Arkansas Army National Guard: Difference between revisions

Arkansas Army National Guard
Arkansas STARC Shoulder Sleeve insignia
Active	1806 - present
Country	United States
Allegiance	Arkansas
Branch	Army National Guard
Type	ARNG Headquarters Command
Part of	Arkansas National Guard
Garrison/HQ	Camp Joseph T. Robinson North Little Rock, Arkansas
Commanders
Current commander	MG William Wofford

The Arkansas Army National Guard is a component of the United States Army and the United States National Guard. Nationwide, the Army National Guard comprises approximately one half of the US 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.

Arkansas Army National Guard units are trained and equipped as part of the United States Army. The same ranks and insignia are used and National Guardsmen are eligible to receive all United States military awards. The Arkansas Guard also bestows a number of state awards for local services rendered in or to the state of Arkansas.

Units

• Arkansas Joint Force Headquarters (AR-JFHQ)

• 39th Brigade Combat Team (BCT) - formerly 39th Infantry Brigade (Separate)

  

  39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team shoulder sleve insignia

  • 1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment "Warrior" : Malvern, Arkansas
  • 2nd Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment "Gunslinger" : Searcy, Arkansas
  • 1st Squadron, 151st Cavalry Regiment (RSTA) "Saber" : Warren, Arkansas
  • 1st Battalion, 206th Field Artillery Regiment "Aleutian" : Russellville, Arkansas
  • 39th Brigade Support Battalion "Provider": Hazen, Arkansas
  • 39th Brigade Special Troops Battalion "Ready": Conway, Arkansas

• 142nd Fires Brigade - formerly the 142nd Field Artillery

  

  142nd Fires Brigade shoulder sleeve insignia

  Brigade
  • Headquarters & Headquarters Battery
  • 1st Battalion, 142nd Field Artillery Regiment (M270 MLRS)
  • 2nd Battalion, 142nd Field Artillery Regiment (M109 Howitzer)
  • 1st Battalion, 181st Field Artillery Regiment (TN NG)
  • 217th Brigade Support Battalion
  • F Battery, 142nd Field Artillery Regiment (Target Acquisition Battery)
  • 142nd Signal Company

• 77th Theater Aviation Brigade

  

  77th Theater Aviation Brigade shoulder sleeve insignia

  • 777th Aviation Support Battalion
  • 1st Battalion, 114th Aviation Regiment

• 87th Troop Command
  • 871st Troop Command
  • 875th Engineer Battalion
  • 25th Rear Area Operations Center

• 233rd Regiment (RTI)

• 61st WMD CST

Duel Missions, State and Federal

National Guard units can be mobilized at any time by presidential order to supplement regular armed forces, and upon declaration of a state of emergency by the governor of the state in which they serve. Unlike Army Reserve members, National Guard members cannot be mobilized individually (except through voluntary transfers and Temporary DutY Assignments TDY), but only as part of their respective units. However, there has been a significant amount of individual activations to support military operations (2001-?); the legality of this policy is a major issue within the National Guard.

Federal Mission

For much of the final decades of the twentieth century, National Guard personnel typically served "One weekend a month, two weeks a year", with a portion working for the Guard in a full-time capacity. The current forces formation plans of the US Army call for the typical National Guard unit (or National Guardsman) to serve one year of active duty for every three years of service. More specifically, current Department of Defense policy is that no Guardsman will be involuntarily activated for a total of more than 24 months (cumulative) in one six year enlistment period (this policy is due to change 1 August 2007, the new policy states that soldiers will be given 24 months between deployments of no more than 24 months, individual states have differing policies).

State Mission

When not activated for its Federal mission, the Governor through the State Adjutant General commands Guard forces. The Governor can call the Guard into action during local or statewide emergencies, such as storms, drought, and civil disturbances, to name a few.

