Lodi During World War II: Lodi’s California State Guard/Home Guard

After the German invasion of Poland in 1939, US military officials recognized the possibility that America would soon join the European defense. In September 1941 the entire US National Guard, over 300,000 soldiers, was “called up,” meaning that members were reclassified from being civilians who maintained military preparedness part-time to being full-time, active-duty Army soldiers. With this prewar mobilization, the National Guard provided the War Department with a wealth of trained, deployable units. Many former National Guard members fought valiantly as Army soldiers at the Pearl Harbor attack and other conflicts. 

The 1941 departure of California’s National Guard members left a vacuum in California’s state defense. “All the armories would be left empty and… cities left naked of military protection,” thundered Colonel Rupert Hughes, a World War I veteran, on the need for additional state defense. Accordingly, plans were laid for a new, voluntary California State Guard.

The California State Guard was composed of men who were not subject to being drafted due to being too young, too old, with family dependents, or disabled, and also included able-bodied men whose draft number hadn’t been called yet. A large proportion of the State Guard came from the American Legion, which describes itself as “a patriotic veterans organization devoted to mutual helpfulness.”

When Lodi’s California National Guard Battery F of the 143rd Field Artillery departed, the Lodi Provisional Infantry Company of the State Guard took shape. Enlistments began at the Armory Building, 333 N Washington Street, in late September 1941 with Verne W. Hoffman commissioned as captain. (Hoffman was elected State Senator in 1951.) Many older enlistees had been members of the California National Guard in their younger days.

Lodians were asked to contribute $2,000 as Monday-night drills commenced. “Many expenses will arise in the conduct of the unit for which there is no provision in federal or state money, and it does not seem right these men who are supplying their time should also have to dig down in their own pockets for the money that will be needed to properly operate the unit,” said Col. Walter Garrison, himself a veteran of three wars. With Lodians’ support, the State Guard recruits – including Lodi’s fatherson duo, Boyd Mitchell and Woodrow Mitchell – soon drilled proudly in their new uniforms.

In November 1942, the members were formally inducted into the State Guard at the Armistice Day celebration at Lodi Stadium (another name for the Grape Bowl). Their unit would now be called the 10th Regiment of State Guard Company B.

Despite these early efforts, Lodi’s State Guard unit would always struggle to have enough members to reach regimental strength.

Following the December 7 Pearl Harbor attack, the new State Guardsmen were given 30 days during which they could resign, after which they would be subject to active-duty mustering within the state. Thirty-six members of Lodi’s 78 State Guardsmen resigned. Morale suffered as Guardsmen began struggling with the public perception that they were unnecessary and that local police should be able to defend the state. Legislators in Sacramento squabbled about the Guard’s purpose and limited enlistment to 7,000 active-duty California Guardsmen with 20,000 in reserve – these last to be called up only in the event of invasion or insurrection.

Chronically understaffed and underfunded, in early 1942 Lodi’s remaining State Guards – mostly
high school students – nevertheless quit their paying jobs and mobilized active-duty to protect California’s dams, reservoirs, and similar valuable property, relieving federal troops who could then be sent overseas. For this work, privates in the Guard were promised $2 /day.

Almost immediately, California fell behind in paying its Guardsmen, resorting to the state emergency fund to catch up on partial back pay.

Following a short initial assignment, Lodi’s Guardsmen were assigned to guard duty at Camp Christiansen, east of Sacramento. In February 1942 the Lodi Civitan Club drove up to entertain camp residents with a Valentine’s Day dance including orchestra, refreshments, and free cigarettes.

Meanwhile the State Guard reserve members back in Lodi continued their Monday-night drills and
accepted responsibility for training the local Civil Air Patrol – private citizens who were pilots with aircraft that could be used to fly sensitive missions along the coast, alerting US military personnel to enemy ships.

As the months passed, the California State Guard’s inefficient management deteriorated. In Sacramento, accusations flew of Guardsmen misusing state automobiles, stealing firearms, and improperly accounting for expenses. It seemed many of Guard’s officers had been transferred from the State Relief Administration, which had been organized in the 1930s to distribute state and federal funds to remedy Great Depression woes, and these workers entered the State Guard at a higher level than they were qualified for in order to preserve their paychecks.

In 1943 Governor Earl Warren called for a new Home Guard that would replace the State Guard. Active-duty Home Guardsmen’s service areas would be limited to the members’ own county. Reserve volunteers would be permitted to serve state-wide during emergencies if so desired. Lodi’s California State Guard 10th Regiment Company B was called back from active duty and
abruptly dissolved. Members were informed that if 34 men of genuine ability re-enlisted, they’d be
called the Home Guard 5th Battalion 24th Regiment B Company. 

Enlistments of rifle-trained Lodians who were between the ages of 18 and 65, of good physical health, and male citizens of California, began with the enticement that there would be no more sentry duty and that any active-duty call within San Joaquin County would likely happen only in the event of an enemy invasion, when everyone would jump to fight anyway. Eighteen men signed up immediately.

As Company B struggled to reach 34 enlistments, recruiters touted the training they’d get and invited the public (males only) to see Baptism by Fire, a movie that showed typical deaths on the front lines and how to avoid such ends through proper training. Months passed and the Lodi News-Sentinel began blaming low enlistments on public complacency.

Finally in January 1944 the new company was ready. Still short of funds, the members held a dance to raise money for their mess fund (food). The USO came to Eagles Hall at 217 E Lockeford Street. With a mission “to strengthen the well-being of the people serving in America's military,” the USO provided a dinner with orchestra for 70 Guardsmen and family members.

On September 2, 1945 World War II ended. In 1946 Lodians received word that their National Guard heroes were headed home. As the California Home Guard stood down, Lodi’s Guardsmen were commended for their steadfast readiness, year after year. 

“Like an insurance policy that hasn’t been used,” Lodi’s home guard would have paid off handsomely if the need had arisen.