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Arkansas National Guard |
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Arkansas State Guard, 1879–1907 |
Arkansas State Guard and the Spanish–American War |
Arkansas National Guard 1907–1949 |
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Arkansas Army National Guard (1949–Present) |
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The history of the Arkansas National Guard and World War II begins with the reorganization following World War I. The State first reorganized a provision unit, the 5th Arkansas, in order to provide a force to deal with domestic situations. As the Defense Department slowly implemented the massive changes and expansions outlined National Defense Act of 1916, the Arkansas National Guard was allowed to reorganize its war time units, including the 153rd Infantry Regiment, the 141st Machine Gun Battalion, and the 142nd Field Artillery. The Guard acquired its first permanent facilities and additional training during its annual encampments. During World War II, the entire Arkansas National Guard was activated and units saw duty in the Pacific and European theaters of conflict.
The effort to rapidly reorganize the Arkansas National Guard following World War I was a complicated task for two reasons, first the fact that the units mobilized for the war had effectively been disbanded at the end of the war and second because Federal Authorities were focused on a massive expansion of the National Guard.
The state requested authority from the Militia Bureau (predecessor of today's National Guard Bureau) for authority to disband the paper organizations of the 4th Arkansas Infantry and the 1st Arkansas Engineer Battalion. [1] This was accomplished in February 1920.
However, as it became clear that the mobilized units would not simply revert to state control, the state petitioned the War Department to be able to fill the state's quota of National Guard Soldiers by establishing several new units, in order to provide the governor with units to respond in case of an emergency: [1]
A proclamation was issued by the Governor on 7 November 1919, calling upon every county and city to co-operation in the organizing of at least one National Guard Company in each county. A campaign was launched in January 1920 by bringing the Regimental Commander and a group of officers and enlisted soldiers who toured through 64 of the state's largest cities to raise awareness and support of the National Guard. [1]
Under as a result of this campaign, the following units were authorized to expand the new 5th Arkansas Infantry: [2]
Infantry companies were also authorized at the following cities. [2]
A key piece of Federal Legislation governing the organization of the National Guard had been passed during the buildup to World War I. The National Defense Act of 1916 provided for an expanded army during peace and wartime, fourfold expansion of the National Guard, the creation of an Officers' and an Enlisted Reserve Corps, plus the creation of a Reserve Officers' Training Corps in colleges and universities. The act clarified the authority of the President, in case of war or national emergency, to mobilize the National Guard for the duration of the emergency. The act was passed amidst the "preparedness controversy", a brief frenzy of great public concern over the state of preparation of the United States armed forces, and shortly after Poncho Villa's cross-border raid on Columbus, New Mexico. It authorized an army of 175,000 men, a National Guard of 450,000 men. The Act represented the settlement of a debate that had raged over whether the Nation need a large professional standing army, like the European powers or whether national defense should be provided with a smaller standing regular army, supplemented in time of war by a strong well organized National Guard. [3]
While the act was utilized to mobilize the entire National Guard for the Mexican Expedition and World War I, the massive expansion of the National Guard which it authorized had not yet been implemented before the outbreak of the war. This meant that while the state authorities were focused on how to reconstitute the Arkansas National Guard, the Federal Authorities were planning the expansion of the National Guard from a force of 110,000 during the Mexican Expedition to the 450,000 man force authorized by the Act. From 1920 to 1922 various meetings were conducted at the state and regional level to determine what troops and units would be allotted to the Arkansas National Guard. [4]
