The Forty-Ninth Armored Division was organized following World War II when the Army National Guard was allowed to create two armored divisions. The two new divisions become the 49th in Texas and the 50th in New Jersey. In the beginning, the new divisions were more of an experiment than a commitment.

The men of the 49th Armored Division came from every part of the state, fought in every theater of World War II and had previously served in every branch of military service. Even though the division had not been completely organized, they trained together for the first time during a summer encampment at Fort Hood, TX in 1948.

The division conducted basic training for its own recruits as well as new training for veterans becoming acclimated to new equipment and roles. By 1949, the organization of the division was complete and the first tank gunners fired for final qualification.

Shortly after being designated combat-ready, the 49th was assigned as one of the six divisions comprising the Ready Reserve Strategic Army Force, a first priority reserve component. The men of the 49th Armored Division came from every part of the state, fought in every theater of World War II and had previously served in every branch of military service. Even though the division had not been completely organized, they trained together for the first time during a summer encampment at Fort Hood, TX in 1948.

In September, 1961, an executive order alerted the 49th Armored Division for mobilization due to the Berlin Crisis. On October 15, 1961, the division entered federal service at armories throughout the state and subsequently deployed to Fort Polk, Louisiana.

During their ten month stay at Fort Polk, the 49th made National Guard history. In May, 1962, the Texas division staged a massive maneuver that was code-named IRON DRAGOON. This is still remembered as a classic National Guard armor exercise. It was also during this period that the 49th was the first Guard unit to fire the Honest John ballistic missile.

Finally, the 49th was named part of the Strategic Army Corps, the best of the active forces. The division had been selected as a top unit in both reserve status and as part of the active Army.

In the post mobilization years, the division leaders concerned themselves with reorganizing the 49th from an internal structure of combat commands to a structure of brigades. The 49th was deactivated in 1968 and reformed into the 36th, 71st and 72nd separate brigades.

The 49th Armored Division was reactivated on November 1, 1973, with its headquarters at Camp Mabry, Austin, TX. Since the reactivation, the 49th has undergone a series of internal reorganizations and force modernizations. Today, in addition to its state mission, the 49th is capstoned to the US Army III Corps and stands as the only fully functional, reserve component, armored division in the United States Army.

In March of 2000, the 49th Armored made history when they took command of Task Force Eagle in Bosnia. It was the first time since World War Two that a National Guard Division had commanded such a large operation force. The 49th was repsonsible for the multi-nation peacekeeping effort in Bosnia and took over comand from the 10th Mountain Division. It was also only the second time since the Vietnam War that a National Guard infantry unit had deployed overseas. The 49th Armored will remain in command until October of 2001 when they are scheduled to be relieved by the 29th Infantry Divison of the Virginia National Guard.