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| West Virginia National Guard | |
|---|---|
 West Virginia Army National Guard STARC SSI | |
| Active | 1947 - present |
| Country | United States |
| Allegiance |  West Virginia |
| Branch | Joint |
| Type | Reserve force Militia |
| Garrison/HQ | Charleston, West Virginia |
| Motto | "Mountaineers Are Free" |
| Decorations | List of decorations |
| Commanders | |
| Civilian leadership | Governor Patrick Morrisey (Commander-in-Chief) GovernorPatrick Morrisey (Governor of the State of West Virginia) |
| State military leadership | Major General James D. Seward (Adjutant General) Command Sergeant Major James D. Jones (Senior Enlisted Advisor) |
| Insignia | |
| Unit insignia |  |
| Seal of the West Virginia National Guard |  |
| West Virginia National Guard Crest |  |
| West Virginia National Guard Headquarters Flag |  |
| West Virginia National Guard 77th Troop Command Flag |  |
TheWest Virginia National Guard is a part of theWest Virginia Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety. It comprises the West Virginia Army National Guard and theWest Virginia Air National Guard. Unlike some states, West Virginia does not maintain astate defense force, nor is there a naval component to the state's military forces.
The oldest active regiment in the U.S. Army (active, Reserve and National Guard) is the201st Field Artillery, the "First West Virginia," founded in 1735 as a Virginia militia regiment.
The West Virginia National Guard traces its heritage to the 1735 militia company established in Berkeley County by Morgan Morgan.[1] Originally formed for protection against Indian raids, militia units were quickly mobilized when necessary in war time. Militia units provided frontier service in the French and Indian War and during Dunmore’s War. Men from Western Virginia fought on all fronts in the Revolutionary War. During the War of 1812, Western Virginia militia units took part in the Northwest campaigns, and one company of Cabell County troops fought alongside Andrew Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans in 1815. Cabell, Berkeley, and Jefferson counties provided infantry regiments for service in the Mexican War of 1846-1848.[1]
In 1861, the 81stVirginia General Assembly voted to secede from the United States following theBattle of Fort Sumter. However, opposition to secession and slavery as well as anti-Confederate, Pro-Union sentiments were strong in Northwestern Virginia.[2] The counties that now compose of present-day West Virginia voted to secede from Virginia and establish their own separate, pro-Union state, and the West Virginia National Guard's separate identity truly began to coalesce during this period. West Virginia provided some 40,000 men for service in both Northern and Southern forces.[1] Many enlisted in the regiments of bordering states, especially Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.[1] These troops primarily saw service on West Virginia soil or in the Valley of Virginia. Federal and Confederate units from West Virginia were present at both the first land battle of the war at Philippi and at the Confederate surrender at Appomattox.[1]
A few ceremonial and social militia companies were formed after the Civil War, but the state did nothing to encourage their formation. Although violence during the Railroad Strike of 1877 led industrialists to plead for more militia companies, organization of the militia continued to be slow due to a lack of popular and legislative support. However, national labor problems and the formation of the National Guard Association as a lobbying group resulted in federal legislation that furnished funding and material for Guard companies. In 1889, the West Virginia legislature renamed the militia the West Virginia National Guard and provided state support. The First Infantry Regiment was organized in northern West Virginia and the Second Infantry Regiment in southern West Virginia.[1]
In 1898, the two regiments were merged into one for service in the Spanish-American War. The First West Virginia Volunteer Infantry was stationed in Georgia. Later, another regiment was formed, the Second West Virginia Volunteer Infantry, which served in Pennsylvania during the war.[1]
