WWII vet in 181st Field Artillery Battalion

Great uniform. You'r missing one of his DUIs. You can get those on eBay sometimes.

 

I tried this, but it wouldn't open any of the links. I'm a retired Tennessee Guardsmen and I'm doing a regimental history book for the 278th Armored Cavalry. Part of their lineage is C Battery of the 181st FA Bn. It's almost impossible to find stuff on them. I have the 75th FA Brigade annual, which they are in, and I can track them until they get to Goodenought Island, but there's not much to go on after that. I know their campaigns include New Guinea, Luzon and Southern Philippines, and they were awarded the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. I even saw someone on this thread mention an arrowhead. I have combat annuals for the 34th FA Brigade (formlery 181 HQ) ETO, and the 947th FA Bn (2-181)PTO but never found a book on the 181st FA Bn in the Pacific. Any help is appreciated.

 

What combat patch is on his uniform?

 

Do you have any pictures of him overseas with the 181?

 

I'm researching the 181st FAB as well. Would like to add to the comments about the National Guard being Federalized. The National Guard is a dual status entity. Most of the time it is in a state status, Title 32, US Code, and answers to the Governor of the State. During wars or emergencies, it comes under Federal control, Title 10, US Code, and answers to the POTUS. The National Guard is the oldest military branch in the US and has fought in great numbers in every war in our history except for Vietnam. They were the reserve in case we went to war with the USSR. The US does not like to keep a large standing expensive army, and the Guard is a cheap way to keep trained part-time forces on hand for war when they're needed, and also available for their state when needed. That's it in a nutshell.