By 1921 the state had been authorized to reconstitute its war time units. The 5th Arkansas Infantry was reorganized as the 153rd Infantry and the 141st Machine Gun battalion. The 153rd Infantry was stationed as follows: [5]
Headquarters | Company | Station | Federal recognition |
---|---|---|---|
153 Infantry Regiment | HHC, 153rd IN | Russellville | January 28, 1926 |
Service Company | Searcy, Arkansas | July 2, 1924 | |
Band Section, Svc Company | Conway, Arkansas | November 13, 1923 | |
Howitzer Company | Mena, Arkansas | October 25, 1921 | |
Medical Detachment | Prescott, Arkansas | January 12, 1923 | |
1st Battalion, 153 Infantry Regiment | Headquarters, 1-153rd In | Hope, Arkansas | October 25, 1921 |
Headquarters Company, 1-153rd IN | Ashdown, Arkansas | December 14, 1923 | |
Company A, 1-153 IN | Hope, Arkansas | December 30, 1920 | |
Company B, 1-153 IN | Magnolia, Arkansas | March 29, 1921 | |
Company C, 1-153 IN | Prescott, Arkansas | February 21, 1921 | |
Company D, 1-153 IN | Pine Bluff, Arkansas | July 31, 1920 | |
2nd Battalion, 153 Infantry Regiment | Headquarters | Little Rock, Arkansas | June 25, 1921 |
Headquarters Company, 2-153 IN | Conway, Arkansas | January 27, 1926 | |
Company E, 2-153 IN | Clarksville, Arkansas | February 25, 1921 | |
Company F, 2-153 IN | Dardanelle, Arkansas | April 28, 1923 | |
Company G, 2-153 IN | Conway, Arkansas | April 21, 1921 | |
Company H, 2-153 IN | Forrest City, Arkansas | May 25, 1921 | |
3rd Battalion, 153 Infantry Regiment | Headquarters, 3-153 IN | Cotton Plant, Arkansas | July 1, 1921 |
Headquarters Company, 3-153 IN | Beebe, Arkansas | June 25, 1921 | |
Company I, 3-153 IN | Cotton Plant, Arkansas | March 15, 1921 | |
Company K, 3-153 IN | Lonoke, Arkansas | June 23, 1923 | |
Company L, 3-153 IN | Batesville, Arkansas | October 2, 1924 | |
Company M, 3-153 IN Command | Blytheville, Arkansas | May 8, 1921 |
The 141st Machine Gun Battalion (Anti-Aircraft) was reorganized in the Arkansas National Guard with units stationed as follows: [6]
Unit | Station | Federal recognition dates |
---|---|---|
Headquarters Battery | Nashville | June 21, 1921 |
Battery E | Heber Springs | June 7, 1921 |
Battery F | Blue Mountain | June 11, 1921 |
Battery G | Fort Smith | June 23, 1921 |
Battery H | Little Rock | June 24, 1921 |
In 1923, The Arkansas National Guard was allocated a new organization, the 206th Coast Artillery (Anti Aircraft). The unit resulted form the reorganization and re-designation of the 141st Machine Gun Battalion (Anti Aircraft). The 141st was incorporated into the new unit as the 2nd Battalion, 206th Coast Artillery (Anti Aircraft). [7] The newly formed 206th Coast Artillery took its coat of arms from Chaumont, one of the principal towns in the Department of Haute-Marne, France, where the 141st Machine Gun Battalion was stationed during World War I. [8]
The 206th Coast Artillery (AA) was initially stationed as follows: [9]
Unit | Station | Federal recognition dates |
---|---|---|
Headquarters | Marianna | November 23, 1923 |
Headquarters Battery | Marianna | November 23, 1923 |
Service Battery | Harrison | December 3, 1923 |
Band Section, Service Battery | Marianna | June 24, 1921 |
Medical Department Detachment | Fort Smith | December 18, 1924 |
Headquarters Detachment and Combat Train, 1st Battalion | El Dorado | November 8, 1923 |
Battery A | Fayetteville | December 4, 1923 |
Battery B | Monticello | October 16, 1923 |
Battery C | Jonesboro | October 19, 1923 |
Battery D | Russellville | October 23, 1923 |
Headquarters Detachment and Combat Train, 2nd Battalion | Nashville | June 21, 1921 |
Battery E | Heber Springs | June 7, 1921 |
Battery F | Russellville | January 26, 1925 |
Battery G | Fort Smith | May 26, 1924 |
Battery H | Little Rock | June 24, 1921 |
The following hospital units were created during the post-World War I expansion: [10]
Unit | Station | Federal recognition dates |
---|---|---|
Hospital Company Number 216 | Hot Springs | September 15, 1922 |
Ambulance Company Number 216 | Carlisle, Arkansas | June 23, 1923 |
The state was allocated and Observation Squadron, which assumed to designation of the 154 to continue the history of the 154th Infantry, which had been organized during World War I from the former 3rd Arkansas Infantry. The 154th Observation Squadron was organized at Little Rock and federally recognized on October 24, 1925.
