Ohio National Guard News

Commemorating the centennial of the U.S. entering World War I; many connections to state of Ohio, Ohio National Guard

By Sgt. 1st Class Josh Mann, Ohio Army National Guard Historian

Members of Company C, 147th Infantry, 37th Division, who captured the first German prisoners for the 37th Division, back from the trenches for a rest near Brouville, France, Aug. 14, 1918. Pictured are: Cpl. J. V. Ewan (from left) and Pvts. G. L. Fisher, L. S. Thompson, Eddie Downey, W. T. Frank and Phillip Herman. April 6 commemorates the 100th anniversary of the U.S. entry into World War I. (37th Division Veterans Association Collection/Ohio Army National Guard Historical Collections)

A wartime photo of the 166th Infantry Regiment Band taken in France. April 6 commemorates the 100th anniversary of the U.S. entry into World War I. (Maj. Gen. Benson Hough Collection/Ohio Army National Guard Historical Collections)

 

Officers of the 2nd Battalion, 372nd Infantry in France: 2nd Lt. Tom Walker (from left), 1st Lt. Ben Rudd and 2nd Lt. William Nichols. The 372nd was a segregated unit that earned the French Croix de Guerre with Palm during the Meuse-Argonne campaign for its heroic actions in battle. April 6 commemorates the 100th anniversary of the U.S. entry into World War I. (Ohio Army National Guard Historical Collections)

Soldiers of the 112th Engineer Regiment building roads near Montfaucon, France during the Meuse-Argonne campaign, Sept. 28, 1918. April 6 commemorates the 100th anniversary of the U.S. entry into World War I. (37th Division Veterans Association Collection/Ohio Army National Guard Historical Collections)

COLUMBUS, Ohio — On April 6, 1917, Congress declared war on Germany, ending the 2 1/2-year effort by President Woodrow Wilson to keep the U.S. neutral. Today, 100 years later, the Ohio National Guard commemorates the contributions and sacrifices our predecessors made to help make the world safe for democracy during World War I.

Most of the Ohio National Guard had just returned from a successful nine-month deployment to Texas for Mexican Border service when war was declared. However, some regiments remained in federal service guarding key infrastructure across the state. On July 15, the remaining units of the Ohio National Guard were called into federal service and began recruiting to wartime strength. Ohio also began organizing the necessary units to complete the formation of an all Ohio division, which eventually became the 37th Division.

On Aug. 5, the entire National Guard was drafted into the Army. This permitted the federal government to deploy Guard members outside of the U.S., an act that was meant to circumvent the militia clause of the Constitution. The clause stated that Guard members could only be used to “execute the laws of the union, suppress insurrection and repel invasions” and not be deployed overseas. To sidestep this restriction, the Army’s Judge Advocate General determined that it would be necessary to draft each Guard member into federal service, thus severing his ties to the state militia and freeing him for service overseas. Ohio would send 25,187 officers and men into the Army with a stroke of a pen.

The majority of the Ohio National Guard was sent to Camp Sheridan, Alabama in September for training and was reorganized shortly after as the 37th Division. Known as the “Buckeye Division,” they reached France in June 1918 and received credit for participation in the Lorraine, Meuse-Argonne and Ypres-Lys campaigns. The 37th would be rated one of the top five American divisions by the German general staff and had the honor of escorting the King of Belgium back into his country after years of German control.

Additionally, 2nd Lt. Albert Baesel, a native of Berea and a member of Company B, 148th Infantry, would earn the Medal of Honor for sacrificing his life trying to carry a wounded Soldier back to friendly lines near Ivory, France in September 1918.

The 4th Infantry Regiment, made up of units from central and south-central Ohio, was picked to join the 42nd Division and was soon renamed the 166th Infantry. The 42nd was made up of National Guard units from 26 states and earned the nickname “Rainbow Division” based on a comment attributed to Douglas MacArthur, who said that such an organization would “stretch over the whole country like a rainbow.” The 166th Infantry reached France in November 1917 and participated in the Champagne-Marne, Aisne-Marne, St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, Lorraine and Champagne campaigns.

Finally, the 9th Infantry Battalion, which was organized across Ohio as a segregated unit, was consolidated with other black organizations from the National Guard to form the 372nd Infantry, an element of the 93rd Division. Serving with the French 157th Division, the regiment earned the French Croix de Guerre with Palm during the Meuse-Argonne campaign for attacking an enemy position under a “violent machine-gun and artillery fire” and “capturing numerous prisoners, cannons, machine guns and important materiel.”

