The Wisconsin State Guard During World War I

On 9 July 1917 an announcement from Madison stated that a State Guard would be organized to take the place of the Wisconsin National
Guard after it left the State. The first units would be organized in Milwaukee, Oshkosh, Fond du Lac and Green Bay. Later, units would be recruited
throughout the State. It was to be a purely volunteer organization, recruited mainly from men too young and too old for the military draft.

The Wisconsin National Guard left the State in August of 1917, bound for Camp MacArthur, near Waco, Texas for training and then deployment
to France to fight in the World War.

The Wisconsin State Guard held its first encampment at Camp Douglas during July of 1918. It was comprised of four regiments of infantry and a State Guard Reserve. The strength of the four regiments was about 3,500 officers and men and the reserve had a strength of about 2,000.

The companies were paid an allowance by the state for armory rent and an additional allowance for the upkeep of clothing and for general expenses connected with their training. They were issued uniforms of a distinctive pattern, different from the uniforms of the Wisconsin National Guard and the U.S. Army. They were armed with arms issued to the state by the war department for this purpose.

Their attendance at the camp of instruction in July 1918, was evidence of their patriotism, for they served without pay. The camp was commanded by BG Charles King, Wisconsin National Guard, retired, and that officer put the men through the paces of the regular army life. Because of their natural training in life the men proved apt students of military tactics, and their appearance after a few days of intensive training, following their own instructions at home, was everything to be desired. In his report to the adjutant general Gen. King paid them a highly deserved compliment.

All of the men had enlisted with the understanding that enlistment in the State Guard did not exempt them from the draft. They were, as had been said, of the age above and below the first draft restrictions (21-30 years). Many of them later were called to active service when the men reaching twenty-one were enrolled, and later the remaining men were registered under the draft for ages up to 40 years. The men of the State Guard who were later called went into the service with preliminary training which must have been valuable.

The State Reserve companies were organized in the cities from a further reserve force, and they paid their own expenses of administration and purchased
their own uniforms.

The Wisconsin State Guard was called out 3 times during the World War I time period.

Sept. 16-18, 1918 Clark County; to assist in search for draft dodgers.
Aug. 20-24, 1919 As guards during the Cudahy riots.
Sept. 9-12, 1919 Troops were assembled in the armory at Manitowoc, for use in strike riots at Two Rivers, but they were not used.

On 5 May 1920, the State Guard was disbanded because the National Guard was reactivated. (The Wisconsin State Guard was not disbanded
enmass, nor was the Wisconsin National Guard reactivated as a whole at one time. Instead, individual units of the State Guard were deactivated as the individual National Guard units were reactivated throughout 1920 and into 1921.)

Below are tables that detail the organization, home stations and officers of the Wisconsin State Guard and Wisconsin State Guard Reserve during World War I.

The Wisconsin State Guard During World War II

On 1 Feb. 1941, after the Wisconsin National Guard was federalized in October of 1940, the Governor (Julius P. Heil) directed the Adjutant
General (MG Ralph M. Immell) to organize a state guard of 2,400 men to consist of a brigade of 3 infantry regiments with 32 rifle companies, 3 headquarters and service companies, and 3 bands, plus one MP Company and one Machine Gun Company. Each regiment consited of 3 battalions of 4 companies
each. By 30 June 1941, the organization was complete. Each company had 5 officers and 60 enlisted men. Uniforms were furnished by the state
and rifles and ammunition by the federal government. Their uniforms were similar to, but distinctive from, the uniforms of the Regular Army. They were given an intensive course in home defense.

On 30 June 1943, the organization consisted of 297 officers and 2,251 enlisted men.

During their existence, the Wisconsin State Guard was called by the Governor on the following occasions.

Aug. 15-Nov. 17, 1942 Superior and Ashland. Guarding ore docks. Two companies alternated every 2 weeks.
Sept. 19, 1942 Co. L, 2nd Inf. Regiment. Protection of life and property in flood at Spring Valley.
Dec. 17-31, 1942 Sturgeon Bay. 10 enlisted men guarded bridge.

June 18-19, 1944 Co. H, 2nd Infantry Regiment, stationed in Stevens
Point, for protection of life and property after severe wind storm at Stevens Point.
June 22-24, 1944 Cos. E (Platteville), F (Monroe) and G (Madison), 3rd
Infantry Regiment, protected life and property after severe wind storm at Belmont and other communities of Lafayette County.

In 1946 with the reactivation of the Wisconsin National Guard, the Wisconsin State Guard was disbanded.

Organization and Officers of the Wisconsin State Guard and State Guard Reserve During World War I

Sources include:

Wisconsin in the World War
1946 Wisconsin Blue Book
1962 Wisconsin Blue Book