On June 16, 1931, the state was authorized to reconstitute the 142nd Field Artillery. [11] Several of the new 142nd batteries were organized from the 206th Coast Artillery. [12]
New unit | Former unit | Station | Federal recognition dates |
---|---|---|---|
Headquarters, 1st Battalion, 142nd FA | New Unit | Prescott | June 26, 1931 |
Headquarters Battery and Combat Train | New Unit | Haze | June 26, 1931 |
Battery A | Battery H, 206th CA | Fayetteville | September 2, 1931 |
Battery B | Battery E, 206th CA | Fayetteville | September 2, 1931 |
Battery C | Battery G, 206th CA | Fort Smith | April 20, 1936 |
Medical Detachment | New Unit | Hot Springs | June 26, 1931 |
On April 3, 1936, the war department authorize the creation of the 2nd Battalion, 142nd Field Artillery as follows: [13]
New unit | Former unit | Station | Federal recognition dates |
---|---|---|---|
Headquarters, 2nd Battalion, 142nd FA | New Unit | Hot Springs | April 3, 1936 |
Headquarters Battery and Combat Train | New Unit | Fort Smith | June 26, 1931 |
Battery C | New Unit | Mena | June 26, 1931 |
Medical Detachment | New Unit | Fort Smith | June 26, 1931 |
On March 6, 1937, the War Department authorized the creation the following additional units for the 142nd Field Artillery Regiment: [13]
New unit | Former unit | Station | Federal recognition dates |
---|---|---|---|
Headquarters, 3rd Battalion, 142nd FA | New Unit | Fayetteville | March 6, 1937 |
Battery E | New Unit | Paris | March 6, 1937 |
Battery F | New Unit | Rogers | March 6, 1937 |
Service Battery | New Unit | Harrison | March 6, 1937 |
Band Section | New Unit | Fort Smith | March 6, 1937 |
During the period between the World Wars, the Arkansas National Guard acquired its first permanent facilities. The Guard also received improved training at its annual encampments.
Until the reorganization following World War I, the state owned no armories. A proclamation was issued by Governor Charles Brough on 7 November 1919 appealing to all county and city officials to co-operate in the building of at least one "Memorial Community Armory Building" in each county in honor of World War I veterans. [14] The first of the new armories was built in 1926, and by 1940, the state owned a total of 25 Armories located in the following cities:
The state had acquired Camp Pike, the U.S. Army Installation that had been built for World War I. The Secretary of War granted the state a revocable license for the camp, which was accepted by Governor Thomas C. McRae on December 22, 1922. [5] The camp was turned over to the Camp Pike Honorary Commission which liquidated surplus Federal government property left at the Camp, raising approximately $250,000. These funds were utilized to new buildings and to provide for maintenance and up keep of the facilities. The commission also built a water tank and established a target range with funds from the sale. The Camp would eventually be renamed in honor of Arkansas Senator Joseph T. Robinson.
Arkansas National Guard Troops often traveled out of state to conduct training at U.S. Army facilities. In 1940, all Arkansas National Guard units participated in the 4th Army Maneuvers held in Minnesota beginning August 24, 1940. [15]
The 206th Coast Artillery also conducted summer encampments at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and in 1933 and 1934 at Fort Barrancas, Florida; [16] Fort Sheridan, Illinois, and Camp Pacos, Texas.
The great Mississippi River flood of 1927 was one of the worst natural disasters in American history. It inundated 27,000 square miles, an area about the size of New England, killing as many as 1,000 people and displacing 700,000 more. At a time when the entire budget of the federal government was barely $3 billion, the flood caused an estimated $1 billion in damage. Although National Guard aviation units had been regularly called upon to assist civil authorities since early in that decade, the 1927 flood marked the first time that an entire Guard flying unit and its government-issued aircraft had been mobilized to help deal with a major natural disaster. [17]
Governor John E. Martineau called up the 10 officers and 50 enlisted members of the 154th Observation Squadron, Arkansas National Guard, to help locate stranded flood victims as well as to deliver food, medicines and supplies to them and relief workers. The unit also conducted aerial patrols along the Mississippi River scouting for weakened or broken levees. Its JN-4 Jenny aircraft flew some 20,000 miles during the mobilization which lasted from 18 April through 3 May 1927. Members of the unit also worked to strengthen and repair river levees. [17]
Flood relief operations took a toll on the 154th. Two aircraft crashed and at least three aviators were injured. The unit's remaining aircraft were grounded for maintenance and repairs at one point. Because of the heavy burden of flight operations, five of the unit's aging JN-4s had to be replaced by PT-1 trainer aircraft in mid-May 1927. The flood relief work of the 154th underscores the long-standing but little understood history of Air National Guard units and their pre-World War II antecedents in supporting civil authorities. [17]
