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I Am the Guard:A History of the Army National Guard, 1636-2000460 pages, 450 B&W ills. and
photos. (hardback)
This hardback
volume is no longer readily available to the general reading public, but is
offered here to website visitors. However,
it has been updated in softcover and retitled
Civilian
in Peace, Soldier in War: The Army
National Guard, 1636–2000. “Michael Doubler has given us a
remarkably comprehensive examination. The
book is a good read, one that should give pleasure and pride to every Guardsman.
It should be required reading for defense policy makers in both the
executive and legislative branches of our government and for military officers
dealing with force structure and mobilization planning.” –Gen. John W. Vessey, Jr., former Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
I Am the Guard: A History of the Army National Guard, 1636-2000 is a comprehensive account of the service and sacrifices of American citizen-soldiers since Colonial times. Rooted in the English tradition of militia service and firmly established by the U.S. Constitution, the composition and service of the Army National Guard has evolved in three distinct phases during the past 400 years. From its early beginnings in North America, the militia provided local protection and law enforcement, organized themselves for more ambitious military ventures and contributed greatly to the victory in the American Revolution. Throughout the 19th century, militiamen enforced the federal, state and local laws, helped to create the vast, volunteer armies of the American Civil War, and protected settlers during westward expansion. After the Spanish-American War, the long era of militia service surrendered to the rise of the National Guard. With the Militia Act of 1903, the National guard became the organized, rained, and equipped federal reserve of the United States Army. In World Wars I and II, the National Guard proved its worth on battlefields in Europe and Asia. After World War II, the modern Army National Guard emerged as a bulwark against communist expansion. During the Cold War, Army Guardsmen fought in the Far East, and deployments to Europe and Central America helped to contain communism. Since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, Army national Guard soldiers have ventured to Southwest Asia and the Balkans to implement a new, national security strategy. I Am the Guard tells the story of the contributions and service of American citizen-soldiers. Throughout history, Guardsmen have dedicated themselves to fulfilling the three national security missions outlined in the U.S. Constitution: “...to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions.” The history of the Army National Guard is rich with those battles that have shaped our destiny as a nation: Lexington and Concord, Bunker Hill, New Orleans, First Bull Run, San Juan Hill, the Meuse-Argonne, Omaha Beach, Operation Desert Storm, and many others. Much more than an account of battles and campaigns, I Am the Guard traces the organizational development of the Army national Guard and explains the persistent and powerful influences exerted by Congress, the states, the Regular Army, the National Guard Bureau, and the National Guard Association of the United States. After nearly four centuries, American militiamen have transformed themselves from a loose collection of local defense forces into a modern and ready Army National Guard that is perhaps the best reserve force in the world. |
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