Delaware State Guard

Last updated
Delaware State Guard
Delaware State Guard insignia.jpg
Delaware State Guard insignia.
Active1917–1919
1941–1947
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States
AllegianceFlag of Delaware.svg  Delaware
Branch Army
Type SDFBranchInsigniaColor.jpg   State defense force
Role Military reserve force
Size500
Part ofDelaware Department of Military Affairs
Garrison/HQ Wilmington, Delaware
Commanders
Governor of Delaware during World War I Governor John G. Townsend, Jr.
Governor of Delaware during World War II Governor Walter W. Bacon
Commanding Officer Colonel J. Paul Heinel
Executive Officer Lt. Colonel Victor Clark

The Delaware State Guard is the currently inactive state defense force of the state of Delaware, which was active during both World War I and World War II. As the official militia of the state, the Delaware State Guard was created with the intent of acting as a stateside replacement for the Delaware National Guard while the National Guard units were deployed abroad.

Contents

History of predecessor units

Prior to the Militia Act of 1903 and the subsequent creation of the National Guard of the United States, the United States maintained a small full-time, professional military and largely relied on state militias to provide for the nation’s defense. These state militias would eventually evolve into the National Guard and their stateside parallels, the state defense forces, and both organizations trace their lineage directly to the state militias which operated prior to the creation of the modern-day National Guard.

The first militia in Delaware was formed when Swedish settlers took up arms to defend Fort Christina (which was at the time a Swedish settlement) against Dutch invaders. [1] During the American Revolutionary War, Delaware raised several units of militia in support of the Patriot side of the war. In the War of 1812, all of the Delaware volunteer units saw combat at Lewes, where they comprised the majority of force that drove off a British naval squadron seeking control of the Delaware River. [2] Despite the federal government initially prohibiting volunteer units the Mexican–American War, a volunteer unit raised in Delaware would serve in the battles of Contreras, Cherubusco, Molino del Rey, and Chapultepec, losing so many men that the unit was nicknamed "The Bloody 11th." [2] During the American Civil War, Delaware would raise multiple units in support of the Union cause. These units would earn distinction in the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg. [2] During the Spanish–American War, the 1st Delaware Volunteer Infantry was mustered into federal service but not deployed abroad. [3] With the passage of the Militia Act of 1903, all state militia units were folded into the National Guard of the United States, largely turning the state militias from a state-funded and controlled force to a reserve component of the federal military.

World War I

In response to the possibility that the states would prove vulnerable to invasion, insurrection, natural disasters, rioting, and other threats if the National Guard were to be federalized upon entry of the United States into World War I, Congress passed the Home Defense Act in June 1917 to allow the creation of state defense forces, or Home Guards. These units were solely funded and trained by the state, and could not be federalized or be deployed outside the state's borders. The Delaware Home Guard was created in February 1917 in order to assume the stateside duties of the Delaware National Guard during their deployment abroad. [4] Under General Order #10, issued by Delaware’s adjutant general, one infantry company and a supply detachment were created, consisting of four officers and seventy-one enlisted men. [5] Prior to the passage of the National Security Act of 1920, whenever National Guard units were federalized, these National Guardsmen would be automatically discharged from the National Guard and reenlisted into federal service, and rather than being returned to the state’s National Guard upon completion of enlistment they were instead discharged from the military altogether; therefore, in the aftermath of the war, the Home Guard was the only military force under Delaware’s control until the reformation of the Delaware National Guard and dismissal of the Home Guard. [6]

World War II

In 1940, Section 61 of the National Defense Act of 1916 was modified to again allow the establishment of state defense forces. At the state level, the Delaware General Assembly passed legislation on April 14, 1941 "to provide for the Creation, Maintenance, Discipline, Legislation and Use of the Delaware State Guard" [6] The Delaware State Guard was formed in May 1941 under control of Colonel J. Paul Heinel, a World War I veteran. [4]

Training

Training and drills were conducted on a weekly basis, and during summer encampments where units would train together as a cohesive organization. The first field encampment was held at Fort DuPont from July 31 until August 8, 1943. Before organizing annual summer encampments, the commissioned officers and NCOs conducted training at St. Andrews School in Middletown, in August 1942, consisting of target practice, military tactics, and army regulations. [4] Training for state guardsmen included practicing night patrols, firing Tommy guns, proper wear of gas masks, field exercises, learning the basics of modern warfare. They attended classes, watched training films on first aid, and practiced battle formations. [4]

Membership

The Delaware State Guard began as one battalion, but through the war it grew to a regiment with two battalions numbering some 450–500 men with seven line companies of soldiers. Members were drawn from youth in high school who were too young to be inducted into the military, men who were too old to serve in the military, those of the draft age who were for any reason found unfit for federal duty, and men of the draft age who were waiting to be drafted. [4]

Equipment

Initially, the Delaware State Guard received 300 1903 Model Springfield rifles from the War Department, though in May 1942 the War Department took back about 100 rifles and replaced them with repeater guard shotguns. [4]

The personal equipment issued to every enlisted guardsmen and expected to be brought to training included: a coverall, issue shoes, a helmet liner, a gas mask, a water canteen, a web belt, a bayonet, a denim coat, trousers and a hat: a raincoat, a rifle, a waist belt, and a revolver. For non-commissioned officers, gear included a khaki cotton shirt, trousers, a tie, a cap, dress shoes, towels, a wash cloth, underwear, socks, a tooth brush and paste, a bathing suit, a shaving outfit, soap, shoe polish and a rag, a comb and brush, and a small mirror. [4]

