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Posted on 07/07/2005 5:02:26 PM PDT by SwinneySwitch
WHO ARE THOSE GUYS?
Most folks are familiar with the Texas Army and Air National Guard units.
President Bush is a former member of the Texas Air National Guard and flew many hours as a fighter pilot.
However, when you mention the "Texas State Guard" (TXSG) folks scratch their heads and say, "I haven't heard of that outfit.
Well they're out there, over 2000 strong, all volunteers who serve without pay, and provide their own uniforms, equipment and weapons.
They are commanded by a tough old two-star general by the name of Richard A. Box from his headquarters at Camp Mabry in Austin. Box is a Vietnam veteran who served with the 173rd Airborne Brigade. He is quiet spoken and a man of few words, but every bit the soldier and not the type to pick a fight with.
I'm especially fond of generals who give short speeches. At the close of last years annual training weekend at Camp Swift as we stood in formation in the sweltering heat, Box stepped up to the microphone and said," You troops looked sharp in training. We fired 12,000 rounds of 9mm on the range. Have a safe trip home." He turned to the Chief of Staff Colonel Ray Peters another tough, old Master Paratrooper and said, "Dismiss the troops."
The dust cloud created by troopers heading home in pickup trucks could be seen for miles around.
Box's Deputy Commander South one-star general Chris Powers is an upfront trooper who wears the Indian Head combat patch on his right sleeve. BG Powers served in Korea as a captain and retired from the National Guard as a colonel before joining the TXSG. Powers is a field soldier and believes in leading from the front where the troops can see him.
Many TXSG troopers are old timers like myself. They are greying retirees and old combat veterans from the Vietnam War. Regardless, they are ready and willing to defend Texas and the country from terrorist attacks and respond to man made and natural disasters. I have often said that if your trigger finger works and you have one good eye you can serve your country.
Not all TXSG troopers are old timers, a sizeable and growing number are in their early twenties and eager to serve.
U.S. citizens between the ages of 17 to 60 in reasonably good health and able to pass a criminal background check are eligible to join.
Prior military service is not required. However, prior service is taken into acount when making rank and position assignments.
I first heard of the TXSG several years ago during a medical appointment at Wilford Hall mediical center, Lackland Airforce Base.
After retiring from the U.S. Army as a major in 1973 I have always worn my jump wings and rank on my cowboy hats. You meet a lot of fellow retirees and veterans that way.
A retired Sgt Major noticed my wings and rank while I was roaming around Wilford Hall that day and after swapping a few war stories as old soldiers are prone to do, he sad, "Sir, you should join the TXSG."
Well, I sort of forgot about that meeting until the terrorists flew those planes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on 9-11 killing 3,000 innocent Americans. By God we were at war again.
I made a few phone calls and finally located Major (later LTC) Jose Lopez a TXSG member. Lopez a retired, highly decorated veteran of WWII and Korea (Lopez was in the Normandy invasion and received a battlefield commission in Korea) was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade at Camp Bullis. Lopez briefed me on the outfit and gave me an application to join. (LTC Lopez passed away in Jan 2005 at age 81)
My application was finally approved and I was appointed by Gov. Perry as a lieutenant colonel in Dec 2001 and assigned to the 1st Bn, 1st Bde.
The Texas State Guard was organized after Congress passed the State Defense Force statutes in 1940. However, it carries a long and honorable Texas Militia tradition predating the Republic of Texas.
In Feb. 1941 the Texas Legislature authorized a new volunteer militia the Texas Defense Guard (TDG). Within a year the outfit, organized into fifty battalions, numbered 17,497 officers and enlisted members.
No equipment was issued to the units initially, and each member had to provide his own uniforms (a policy that is still in effect today). However, in July 1941, the War Department issued a number of surplus rifles to the TDG. They were later returned to cover Army shortages and shotguns were issued.
In May 1943 the Texas Defense Force was re-designated the "Texas State Guard." With its new name it received a new shoulder patch which is worn by its members today.
That same year the War Department again issued rifles and also machineguns to the guard.
In 1944 the TXSG was issued a variety of military vehicles and by 1945 the value of federal property totaled $15,000,000.
Over the years the TXSG has responded to state emergencies.
One of the more notable operations was conducted at Beaumont, Texas in June, 1943.
Following a racial incident that resulted in the death of two men and injury to ten more, martial law was declared by the governor.
Brigadier General Arthhur B. Knickerbocker ordered nine TXSG battalions commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Sidney C. Mason to Beaumont. By the next morning 112 officers and 1,133 enlisted troops were on duty patrolling the city.
TXSG troops quickly secured the city and county jails to prevent mobs from taking over and harming prisoners. Order was finally restored after a week and the troops were relieved and sent home.
