HISTORY ON THE EDGE

National Guard, Sep 2004 by Studenicka, Erick

Following World War II, the National Guard was not reorganized until all Guard units were released from active federal service Feb. 6, 1946.

When Nevada Guard reorganization began July 1, 1946, it was offered a state headquarters, headquarters detachment, an armored cavalry reconnaissance squadron and a band unit. However, the 1947 state legislature did not appropriate the necessary funds to support the state's Guard units.

Finally, on Nov. 13, 1947, the citizens of Winnemucca donated the necessary funds to begin recruiting Guardsmen and enlistment grew rapidly.

The Nevada Air Guard emerged after the National Security Act of 1947. Based out of the Reno Air Force Base, it originally flew P-51D Mustang fighters. The unit was activated for 21 months during the Korean War from March 1951 through December 1952.

On Dec. 15, 1967, the Nevada Army Guard became the 3rd Squadron, 116th Armored Cavalry Regiment. For the first time since 1889, a cavalry unit returned to Nevada.

The 3rd Squadron consisted of a headquarters in Reno, with units in Elko, Winnemucca, Yerington, Hawthorne, Las Vegas and Henderson. The 72nd Military Police Company was also formed with units in Ely and Fallon.

During 1968 and 1969, the Nevada Air National Guard-then flying RF-101 Voodoo aircraft-was activated following North Korea's seizure of the USS Pueblo. During that crisis, Nevada airmen served in Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines and 18 bases within the United States.

Although the Army conducted a major operation named "Nevada Eagle," which resulted in 59 enemy casualties during Vietnam, no Nevada Army Guard units were deployed to Vietnam. Nevada, however, lost 43 active-component soldiers, airmen and sailors during the Vietnam War.

The Nevada Air Guard served in Bahrain during Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield in 1990 and 1991 and flew more than 350 combat missions in the RF-4C Phantom II. The RF-4C aircraft assigned to the state were the last dedicated tactical reconnaissance aircraft in the Air Force inventory when they were retired Sept. 27, 1995.

The Army Guard's 72nd Military Police Company also deployed to the 1991 Persian Gulf War to perform prisoner-of-war operations.

Since 1995, the Nevada Air National Guard has flown C-130H Hercules transport aircraft.

Today, the Nevada National Guard has more than 3,000 airmen and soldiers in its ranks.

The Army Guard includes five battalions and the Air Guard entails one flying wing and an intelligence squadron. Since Sept. 11, the Nevada Guard has been among the top five states in percentages of airmen and soldiers deployed in support of the global war on terrorism and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

During the past three years, the Nevada Guard has deployed soldiers and airmen to: Afghanistan, Germany, Iraq, Kuwait, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Uzbekistan and throughout the United States.

By Staff Sgt. Erick Studenicka

RENO, Nev.

Staff Sgt. Erick Studenicka is a Nevada Army National Guardsman assigned to the Nevada National Guard Public Affairs Office.