History

While the militia was provided for in the State's founding documents, it was most often not provided for by the state legislature. The State's militia was authorized three regiments of infantry in the 1836 state constitution, but these organizations were never formally organized, trained, or equipped. Muster Rolls were not maintained and Officers were not appointed. Militia units did exist at the County and sometimes the City level, but there was no clear connection to the state military department or the "Regiments" authorized by the constitution. Throughout the nineteenth century, when a war or some other emergency required the calling forth of the Arkansas State Guard, what answered the call were these local militia companies which were formed into the organizations needed for the current crisis.

Territorial Militia, Semino War

The Arkansas Army National Guard was originally formed in 1804. While the history of the Arkansas National Guard can be said to date to the creation of a territorial militia when the Territory was created in 1804, there are no units currently serving in the Arkansas National Guard who can trace their Lineage and Honors to this time period. This is in stark contrast to the history of militia units in the New England states who can trace their lineage as far back as 1637, when the first colonial militia companies were formed.

State Guard, War with Mexico

In 1846 when the governor called out the State Guard for the War with Mexico, 28 companies responded to the call. From these companies, 10 were selected and formed in to the units that would participate in the war.

Civil War

In 1861, Governor Rector called all the State Guard and the responding militia companies were formed into regiments which were offered for service in the Confederate States Army. Several of these units went on to win acclaim, particularly the 1st Arkansas Infantry which served in the Confederate Army of the Tennessee and the 3rd Arkansas Infantry which served in the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia under General Robert E. Lee. However these war time regiments had no connection to the peace time militia organizations in the state of Arkansas before or after the Civil War, so when the veterans of the Third Arkansas laid down their rifles at Appomattox Court House in April 1865, their history and traditions past out of existence with them. Again this is in contrast to other southern states whose current National Guard units are awarded the campaign participate credits for their units participation in the various campaigns and engagements while in Confederate service.

Spanish American War

This was the case again in 1898 when Arkansas was asked to supply two infantry regiments for the Spanish American War. This time these state called forth the State Guard including 5 paper regiments, but only two companies were determined fit to be mustered in to service intact. Officially the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Arkansas Infantry units were consolidated and two new organizations, the 1st and 2nd Arkansas Volunteer Infantry units were formed from the available manpower and were offered for service in the war. While neither of these units saw combat during the Spanish American War, it is from this 1898 consolidation that the earliest histories of the modern units of the Arkansas National Guard are traced.

The 1st Arkansas was consolidated in part with the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Regiments of Infantry, Arkansas State Guard, reorganized, redesignated and mustered into Federal Service between May 14–25, 1898 at Little Rock as the 1st and 2nd Arkansas Volunteer Infantry for service in the Spanish American War. This consolidation and reorganization occurred because the state guard was poorly organized and funded and only two companies of state guard troops were judged to be organized well enough to be mustered in intact. The decision was made to create two new infantry regiments from the available manpower.

The newly formed 1st Arkansas Volunteer Infantry did not see combat during the Spanish American War. The Regiment, commanded by Colonel Elias Chandler, along with the 2nd Regiment to Camp George H. Thomas at Chickamauga Park, Georgia was sent in May 1898. The 1st Arkansas Volunteer Infantry was still there participating in basic training when the war effectively ended with the fall of Cuba and the signing of an armistice in early August. The 1st Arkansas Volunteer Infantry mustered out of Federal Service on October 25, 1899 at Little Rock, Arkansas.

Creation of the National Guard

The Militia Act of 1903 organized the various state militias into the present National Guard system.

Mexican Expedition 1916

In July 1916, the entire Arkansas National Guard was mobilized for federal service on the Mexican border. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd Arkansas Infantry Regiments were stationed near Deming, New Mexico, as part of support troops for General John J. Pershing’s Mexican Expedition searching for Poncho Villa. The 1st Arkansas was not engaged in Mexico and returned to Little Rock in February, mustering out of service February 19–24 at Fort Logan Roots. This mobilization of the National Guard along the Mexican border was the training ground for many future leaders of the Arkansas National Guard. Many of the officers who led Arkansas National Guard units in the early years of World War I and World War II began their service on the Mexican border.

