180th Field Artillery Regiment 5425 East McDowell Road P.O. Box 60512 Phoenix, Arizona 85082-0512 (602) 267-2481 DSN 853-2481 22 February 2002 Pamphlet Historical Activities Number 870-5 Arizona Army National Guard The First One Hundred Years This Pamphlet is one in the series of historical documents assembled for publication by the 180th Field Artillery Regiment Association. Recognizing that yesterday and today’s achievement is tomorrow’s history, these pamphlets document and record significant activities, events and occurrences in the Arizona Army National Guard and the Arizona Artillery. Questions or comments should be addressed to the above office. Compiled and Edited By Colonel (Ret) John L. Johnson Associate Editor Colonel (Ret) Charles G. Kroger, Command Historian This Pamphlet supersedes all previous editions Formatted: Page break before Tradition, Pride and Commitment Table of Contents Page Acknowledgements . 4 Introduction . 6 The Civil War . 9 The Indian Menace . 11 Raising the Arizona Volunteer Infantry Regiment. 14 Arizona Volunteers Begin Duty . 19 Camp Life . 25 Discharge. 28 The Organized Militia . 33 Spanish American War . 41 Organizing the National Guard . 44 Border Service. 51 World War I . 55 The Growing Year . 57 World War II . 66 Panama. 67 Down Under . 68 Wakde Sarmi. 69 Noemfoor . 71 The Philippines . 73 2 Batangas. 76 The Bicol . 78 Sorsogon . 79 Camalig . 80 Mount Isarog . 82 Off to Yokohama . 83 Back Home . 84 White Plan, Fire Support Subsystem . 91 Desert Strike . 96 Emergencies on the Home Front . 105 Retiring the Colors . 109 3 Acknowledgements This Pamphlet covers the one hundred year history of the Arizona Army National Guard through it’s beginning in 1865 as the First Arizona Volunteer Infantry Regiment through the deactivation of the 158th Infantry in December 1967. Many significant and historical events probably occurred that are not noted herein, for those missed, we all must take blame because of poor records keeping, neglect of recording those events or our ignorance of history as it occurred. The significant donors of information for this pamphlet must be recognized for the effort and sacrifice required on their part to research, document and record in the basic contents recorded herein. Anyone who has ever conducted research through historical records to capture the background, time, names, places, and events will understand the amount of cussing, blood, sweat and tears required to accomplish this task. Special recognition to Mr. Lonnie Edward Underhill for his research and documentation of the important period of history on the first militia unit in the illustrious lineage of the Arizona Army National Guard. Recent Arizona historians have said little about the Arizona volunteers of the First Volunteer Infantry Regiment mustered into service in 1865. Mr. Underhill’s thesis attempts to make their contribution to the settling of the early Arizona Territory a matter of record. This thesis was submitted to the History Department, University of Arizona, for his Master of Arts degree and was based on a hitherto little or unused set of documents. These documents were drawn from the Arizona Division of Library, Archives, and Public Records, Arizona Historical Society, University of Arizona Library Special Collections, Arizona State University Arizona Collection, and the National Archives. The material of the National Archives included muster rolls, pension records, regimental papers, and pertinent military correspondence files. The poor condition of many of these records required numerous hours of research with a six-inch magnifying glass to decipher them. Colonel Orville A. (Speedy) Cochran was born on 22 October 1911 in Rifle, Colorado. Colonel Cochran served in several staff and command assignments in the 158th Infantry and was later transferred to the Headquarters Staff of the Arizona National Guard, both militarily and as a State employee. Colonel Cochran served in that assignment until the time of his retirement whereupon he was appointed as Colonel (for Life) in the Arizona National Guard. Colonel Cochran worked in the Adjutant General’s office as Chief Clerk in charge of the File Section prior to mobilization in 1940. After return from World War II, Colonel Cochran was the Public Information Officer in the Arizona National Guard Headquarters. He was an outstanding soldier and gentleman who devoted himself to recording the previously used abbreviated History of the Arizona National Guard and detailed History of the Arizona Artillery, 1920 – 1955. Reproduced in its entirety herein is the book, “The Story of the Bushmasters”, by Roy Lancaster. In World War II, Mr. Lancaster was one of the “Selectees” rushed from the draft boards in the United States to their assignment with the 158th Infantry. As stated in his book, The 158th Infantry was composed of a cross section of Arizona men; Indians of some twenty-odd tribes, Mexicans, and native-born Americans of all national descents made up its companies when it mobilized in 1940. After arriving in Panama in 1942 the 158th Infantry ceased