The Ohio National Guard can be traced back to the initial settlement at Marietta, Ohio, in July 1788. Rooted in the English and early colonial tradition of citizen-soldiers providing local protection and law enforcement, these Revolutionary War veterans and their families quickly organized into local militia units. Reflecting the provisions of the U.S. Constitution recognizing that "a well regulated militia being necessary for the security of a free state," the federal government passed the Militia Act of 1792 which required all able bodied men ages 18-45 to serve in their local militia units and provide their own weapons and equipment. It further authorized the Governor of each state to appoint an Adjutant General to enact the orders of the Governor and to supervise unit training and organization. Reflecting the founding fathers' distrust of a large standing army, it strictly limited the ability of the militia to serve outside of their state borders and placed effective control with the Governor rather than the federal government.
As settlements spread across the Ohio Territory, a confederation of Indian tribes with British backing engaged in a campaign of raids and
depredations upon the scattered settlements. The disastrous campaigns led by Generals Harmer and St. Clair only intensified Indian resistance
to white migration and threatened the existence of the Ohio settlements. Not until the decisive victory of Gen. "Mad" Anthony Wayne
at Fallen Timbers, outside of present day Toledo, and the subsequent Treaty of Greenville, was the combined British-Indian military threat to
Ohio eliminated. While only limited numbers of Ohio militia played a part in these campaigns, the local militia units formed an important bulwark
defending their local communities against potential attack.
War of 1812
After achieving statehood in 1803 Ohio continued the law creating a body of "state troops" and each significant village or county
providing its own local unit. The military readiness of these local militia units varied greatly as did their uniform and armament.
The monthly militia muster was supposed to train the members in close order drill and marksmanship, but in many cases was more of a
social and political event. Moreover, each unit was responsible for electing its own officers with the victors often being the most
popular or the one best able to furnish a ready supply of sour mash.
After the end of the inconclusive War of 1812, the militia system in Ohio abandoned its regimental formations and reverted
to multiple small units representing the various municipalities throughout the rapidly growing state. With the last Indians expelled from the
state’s borders and peaceful relations along the Canadian border, there seemed little need for a fully armed and trained militia. With the
brief exception of a border dispute with Michigan that caused the Governor to issue a militia call up, meaningful local militia musters and
drills again became more the exception than the rule. The Mexican War in 1848 saw a renewed interest in vitalizing the militia throughout the
entire country. With the regular U.S. Army at a strength of just over 13,000, it became evident that any successful military campaign against
Mexico was going to require extensive militia involvement. Ohio played a significant role, raising several regiments of infantry and artillery
batteries from existing militia units and volunteers. The 1st Ohio Volunteers comprised part of the army under Gen. Zachary Taylor and took
part in the battlefield victories of Monterrey and Buena Vista.
American Civil War
It was during the great Civil War however, that the Ohio National Guard can directly trace its start. Ohio played a
critical part in the Union war effort and was one of the leading contributors of manpower (including a crop of gifted generals to include
Grant, Sherman, Sheridan, McPherson, Griffin,). As most of the existing militia units were incorporated into federalized volunteer regiments,
the mission of local defense and order fell to organized units of those exempted from federal service, youths, middle aged men and a
sprinkling of veterans who had completed their active duty enlistments. Numerous battalions were organized statewide that were for the first
time titled "National Guard.". During the war the Ohio National Guard served in a variety of roles, providing not only guards at the Camp
Chase and Johnson Island POW camps, but serving in a number of combat situations. During the September 1862 Confederate incursion into
southeast Ohio and the famed Morgan's Raid in July 1863, Ohio guardsmen were actively involved. While subjected to ridicule as a result of the
lackluster performance of some poorly trained and armed local units, the Ohio National Guard in actuality played a key role in the ultimate
defeat of Morgan and his much vaunted force of Confederate cavalry. Instrumental in defending the approaches to Pomeroy and its river fords,
Ohio Guardsmen also were responsible for blocking Morgan's escape route at Buffington Island until pursuing Union forces caught up and
administered a stinging defeat to Morgan on July 19, 1863 - the last battle fought on Ohio soil.