World War I

Following the Spanish American War, the Arkansas State Guard really came it to existence as a stable, organized force. Organized enough so that in 1917 when President Wilson called out the State Guard for service on the Mexican Border as part of General Pershing's punative Mexican Expedition, the state was able to respond in quick fashion with three regiments of Infantry, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Arkansas. Most current units of the Arkansas National Guard share a connection to these three regiments of infantry.

The 1st Arkansas Infantry would eventually become the 153rd Infantry Regiment. 2nd Arkansas would be reorganized as the 142nd Field Artillery. The 3rd Arkansas Infantry would be split, with a portion forming the 154th Observation Squadron, the oldest unit of the Arkansas Air National Guard, and the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Arkansas becoming the 141st Machine Gun Battalion, the parent organization of the 206th Field Artillery.

The first unit of the 39th Division arrived in France on August 12, 1918, and the last unit arrived on September 12, 1918. It was then sent to the St. Florent area, southwest of Bourges, where it was designated as a replacement division. In November, 1918, it moved to St. Aignan. There several of the units were transferred to combat divisions. With the war ended, the 153rd Infantry landed in Hoboken, New Jersey, February 27, 1919, making the crossing aboard the USS. President Grant.. The Division demobilized the following month at Camp Beauregard, Louisiana.

Expansion between the World Wars

After World War I, the 141st Machine Gun Battalion (Anti-Aircraft) was reorganized in the Arkansas State Guard with units stationed as follows:

Unit	Station	Federal Recognition Dates
Headquarters Battery,	Nashville	21 June 1921
Battery E	Heber Springs	7 June 1921
Battery F	Blue Mountain	11 June 1921
Battery G	Fort Smith	23 June 1921
Battery H	Little Rock	24 June 1921

The 141st Machine Gun Battalion (Anti Aircraft) was reorganized 1923 and became the 2nd Battalion of the newly formed 206th Coast Artillery (Anti Aircraft). The newly formed 206th Coast Artillery took it's 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. While the 2nd Battalion headquarters initially remained at Nashville, this changed in the early 1930s when several of the 206th Coast Artillery units were restationed in order to place them at the states colleges.

The follow unit locations were reported in the Arkansas Adjutant General's Report for 1926.

Headquarters	Company	Station
153 Infantry Regiment	HHC, 153rd IN	Russellville, Arkansas
	Service Company	Search, Arkansas
	Band Section, Svc Company	Conway, Arkansas
	Howitzer Company	Mena, Arkansas
	Medical Detachment	Prescott, Arkansas
1st Battalion, 153 Infantry Regiment	Headquarters, 1-153rd In	Hope, Arkansas
	Headquarters Company, 1-153rd IN	Ashdown, Arkansas
	Company A, 1-153 IN	Hope, Arkansas
	Company B, 1-153 IN	Magnolia, Arkansas
	Company C, 1-153 IN	Prescott, Arkansas
	Company D, 1-153 IN	Pine Bluff, Arkansas
2nd Battalion, 153 Infantry Regiment	Headquarters	Little Rock, Arkansas
	Headquarters Company, 2-153 IN	Conway, Arkansas
	Company E, 2-153 IN	Clarksville, Arkansas
	Company F, 2-153 IN	Dardanelle, Arkansas
	Company G, 2-153 IN	Conway, Arkansas
	Company H, 2-153 IN	Forrest City, Arkansas
3rd Battalion, 153 Infantry Regiment	Headquarters, 3-153 IN	Cotten Plant, Arkansas
	Headquarters Company, 3-153 IN	Beebe, Arkansas
	Company I, 3-153 IN	Cotton Plant, Arkansas
	Company K,, 3-153 IN	Lonoke, Arkansas
	Company L, 3-153 IN	Batesville, Arkansas
	Company M, 3-153 IN Command	Blytheville, Arkansas

The 206th Coast Artillery (Anti Aircraft) was organized 24 November 1923 in the Arkansas National Guard as the 206th Artillery, Coast Artillery Corps. By 1932 the unit was stationed as follows:

Unit	Station	College
Headquarters and Headquarters Battery,	Marianna
Regimental Band	Marianna
Regimental Medics	North Little Rock
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

World War II

142nd Field Artillery Group

The unit was inducted into Federal service on 6 January 1941 at Fayetteville. It was reorganized and redesignated on 25 February 1943 as Battery A, 936th Field Artillery Battalion. It inactivated on 16 October 1945 in Italy.