After the various re-stationing, creation and re-constitution of units, the Arkansas National Guard consisted of the following units on the eve of World War II: [18]
State Headquarters and Detachment
153rd Infantry Regiment
Headquarters | Company | Station |
---|---|---|
153 Infantry Regiment | HHC, 153rd IN | Russellville |
Service Company | Searcy | |
Band Section, Svc Company | North Little Rock | |
Howitzer Company | Arkadelphia | |
Medical Detachment | Hot Springs | |
1st Battalion, 153 Infantry Regiment | Headquarters, 1-153rd In | North Little Rock |
Company A, 1-153 IN | Hope | |
Company B, 1-153 IN | Magnolia | |
Company C, 1-153 IN | Prescott | |
Company D, 1-153 IN | Magnolia | |
2nd Battalion, 153 Infantry Regiment | Headquarters | Conway |
Company E, 2-153 IN | Clarksville | |
Company F, 2-153 IN | Dardanelle | |
Company G, 2-153 IN | Conway | |
Company H, 2-153 IN | Forrest City | |
3rd Battalion, 153 Infantry Regiment | Headquarters, 3-153 IN | Beebe |
Company I, 3-153 IN | Pine Bluff | |
Company K, 3-153 IN | Hoxie | |
Company L, 3-153 IN | Batesville | |
Company M, 3-153 IN | Blytheville |
206th Coast Artillery Regiment (Anti Aircraft)
Unit | Station | College |
---|---|---|
Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, | Marianna | |
Band Section, Service Battery | Marianna | |
Medical Detachment | North Little Rock | |
Service Battery | Newport | |
Headquarters 1st Battalion and Ammunition Train | El Dorado | |
Battery A | Little Rock | |
Battery B | Monticello | Arkansas Agricultural and Mechanical College |
Battery C | Jonesboro | Arkansas State College |
Battery D | Russellville | Arkansas Polytechnic College |
Headquarters 2nd Battalion and Ammunition Train * | Newport | |
Battery E | Camden | |
Battery F | Russellville | Arkansas Polytechnic College |
Battery G | Helena | |
Battery H | Hot Springs |
154th Observation Squadron, Air Corps
142nd Field Artillery Regiment
Unit | Station | College |
---|---|---|
Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, | Texarkansa | |
Band Section, Service Battery | Fort Smith | |
Medical Detachment | Fort Smith | |
Service Battery | Harrison | |
Headquarters 1st Battalion and Combat Train | Fayetteville | University of Arkansas |
Battery A | Fayetteville | University of Arkansas |
Battery B | Fayetteville | University of Arkansas |
Headquarters 2nd Battalion and Ammunition Train * | Fort Smith | |
Battery C | Fort Smith | |
Battery D | Mena | |
Headquarters 3rd Battalion and Ammunition Train * | Hazen | |
Battery E | Paris | |
Battery F | Rogers |
During the buildup to World War II, while the nation was still wavering on the question of whether to enter another European War, President Roosevelt took the precaution of mobilizing the National Guard for what was originally described as one year of training. The first units were mobilized in September 1940 and by the end of January 1941 all units of the Arkansas National Guard were mobilized. Many of these units had completed their post mobilization training and been shipped to duty at various stations several months before the United States officially declared war after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. In all 272 officers and 41496 enlisted men of the Arkansas National Guard were mustered into Federal Service for World War II. [19]
The first unit called to active duty was the 154th Observation Squadron on September 16, 1940. [20] After extensive stateside training, the majority of the squadron departed New York City and arrived in North Africa November 8, 1942. [21] The airplanes arrived in early December, having flown from Florida to South America and across the Southern Atlantic via Ascension Island to Africa. Only 23 of 36 planes that started the trip arrived in North Africa. Flying A-20s, P-38s, P-39s and P-51s, the 154th flew combat missions from several airfields in North Africa. The 154th is credited with flying the first combat mission in a P-51 in the Mediterranean April 9, 1943. [21] The squadron moved to Bari Airdrome east of Naples, Italy in February 1944. There the 154th flew combat missions all across Europe until the end of the war. The squadron earned a distinguished unit citation for its service in operations over the Ploesti oil refineries in August 1944.
The 153rd Infantry Regiment was ordered to active duty on December 23, 1940, as a part of a one-year mobilization of the National Guard in preparation for World War II, and spent the next 10 days at what is now the University of Central Arkansas. [22] The 153rd then moved to Camp Robinson and completed basic training. Moving to Camp Forrest, TN, the regiment spent six week in maneuvers and returned to Camp Robinson for a few days of leave before shipping out to Camp Murray, WA on August 20, 1941.
The 153rd, along with the 206th Coast Artillery Regiment arrived in Alaska in August 1941. [23]
The 1st and 3rd Battalions, 153rd Infantry were then posted to Annette Island and Seward, Nome and Yakutat, Alaska.