Today, there are 44 Ohio Army National Guard units that perpetuate the lineage of World War I ancestors. Units proudly display credits with streamers, in the colors of the World War I victory medal and inscribed with the name of the campaign, on their flags, organizational colors or guidons, depending on the size of the organization. Their service is attested on lineage and honors certificates, issued by the U.S. Army Center of Military History.

This summer also marks the centennial anniversary of three major subordinate commands of the Ohio Army National Guard: the 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT), 16th Engineer Brigade and 371st Sustainment Brigade. In addition to their World War I service, all three organizations fought in the Pacific during World War II and have deployed multiple time during the War on Terrorism. Over the past 100 years, these organizations have also mobilized countless times in response to the needs of Ohioans for state active duty. The 37th IBCT continues the nickname “Buckeye” and proudly wears the shoulder sleeve insignia of its parent unit that was adopted at the end of World War I — a red and white circle, taken from the flag of Ohio.

Adding to their units’ historic lineage, the 37th IBCT is currently deployed in support of Operation Joint Guard-Kosovo Force (KFOR), tasked with maintaining a safe and secure environment for people living along Kosovo’s southeastern border, and will return home later this year; the Soldiers of the 371st Sustainment Brigade are currently preparing for a mission to the Middle East later this spring.

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Current Ohio Army National Guard units with World War I lineage

The list of current Ohio Army National Guard units that perpetuate lineage of World War I units comprises current unit designation, current station of the unit, the cited unit it perpetuates as well as the 1917 station of that unit if different from today, and the campaigns and unit awards credited to that organization.


Ohio Army National Guard Medical Detachment

Station

Columbus

Cited Unit(s)

112th Sanitary Train

Campaigns

Ypres-Lys, Meuse-Argonne, Lorraine 1918


Headquarters, 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team

Station

Columbus

Cited Unit(s)

Headquarters, 37th Division

Campaigns

Ypres-Lys, Meuse-Argonne, Lorraine 1918


148th Infantry Regiment

Station

Northwest Ohio

Cited Unit(s)

147th Infantry
166th Infantry

Campaigns

Ypres-Lys, Champagne-Marne,
Aisne-Marne, St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, Lorraine 1918, Champaigne 1918


Company B, 1st Battalion, 148th Infantry Regiment

Station

Bowling Green

Cited Unit(s)

Company F, 147th Infantry (Napoleon)
Company F, 146th Infantry (Bowling Green)
Company M, 146th Infantry (Ottawa)
Company G, 147th Infantry (Defiance)

Campaigns

Ypres-Lys, Meuse-Argonne, Lorraine 1918


134th Field Artillery Regiment

Station

Central Ohio

Cited Unit(s)

134th Field Artillery
135th Field Artillery
136th Field Artillery

Campaigns

Lorraine 1918


Headquarters and Headquarters Battery,
1st Battalion, 134th Field Artillery Regiment

Station

Delaware

Cited Unit(s)

Battery C, 134th Field Artillery (Columbus)

Campaigns

Lorraine 1918


Battery A, 1st Battalion, 134th Field Artillery Regiment

Station

Delaware

Cited Unit(s)

Company A, 146th Infantry (Bucyrus)
Company L, 146th Infantry (Galion)

Campaigns

Ypres-Lys, Meuse-Argonne, Lorraine 1918


Battery B, 1st Battalion, 134th Field Artillery Regiment

Station

Piqua

Cited Unit(s)

Company C, 148th Infantry

Campaigns

Ypres-Lys, Meuse-Argonne, Lorraine 1918


237th Support Battalion

Station

Statewide

Cited Unit(s)

2nd Battalion, 372nd Infantry

Campaigns

Meuse-Argonne, Alsace 1918, Lorraine 1918

French Croix de Guerre with Palm,
World War I, Streamer embroidered
MEUSE – ARGONNE


Headquarters and Headquarters Company,
237th Support
Battalion

Station

Cleveland

Cited Unit(s)

Battery A, 135th Field Artillery

Campaigns

Lorraine 1918


Company E, 237th Support Battalion

Station

Lima

Cited Unit(s)