The 142nd Field Artillery Regiment was ordered to active duty January 6, 1941, 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. These were independent battalions equipped with the 155mm howitzer.

The 142nd FA 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 from the Elbe River.

The 936th 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 from Venice. It had fired 139,364 rounds in combat and was awarded battle streamers for the following campaigns: Naples-Foggia; Rome-Arno; North Appenines and Po Valley.

The 937th 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 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 France (with arrowhead); Rhineland and Central Europe.

153rd Infantry

Company E, 153rd Infantry, Arkansas National Guard after they were mobilized, but before they were sent to Washington State and then the Aleutian Islands. This photograph was likely taken at Camp Forrest, Tennessee, in early 1941.

The 153rd Infantry Regiment was ordered to active duty 23 December 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 were then posted to Annette Island and Seward, Nome and Yakutat, Alaska.

Headquarters of Companies E and F, 2nd Battalion, 153rd Infantry, Arkansas Army National Guard, on Umnak Island, in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska, 1942.

The 2nd Battalion was stationed on Umnak Island, west of Dutch Harbor and took part in the occupation of Adak Island and the assault on Kiska, 15 August 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.

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 Bliss, Texas and conducted it's initial training.

"To the Nickel"

The 206th (CA) competed with the 200th Coast Artillery (United States) from New Mexico to determine which would deploy to either the Philippine Islands or the Aleutian Islands. The Aleutians are an Island chain off the southwest coast of Alaska. The 200th CA was a former cavalry unit which had just been converted to coast artillery. The 206th CA actually provided cadre to assist with the training of the 200th CA, however many of the members of the 200th CA spoke fluent Spanish, which would be a great advantage in the Philippines. According to legend, the final determination was made by the flip of a Nickel. The 200th CA won the coin toss and was selected to deploy to the Philippine Islands. The 200th CA was decimated in the fall of the Philippine Islands and it's survivors participated in the Bataan Death March. To this day, members of the 206th traditionally offer the toast "To the Nickel" at all formal gatherings in memory of this fateful decision.

The battle of Dutch Harbor

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.

Buildings burning after the first enemy attack on Dutch Harbor, 3 June 1942.

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 3 June to 4 June 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 4 June, the Zero's 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 it's power plant was being used to produce steam and electricity for the shore instillations.

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 7 killed in action during the bombing of Dutch Harbor.

An Imperial Japanese Navy Zero aircraft piloted by Tadayoshi Koga is damaged by anti-aircraft fire over Dutch Harbor, Alaska on 3 June 1942. Koga later crashed the Zero on nearby Akutan island and was killed in the crash. The Zero was recovered by US forces and used for intelligence purposes.

Members of the 206th CA claimed credit for the shoot down of the Akutan Zero flown by flight petty officer, Tadayoshi Koga, which was captured intact following the battle and became the second flyable Zero acquired by the United States during the war. Following its capture the aircraft was repaired, and then flown by American test pilots. As a result of information gained during these tests American tacticians were able to devise tactics to defeat the Zero, which was the Imperial Japanese Navy's primary fighter plane throughout the war. The Akutan Zero has been described as "a prize almost beyond value to the United States".

Following the bombing, Admiral Kakuta utilized his invasion force to occupy the Islands of Attu and Kiska in the Aleutian Island chain. Attu was eventually retaken by U.S. and Canadian Forces on 29 May 1943 after a spectacular Banzai charge by Japanese Forces. Only 28 of the estimated 2500 Japanese defenders survived the battle. Kiska was retaken on 15 August 1943 by U.S. Forces, including the 153rd Infantry Regiment, Arkansas National Guard. 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.

Breakup and reorganization

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 12 December 1945 at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey.

