Arkansas National Guard and World War II
Encyclopedia
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.
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 states quote of National Guard Soldiers by establishing several new units, in order to provide the governor with units to respond in case of an emergency:
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 states largest cities to raise awareness and support of the National Guard.
Under as a result of this campaign, the following unit were authorized to expand the new 5th Arkansas Infantry:
Infantry companies were also authorized at the following cities.
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.
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 1920–1922 various meetings were conducted at the state and regional level to determine what troops and units would be allotted to the Arkansas National Guard.
The 5th Arkansas Infantry was reorganized as the 153rd Infantry and the 141st Machine Gun battalion. The 153rd Infantry was stationed as follows:
The 141st Machine Gun Battalion (Anti-Aircraft) was reorganized in the Arkansas National Guard with units stationed as follows:
, France, where the 141st Machine Gun Battalion was stationed during World War I.
The 206th Coast Artillery (AA) was initially stationed as follows:
On April 3, 1936, the war department authorize the creation of the 2nd Battalion, 142nd Field Artillery as follows:
On March 6, 1937 the War Department authorized the creation the following additional units for the 142nd Field Artillery Regiment:
The 206th Coast Artillery also conducted summer encampments at Fort Sill OK, and in 1933 and 1934 at Fort Barrancas Florida., Fort Sheridan Ill, and Camp Pacos, TX.
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.
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.
State Headquarters and Detachment
153rd Infantry Regiment
206th Coast Artillery Regiment (Anti Aircraft)
154th Observation Squadron, Air Corps
142nd Field Artillery Regiment
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.
The 153rd, along with the 206th Coast Artillery Regiment arrived in Alaska in August 1941.
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
, 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.
The 153rd returned to Camp Shelby, MS on March 21, 1944 and was deactivated on June 30, 1944; its soldiers assigned to other units as replacements. Many returned to Camp Robinson as cadre. The 153rd was awarded the following Campaign Participation Credit:
, 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 inches (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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
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. Several hundred former members of the 206th became infantry replacements, most being assigned to the 86th and the 87th Infantry Divisions. The 597th AAA was inactivated December 12, 1945 at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey. The 206th was awarded the following Campaign Participation Credit:
, 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. 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 (40.2 km) from the Elbe River.
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 (72.4 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:
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.
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. 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
National Defense Act of 1916
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 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.
Re-organization following WWI
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.Provisional reorganization
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. 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 states quote of National Guard Soldiers by establishing several new units, in order to provide the governor with units to respond in case of an emergency:
- 5th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry
- 2nd Battalion, Arkansas Engineers
- 2nd Arkansas Ambulance Company
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 states largest cities to raise awareness and support of the National Guard.
Under as a result of this campaign, the following unit were authorized to expand the new 5th Arkansas Infantry:
- Machine Gun Company, Fifth Arkansas Infantry, stationed at Pine Bluff, was given Federal Recognition on 31 July 1920.
- Supply Company, 5th Infantry was authorized to be formed at Fort Smith.
- A Band Section under the Headquarters of the 5th Infantry was authorized at Pine Bluff.
- Company A, 5th Arkansas Infantry was organized at Hope.
Infantry companies were also authorized at the following cities.
- Arkadelphia,
- Batesville,
- Beebe, with a detached platoon at McRea,
- Blue Mountain, with a detached Platoon at Plainview
- Blytheville
- Booneville, with a detached platoon at Magazine
- Camden
- Earle
- Eureka Springs
- Heber Springs
- Magnolia
- Marianna
- Helena
- Marshall
- Prescott
- Rison
- Russellville
- Texarkana,
- Warren,
Implementation of the National Defense Act of 1916
A key piece of Federal Legislation governing the organization of the National Guard had been passed during the build up to World War I. The National Defense Act of 1916National Defense Act of 1916
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...
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
Columbus, New Mexico
Columbus is a village in Luna County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 1,765 at the 2000 census. The town is named after 15th century explorer Christopher Columbus.-History:...
. 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.
