MOBILIZATION!

By Staff Sgt R. H. Fose -- Document written in December 1940 for use in a Military Review Program honoring the departing National Guardsmen.

The History of the National Guard units of Wichita date back to the late 1800's when the various units were shunted back and forth from location to location. They were first stationed in the City Hall of Wichita, the Forum, Eleven Hundred block on East Douglas, and the corner of Topeka & Douglas, finally locating all units at 115 South St. Francis where they were situated for several years and then moving to their present station at 151 North Waco in 1937. The Units which are located here now are: 137th Inf. Headquarters Company, Medical Detachment 137th Infantry, Service Company 137th Inf., 3rd Battalion Headquarters Detachment 137th Inf., Company I and Company K 3rd Battalion, 137th Inf., Battery C 127th Field Artillery, and the 110th Ordnance Company. When these units were first organized they were known as the Kansas Militia, later they were Federally recognized as National Guard Troops. In brief we will show you how these troops were mustered in and out of service and finally being recognized:

Headquarters Company 137th Inf. first recognized Sept. 5, 1915 and then being re-recognized August 11, 1921.

Service Company 137th Inf. first recognized as Supply Company Sept. 5, 1916, re-recognized Headquarters Company and Supply Company 4th Inf. Nov. 29, 1918 and Nov. 26, 1918 respectively, re-designated Service Company 137th Inf. May 1, 1921.

Medical Detachment organized as Hospital Corp., 1903, recognized June 3, 1916, re-recognized as Sanitation Detachment 4th Inf. Aug. 6, 1919, re-designated Medical Detachment 137th Inf. May 1, 1921.

Headquarters Detachment 3rd Battalion first organized Headquarters Company 3rd Battalion, 137th Inf. Oct. 10, 1922, re-designated Headquarters Detachment 3rd Battalion, 137th Inf. May 1, 1940.

Company I 3rd Bn. 137th Inf. organized 1903, recognized June 3, 1916, re-recognized Company I 4th Inf. Nov. 29, 1918, re-designated Company I 137th Inf. May 1, 1921.

Company K 3rd Bn. 137th Inf. organized 1903, mustered out Nov. 15, 1907, mustered in Nov. 12, 1908, recognized June 3, 1916, re-recognized Company M 4th Inf. Nov. 29, 1918, re-designated Company K, 137 Inf. May 1, 1921.

110th Ordnance Company organized Nov. 14, 1939.

Battery C, 127th Field Artillery first organized as Troop E, 114th Cavalry reorganized and recognized as Battery C, 127th Field Artillery Oct. 1, 1940.

These units all have a background and history of service that every man is proud of and is willing to work towards keeping a record such as they have and bettering it if possible. Some of these Wichita units were used to quell riots and strikes.

The first time the troops from Wichita were used in their present organization was at Hoisington, Kansas in 1922 when several units were sent there to maintain order at the Missouri Pacific Railroad strike. The next incident was the riot in Paynes Pasture here. in Wichita in 1934. The last time the units were used was in June of 1935 when Company K and details from Regimental Headquarters Company, Medical. Detachment and Service Company were sent to Galena, Kansas where there was a coal mine strike. Prior to this service these units were in action in the Philippine Insurrection, Mexican Border Warfare and took active part in the World War.

The action and bravery of the men then in these units is all told in the History of the 137th Inf. Regiment of which they are now a part and each man in these companies wears a Regimental Insignia upon which are the emblems depicting these major participations. All in all these men and their organization should appreciate and uphold their organization and which they have done by their induction into the Federal Service December 23, 1940, when they started their intensive training under the leadership of their officers who are qualified in their various duties, and most of whom have seen active service and have had years of experience in the routes of enlisted men. When the National Guardsmen, of Wichita were inducted they began to train and to instruct others in the different branches. Regimental Headquarters Company with their work as telephone operators, linemen, and radio operators. The message center of this Company will become proficient in the art of cryptography and processing of military messages. The Intelligence Section will make maps and take car , p of the reconnaissance work. The 110th Ordnance Company will take care of repair and maintenance of all the ordnance.

Service Companies duties consist of the care of the food, transportation and provide the recreational programs.

The Medical Detachment will train the enlisted personnel in First Aid and the handling of the sick and wounded. The officers of the detachment are all Doctors and will take care of men in the field. The Medical Detachment will also serve as a Sanitation Department.

3rd Bn Headquarters Detachment duties are to provide maps, scouts and observers for the battalion. The message center of this unit will process all military messages for the Battalion and be responsible for the cryptography of these messages. Part of the Detachment will assist the Battalion commander and his staff in the Bn Headquarters functions.

Company I and Company K are two of the rifle companies of the 3rd Bn. and will train in the art of infantry combat. These men will be thoroughly trained as riflemen, operate trench mortars and be machine gunners.

Battery C, 127th Field Artillery will man the 75 mm., 155 mm. and I pound field pieces. This is the only artillery unit of the Wichita Station.

Of all the different duties that these different detachments and companies have, there is one essential duty that each man has, and that is to learn the individual duties of a soldier. Before any of the men are instructed in their various and different technical duties they must all be good soldiers and that is the basis of every command - good soldiers.

December 23, 1940 these units began their duties as soldiers of the U. S. At a later date they will proceed to Camp Joesph T. Robinson, Little Rock, Arkansas where they will be encamped. The officers and men will have the opportunities to attend various military schools, that will greatly benefit them in their lives as soldiers, and when they once again become civilians they will more than ever realize the value of their service with the armed forces of the United States. Many of the men will, after their year of service, want to remain in the army, and there will be an opportunity to do so, others will come back to their homes and continue where they left off, to be loyal, patriotic, and good citizens of this country in which we live.

The. Committee of the Wichita Units of the National Guard sponsoring this Souvenir Program Booklet gratefully acknowledge the courtesy of the Wichita Beacon in furnishing gratis all the cuts of Commanding Officers used herein. All proceeds, over and above actual printing, will be placed in the "Mess Fund" of the participating units.

The Committee also wishes to publicly thank all advertisers for their participation in this booklet in behalf of over 800 members of the Wichita Units, their friends and "buddies."