Reorganziation following World War II

The 39th Infantry Division was reconstituted on 30 September 1946. It was composed of units Arkansas and Louisiana, with its headquarters stationed at New Orleans, Louisiana and the Arkansas portion Headquarted in Little Rock Arkansas. During this period the division included the 153rd Infantry Regiment; the156th Infantry Regiment; and the 206th Artillery Regiment.

Headquarters	Company	Station
39th Division Heaquarters (Arkansas Part)		Little Rock
153 Infantry Regiment	HHC, 153rd IN	Little Rock
	Service Company	Searcy
	Tank Company,	Pine Bluff
	Heavy Mortar Company	DeQueen
	Medical Company	Little Rock
1st Battalion, 153 Infantry Regiment	Headquarters and Headquarters Company,	Texarkana
	Company A, 1-153 IN	Hope
	Company B, 1-153 IN	Malvern
	Company C, 1-153 IN	Prescott
	Company D, 1-153 IN	Arkadelphia
2nd Battalion, 153 Infantry Regiment	Headquarters and Headquarters Company,	Morrilton
	Company E, 2-153 IN	Clarksville
	Company F, 2-153 IN	Dardanelle
	Company G, 2-153 IN	Conway
	Company H, 2-153 IN	Russellville
3rd Battalion, 153 Infantry Regiment	Headquarters and Headquarters Company	Beebe
	Company I, 3-153 IN	Jonesboro
	Company K,, 3-153 IN	Walnut Ridge
	Company L, 3-153 IN	Batesville
	Company M, 3-153 IN Command	Blytheville
445th Field Artillery Battalion	Headquarters and Headquarters Battery	Marianna
	Battery A, 445th FA	Helena
	Battery B, 445th FA	Newport
	Battery C, 445th FA	Brinkley
	Service Battery, 445th FA	Wynne, Arkansas
437th Field Artillery Battalion	Headquarters and Headquarters Battery	Hazen
	Battery A, 437th FA	Hot Springs
	Battery B, 437th FA	Newport
	Battery C, 437th FA	Dumas
	Service Battery, 437th FA	Brinkley
217th Engineer Battalion	Headquarters and Headquarters Company	Russellville
	Company A, 217th EN	Russellville
	Company B, 217th EN	Monticello
	Company C, 217th EN	Magnolia
	Company D, 217th EN	McGehee
	Medical Detachment, 217th EN	Russellville
206th Tank Battalion	Headquarters and Headquarters Company	El Dorado
	Company A, 206th Tank BN	Warren
	Company B, 206th Tank BN	Camden
	Company C, 206th Tank BN	Fordyce
	Company D, 206th Tank BN	Crossett
	Medical Detachment, 206th Tank BN	Fordyce
125th Medical Battalion	Headquarters and Headquarters Company	Little Rock
	Clearing Company, 125th Med BN	Little Rock
	Ambulance Company, 125th Med BN	Little Rock
739th Ordnance Battalion	Headquarters and Headquarters Company	Little Rock
	Company A, 739th Ord BN	Little Rock
	Company B, 739th Ord BN	Little Rock
39th Division Artillery	Headquarters and Heaquarters Battery	Little Rock
	39th Replacement Company	Little Rock
	39th Military Police Company	Little Rock

Korean War

A pair of M-40 155mm Gun Motor Carriages of Battery B, 937th Field Artillery Battalion, from Paris Arkansas, providing fire support to U.S. Army 25th Infantry Division , Munema, Korea, 26 November 1951

The 142d Field Artillery Group was ordered into active Federal service 3 September 1950 at Fayetteville. (Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 142d Field Artillery Group, was organized and Federally recognized 10 September 1952 at Fayetteville). It was released on 17 December 1954 from active Federal service and reverted to state control; Federal recognition concurrently withdrawn from Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 142d Field Artillery Group.

The Little Rock Central High School Intergration Crisis

The 437th Field Artillery Battalion and the 445th Field Artillery Battalions were ordered into active Federal service 24 September 1957 at home stations, in support of the Little Rock Central High School Integration Crisis in Little Rock Arkansas; The 437 Field Artillery Battalion was released 22–24 October 1957 from active Federal service and reverted to state control, the 445th Field Artillery Battalion was released 23 October 1957 from active Federal service and reverted to state control.