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 1920–1922 various meetings were conducted at the state and regional level to determine what troops and units would be allotted to the Arkansas National Guard.
Re-Constitution of 153rd Infantry Regiment and the 141st Machine Gun Battalion
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:
| 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:
| 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 |
Creation of the 206th Coast Artillery
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). The newly formed 206th Coast Artillery took its coat of arms from Chaumont, one of the principal towns in the Department of Haute-MarneHaute-Marne
Haute-Marne is a department in the northeast of France named after the Marne River.-History:Haute-Marne is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
, France, where the 141st Machine Gun Battalion was stationed during World War I.
The 206th Coast Artillery (AA) was initially stationed as follows:
| 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 |
Medical units
The following hospital units were created during the post-WWI expansion:| Unit | Station | Federal Recognition Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital Company Number 216 | Hot Springs | September 15, 1922 |
| Ambulance Company Number 216 | Carlisle, Arkansas | June 23, 1923 |
Army Air Corps
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 WWI from the former 3rd Arkansas Infantry. The 154th Observation Squadron was organized at Little Rock and federally recognized on October 24, 1925.Re-Constitution of the 142nd Field Artillery
On June 16, 1931, the state was authorized to reconstitute the 142nd Field Artillery. Several of the new 142nd batteries were organized from the 206th Coast Artillery.| 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:
| 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:
| 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 |
Improved Facilities and Training
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.Armory construction
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. 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:- Batesville
- Blytheville
- Clarksville
- Conway
- Dardanelle
- Fayetteville
- Forrest City
- Fort Smith
- Harrison
- Hazen
- Helena
- Jonesboro
- Magnolia
- Marianna
- Mena
- Monticello
- Newport
- Paris
- Pine Bluff
- Prescott
- Rogers
- Russellville
- Searcy
- Texarkana
Camp Pike transferred to the Arkansas National Guard
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. 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.Training opportunities
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.The 206th Coast Artillery also conducted summer encampments at Fort Sill OK, and in 1933 and 1934 at Fort Barrancas Florida., Fort Sheridan Ill, and Camp Pacos, TX.
Flood Relief, 1927
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.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.
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.
Organization on eve of World War II, 1939
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:State Headquarters and Detachment
- State Headquarters and Detachment- Little Rock
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
- 154th Observation Squadron, Little Rock
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 |
World War II
During the build up 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 HarborPearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
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.
154th Observation Squadron
The first unit called to active duty was the 154th Observation Squadron on September 16, 1940. After extensive stateside training, the majority of the squadron departed New York City and arrived in North Africa November 8, 1942. 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. 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 1944.153rd Infantry
The 153rd Infantry Regiment was ordered to active duty 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. 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.
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
Adak Island
Adak Island is an island near the western extent of the Andreanof Islands group of the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. Alaska's southernmost town, Adak, is located on the island...
and the assault on Kiska
Kiska
Kiska is an island in the Rat Islands group of the Aleutian Islands of Alaska located at . It is about long and varies in width from - Discovery :...
, 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.
The 153rd returned to Camp Shelby, MS on March 21, 1944 and was deactivated on June 30, 1944; its soldiers assigned to other units as replacements. Many returned to Camp Robinson as cadre. The 153rd was awarded the following Campaign Participation Credit:
- Aleutian Islands Campaign
206th Coast Artillery
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 BlissFort Bliss
Fort Bliss is a United States Army post in the U.S. states of New Mexico and Texas. With an area of about , it is the Army's second-largest installation behind the adjacent White Sands Missile Range. It is FORSCOM's largest installation, and has the Army's largest Maneuver Area behind the...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
and conducted its initial training. The 206th Coast Artillery Regiment was deployed to Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
and had been on station for approximately 4 months when the Japanese Navy attacked Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
on December 7, 1941. The 206th CA was equipped with the M1918 3-inch Gun
3-inch gun
3-inch gun may refer to:* US 3-inch field gun of 1902, 1904, 1905* 3-inch M1918 gun, an anti-aircraft gun used by the United States Army* 3"/50 caliber gun, used by the United States Navy* QF 3 inch 20 cwt British anti-aircraft gun of 1914...