The 2nd Battalion, 153rd Infantry was stationed on Umnak Island, west of Dutch Harbor and took part in the occupation of Adak Island and the assault on Kiska, [24] August 15, 1943, part of the Aleutian Islands Campaign. The Japanese had secretly abandoned Kiska only days before the invasion by U.S. Forces. The recapture of Kiska brought the Aleutian Islands Campaign to a close. [25]
The 153rd returned to Camp Shelby, Mississippi, on March 21, 1944, and was inactivated on June 30, 1944; its soldiers assigned to other units as replacements. Many returned to Camp Robinson as cadre. [22] The 153rd was awarded the following Campaign Participation Credit:
The 206th Coast Artillery Regiment (CA) was inducted into Federal service 6 January 1941 at home stations as a part of a one-year mobilization of the National Guard in preparation for World War II. Later the Regiment moved to Fort Bliss, Texas, and conducted its initial training. The 206th Coast Artillery Regiment was deployed to Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska, and had been on station for approximately 4 months when the Japanese Navy attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The 206th CA was equipped with the M1918 3-inch Gun (an older model with a vertical range of 8,200 m), .50-caliber machine guns, and 60-inch (1.5 m) Sperry searchlights.
In June 1942, as part of the Japanese operations against Midway Island, the Japanese attacked the Aleutian Islands, starting with the Battle of Dutch Harbor, beginning what would become known as the Aleutian Islands Campaign.
A Japanese task force led by Admiral Kakuji Kakuta bombed Dutch Harbor on Unalaska Island twice, once on June 3 and again the following day. [26] Many members of the 206th were awakened on June 3 by the sound of bombs and gunfire. While the unit had been on alert for an attack for many days, there was no specific warning of the attack before the Japanese planes arrived over Dutch Harbor. With no clear direction from headquarters, other than an initial cease fire order which was quickly withdrawn, gun crews from every battery quickly realized the danger, ran to their guns stationed around the harbor and began to return fire. In addition to their 3-inch guns, 37mm guns and .50 caliber machine guns, members of the unit fired their rifles and one even claimed to have hurled a wrench at a low flying enemy plane. Several members reported being able to clearly see the faces of the Japanese aviators as they made repeated runs over the island. [27] The highest casualties on the first day occurred when bombs struck barracks 864 and 866 in Fort Mears, killing Seventeen men of the 37th Infantry and eight from the 151st Engineers. [28] The 206th CA spent much of the night of June 3 to June 4 moving their guns down off the mountain tops surrounding the harbor and into the city. Civilian contractor's offered to help and were put to work filling sandbags to protect the new gun positions. When the Japanese returned on June 4, the Zeros concentrated on strafing the gun positions while their bombers destroyed the full tanks located at the harbor. After the fuel tanks, the enemy concentrated on the ships in the harbor, the Fillmore and the Gillis.
Driven away from these two targets by intense anti aircraft fire, they finally succeeded in destroying the Northwestern which, because of its large size they mistakenly believed was a warship. The Northwestern was actually a transport ship which was beached and its power plant was being used to produce steam and electricity for the shore installations. [29] The damage caused to the Dutch Harbor Naval facilities and nearby Fort Mears, including the destruction of gas storage facilities and the destruction of the Northwestern, were strategically insignificant. The significant outcomes of the battle were the discovery of a secret U.S. airbase in the Aleutian Islands, previously unknown to the Japanese, and the recovery of a Japanese Zero aircraft by U.S. forces following the battle. The Regiment sustained seven killed in action during the bombing of Dutch Harbor. [30]
With the threat to the Aleutian Islands at an end, the Regiment was redeployed to Fort Bliss in March 1944, deactivated and personnel were reassigned. The 1st Battalion was redesignated the 596th AAA (automatic weapons), but was broken up after a month and its personnel used as replacements. The 2nd Battalion was redesignated the 597th AAA (automatic weapons) and participated in the Central Europe and Rhineland campaigns. The 3rd Battalion, which was created in Alaska, was redesignated the 339th Searchlight Battalion but was disbanded in less than three months and its personnel used as replacements. [31] Several hundred former members of the 206th became infantry replacements, most being assigned to the 86th and the 87th Infantry Divisions. [32] The 597th AAA was inactivated December 12, 1945, at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey. The 206th was awarded the following Campaign Participation Credit:
The 142nd Field Artillery Regiment was inducted into Federal service on 6 January 1941, at Fayetteville. [33] The 142nd Field Artillery Regiment was ordered the unit moved to Fort Sill, OK where the 3rd Battalion was disbanded. In February the Regiment moved to Camp Bowie, TX and began extensive training. On February 25, 1943, the 142nd Field Artillery Regiment was disbanded. The headquarters was redesignated the 142nd Field Artillery Group, the 1st Battalion became the 936th and the 2nd became the 937th. [34] These were independent battalions equipped with the 155mm howitzer.