Reorganization of 1959

Headquarters	Battery	Station
39th Division Artillery (DIVARTY)	Headquarters and Headquarters Battery	Little Rock
1st Howitzer Battalion (105mm/155mm)(Towed)	Headquarters and Headquarters Battery	Pine Bluff
	Battery A, (105mm)	Sheridan
	Battery B, (155mm)	Dumas
2nd Howitzer Battalion (105mm/155mm)(Towed)	Headquarters and Headquarters Battery	Hazen
	Battery A, (105mm)	Stuttgart
	Battery B, (155mm)	Brinkley
3rd Rocket Howitzer Battalion (Honest John/8 in)	Headquarters and Headquarters Battery	Marianna
	Battery A, (8 in)(Towed)	Helena
	Battery B, (Honest John)(SP)	West Helena

Reorganization of 1963

The 206th Artillery was reorganized 1 May 1963 to consist of the 2d and 3d Battalions, elements of the 39th Infantry Division.

An "Honest John" rocket on truck.

Marines from 11th Marines, 1st Marine Division fire an M101 105 mm Howitzer

Headquarters	Battery	Station
39th Division Artillery (DIVARTY)	Headquarters and Headquarters Battery	Little Rock
2nd Battalion (105mm)(Towed)	Headquarters and Headquarters Battery	Hazen
	Battery A, (105T)	Augusta
	Battery B, (105T)	Brinkley
	Battery C, (105T)	West Helena
3rd Battalion (Honest John)	Headquarters and Headquarters Battery	Marianna
	Battery A, (Honest John)	Helena

Reorganization of 1967

On 1 December 1967, 39th Division was reorganized and redesignated as the 39th Infantry Brigade. By this point in army history, regiments had ceased to exist as a battle field command. Regiments were now represented by their individual battalions. The new 39th Infantry Brigade (Separate) was comprised of elements of the following regiments:

1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment

2nd Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment

3rd Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment

Troop E, 151st Cavalry Regiment

5th Battalion, 206th Field Artillery Regiment

39th Support Battalion

Expanded use of the Guard

Overseas Training Oppertunities

39th Brigade units conducted numerous overseas training rotations throughout the 1980s and early 1990s.

• 1981, Company A, 2nd Battalion, 153rd Infantry (Walnut Ridge and Piggott) conducts Annual Training in Great Britain with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers as part of the Vounteer Warrior/Hard Charger Exercise.

• 1986, Company B, 1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry conducts Annual Training in Honduras.

• 1988, two batteries of the 5th Battalion, 206th Field Artillery conduct annual training in Honduras, Companies B and C, 2-153 IN conduct Annual Training in Great Britain as a part of Opation "Glo Worm/Rattlesnake", at Camp Crickhowell, Wales, hosted by members of the 5th Light Infantry English Citizen Soldiers.

• 1990, Company A, 1-153rd and Company C, 3rd Battalion, 153rd Infantry, along with the entire 5-206th Field Artillery conducted Annual Training in Honduras as part of the National Guard Bureau's Overseas Training Program. Company C, 1-153rd IN conducted Annual Training in the Unied Kingdom.

  

  Member of Battery B, 5th Battalion, 206th Field Artillery train with a Honduran Army artillery section in June 1990

• 1991, 1-153rd Infantry deployed with selected members of 2-153rd on a SOUTHCOM rotation to the Jungle Operations Training Center (JOTO) at Fort Sherman, Panama.

• 1992, Companies A, B and C, 2-153rd Infantry conduct Annual Training in Honduras in three separate rotations.

SFOR 9

In March 2001, Company D, 1-153rd and Company D, 3-153rd deployed to Bosnia as part of the Multinational Stabilization Force (SFOR), Security Force Nine in order to assist with the enforcement of the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH). The companies were attached to 3rd Squadron, 7 Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division for the deployment as part of Task Force Eagle. They performed presence patrols outside Forward Operating Base Morgan and Camp McGovern, and participated in the consolidation of weapon storage sites. The soldiers also guarded the sites.