In 2002 the 1st Brigade headquartered in San Antonio was tasked by Gov. Perry to assist federal and local authorities during widespread flooding in South Texas.
Called "Operation Big Flood 2002" TXSG troops were teamed with National Guard troops and operated in military vehicles from the IH-35 Armory in San Antonio. The operation lasted for six days.
Although there are certain exceptions State Guard units cannot normally be federalized or deployed outside the state. Governors of neighboring states can request assistance from one another. In the event of widespread terrorist attacks it is likely that the federal government would call upon the deployment of various state guards.
In the event TXSG members are activated and deployed they are authorized to be paid as may be determined by the governor who is the Commander and Chief of the state military forces.
The current mission of the TXSG is to provide mission ready volunteer military forces to assist state and local authorities in homeland security and community service.
Under the homeland security mission the TXSG is organizing and training Infrastructure Protection Detachments (IPDs) to guard critical targets throughout the state against possible terrorist attacks.
During a TXSG commanders conference in February 2005 Steve McCraw, a retired FBI Agent and counterterrorist expert and the present Texas Director of Homeland Security, bluntly warned that another terrorist attack in America was inevitable. He also believed that terrorist cells were present in Texas and throughout the country. Tough talk that got everyones attention.
Its an exciting time to be in the TXSG. If you want to be a trooper in a volunteer military outfit dedicated to defending the great state of Texas and if necessary the nation, then the Texas State Guard is for you.
We're looking for a few good volunteers. If you're interested get on your computer and check the Texas State Guard web site for details.
http://www.agd.state.tx.us/stateguard/
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Any idea if other states, such as PA, have a similar unit?
Don't know how many of all y'all are Texans, but here's an opportunity to step up to the plate if'n ya are...
Unfortunately, the situation has become somewhat confused in recent years, because of the appearance of "militias" which sometimes claim to be a state's legitimate defense force, or to be seeking "recognition" from the state government. Pennsylvania's "Pennsylvania Militia Reserve" appears to fall into this latter category.
Probably the largest state defense forces are the Texas State Guard and the New York Guard.
A few states even have naval militias, which historically take the place where the "Navy National Guard" is supposed to be. Some of the state naval militias even sent ships to the Spanish-American War. At present, I think only Ohio, New York, and New Jersey have naval militias.
For a list of non-naval state defense forces, see this link. Unfortunately, it doesn't distinguish between official and "pretender" organizations. You have to go to the organization's website to see if they're actually under the supervision of the state Adjutant General.
Texas ping!
Great grandfather HR was a member of the Texas Volunteer Guard. Was that a predecessor of this? I know they used to muster at Camp Mabry toward the end of his service.
Thanks for the ping. What a great bunch of guys. I wonder if all states have a group like this. They sure should have. :)
Thanks for the info.
Pennsylvania "military reserve" is NOT a Govt. sanctioned state guard. PA simply does not have a state guard. There are a lot of groups out there trying to pass themselves off as real. Texas does indeed have a state guard, as do a number of other states, including, believe it or not, New York.
So--how many women are in the Texas State Guard?
This would be something that I would volunteer for if I wasn't away for work so much. I do not make commitments that I cannot keep, but do appreciate those that are volunteering.
I don't know, but we have several in the Arizona Rangers. The Rangers are not in the same category as the guard, they are a quasi-official police organization modeled after the original Texas and Arizona Rangers of the late 19th Century.
I've been giving this group some thought...
But maybe I'm getting too old (hehehe) for the ground pounding stuff...
If they had a flotilla of small boats, or coastal patrol craft...Then I'd be a dangerous contributor to the process...
Dangerous to the enemy...I'd be in my element...
If the Navy sold a few old Mk III's to the folks here, I'd be in like Flint...
Get a 40mm up front, a post mounted .50 (or even a 20mm) in the back, a couple of M-60's or SAW's mounted "amidships" (that nautical talk, hehehe)...I just shudder at the thought of those who could be on the receiving end of my gunners attention...
A good comm set, radar and GPS navigation, and that'd be all she wrote...
The Coastal waters and inland waterways of Texas would be very secure in that regard...
Ahhhh, the good ole days...
Texas State Guard ~ Bump!
Looks like it became part of the Texas National Guard, well before the Texas State Guard was organized in 1940, hispana.
"The Spanish-American War (1898) saw the nationalization of the Texas Volunteer Guard. The 28th Legislature, Regular Session, reorganized the state militia into a Reserve Militia and a Texas National Guard, on April 1, 1903."
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/tslac/30023/tsl-30023.html
"If they had a flotilla of small boats, or coastal patrol craft...Then I'd be a dangerous contributor to the process..."
Looks like maybe you need to start up the Texas Navy, stevie! Write a letter to Gov. Perry!
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