After the war, the Delaware State Guard received surplus equipment from the federal armed forces, including eight jeeps and an ambulance from Fort Dix, New Jersey in August 1945. Additionally, in June 1946, the State Guard received its own waveband from the FCC in order to provide radio communication among all the units in the state. Previously the State Guard had been forced to rely upon borrowed State Police radios for maneuvers and for radio cars. [4]

Duties

As a state defense force, the Delaware State Guard served as internal troops who could be responsible for the stateside duties of the National Guard, including disaster relief, riot control, repelling an invasion, halting insurrection, and protecting infrastructure against sabotage. Guardsmen were expected to attend weekly training sessions as well as summer encampments for further training. Although the Guard never had to repel an invasion or quell a riot, units from the Guard were called up on June 10, 1945 when an Army Air Force plane crashed near Newark. The Guard was assigned to guard the wreckage until it was removed to New Castle Army Air Base. [4]

Disbandment

The Delaware State Guard was disbanded on January 3, 1947 at a public ceremony at the Wilmingon Armory. [4]

State defense forces are permitted by the federal government under Title 32, Section 109 of the United States Code. [7] Currently, 23 states and the territory of Puerto Rico take advantage of this legislation by maintaining active state defense forces. [8] Delaware law also allows for the creation and maintenance of state defense forces by the governor of Delaware under Title 20, Chapter 3 of the Delaware Code. [9] Given the legal framework at both state and federal level, it is possible for the Governor of Delaware to reactivate the Delaware State Guard.

See also

Related Research Articles

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Kansas State Guard

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Florida State Guard

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Pennsylvania State Guard

The Pennsylvania State Guard is the currently inactive official state defense force of the state of Pennsylvania, which was active during World War II and the Korean War. The unit was organized as a home guard composed of volunteers who were trained and organized as parallel to the state’s National Guard. As a part of Pennsylvania's official militia, the Pennsylvania State Guard was trained, organized, and funded by the state of Pennsylvania, answered to the governor, and could not be federalized or deployed abroad.

The Hawaii Territorial Guard was the state defense force of Hawaii during World War II. As a result of the National Guard of Hawaii being federalized for the duration of the war, the Hawaii Territorial Guard was created to serve as the stateside replacement for the National Guard. During the war, it was the sole military force available to the Governor of Hawaii as its captain general to use in defense of the state. Unlike the National Guard, as a state defense force, the Hawaii Territorial Guard was not subject to federalization or deployment outside of the borders of Hawaii, but rather answered only to the governor.

The Nebraska State Guard (NSG) is the currently inactive state defense force of the state of Nebraska, which was activated during both World War II and the Vietnam War. As a state defense force, the NSG served on as a component of the organized militia of Nebraska, serving as reservists who trained periodically but could be called up during an emergency; however, unlike the Nebraska National Guard, the Nebraska State Guard could not be federalized or deployed outside the state. Rather, when the National Guard was deployed, the purpose of the State Guard was to assume the stateside duties of the National Guard.

Louisiana State Guard

The Louisiana State Guard (LSG) is the official state defense force of the state of Louisiana. The LSG was first created during World War II. As a state defense force, the LSG is a part of the state militia of Louisiana, and can serve as a stateside replacement of the Louisiana National Guard while the National Guard is deployed. Unlike the Louisiana National Guard, the Louisiana State Guard is solely under state control, and cannot be federalized or deployed outside of Louisiana, guaranteeing additional soldiers will always be available to the governor to deploy in response to crises.

Maine State Guard

The Maine State Guard was the state defense force of the state of Maine during World War I, World War II, and the Vietnam War. As a state defense force, the State Guard served as a stateside replacement for the Maine National Guard when the National Guard was federalized. Like the National Guard, the State Guard was a reserve military force composed of members who held full-time civilian jobs and periodically met for drills, unless called into active service by the governor. However, unlike the National Guard, as a state defense force, the Maine State Guard was solely a state military force, which was immune from federalization and could not be deployed outside the State of Maine.

Rhode Island State Guard

The Rhode Island State Guard is the currently inactive state defense force of Rhode Island. As a state defense force, the Rhode Island State Guard served as a state military unit which assumed the stateside duties of the Rhode Island National Guard when the National Guard was in federal service. However, unlike the National Guard, the State Guard, when organized, answers solely to the Governor of Rhode Island and by law cannot be federalized or deployed outside the borders of Rhode Island.

References

  1. ↑ "Fort Christina". Delaware Military Heritage and Education Foundation. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 "Brief History of the Delaware National Guard" (PDF). Delaware Military Heritage & Education Foundation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 May 2014. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  3. ↑ McSherry, Patrick. "A Brief History of the 1st Delaware Volunteer Infantry". The Spanish-American Centennial Website. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Wiggins, Brig. Gen. Kennard R. (November 2010). "The Delaware State Guard, A History". Delaware Military Heritage and Education Foundation. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  5. ↑ Stentiford, Barry M. (2002). The American Home Guard: The State Militia in the Twentieth Century. College Station, Texas: Texas A&M University Press. p. 66. ISBN   1585441813 . Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  6. 1 2 Wiggins, Brig. Gen. Kennard R. "The Delaware National Guard Between the World Wars". Delaware Military Heritage and Education Foundation. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  7. ↑ "32 U.S. Code § 109 - Maintenance of other troops". Legal Information Institute. Cornell University Law School. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  8. ↑ Carafano, James Jay; Brinkerhoff, John R. (October 5, 2005). "Katrina's Forgotten Responders: State Defense Forces Play a Vital Role". www.heritage.org. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  9. ↑ "CHAPTER 3. STATE DEFENSE FORCES". State of Delaware: The Official Website of the First State. State of Delaware. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
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