to be exclusively an Arizona outfit. It became a unit of tough young Americans from every state and every section, from every occupation and every field. Mr. Lancaster is a member of the Bushmaster association, and with his book out of print, has authorized the reproduction of his book twice, once by the Arizona National Guard Historical Society and also by the Bushmaster Association on the 50th Anniversary of their mobilization for World War II. 4 Thanks to Lieutenant Colonel Robert J. Freuler (Deceased). Colonel Freuler retired from the Wisconsin Army National Guard where he served as a Field Artillery Battalion Commander and senior Staff Officer. He moved to Arizona in 1986 after retiring from American Telephone and Telegraph (AT&T) and immediately volunteered to serve as the curator, Arizona Military Museum. During the eight years that he served in that capacity, he spent hundreds of hours of his own time researching the history of the early militia and Arizona Guard, covering many of those periods where little or no information was assembled and recorded. Particular thanks for the assistance and input furnished by former members of the 480th Field Artillery Battalion and 180th Artillery, jokingly known as members of the Order of Ancient Artillerymen. The capturing of written and oral history was an enjoyment, which also became a remembrance of many good times, bad times and things forgotten. Often the deeds or activities were embellished, especially if being recorded over a cold beer or two, but later reviewed and edited in the interest of historical accuracy. Many occurrences recorded during these sessions, although accurate and historical in nature, were purposely excluded in the interest of propriety and reverence of the living. News archives and articles available from newspapers for the time periods, plus government and private Internet sites, provided vast amounts of information to include particular events, dates and/or individuals. Other contributors of information, publications or documents are recognized in the additional reference publications listed below. Last, but not least, thanks to MSG (Ret) Del Taylor for time and effort required in making the files, records, Orders, Morning Reports, etc. in the Arizona National Guard Records Center available for research and information. Del’s appreciation of the historical significance of records under his care, plus his willingness to assist, always made it a pleasure to visit the Records Center and review the past, while researching the thousands of records maintained in his safekeeping. I apologize for any areas not researched in greater detail and activities or actions not included, but this history has become a task never completed. Every day, week or month during the past two years would bring forth something new or an item missed that adds to the history of the Arizona Army National Guard and therefore required research and recording. The end comes when you just finally say, “That’s it!” - - and hope that another interested person or organization will update and revise this history sometime in the future. The following publications are available for reference or additional information: Thesis, First Arizona Volunteer Infantry Regiment First Arizona Volunteer Infantry Regiment Genealogy Records Lonnie E. Underhill (Above publications available in Arizona Military Museum Library) Adjutant’s General Reports, 1865 – Present (those available) (Arizona Military Museum Library) Book, Story of the Bushmasters (Out of print) Roy Lancaster Bushmasters, America’s Jungle Warriors (out of Print) Anthony Edwards 180th Field Artillery Regiment Historical Pamphlets: Pamphlet 870-2, White Plan, Fire Support Subsystem Pamphlet 870-3, Exercise Desert Strike, Colorado River War II Pamphlet 870-4, The Arizona Artillery Part I, The Early Years, 1919-1953 Pamphlet 870-6, First Arizona Volunteer Regiment of Infantry 5 Introduction Older than our nation, the National Guard has the longest continuous history of any military organization in the United States. Its origin traces back to the early 17th century. Early settlers were quick to recognize their obligation to give part time personal services to the protection of the life and property they enjoyed. From the homes and farms of individual communities, men voluntarily joined together to form trained bands and companies. These protective groups, born of necessity, were strictly local and spontaneous, neighbors joining hands in a common cause. The oldest National Guard, however, was not formed in the United States. The Puerto Rican National Guard, a part of the National Guard of the United States, claims as its ancestry the early militia organized in 1510. It’s first commanding officer was none other than Ponce DeLeon. The militia fought the Indian wars and with the Spanish troops repelled the attacks by the French, English and Dutch invaders. The earliest regiments in the United States are the 182d Infantry of Massachusetts, organized in 1634, known as the “Old North Regiment,” and the 176th Infantry of Virginia, organized in 1652.