Company G, 145th Infantry (Findlay)
Company M, 145th Infantry (Lima)

Campaigns

Ypres-Lys, Meuse-Argonne, Lorraine 1918


Company A, Special Troops Battalion,
37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team

Station

St. Marys

Cited Unit(s)

Company L, 146th Infantry (Spencerville)
Company B, 146th Infantry (St. Marys)

Campaigns

Ypres-Lys, Meuse-Argonne, Lorraine 1918


Company A, 837th Engineer Battalion

Station

Wooster

Cited Unit(s)

Company D, 146th Infantry

Campaigns

Ypres-Lys, Meuse-Argonne, Lorraine 1918


107th Cavalry Regiment

Station

Southwest Ohio

Cited Unit(s)

145th Infantry
146th Infantry
135th Field Artillery
136th Field Artillery

Campaigns

Ypres-Lys, Meuse-Argonne, Lorraine 1918


Headquarters and Headquarters Troop,
2nd Squadron, 107th Cavalry Regiment

Station

Hamilton

Cited Unit(s)

Company G, 372nd Infantry (Xenia)

Campaigns

Alsace, Lorraine 1918, Meuse-Argonne

French Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War I,
Streamer embroidered MEUSE-ARGONNE


Troop C, 2nd Squadron, 107th Cavalry Regiment

Station

Xenia

Cited Unit(s)

Company D, 147th Infantry (Hillsboro)
Company L, 147th Infantry (Blanchester)
Company M, 166th Infantry (Washington Court House)

Campaigns

Champagne-Marne, Aisne-Marne, St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, Lorraine 1918, Champagne 1918, Ypres-Lys


Headquarters and Headquarters Company,
16th Engineer Brigade

Station

Columbus

Cited Unit(s)

Headquarters, 62nd Field Artillery Brigade

Campaigns

Lorraine 1918


112th Engineer Battalion

Station

Brook Park

Cited Unit(s)

112th Engineer Regiment

Campaigns

Ypres-Lys, Meuse-Argonne, Lorraine 1918


Headquarters and Headquarters Company,
112th Engineer Battalion

Station

Brook Park

Cited Unit(s)

Company A, 145th Infantry (Berea)
112th Engineer Train (Cleveland)
Headquarters Company, 145th Infantry (Cleveland)
Machine Gun Company, 145th Infantry (Cleveland)
Company H, 372nd Infantry (Cleveland)

Campaigns

Meuse-Argonne, Lorraine 1918, Ypres-Lys, Alsace 1918

French Croix de Guerre with palm, World War I,
Streamer embroidered MEUSE-ARGONNE


1192nd Engineer Company

Station

Newton Falls

Cited Unit(s)

Company B, 135th Machine Gun Battalion (Youngstown)

Campaigns

Ypres-Lys, Meuse-Argonne, Lorraine 1918


945th Engineer Company

Station

Norwalk

Cited Unit(s)

Company G, 145th Infantry

Campaigns

Ypres-Lys, Meuse-Argonne, Lorraine 1918

   

 


5694th Engineer Detachment

Station

Mansfield

Cited Unit(s)

Company H, 146th Infantry (Shreve)

Campaigns

Ypres-Lys, Meuse-Argonne, Lorraine 1918


Headquarters and Headquarters Company,
216th Engineer
Battalion

Station

Cincinnati

Cited Unit(s)

Company L, 148th Infantry (Manchester)

Campaigns

Ypres-Lys, Meuse-Argonne, Lorraine 1918


Support Company, 216th Engineer Battalion

Station

Cincinnati

Cited Unit(s)

Battery D, 136th Field Artillery

Campaigns

Lorraine 1918


1194th Engineer Company

Station

Chillicothe

Cited Unit(s)

Company H, 166th Infantry (Chillicothe)
Company G, 166th Infantry (Greenfield)

Campaigns

Champagne-Marne, Aisne-Marne, St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, Lorraine 1918, Champagne 1918


811th Engineer Company

Station

Amanda

Cited Unit(s)

Company L, 166th infantry (Lancaster)

Campaigns

Champagne-Marne, Aisne-Marne, St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, Lorraine 1918, Champagne 1918


174th Air Defense Artillery Regiment

Station

Southern Ohio

Cited Unit(s)