The 142nd Field Artillery Group left Camp Bowie September 25, 1943, and arrived in England on November 3, 1943. It crossed Utah Beach June 10, 1944, and participated in the European offensive with up to five battalions attached. When the war ended it was 25 miles (40 km) from the Elbe River. [33]
The 936th Field Artillery Battalion left Camp Bowie August 9, 1943, arrived in Algiers September 2, 1943, and landed in Naples, Italy November 11, 1943. It participated in the drive across the Rapido River, the liberation of Rome and the assault on Mount Cassino. When the war ended the 936th was across the Po River, about 45 miles (72 km) from Venice. It had fired 139,364 rounds in combat and was awarded battle streamers for the following campaigns:
The 937th Field Artillery Battalion left Camp Bowie on August 10, 1943, arrived in Algiers September 2, 1943, and landed in Naples, Italy November 11, 1943. It participated in the drive across the Rapido River and the liberation of Rome. It then prepared for and participated in the amphibious landings in southern France August 15, 1944. One of vessels carrying the 937th FA was hit by a German bomber resulting in 1 KIA, 2 MIA, 83 WIA and the loss of the fire direction equipment and one battery of howitzers. The 937th fired over 200,000 combat rounds and was awarded battle streamers for the following campaigns:
Just as the State had organized the Home Guard units for World War I in order to give the governor a force to utilize in case of emergency, the state re-established the Arkansas State Guard during World War II. [35] General Order Number 4, dated May 1, 1942, established the State Guard with officer and enlisted strength, stationing and designations as follows:
Unit | Station | Officers | Enlisted |
---|---|---|---|
Equipment HQ | Little Rock | 10 | None |
Headquarters Detachment, 1st Battalion | Camden | 3 | 11 |
Medical Detachment | Hot Springs | 3 | 8 |
Company A | El Dorado | 3 | 55 |
Company B | Prescott | 3 | 5 |
Company C | Hot Springs | 3 | 55 |
Company D | Pine Bluff | 3 | 55 |
Headquarters Detachment, 2nd Battalion | Russellville | 3 | 11 |
Medial Detachment | Conway | 3 | 8 |
Company E | Batesville | 3 | 55 |
Company F | Forrest City | 3 | 55 |
Company G | Rogers | 3 | 55 |
Company H | Fort Smith | 3 | 55 |
In all the Arkansas State Guard was authorized 46 Officers and 478 Enlisted Soldiers. The State Guard responded to fires, tornados, and floods at Fort Smith, Little Rock, Pine Bluff, Texarkana and Batesville during the War. The Arkansas State Guard was deactivated between 17 September 1946 and 16 December 1946. [35]
This list is intended to include all known Arkansas National Guardsmen who died during combat operations in support of World War II. This list may be shorter than corresponding list of casualties included in various unit histories because those lists may include soldiers who were assigned to the units as replacements after mobilization.
The 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, also officially known as The Arkansas Brigade, is an infantry brigade combat team of the Army National Guard composed of personnel from the U.S. states of Arkansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. The unit is the largest Army National Guard command in Arkansas and is headquartered at the Camp Robinson Maneuver Training Center. It was ordered into federal service in 2003 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II. The 39th was attached to the 1st Cavalry Division and served in and around Baghdad for a year, returning to the United States in March 2005.
The 35th Infantry Division, formerly known as the 35th Division, is an infantry formation of the United States Army National Guard headquartered at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
The New York Army National Guard is a component of the New York National Guard and the Army National Guard. Nationwide, the Army National Guard comprises approximately one half of the United States Army's available combat forces and approximately one third of its support organization. National coordination of various state National Guard units are maintained through the National Guard Bureau.
The Arkansas Army National Guard (ARARNG) is a component of the Arkansas National Guard and the United States National Guard. National coordination of various state National Guard units are maintained through the National Guard Bureau.