The militia or National Guard was activated for service in areas of labor unrest in 1877, 1880, 1894, 1902, and 1912. Though there were hundreds of strikes during this period, most were controlled by local police authorities. When this failed, troops were called to duty. The most prolonged service took place in 1902 when a national coal strike brought miners out in the New River Gorge, and in 1912–13 when miners struck for union recognition on Paint and Cabin creeks in Kanawha County. Martial law was declared for the strike zone in 1912, and miners and mine guards were sentenced to prison for various violations. ‘‘Mother’’ Jones was among those brought before the court-martial.[1]
In 1916, the West Virginia National Guard was activated in response to President Woodrow Wilson’s call for troops to pursue Pancho Villa on the Mexican border. Again, the regiments were merged and the Second West Virginia Volunteer Infantry was sent to the border. After several months the unit returned home, only to be federalized within weeks for service in World War I. The Second Regiment and a newly recruited First Regiment were absorbed into the 38th Infantry Division. The Second Regiment was reorganized and redesignated as the 150th Infantry while the First Regiment was broken up into support units. The 150th Infantry landed in Europe at the end of the war and saw no action in that conflict.[1]
One of the West Virginian National Guard's most infamous actions was when it took part in theBattle of Blair Mountain, the largest labor uprising in American history. It played a key role in the suppression of the labor revolt.[3]
Following World War I, the 150th and 201st Infantry Regiments were organized in southern and northern West Virginia, respectively. These units were federalized in January 1941 as President Franklin D. Roosevelt prepared the nation for war. The 150th spent World War II defending the Panama Canal while the 201st provided the first line of defense for the Aleutian Islands. The National Guard was dramatically changed after World War II. Artillery units, transportation, and engineering units were added to the 150th Infantry Regiment. Probably the biggest change, however, was the addition of a combat fighter squadron, bringing an important aviation component to the Guard[1]
Since World War II, the Army and Air National Guard has served in a number of capacities, lending aid to West Virginians during natural disasters caused by periodic flooding and to victims of the coal refuse dam break on Buffalo Creek in 1972. As part of its military mission, elements of the West Virginia Army and Air National Guard were activated for duty during the Korean War, the war in Vietnam, the Gulf War of 1991, the Iraq War, in support of the peacekeeping mission to Bosnia in 1997–98, and more recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.[1]
The West Virginia National Guard was mobilized more frequently after the attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, than at any other time in its history. Elements of the West Virginia Army and Air National Guard served in action in Afghanistan and in Iraq.[1]
The leadership of the West Virginia National Guard includes:
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The West VirginiaArmy National Guard (WVARNG) is theUnited States Army component of the West Virginia National Guard. It has 38 units and activities stationed in 22 counties throughoutWest Virginia and overseas.[4] The WV ARNG is supportingHomeland Security activities, and has deployed troops as part ofOperation Iraqi Freedom inIraq,Operation Enduring Freedom inAfghanistan and theHorn of Africa, and peace keeping missions inKosovo.
The WVARNG has a three-fold mission:[citation needed]
Army National Guard Element, Joint Force Headquarters West Virginia (JFHQ-WV), inCharleston
111th Engineer Brigade, headquartered inEleanor
1092nd Engineer Battalion, headquartered inParkersburg
1st Squadron,150th Cavalry Regiment,30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, headquartered atBluefield
1st Battalion,201st Field Artillery Regiment,197th Field Artillery Brigade, headquartered atFairmont
2nd Battalion,19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), headquartered atKenova, West Virginia
Special Operations Detachment - Europe (SOD-E)
197th Regiment (Regional Training Institute) atCamp DawsonTwo units of the West Virginia Army National Guard, the150th Cavalry Regiment and the201st Field Artillery Regiment, are among the nineteenArmy National Guard units with campaign credit for the War of 1812. The 150th served with the38th Infantry Division between the wars, served in thePanama Canal Zone duringWorld War II, and was an armored cavalry regiment for a time after World War II.
