Homeland Defense: The Pennsylvania State Guard, 1941-1953
2004; The MIT Press; Volume: 84; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês
ISSN
0026-4148
Autores Tópico(s)Military and Defense Studies
ResumoON 8 OCTOBER 2001, less than a month after the terrorist attacks on the United States, President George W. Bush created the Office of Homeland security (now the Department of Homeland security), with former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge as director. Homeland defense or homeland security is not a new concept. After the German invasion of Poland in September 1939 and the fall of France in june 1940, the U.S. military mobilized for World War II.1 Beginning in 1940 and continuing through 1942, most U.S. Army National Guard (ARNG) and Army Reserve (USAR) units, including infantry divisions (IDs), were activated. The ARNG was federalized, sent to various mobilization training installations, and eventually deployed overseas, forming the core of the Army that fought and won World War II. When the ARNG-the traditional state ready-reaction force-went to war, the obvious need arose for a trained force to replace it. In 1940, Congress amended the National Defense Act to allow governors to raise such a force.2 all but a few states raised and equipped units to take the place of deployed ARNG and USAR units. The new units consisted of World War I veterans, men awaiting active service, and others, who for one reason or another were exempt from active service.3 Training schedules were much the same as for the ARNG. The units participated in drills once a week, usually on Monday nights, and held an annual training period one week each summer. Doctrine came from standard Army manuals. Soldiers were not paid for the weekly drill, but they received full pay and allowances for the annual training period and for any state active-duty time.4 The units guarded bridges, munitions, tank factories, and other key installations, and they received training on defending against air attacks, saboteurs, and guerrillas and dealing with civil disturbances and disasters. Pennsylvania Reserve Defense Corps On 20 March 1941, Pennsylvania's adjutant general issued General Order No. 1 which officially recognized and organized the Pennsylvania Reserve Defense Corps (PRDC) as a brigade-size (1,934 man) force of three regiments.5 The 1 st regiment, based in Philadelphia, covered the eastern sector of the state. The 2d regiment, based in Wilkes-Barre, covered the central sector. The 3d regiment, based in Pittsburgh, covered the western sector. Divided into three battalions with three rifle companies per battalion, each regiment had a regimental headquarters and a service company with a medical detachment. Each company contained two platoons with approximately 30 men per platoon. With the exception of two platoons instead of three per company, the Tables of Organization and Equipment (TOE) resembled the standard Army TOE of the day for commissioned and noncommissioned officers (NCOs) and enlisted personnel. The rank structure for the officer, NCO, and enlisted ranks resembled that of an Army separate infantry brigade, with a brigadier general as brigade commander, two additional colonels at the brigade headquarters, and a colonel commanding each regiment. The remaining brigade officer strength consisted of 5 lieutenant colonels, 17 majors, 49 captains, 72 1st lieutenants, and 62 2d lieutenants. All enlisted members, ranging in age from 21 to 50, received a physical examination. To optimize the available prior-service manpower pool, there was no age limit for officers.6 General Robert M. Vail, the first brigade commander, had entered the Pennsylvania ARNG on 16 March 1894 as a private. His career included service in the Spanish-American War in 1898, the Philippines Insurrection from 1899 to 1904, the Mexican Border Expedition from 1916 to 1917, and World War I from 1917 to 1918. Vail received the Distinguished Service Cross and Purple Heart for heroism and wounds received in France during World War I. He served in the Pennsylvania ARNG until his retirement in 1939 as a major general.7 Although Vail retired as a major general, when he returned to active state service as commander of the Pennsylvania State Guard and acting adjutant general, he reverted to his last permanent rank held-brigadier general. …
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