The 142nd Field Artillery Regiment is a United States Army field artillery regiment currently represented in the Arkansas Army National Guard by the 1st Battalion, 142nd Field Artillery, headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas; 2nd Battalion, 142nd Field Artillery, headquartered in Barling, Arkansas; and Battery F, 142nd Field Artillery stationed in Fayetteville, Arkansas, elements of the 142nd Field Artillery Brigade which is headquartered in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The regiment was created in 1917 from the former 2nd Arkansas Infantry. The 142nd Field Artillery shipped to France during World War I but did not see combat before the cessation of hostilities. The regiment was activated for World War II, but its battalions were redesignated as separate battalions, 1–142nd became the 936th Field Artillery Battalion, the 2–142nd became the 937th Field Artillery Battalion. The battalion's served throughout the European Theater of Operations. The battalions were activated again for the Korean War and served throughout the war. Following the Korean War, the separate battalions resumed their former designations of 1–142nd FA and 2–142nd FA. The 142nd Field Artillery Brigade, including both battalions, was activated for Operation Desert Storm. Elements of the 142nd Fires Brigade have been activated for service in Operation Noble Eagle and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 142nd Fires Brigade was instrumental in support and recovery operations located in New Orleans, Louisiana after hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated the Gulf Coast.
The 39th Infantry Division was an infantry formation of the Army National Guard, originally formed as the 18th Division in 1917. The division consisted of troops from Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. After training at Camp Beauregard, Louisiana, the division was deployed to France but did not see combat before the end of World War I. In July 1923 the division was re-designated as the 31st Infantry Division. The 39th Infantry Division was reactivated after World War II with troops from Louisiana and Arkansas and its headquarters in Louisiana. In 1967, the 39th Infantry Division was reorganized to become the 39th Infantry Brigade (Separate). Its headquarters was in Little Rock and the unit consisted entirely of troops from Arkansas.
The 206th Field Artillery Regiment is a United States artillery regiment, currently represented in the Arkansas Army National Guard by the 1st Battalion, 206th Field Artillery, Headquartered at Russellville, Arkansas. The 1–206th FA is an element of the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
The 153d Infantry Regiment is a United States infantry regiment, currently represented in the Arkansas Army National Guard by the 1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry, headquartered at Malvern, Arkansas, and 2nd Battalion, 153rd Infantry, headquartered at Searcy, Arkansas, elements of the 39th Brigade Combat Team. The regiment was also represented by the 3rd Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment headquartered at Warren, Arkansas until that unit was deactivated on 5 September 2005. The regiment was activated as the 1st Arkansas Volunteer Infantry for the Spanish–American War, but did not deploy overseas. The regiment was activated for World War I, redesignated as the 153rd Infantry and shipped to France as a part of the 39th Division, but became a replacement division and personnel were reassigned to other AEF units. The regiment was activated for World War II and deployed to the Aleutian Islands, participating in the Aleutian Islands Campaign. Recently, elements of the regiment have participated in two deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, in 2004 and again in 2008.
The 151st Cavalry Regiment was a United States Army cavalry regiment represented in the Arkansas Army National Guard by 1st Squadron, 151st Cavalry Regiment, headquartered in Warren, Arkansas, an element of the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
The 1st Battalion, 153d Infantry Regiment , is an infantry battalion of the Arkansas Army National Guard, headquartered at Malvern, assigned to the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. The 1–153rd has deployed companies in support of the Multi-National Security Force to Bosnia and to Saudi Arabia as part of Operation Southern Watch. 1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry has twice deployed as a battalion for Operation Iraqi Freedom, once from 2004–05 and a second time in 2008. The battalion was awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation for the period, 17 March 2004 – 23 March 2005.
39th Brigade Support Battalion is an element of the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT), of the Arkansas Army National Guard. The battalion is headquartered at Hazen, Arkansas. The 39th Support Battalion was constituted on 2 November 1967 from existing units in central Arkansas and assigned to the 39th Infantry Brigade with headquarters in Hazen. Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 2nd Battalion, 206th Field Artillery Regiment, at Hazen was reorganized and re-designated as the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 39th Support Battalion.
The 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team's Special Troops Battalion was headquartered in Conway, Arkansas and was an element of the Arkansas Army National Guard. On 15 September 2018, the 39th Special Troops Battalion was reflagged as the 239th Brigade Engineer Battalion, an element of the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
The history of the Arkansas Army National Guard and the Cold War involves several statewide re-organizations that occurred as a result of the evolving structure of United States Army Divisions and Brigades. In 1959 the state re-organized and restationed units in response to the Army's adoption of the Pentomic Division, the structure which was designed to counter the Soviet threat in eastern Europe. Several Arkansas National Guard units were mobilized in 1960 as part of the Berlin Crisis. In 1963 the state reorganized again as the administration of President John F. Kennedy focused on "Flexible Response" and divisions reorganized to meet the challenged of numerous small wars such as the war in Vietnam. In 1967 the 39th Infantry Division was reorganized as the 39th Infantry Brigade (Separate) as a result of a plan to reduce the total number of National Guard Divisions nationwide. The state would eventually gain a new headquarters, the State Area Command in order to provide a higher headquarters for several units which were not assigned to either the 142nd Field Artillery Brigade or the 39th Infantry Brigade (Separate).