West Virginia is also home to the 249th Army Band, stationed in Morgantown, WV.[citation needed] The band's history dates back to the turn of the century when it consisted of two bands, the 201st Infantry Band in Morgantown, WV and the 150th Infantry Band in Bluefield, WV. Upon release from federal service in World War Two, these two bands were consolidated into the current 249th and was stationed in Fairmont, West Virginia. In 1995, the 249th was stationed in Morgantown. The band is made up of members from throughout the state as well as surrounding states. These personnel make up a Concert Band, Ceremonial Band, Jazz Ensemble, Rock Band, and several other small ensembles including, but not limited to, a Brass Choir, Jazz Quartet, and Percussion Ensemble.
Located inPreston County,Camp Dawson is the main training site for the units of the West Virginia National Guard. Comprising over 4,000 acres, Camp Dawson has multiple ranges, training sites, and is home toDawson Army Airfield (K3G5). The West Virginia Guard also hosts theCenter for National Response at theMemorial Tunnel inKanawha County.
It was reported on April 24, 2022, after the beginning of the2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, that West Virginia would be sending a number ofM113 armored personnel carriers to Ukraine.[6]
The West Virginia Air National Guard is the state's air force militia. It is part of both theUnited States Air Force and the West Virginia National Guard.
The West Virginia Air National Guard was officially federally recognized on March 7, 1947, as the 167th Fighter Squadron, based at Kanawha Airport in Charleston. During the early years of the 167th, it flew theT-6 Texan trainer,P-51 Mustang andP-47 Thunderbolt. The unit was activated October 10, 1950 during the Korean War, and was designated the167th Fighter Bomber Squadron when it returned on July 10, 1952. In December 1955, the unit was redesignated as the167th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, and relocated to Eastern West Virginia Region Airport in Martinsburg, WV.
Today the West Virginia Air National Guard is composed of two airlift units, the130th Airlift Wing based atCharleston Air National Guard Base inCharleston, West Virginia, and the167th Airlift Wing based atShepherd Field Air National Guard Base inMartinsburg, West Virginia. As of 2015, the 167th is flying theC-17 Globemaster III and the 130th is flying theC-130 Hercules in support of operations worldwide. In addition, the 130th and the 167th Wings took part inOperation Desert Shield. Both units report toAir Mobility Command.
On 13 May 2005, theDepartment of Defense released itsBase Realignment and Closure, 2005 (BRAC) report, and the 130th Airlift Wing was one of the units slated to be eventually decommissioned. Its complement of eight C-130H aircraft would be realigned toPope Air Force Base, and its complement of expeditionary combat support (ECS) personnel to the 167th Airlift Wing.
Upon learning of this, several former commanders of the 130th Airlift Wing along with members of the local Kanawha County Commission and theYeager Airport Board of Directors formed theKeep 'Em FlyingArchived September 29, 2007, at theWayback Machine grassroots organization to try to prevent the unit from being decommissioned. Following an outpouring of community support, money was raised for newspaper ads and radio ads, and to hire analysts familiar with BRAC, all in an attempt to save the unit. On June 13, 2005, members of the BRAC commission came to Charleston to evaluate the base and talk to General Tackett, GovernorJoe Manchin, SenatorRobert Byrd, CongresswomanShelley Moore Capito and Col. Bill Peters, Jr., former commander of the 130th and chair for Keep 'Em Flying.
Following this visit, and taking in all the information that was presented to them during that time, the BRAC commission voted unanimously, 9–0, to keep the unit intact.
Since theSeptember 11 attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C., the unit has had members deployed to the Afghan and Iraq wars. Unit members have received six Bronze Stars and two Purple Hearts in support of these operations. In December 2006, the 167th received its firstC-5 Galaxy, out of a total of 11 aircraft. In February 2012, the Force Structure Overview was released by theSecretary of the Air Force. The document detailed numerous aircraft changes throughout the active, Guard and Reserve forces, including the replacement of the unit's C-5 aircraft with C-17s. On September 25, 2014, the 167th Airlift Wing flew its final C-5 mission, a local training sortie. That same day the wing received its first C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, one of eight C-17s the unit is slated to receive.[7]
List of decorations awarded by the West Virginia National Guard
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
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