03/23/2020
New Mexico National Guard Historical Actions during the Month of March:
1862
26-28 MAR - Battle of Glorieta Pass. The decisive battle of the New Mexico Campaign during the Civil War. A small detachment (about 30 men from the 2nd New Mexico Infantry), led by Lt. Col. Manuel Chaves looted and burned 80 supply wagons, killed or drove off 500 horses and mules, and spiked the cannon. With no supplies, the Confederates could not advance to capture the silver mines in Colorado. They were forced to return to Santa Fe and then proceed to Texas. This ended the Confederate occupation of New Mexico.
1848
10 MAR - Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Senate ratifies the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, ending the Mexican American War. The United States gains territory which will eventually become New Mexico, Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada and Utah.
1897
17 MAR - New Mexico Volunteer Militia redesignated National Guard of New Mexico
1916
9 MAR - Pancho Villa attacks Columbus, NM, killing 18 U.S. citizens. The National Guard is Federalized. Guardsmen from Deming, New Mexico, Company I, 1st New Mexico Infantry, break into their armory (still under construction) and make their way to Columbus to relieve the 13th U.S. Cavalry. This action allows more Cavalrymen to cross the Mexican border and pursue Villa’s forces.
1925
15 MAR - New Mexico Flag Day! The current design of the New Mexico flag is officially adopted. It was designed by Dr. Harry Perceval Mera, who served as a medical doctor in the New Mexico National Guard. The Zia on the New Mexico flag would later be incorporated into the insignia of the New Mexico National Guard. The previous design of the flag was created by another New Mexico National Guardsman, Colonel Ralph Emerson Twitchell, who also served as a historian for the State of New Mexico.
1942
9 MAR - War Department General Orders Number 14 is approved. New Mexico’s units are cited as follows:
THE 515TH COAST ARTILLERY, ANTIAIRCRAFT, UNITED STATES ARMY FORCES IN THE FAR EAST, is cited for outstanding performance of duty in action. Constituted initially as a provisional unit on December 8, 1941, when hostilities began, it effected its organization, obtained its material from depot stocks, and was in position to fire by daylight of December 9, 1941. During the period from December 9, 1941, to January 6, 1942, this regiment defended initially Nichols Field and portions of the city of Manila against heavy aerial attacks, materially reducing the effectiveness of the hostile bombardment. After the evacuation of Manila, this regiment, through skillfully executed displacements, successfully covered the retirement of the ground forces into the Bataan Peninsula. Through technical skill and courage and devotion to duty, the regiment contributed in large measure to the successful execution of the difficult movement that made possible the prolonged defense of Bataan.
THE 200TH COAST ARTILLERY, ANTIAIRCRAFT, UNITED STATES ARMY FORCES IN THE FAR EAST, is cited for outstanding performance of duty in action. From December 8-22, 1941, this regiment defended Clark Field, Pampango, Philippines, against attack by overwhelming numbers of hostile medium and dive bombers. Although it suffered heavy casualties in personnel, the regiment, through magnificent courage and devotion to duty, continued to display outstanding technical ability and exacted a heavy toll from the attacking forces, thus materially reducing the effectiveness of the hostile attack. When Clark Field was uncovered by the withdrawal of the North Luzon Force, this regiment, displacing to the rear, successfully covered the retirement into the Bataan Peninsula, contributing in large measure to the successful execution of the difficult maneuver that made possible the prolonged defense of Bataan.
THE 200TH COAST ARTILLERY, ANTIAIRCRAFT, AND THE 515TH COAST ARTILLERY, ANTIAIRCRAFT, UNITED STATES ARMY FORCES IN THE FAR EAST, are cited for outstanding performance of duty in action. From January 7 to March 8, 1942, these regiments were constantly in action on the Bataan Peninsula, covering airfields and artillery and rear installations. Under constant attack by an enemy enjoying unopposed superiority in the air, these regiments, despite heavy losses in men and material, maintained a magnificent defense through outstanding technical ability and courage and devotion to duty, contributing in large measure to the successful defense of the Bataan Peninsula.
What should be remembered about the above actions is the speed in which the above citations were approved. The last date mentioned above (#3, 200th & 515th cited), was March 8, 1942. The CITATION was APPROVED the VERY NEXT DAY!!
21 MAR - Groupment “A” (Antiaircraft Artillery) is organized in the Philippine Islands. This was the parent unit of Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 615th Transportation Battalion in 2006 when the unit was stationed in Springer.
1945
15 MAR - Company B, 120th Combat Engineer Battalion (originally from Socorro, New Mexico) completes a bridge across the Blies River. The unit is cited as follows:
“COMPANY B, 120TH ENGINEER COMBAT BATTALION, is cited for outstanding performance of duty in action during the period 13 to 15 March 1945 near Frauenberg, France. Company B, in support of an infantry battalion, was charged with the mission of providing crossings for foot troops who were to assault Siegfried Line positions across the Blies River. Personnel of Company B made extensive reconnaissance for crossing sites, cleared the areas of mines and began construction of a foot bridge after leading infantry element had crossed on improvised structures. The bridge was completed only to be knocked out by a direct artillery hit. Work was recommenced, under heavy enemy small arms and artillery fire, while a second bridge was begun several hundred yards downstream. The bridge at the first site was completed four times, only to be destroyed by enemy artillery and the swift current. Although attempts to use assault boats failed because of the heavy enemy fire, personnel of Company B finally succeeded in constructing the bridgehead. Company B completed a second bridge, then crossed the river and continued to work in support of the infantry in breaching the Siegfried Line. The tenacity, courage and determination displayed by the members of Company B reflect credit upon themselves and their organization.”
1975
7 MAR - The Shoulder Sleeve Insignia for Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, New Mexico Army National Guard was approved for use. It was redesignated for Headquarters, State Area Command, New Mexico Army National Guard in 1985 and for Joint Force Headquarters, NM Army National Guard in 2003.
1991
18 MAR - Air Defense Artillery Training Activity, NM National Guard, Demobilized from Federal service in Desert Storm at Las Cruces. This is the parent unit in the lineage of 1st Battalion, 515th Regiment (AD)
2006
16 MAR - 126th Military Police Company released from active Federal service and reverted to State control.
The primary goal of the New Mexico Military Museum will be to discover, preserve, and disseminate knowledge about New Mexico’s military history.
