The Battalion was born on the 25th of June 1943 at Fort Ord, California, in a dusty spot covered with tar paper shacks - the East Garrison.   The main part of the cadre came from the 225th Field Artillery Regiment (155 mm Howitzers) that was based in the Maui District of Hawaii. Others came from the 181st Field Artillery Regiment. A
number of these men had been in the Utah National Guard.   The Battalion Commander was Major Philip Watrous.   At this time the 736th was attached to XX Corps Artillery, under the command of Brig. Gen. Julis E. Slack.  The Battalion was composed of the Battalion Headquarters, Headquarters Battery, Service Battery and four firing Batteries.  The battalion was brought up to the Table Of Organization strength by enlistees and draftees and  began  training and receiving its equipment according to the TOE (Table of Equipment).

              
                          Headquarters Battery - East Garrison                             Full Combat Uniform                                        

      The first round fired from one of the 8 inch howitzers was fired by A Battery on Sept 16, 1943, Major Watrous pulled the lanyard.   After a good deal of painful training and testing at Hunter Liggett early in 1944, the battalion passed its AGF test at Fort Ord on 15 April, 1944, under the command of Major Ernest J. Stocks.  There would be an anxious wait of nearly two months, waiting for orders to go overseas.
  

     
    Hunter Liggett  April 1944                              Tent City at Hunter Liggett