147th Infantry
148th Infantry

Campaigns

Ypres-Lys, Meuse-Argonne, Lorraine 1918


Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion,
174th Air Defense Artillery Regiment

Station

Cincinnati

Cited Unit(s)

Supply Company, 147th Infantry

Campaigns

Ypres-Lys, Meuse-Argonne, Lorraine 1918


Battery A, 1st Battalion, 174th Air Defense Artillery Regiment

Station

Cincinnati

Cited Unit(s)

Company F, 147th Infantry

Campaigns

Ypres-Lys, Meuse-Argonne, Lorraine 1918


Battery B, 1st Battalion, 174th Air Defense Artillery Regiment

Station

Cincinnati

Cited Unit(s)

Company E, 148th Infantry (Hamilton)

Campaigns

Ypres-Lys, Meuse-Argonne, Lorraine 1918


Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 2nd Battalion,
174th Air Defense Artillery Regiment

Station

McConnelsville

Cited Unit(s)

Company D, 148th Infantry (McConnelsville)
Battery A, 136th Field Artillery (Athens)

Campaigns

Ypres-Lys, Meuse-Argonne, Lorraine 1918


Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 174th Air Defense Artillery Regiment

Station

McConnelsville

Cited Unit(s)

Company H, 148th Infantry (New Lexington)

Campaigns

Ypres-Lys, Meuse-Argonne, Lorraine 1918


Battery C, 2nd Battalion, 174th Air Defense Artillery Regiment

Station

McConnelsville

Cited Unit(s)

Company F, 112th Ammunition Train (Marietta)

Campaigns

Lorraine 1918


145th Armored Regiment

Station

Northeast Ohio

Cited Unit(s)

145th Infantry
146th Infantry
135th Field Artillery
136th Field Artillery

Campaigns

Ypres-Lys, Meuse-Argonne, Lorraine 1918


Headquarters and Headquarters Company,
1st Battalion, 145th Armored Regiment

Station

Stow

Cited Unit(s)

Battery A, 135th Field Artillery (Cleveland)
Company C, 146th Infantry (Canton)
Company F, 372nd Infantry (Columbus)
Supply Company, 145th Infantry (Cleveland)

Campaigns

Ypres-Lys, Lorraine 1918, Meuse-Argonne, Alsace 1918

French Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War I,
Streamer embroidered MEUSE-ARGONNE


Company B, 1st Battalion, 145th Armored Regiment

Station

North Canton

Cited Unit(s)

Company B, 146th Infantry (Akron)

Campaigns

Ypres-Lys, Meuse-Argonne, Lorraine 1918


Headquarters and Special Troops Battalion,
371st Sustainment Brigade

Station

Springfield

Cited Unit(s)

Headquarters, 62nd Field Artillery Brigade

Campaigns

Lorraine 1918


Detachment 1, 1485th Transportation Company

Station

Dover

Cited Unit(s)

Machine Gun Company, 146th Infantry (Akron)

Campaigns

Ypres-Lys, Meuse-Argonne, Lorraine 1918


1486th Transportation Company

Station

Mansfield

Cited Unit(s)

Company E, 146th Infantry (Ashland)

Campaigns

Ypres-Lys, Meuse-Argonne, Lorraine 1918


1487th Transportation Company

Station

Piqua

Cited Unit(s)

Company A, 148th Infantry (Covington)

Campaigns

Ypres-Lys, Meuse-Argonne, Lorraine 1918


Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment,
437th Military Police Battalion

Station

Columbus

Cited Unit(s)

Battery E, 135th Field Artillery (Toledo)

Campaigns

Lorraine 1918


323nd Military Police Company

Station

Toledo

Cited Unit(s)

Battery E, 135th Field Artillery

Campaigns

Lorraine 1918


585th Military Police Company

Station

Marysville

Cited Unit(s)

Company E, 166th Infantry (Marysville)
Company K, 166th Infantry (Delaware)
Company I, 146th Infantry (Kenton)
Company C, 166th Infantry (London)

Campaigns

Champagne-Marne, Aisne-Marne, St. Mihiel
Meuse-Argonne, Lorraine 1918, Champagne 1918, Ypres-Lys


838th Military Police Company

Station

Youngstown

Cited Unit(s)

Company D, 145th Infantry (Warren)

Campaigns

Ypres-Lys, Meuse-Argonne, Lorraine 1918

 

 

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