(an older model with a vertical range of 8,200 m), .50-caliber machine guns, and 60 inches (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
Battle of Dutch Harbor
The Battle of Dutch Harbor took place on 3-4 June 1942, and was a minor air and naval battle of the Aleutian Islands Campaign of World War II between Imperial Japanese Navy and United States Army and Navy forces.-Overview:...
, beginning what would become known as the Aleutian Islands Campaign.
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. Several hundred former members of the 206th became infantry replacements, most being assigned to the 86th and the 87th Infantry Divisions. The 597th AAA was inactivated December 12, 1945 at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey. The 206th was awarded the following Campaign Participation Credit:
- Aleutian Islands
- RhinelandRhinelandHistorically, the Rhinelands refers to a loosely-defined region embracing the land on either bank of the River Rhine in central Europe....
- Central EuropeCentral EuropeCentral Europe or alternatively Middle Europe is a region of the European continent lying between the variously defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe...
142nd Field Artillery Group
The 142nd Field Artillery Regiment was inducted into Federal service on 6 January 1941, at Fayetteville. The 142nd Field Artillery Regiment was ordered the unit moved to Fort SillFort Sill
Fort Sill is a United States Army post near Lawton, Oklahoma, about 85 miles southwest of Oklahoma City.Today, Fort Sill remains the only active Army installation of all the forts on the South Plains built during the Indian Wars...
, 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. 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
Utah Beach
Utah Beach was the code name for the right flank, or westernmost, of the Allied landing beaches during the D-Day invasion of Normandy, as part of Operation Overlord on 6 June 1944...
June 10, 1944 and participated in the European offensive with up to five battalions attached. When the war ended it was 25 miles (40.2 km) from the Elbe River.
The 936th Field Artillery Battalion left Camp Bowie
Camp Bowie
Camp Bowie is a United States National Guard training center located in west central Texas near the cities of Brownwood and Early.-History:Camp Bowie, in honor of the Texas patriot James Bowie, was a military training facility during World War II, and was the third camp in Texas to be so named...
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 (72.4 km) from Venice. It had fired 139,364 rounds in combat and was awarded battle streamers for the following campaigns:
- Naples-Foggia
- Rome-Arno
- North Apennines, and
- Po ValleyPo ValleyThe Po Valley, Po Plain, Plain of the Po, or Padan Plain is a major geographical feature of Italy. It extends approximately in an east-west direction, with an area of 46,000 km² including its Venetic extension not actually related to the Po River basin; it runs from the Western Alps to the...
.
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:
- Naples-Foggio
- Rome-Arno
- Southern FranceSouthern FranceSouthern France , colloquially known as le Midi is defined geographical area consisting of the regions of France that border the Atlantic Ocean south of the Gironde, Spain, the Mediterranean, and Italy...
(with arrowhead) - RhinelandRhinelandHistorically, the Rhinelands refers to a loosely-defined region embracing the land on either bank of the River Rhine in central Europe....
and, - Central EuropeCentral EuropeCentral Europe or alternatively Middle Europe is a region of the European continent lying between the variously defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe...
.
Re-establishment of the Arkansas State Guard
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. 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.
Arkansas National Guard Fallen Soldiers, World War II
This list is intended to included all know 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.206th Coast Artillery Regiment
- Private Claude H. Biggs, Battery F, Killed in Action, Dutch Harbor, Alaska, June 3, 1942
- Private Allen C. Collier, Jr., HQ Battery, 2nd Battalion, Dutch Harbor, Alaska, Killed in Action, June 3, 1942
- Private Hugh Bryan Timberlake, Battery B, Killed in Action, Dutch Harbor, Alaska, June 3, 1942
External links
- AR National Guard
- AR Air National Guard
- AR Army National Guard
- The Arkansas National Guard Museum
- Bibliography of Arkansas Army National Guard History compiled by the United States Army Center of Military History