Operation Souther Watch

Company B, 2nd Battalion, 153 Infantry, and B Company, 3rd Battalion, 153rd Infantry of the 39th BCT were activated for Operation Southern Watch, May through September 1999. B/2-153 deployed to Kuwait while Company B, 3-153 deployed to Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia. 39th Brigade Soldiers provided security at Patriot Missile Batteries during these deployments. The mission lasted a total of seven months, and was the first "pure" national guard effort in the region. Company C, 1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry carried on the 39th's role in Operation Southern Watch when they replaced B/2-153 IN in September 1999.

Global War on Terrorism

MFO

On October 10, 2001, 2-153 IN "Gunslinger" was activated in support of the Global War on Terror. Second Battalion was sent to Egypt in order to take over the Multinational Force and Observers mission, freeing up regular army infantry units to deploy to Afghanistan.

The 2-153's mission during the MFO was: "...to supervise the implementation of the security provisions of the Egyptian-Israeli Treaty of Peace and employ best efforts to prevent any violation of its terms." This is mission was accomplished by carrying out four tasks: Operating checkpoints, observation posts and conducting reconnaissance patrols on the international border as well as within Zone C; Verification of the terms of the peace treaty not less than twice a month; Verification of the terms of the peace treaty within 48 hours, upon the request of either party, and Ensuring freedom of international marine navigation in the Strait of Tiran and access to the Gulf of Aqaba.

This was the first "pure" National Guard takeover of the MFO mission. 2-153 IN deactivated on October 11, 2002.

Operation Noble Eagle

In October 2001, the 1st Battalion deployed a 70 man detachment of Battery C to secure the Arkansas Nuclear One power plant at Russellville, Arkansas in wake of the 11 September 2001 Terrorist Attacks. Members of the 206th were on duty at the site for approximately 3 months. ===Operation Enduring Freedom

Signifigant State Missions

In May 1927 the 206th Coast Artillery's Capt. Harry Smith was commended by the Little Rock Chamber of Commerce for breaking up the a mob that had rioted after a Ku Klux Klan staged lynching in the city.

The 206th Coast Artillery was called to state active duty to support the citizens of eastern Arkansas during the Arkansas River Floods of 1927 and 1937. The Regiment was responsible for setting up to refugee camps and providing relief to thousands of survivors. Colonel Robertson directed the 1927 relief operations in the Marianna area from the towboat St. Augustine.

The 5th Battalion, 206th FA was deployed to the Republic of Honduras in the summer of 1988 and again in the summer of 1990 in order to provide training with the Honduran Army. This was part of a larger deployment of National Guard troops into the region in order to help strengthen ties during a period of Marxist activity in Central America.

In December 2006, the 1st Battalion deployed a 70 man detachment of Headquarters and Headquarters Battery for service on the South West Border in support of Operation Jump Start, serving there until the 1st Battalion received it’s alert for mobilization in support of OIF 08-09.

Most recently the 1st Battalion activated a 50 man County Recovery Team under state control in order to support Ice Storm Recovery Operations in Sharp County, Arkansas, 30 January 2009 to 6 February 2009.

Operation Katrina

After Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana in August 2005, elements of the 39th deployed to New Orleans by C-130s from the Little Rock Air Force Base to support the relief and recovery efforts as part of Operation Katrina. Under tactical control of the Louisiana National Guard, 39th soldiers were given the mission of providing security and food and water to an estimated 20,000 people at the New Orleans Convention Center on September 2. By the afternoon of September 3, all individuals staying in and around the Convention Center had been evacuated. The mission of the 39th in Louisiana grew to the point that at one time the brigade was responsible for working with local officials in 14 parishes. Elements of the 39th and the Arkansas National Guard stayed deployed in Louisiana until February 2006.