Mexican Border Crisis
With the end of the Civil War, the Ohio National
Guard was rapidly demobilized and its extensive inventory placed
into mothballs maintained by a few non-commissioned officers. From a
war-time strength in excess of 50,000, by 1870 the Ohio National
Guard had been allowed to dwindle to fewer than 500 officers and
enlisted men. Yet Ohio officials soon rediscovered that the Ohio
Guard was an essential asset in situations other than war. Like the
rest of the nation, labor unrest started to spread in the latter
part of the century resulting in violent strikes and crippling
shutdowns, especially in the railroad industry. Ohio Governors
repeatedly called upon Ohio Guardsmen to keep the peace. In numerous
situations the Guard's intervention resulted in the immediate
restoration of peace and order and succeeded in keeping violence and
property damage to a minimum. Having demonstrated its value beyond
the battlefield, the Ohio Guard was boosted in numbers and funding
to a meaningful level.
World War I
As war had broken out in Europe in 1914, the original intent of the United States was to avoid the conflict and maintain a
stance of neutrality. As hostilities between the great European powers bogged down into a bloody stalemate, each side sought an edge to break
the deadlock. For Germany, it was unrestricted submarine warfare. While this assisted in slowing down trade and supplies between the Allies
and the United States, the end result was to propel the United States into war as American merchant ships began to be targeted. With
hostilities looming the Selective Service Act of 1917 was enacted. This tasked the Adjutant General of each state to set up local draft boards
to institute the draft. With this massive mobilization the strength of the Ohio National Guard expanded and was eventually organized into the
37th Division. To preserve its Ohio identity, they adopted the nickname of the "Buckeye" Division. Again under the overall leadership of
"Black Jack" Pershing, Ohio Guardsmen were a key component of the American Expeditionary Force sent over to France. Rated by the German
General Staff as one of the best six American divisions for combat effectiveness, the "Buckeye" Division proved its worth in numerous battles
including the Meuse-Argonne Offensive and the St. Mihiel Salient. This reputation for being a crack unit came with a considerable cost as the
Buckeye Division alone suffered almost 5400 casualties while in France. An Ohio Guard units also formed part of the 42nd "Rainbow" Division
which won an enviable combat record along the front lines.
World War II
During the period between the two World Wars, the Ohio National Guard found itself frequently called upon to perform relief
duties during natural disasters. Noteworthy were efforts during the almost annual flooding of the Ohio River and the great tornado of 1924 in
the Lorain and Sandusky area. Units were again utilized to keep the peace during a series of bitter strikes in the coal-mining region of
southeast Ohio. Although initially perceived as being brought in to aid and assist the mine operators, they won begrudging respect for
adopting a fair and even-handed approach. Unlike the bloody history associated with the use of the National Guard in labor disputes in many
other states, the Ohio Guard's non-partisan approach alleviated numerous potentially explosive labor conflicts.
Korea and Vietnam
The demobilization from World War II had barely taken place when once again the Ohio National Guard was required to answer the
call to duty. This time the hotspot was in the Korean peninsula where democratic South Korea had been almost completely overrun by a
brutal, unprovoked invasion by the totalitarian regime of North Korea. In 1952 the Buckeye Division was again mobilized to serve as a
training division at Fort Polk, Louisiana. While the mission of training green recruits may have lacked the headline glamour of combat
service, it nevertheless served as a vital role in preparing other units for war. While no major Ohio Guard units were deployed to
Korea during hostilities, numerous individual soldiers did serve in the combat sector. It is also noteworthy that during this time
period the Air Force broke off from the Army to become a separate service branch. Within the Ohio Guard this was reflected in the
creation of the Ohio Air National Guard.
When the military machine of the Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein overran Kuwait in an
unprovoked display of raw aggression, the Ohio National Guard again responded in exemplary fashion. A number of Ohio Air National Guard units
were deployed almost immediately and performed yeoman service in providing the transportation of critical supplies and troops to the Persian
Gulf theater. Additionally, fighter and air refueling components were key players in the highly successful air war in the days leading up to
the ground assault. The Ohio Army National Guard also did its part providing numerous transportation, logistical and other combat support
units to assist in Operation Desert Storm. Additionally, numerous individual Ohio Guardsmen with specialty skills volunteered and served in
Operation Desert Storm. Despite long-standing questions as to the viability of the National Guard in a fast paced, rapid response combat
environment, the Ohio Guard once again demonstrated that its citizen soldiers were equal to the challenge and were equal partners with their
active duty counterparts.