Utah National Guard

The Nauvoo Legion

The origins of the Utah National Guard are linked to the Nauvoo Legion, a militia created in 1840 by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Illinois. Following the church's migration to the west, the Legion was formally re-established in 1852 under Utah's territorial laws. This effort was largely driven by veterans of the Mormon Battalion, who had previously served in the Mexican-American War, and it provided a formal militia for the territory.^[1]

The Nauvoo Legion was active in several key historical moments in Utah, such as the Utah War of 1857-1858 and various conflicts with local Native American tribes. However, the federal Edmunds-Tucker Act of 1887 led to its official disbandment. By 1894, the modern Utah National Guard was organized, becoming the state's officially sanctioned military body.^[1]

Establishment of the Utah National Guard

The Utah National Guard was officially founded in Salt Lake City on March 26, 1894, with the creation of its first two infantry companies and an artillery battery. Not long after, in April 1894, the Guard undertook its first state mission, assisting law enforcement with managing Kelley's Industrial Army as it passed through Utah. In 1898, a significant number of Utahns, primarily Guard members, volunteered to serve in the Philippines during the Spanish-American War, where they were involved in extensive combat operations near Manila.^[2] Later, in 1916, President Woodrow Wilson mobilized the National Guard to address tensions along the Mexican border. Utah contributed artillery, cavalry, and hospital corps units to patrol the region. Some of these units were still under federal command when the United States declared war on Germany on April 6, 1917. Approximately 1,400 members of the Utah Guard served in World War I, many integrated with active-duty Army units on the front lines.^[3]

In the years between the wars, the Jordan Narrows area was developed as a permanent training site. On April 25, 1928, the Governor of Utah officially named the site Camp W.G. Williams. Over the following 15 years, it underwent significant development through Works Progress Administration projects, including the construction of the camp's historic Officer's Club.^[3]

The Utah National Guard Mobilizes for War War II

As Germany's aggressive actions in Europe grew in the late 1930s, it became clear that the United States was ill-prepared for a potential war. With the nation still recovering from the Great Depression, the national budget was limited. In response, Congress approved an increased defense budget, and in May 1940, the President federalized the National Guard. Over 4,000 enlisted soldiers and 150 officers from the Utah National Guard were activated for service.^[3] A large portion of Utah's Guard members were assigned to the 40th Division, a composite unit that also included Guardsmen from California and Nevada. They were initially slated for a year of training at Camp San Luis Obispo, California, before being deployed overseas.^[3]

The attack on Pearl Harbor altered their mission, and they were first tasked with defending the U.S. west coast. By late 1942, they were moved to defend the Hawaiian Islands. Subsequently, Utah National Guard units participated in combat across several Pacific islands, including Guadalcanal, Panay, Negros, and Okinawa.^[3]

By 1943, around 2,600 Utah Guard members had been involved in World War II. The 204th Field Artillery Battalion served in the European theater with General Patton's 3rd Army. Meanwhile, several other units, including the 115th Medical Regiment, 115th Ordinance Company, 115th Engineer Regiment, the 145th, 213th, 222nd, and 225th Field Artillery Battalions, and the 640th and 815th Tank Destroyer Battalions, fought in the Pacific.^[3]

The Rise of the Utah Air National Guard

The Utah Air National Guard was established on November 18, 1946, when the 191st Fighter Squadron received its federal recognition at the Salt Lake City Municipal Airport. Initially equipped with F-51 Mustangs, the squadron later transitioned to the F-86 Sabre. The mission of the Utah Air National Guard has evolved over the years, and it has operated eight different types of aircraft since its founding.^[3]

Korean War Mobilization

Following five years of escalating tensions, the Korean War began in June 1950. In response to North Korea's invasion of South Korea, President Harry S. Truman deployed U.S. air, ground, and naval forces to support the United Nations' effort to defend the Republic of Korea.^[3] Between 1951 and 1953, approximately 3,080 members of the Utah National Guard were activated, which included the entire Air Guard and 62 percent of the Army Guard. A notable achievement occurred on August 8, 1952, when Captain Clifford Jolley of the Utah Air National Guard became the first Air National Guard "Ace" after downing his fifth MiG-15 jet over Korea.^[3]

Several Utah Army National Guard units were called to service, but only the 213th, 204th, and 145th Field Artillery Battalions saw combat in Korea. The other units were assigned to training and replacement roles. The 213th Field Artillery Battalion particularly distinguished itself during the Battle of Kapyong in May 1951, where its members successfully repelled a nighttime enemy raid and captured over 800 prisoners.^[3]

From Vietnam to the Persian Gulf

During the 1961 Berlin Crisis, 1,600 Utah Guard members were mobilized, primarily to fill stateside roles left by active-duty forces deployed to Germany. ^[3] In 1965, while the Utah National Guard was placed on alert for potential mobilization to Vietnam, no Army Guard units were ultimately activated. However, some individual members volunteered for service. The Air Guard contributed by flying 96 volunteer missions to Vietnam, accumulating 6,600 flight hours, which included a mission to deliver Christmas gifts to soldiers.^[3] The Guard was activated in the spring of 1983 to respond to severe flooding in Utah, providing critical support to save lives and property across 13 counties. Following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, Utah Air Guard crews were among the first to volunteer for airlift missions supporting the U.S. military buildup in Saudi Arabia for Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Six Utah Army Guard units were activated for the conflict. By the end of the war, 1,706 Utah Guard members had served as either volunteers or on active duty.^[3]

The Global War on Terrorism and Modern Missions

In the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the Utah National Guard was assigned to enhance security at the Salt Lake International Airport and assist the FBI with intelligence translation. Since then, over 17,000 members have been deployed worldwide for operations such as Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom.^[3]

The 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City required a massive security operation, with the Utah National Guard playing a central role in law enforcement augmentation. More than 4,500 Guard members from Utah and 23 other states were deployed to secure the Games.^[3] In 2003, the Utah National Guard initiated its State Partnership Program with the Kingdom of Morocco. This partnership proved vital when a major earthquake struck Morocco in 2004, and the Guard quickly provided humanitarian aid. The partnership continues to thrive through joint training exercises.^[3]

The Guard also supported relief efforts for hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005 and 2006, and provided shelter for over 600 evacuees at Camp Williams. In more recent years, the Utah National Guard has been involved in domestic operations, including support for the U.S. Border Patrol, security missions in Washington D.C., counter-drug operations, and wildland firefighting.^[3]