Campaign participation credit

Units of the Arkansas National Guard have participated in the following recongnized Campaigns and engagements

World War I

Streamer without inscription

World War II

EAME

Naples-Foggia 1943-1944

Rome-Arno 1944

Southern France 1944 (with Arrow Head)

Rhineland 1944-1945

Central Europe 1945

Aleutian Islands 1942–1943

Korean war

1st U.N. Counter Offensive 1951

CCF Spring Offensive 1951

U.N. Summer-Fall Offensive 1951

Second Korean Winter 1951-1952

Korea Summer-Fall, 1952

Third Korean Winter 1952-1953

Korea Summer 1953

Southwest Asia

Defense of Saudi Arabia 1990-1991

Liberation and Defense of Kuwait 1991

Cease-Fire 1991-1995

War on Terrorism

Iraq Campaign Streamer

Arkansas National Guard Fallen Soldiers

World War II

206th Coast Artillery Regiment

• Private Claude H. Biggs, Battery F, Killed in Action, Dutch Harbor, Alaska, 3 June 1942
• Private Allen C. Collier, Jr., HQ Battery, 2nd Battalion, Dutch Harbor, Alaska, Killed in Action, 3 June 1942
• Private James E. Harrington, Battery E, Killed in Action, Dutch Harbor, Alaska, 3 June 1942
• Private Hugh Bryan Timberlake, Battery B, Killed in Action, Dutch Harbor, Alaska, 3 June 1942
• Private James R. Wiles, Battery C, Killed in Action, Dutch Harbor, Alaska, 3 June 1942
• Private Charles W. Hill, Battery F, Killed in Action, Dutch Harbor, Alaska, 4 June 1942
• Private Ambrose D. Regalia, Battery F, Killed in Action, Dutch Harbor, Alaska, 4 June 1942

Killed in action listed on the Battery C, 206th CA monument in Jonesboro, Arkansas

This monument includes the names of several former 206th Coast Artillery members who were Killed in Action with other units after the break up of the 206th Coast Artillery Regiment in 1944.

• Kenneth Burkhart
• Clifford Cloud
• Joseph J. Eble
• John H. Franklin
• Charles Hutton
• Cletis Jeffers
• Fred Johnson
• James Lemmer
• Owen "H" Lynch
• Carl Neal
• Ray Shreeve
• Frank Sweeney
• Roy Wiles (probably the same as Pvt. James R. Wiles listed as KIA from Dutch Harbor)

Operation Iraqi Freedom 2004-2005

• Sergeant First Class William W. Labadie Jr. of Bauxite, Age 45. Killed in Action, 4/7/04

• Captain Arthur L. Felder of Lewisville, Age 36. Killed in Action, 4/24/04

• Chief Warrant Officer Patrick W. Kordsmeier of North Little Rock, Age 49. Killed in Action, 4/24/04

• Staff Sergeant Billy J. Orton of Carlisle, Age 41. Killed in Action, 4/24/04

• Staff Sergeant Stacey C. Brandon of Hazen, Age 35. Killed in Action, 4/24/04

• Specialist Kenneth Melton of Batesville, Age 30. Killed in Action, 4/25/04

• Staff Sergeant Hesley Box of Nashville, Age 24. Killed in Action, 5/6/04

• Sergeant First Class Troy Leon Miranda of Wickes, Age 44. Killed in Action, 5/20/04

• Sergeant Russell L. Collier of Harrison, Age 48. Killed in Action, 10/3/04

• Sergeant Ronald Wayne Baker of Cabot, Age 34. Killed in Action, 10/13/04

Operation Iraqi Freedom 2008

• Sergeant First Class Anthony Lynn Woodham, Age 37, of Rogers, Ark., Heber Springs, Ark., died July 5, at Camp Adder, Tallil, Iraq, from non-combat related injuries.

• Specialist James M. Clay, Age 25, of Mountain Home, Ark.; Little Rock, Ark.; died November 13, 2008 in Anbar province, Iraq, of injuries sustained in a vehicle accident.

Past Adjutants General

See History of the United States National Guard for a more complete history of the guard at a national level.

See also

• State Defense Forces
• Militia
• Home Guard
• Transformation of the Army National Guard

External links

• Arkansas National Guard
• Arkansas Army National Guard at GlobalSecurity
• GlobalSecurity.org Army National Guard page
• National Guard Association of Arkansas