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HISTORY
"The National Guard is the oldest component of the nation’s armed forces. The oldest units of the guard serving today
are elements that have an unbroken line of descent from militia units organized in 1636.
Throughout its history, our National Guard has had a dual role. It serves the nation when called by the President,
such as this deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III and serves at home in time of emergency from orders received
by the governor.
"The 110th is a combat Corps (Wheel) Battalion with a mission of providing combat support and unit
mobility in support of Corps operations.
As far back as the War between the States, militiamen were organized to protect Kansas City in case of riot
or attack, but were not initially used.
In 1886, the 3rd Missouri Infantry was organized and saw action in the Spanish War as the 3rd
Missouri Volunteers, and served with distinction in the Philippine Islands until mustering out in 1898. The 3rd Infantry
was called into action for the Mexican Border War in 1916, and again for World War I in 1917 under the 35th Division.
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The 110th Engineers came into being in 1917, with one battalion organized in Missouri by Major E.M. Stayton,
and another in Kansas by Major Leigh Hunt. Both Battalions later formed a regiment under Colonel Sherwood Cheney, and moved
to France where they took part in numerous World War I engagements – the most notable being in the Argonne Forest where
a group of Engineers from the 110th were working with pick and shovel when a group of Germans attacked them.
Since the Engineers had no other weapons at hand, they held off the attackers with their
pioneering tools until they could be relieved by the Infantry. During the action in France, eight (8) members of the unit
were decorated with the Distinguished Service Cross for gallantry in action.
The unit subsequently saw action in World War II’s Pacific theatre, spent some time in Japan and Korea,
and eventually returned to the States. In the 60s, the unit helped control the Kansas City Riots, assisted the city during
three different firefighter strikes, and cooperated with city police on numerous civic projects.
In the 80s, the 110th built bridges in Samoa, laid roads in Panama, and conducted Joint Training
Operations in Korea with the South Korean Army. In the 90s, soldiers provided protection and relief efforts for Missouri floods
and ice storms, and helped destroy drug houses around Kansas City. They also traveled to Alaska and Germany for construction
projects, and traveled twice to provide humanitarian assistance in Honduras after a Hurricane caused widespread damage.
In recent years, the 110th has conducted various construction and training operations
in Japan, Canada, Nicaragua (2 medical clinics) and Alaska, and also assisted with the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
They’ve even performed tornado cleanup in the local KC area, and, prior to this deployment, had previously supported
Operation Noble Eagle. They have proven themselves to be disciplined, well-trained and capable of tackling a wide assortment
of assignments." |
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