What good is the Utah National Guard? Well, from my view.....it is Plenty Good!

The constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal and state mission and the only US military force empowered to function in a state. In 1847,when the Mormons arrived in the valley, the land actually belonged to Mexico, so the new arrivals used the "Nauvoo Legion" as their Utah Militia or protective force. That continued when we became a U.S. Territory after our short lived Mexican War. All was well and good until our Mormon Battalion was reported to have been over zealous in joining with Indians to kill 120 immigrants at the Mt. Meadows Massacre of 1857. The who did what is still being debated, even in the Jones family who did research on the battleground when it was private land. In comes the National Guard in 1903, and has been a Nephi, Utah mainstay since. In World War I, we had the 145th Field Artillery Battalion here, and for further information, you can read what Major Ray Jackson wrote about it in the local history book called "They Left A Record".  The 145th Coat of Arms is on the scanned page with various other Guard items including the medal for assisting in Deseret Storm. The National Guard in Nephi not only provided America with a backup military force, but provided income to local families, even if it was only $6.00 for Monday drill nights in the 1960's. In addition, the Nephi Armory was a central place for locals to play basketball; get your hunter safety training from Wally Fackerell, and have fun at the "Hunters Hoedown".  Since the National Guard was formed in Nephi, there is a long list of great people who has served to protect America throughout the World. This is our chance to tell all of them, living and passed-thanks. The next time you take a load out to the landfill, remember it was the Guard that built that road, with Dennis Steele being the explosive expert. In the flooding of 1984, it was the Guard who saved our homes and business' from damage. The photo is of retired Guard guys Wes Jones and Ken Ingram. Ken served in the Guard for 43 years, about the same amount of time as Boyd Howarth.