to Long Beach, CA. to protect Douglas Aircraft.

Re: Seeking records of 76th Chemical Division, WWII

J. Andrew Nov 30, 2019 2:06 PM (in response to Claudine Burnett)

Where are you finding a citation for a 76th Chemical Division? Are you sure if might not be some other type of unit, such as a company or a battalion? Or maybe a chemical unit within the 76th Infantry Division? 200 people seems awfully small for an Army division, and I can't find any references to a division size chemical warfare unit.

https://www.armydivs.com/
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- Re: Seeking records of 76th Chemical Division, WWII
  
  Claudine Burnett Nov 30, 2019 6:18 PM (in response to J. Andrew)
  
  Information was found in a 1944 document housed in the Kranz YMCA collection at the University of Minnesota. The YMCA was trying to recruit more African American hostesses to set up a USO for the black division in Long Beach. The only other sources I have been able to find are in sports sections of the Long Beach Independent when members of the chemical division were playing other African Americans from Camp Ross in nearby Wilmington. The National Archives has been unable to find information. I am pursuing other sources, but hoped someone on History Hub would have answers.
  
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  - Re: Seeking records of 76th Chemical Division, WWII
    
    J. Andrew Dec 5, 2019 8:57 AM (in response to Claudine Burnett)
    
    Exactly how was the document phrased? Can your provide a quote?
    
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    - Re: Seeking records of 76th Chemical Division, WWII
      
      Claudine Burnett Dec 5, 2019 6:40 PM (in response to J. Andrew)
      
      It reads: "Late in 1942, eight months after the YMCA Industrial USO took over the Long Beach designation, need for services to Negro enlisted personnel became evident. The 76th Chemical Division brought 200 men into the area to protect the Douglas Aircraft Plant." Source: Elmer L. Anderson Library, University of Minnesota, USO City Histories. Indistrial. Long Beach (Negro) "Historical Summary of Extension Service." Kautz Family YMCA Archives. In contacting the university they sent me all 139 pages of the report. I only found one other reference: Minutes 7/27/1943: "There are 1400 Negro troops on guard duty at industrial plants and chemical warfare units in charge of smudge pots."
      
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Re: Seeking records of 76th Chemical Division, WWII

Malisa Simco Dec 4, 2019 9:34 AM (in response to Claudine Burnett)

Dear Ms. Burnett,

Thank you for posting your request on History Hub!

We searched the World War II Operations Reports, 1940-1948 in the Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1905-1981 (Record Group 407) and located a unit history for July 1947 - 1 January 1948 of the 76th Chemical Service Platoon. For access to this series, please contact the National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference (RDT2) via email at archives2reference@nara.gov. We were unable to locate records for a unit designated as the 76th Chemical Division.

We hope this is helpful! Best of luck with your research!

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- Re: Seeking records of 76th Chemical Division, WWII
  
  Claudine Burnett Dec 5, 2019 6:42 PM (in response to Malisa Simco)
  
  Thank you. Though the service platoon history is not for the years I was interested in (1942-45), I am requesting additional information from the source you suggested.
  
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Re: Seeking records of 76th Chemical Division, WWII

Kristin Brooks Barcomb Dec 5, 2019 12:27 PM (in response to Claudine Burnett)

This may be your unit:
76th Chemical Smoke Generator Company, a black unit that was assigned to Camp Haan and Long Beach, CA from 8 Apr 42 to 22 Oct 43. ( It was subsequently at a CWS training camp, Camp Sibert, AL, from 28 Oct 43 to 28 Mar 44. On 31 Mar 44, it was converted to the 1370 Eng Dump Truck Co at Camp Claiborne, LA.)

This unit would have come under the authority of the Western Defense Command (or one of the command's subordinate units) while stationed at Long Beach, CA.

The above info is from the Center of Military History (CMH) green book series for WWII; specifically The Technical Services volume titled "The Chemical Warfare Service: Organizing for War." See Appendix H (Chemical Warfare Service, Unit Data, World War II), pp 422-471. You can read about the defense usage of smoke units in the continental U.S. in the green book series volume titled "The Chemical Warfare Service: Chemicals in Combat," pp 323-326.
You can access the CMH green books at:
https://history.army.mil/html/bookshelves/collect/usaww2.html
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- Re: Seeking records of 76th Chemical Division, WWII
  
  Claudine Burnett Dec 6, 2019 5:16 PM (in response to Kristin Brooks Barcomb)
  
  This is just the information I needed. Question answered!
  
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Re: Seeking records of 76th Chemical Division, WWII

Claudine Burnett Feb 17, 2020 2:59 PM (in response to Claudine Burnett)

Thanks to the wonderful help I received from History Hub participants I was able to write about the 76th Chemical Division and its time in Long Beach. Here is a link https://claudineburnettbooks.com/the-armys-african-american-chemical-divisions-in-long-beach-during-wwii/
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