The history of the Arkansas Army National Guard and Korean War begins with the reorganization of the Arkansas Army National Guard following World War II. During this period, the Arkansas Air National Guard became a separate component of the Arkansas National Guard. The Arkansas Army National Guard provided Field Artillery and Medical units in support of combat operations in Korea.
The history of the Arkansas State Guard and the Spanish–American War begins with the reorganization of the state militia following the end of Reconstruction. In 1879 the Arkansas Legislature had abolished the office of Adjutant General in retaliation for the use of the state militia to interfere in local political matters during reconstruction. During this period the Governor's Private Secretary performed the duties of the Adjutant General as an additional duty, and the legislature provided no appropriated funds for the state guard. Several companies existed during this period, including the Quapaw Guards and the McCarthy Guard in Little Rock. In 1897 the Arkansas State Guard was reorganized to consist of four infantry regiments, two artillery batteries and a cavalry squadron. In 1897, the state provided two volunteer infantry regiments for the Spanish–American War and although these two Arkansas Volunteer Infantry Regiments were not deployed overseas and did not see actual combat, they did suffer a number of casualties from disease.
The history of the Arkansas National Guard and World War I begins with the reorganization of the Arkansas State Guard following the Spanish–American War. As a result of difficulties encountered during the mobilization of state militia forces, the United States Congress passed new legislation which resulted in the renaming of the Arkansas State Guard as the Arkansas National Guard. The new federal legislation resulted in increased funding and training for the guard. The newly reorganized Arkansas National Guard was call upon by the President to help defend the border with Mexico in 1916 in response to cross border raids during the Mexican Revolution. The Arkansas National Guard had just returned from the Mexican Expedition in 1917 when it was activated for World War I. As a part of their incorporation in the United States Army, all National Guard units were renumbered in accordance with a federal system. The Arkansas National Guard units were incorporated into the 39th Infantry Division and after training at Camp Beauregard, were shipped to France in August and September 1918. The 39th Division was broken up, with some units being used as replacements for other divisions. Most former Arkansas National Guardsmen returned to the United States in February through June 1919 and were demobilized.
The 86th Field Artillery Regiment is a inactive parent field artillery regiment of the United States Army, last represented in the Vermont Army National Guard by the 1st Battalion, 86th Field Artillery Regiment. Perpetuating the Vermont Light Artillery Batteries of the American Civil War and subsequent Vermont artillery units, the regiment was organized following World War II as the 206th Field Artillery Battalion in the Vermont National Guard. The 206th saw active service in Germany with the 43rd Infantry Division during the Korean War, and became the 124th Artillery, a Combat Arms Regimental System parent regiment, in 1959. Represented by the 1st Howitzer Battalion, 124th Artillery, the regiment was renumbered as the 86th Artillery in 1964 when the 1st Battalion became the brigade artillery battalion of the 86th Armored Brigade. The 1st Battalion served in that role with the brigade for much of the rest of its existence.
The 154th Regiment (Regional Training Institute) ("Third Arkansas") is a training regiment/institute of the Army National Guard. Most of its history before the 1990s can be traced to the 154th Infantry Regiment which was created from the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 3rd Arkansas Infantry Regiment, Arkansas National Guard, in 1917. The Regiment was activated as for World War I, re-designated as the 154th Infantry and shipped to France as a part of the 39th Infantry Division, but became a replacement regiment and its personnel were reassigned to other American Expeditionary Force (AEF) units.
The 142nd Field Artillery Brigade is a field artillery brigade in the Arkansas Army National Guard (ARNG). The 142nd is currently under administrative control of the 29th Infantry Division.
The 157th Infantry Division "Novara" was an infantry division of the Royal Italian Army during the World War II. The Novara was formed on 10 March 1942 and named for the city of Novara. The Novara was classified as an occupation infantry division, which meant that the division's artillery regiment consisted of two artillery groups instead of the three artillery groups of line infantry divisions and that the divisional mortar battalion was replaced by a divisional machine gun battalion. On 1 June 1943 the division was used to reform the 2nd Infantry Division "Sforzesca".
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