Here is an interesting POV from WWII:
For the present the hard-pressed Ordinance Department of the United
States Army cannot be expected to furnish sufficient arms,
ammunition, or equipment. Hence, the volunteers, for the most part,
will be expected to furnish their own weapons. For this reason,
gunners (of whom there are 60, 000 licensed in Maryland), members of
Rod and Gun Clubs, of Trap Shooting and similar organizations, will
be expected to constitute a part of this new military organization.
-- Governor Herbert L. O’Conor
March 10, 1942
Baltimore
http://aomol.net/megafile/msa/speccol/sc2900/sc2908/000001/000409/
html/am409--618.html
Archives of Maryland Online, Volume 409, Page 616
State Papers and Addresses of Governor Herbert L. O’Conor
MARYLAND MINUTE MEN
RADIO STATION WFBR AND MARYLAND COVERAGE NETWORK
March 10, 1942
Baltimore
THE sincere hope of every person in Maryland is that our State may
never experience invasion or attack. That we should consider such a
thing as possible is in itself a terrible shock to the American state
of mind. Nevertheless, with so much of the world overrun by the
enemies of Democracy, and with the invasion of Java and New Guinea as
well as other points in the Australian Archipelago fresh in our
minds, we would be foolish, indeed, not to be prepared, as completely
as possible, for any such happening, even here in Maryland.
Our people didn't want this war and, prior to the dastardly and
cowardly attack on Pearl Harbor, the thought of sending American
troops to fight in far-away lands was abhorrent to the minds of every
American. Recent developments of the most threatening nature,
however, have completely changed America's attitude toward the
present conflict. The unexpected and continuing success of the
Japanese forces, who have swept everything before them except General
MacArthur's heroic band in the Philippines, have impressed on our
minds most forcibly that new tactics are demanded.
That is why, in the recent past, there has become evident a
tremendous demand on the part of Americans everywhere, that our
leaders forsake a defensive policy and pursue this war in typical
American fashion by carrying the offensive to the enemy at every
possible point.
But this plan, if adopted, will make necessary additional protective
forces in the states of our Country, particularly those like
Maryland, situated along the coastlines. It is about this matter of
necessity that I desire to speak to the people of Maryland tonight.
Let us review briefly the various steps, and then consider why and to
what extent Maryland confronted with danger and what we must do at
once to protect our citizens. The Federal Government faces the
tremendous task of training the largest military and naval
establishment in our Nation's history. After the hundreds of
thousands, and even millions, of our men are trained and equipped,
they must be transported, far and wide, over the seven seas to
overcome the enemy outside continental United States. Every available
man in the combat forces will be needed in this far-flung offensive.
This means that if any number of soldiers, trained for military
operations, would be retained within the United States for guard
duty, or for any other routine defense purpose, that would entail a
loss to our Country's striking power.
The Federal Government, of course, is the one which assumes the
responsibility for the conduct of war. But the State Government has
its obligation, also, to its citizens. That obligation includes
protection to our people. It was for this reason that more than a
year ago I asked the Maryland General Assembly to authorize the
creation of the State Guard, the primary purpose of which was to have
a mobile protective force ready to move in any direction to maintain
the safety and security of our people and their property. It is with
pleasure that I can report to our people that the State Guard is
completely drilling.
The State Guard numbers approximately 2, 700 officers and men.
Supplementing it is a Special Military Police Force, the members of
which are on continuous duty and assigned exclusively to the guarding
of our State's bridges, important water supplies, and other vital
points, described by the War Department as having important bearing
on the war effort. The number of this force is approximately 300.
To the credit of the members of our present Guard, it can be said
that they have responded to every requirement since our Nation
entered the war, despite unexpected difficulties under which they
have at times been required to perform their duties. The public will
understand that up until now the State's defensive efforts have
consisted mainly in protecting those installations and locations
which the War Department consider as vitally important.
Now, however, a greater possible danger must be faced by our people.
Situated as we are and exposed as our State is, we must be prepared f
or the worst. Since the outbreak of hostilities at Pearl Harbor, I
have been in touch, at regular intervals, with United States
officials who have imparted information revealing the danger that
besets us. I owe it to the people of the State to report that we are
in jeopardy, and that we must be prepared for trouble both from
without and from within our State.
Only today, for instance, have I been advised by the Commanding
General of the First Army, in New York, that the presence and
increasing activity of enemy submarines off the Maryland Coast
require additional drastic measures.
With the prospect that the regular Army units will be engaged in more
important operations elsewhere, and with our State Guard and Military
Police assigned to particular functions, it is felt absolutely
necessary to have an additional protective force—: as a home guard—
for the protection of our various communities. Competent military
officers, one of whom, our capable and experienced Major General
Milton A. Reckord, will speak to you in a few minutes, advise that
there is need of this further, wide-spread, alert defense
organization to cope with and to be available instantly for any
sudden attack by parachute troops, by forces landed from the sea by
enemy sympathizers within our State.
I propose to meet this need by the organization in every part of the
State of a Reserve Militia. The completed plan has just been approved
by General Reckord, as Commander of the Third Army Corps. It offers
the opportunity for every able-bodied man to assist in protecting his
home and his community against enemy activities. The militia will be
organized under our State Law, and the men who enlist at this time of
our grave emergency will be known as the "Maryland Minute Men. "
The mission of the Maryland Minute Men is to furnish immediately,
local protection against parachute troops, saboteurs, or organized
raiding parties. It is planned that the units be confined to their
own communities so that there will be assurance at all times that
every residential section of Maryland will have protection.
No prescribed complete uniform will be required. Distinctive arm
bands and caps or other items may be furnished by the State, the
County, or by the men themselves. For the present the hard-pressed
Ordinance Department of the United States Army cannot be expected to
furnish sufficient arms, ammunition, or equipment. Hence, the
volunteers, for the most part, will be expected to furnish their own
weapons. For this reason, gunners (of whom there are 60, 000 licensed
in Maryland), members of Rod and Gun Clubs, of Trap Shooting and
similar organizations, will be expected to constitute a part of this
new military organization.
Officers will be drawn from the immediate area in which they are to
serve. As Army officers have pointed out to me, the familiarity of
the members with their particular locality, with the terrain and road
not in the respective communities, will be of great value in
resisting any hostile efforts against residential areas and important
public necessities.
No intensive training program will be adopted. While sufficient
preparatory work must be undertaken by the Minute Men, care will be
taken to avoid unnecessary demands1 upon their time. No guard duty is
to be included as a regular part of the program for the new force.
Retired officers of the regular Army, Marine Corps or State Guard
will be sought to supervise the training. The program will embrace
basic field training and basic small arms instruction. The field
training will include the study of terrain from the military
viewpoint, establishment and maintenance of communications, practice
assemblies in daylight and in dark, and other courses. Arms
instructions will cover teaching how to load and unload weapons,
examination of weapons as to working order; effective firing
positions, special instructions in sighting and aiming, rapid firing
technique, and other duties.
Military officials, in emphasizing the value of such an organization
point out that the familiarity which the members will enjoy with the
faces, customs and habits of their neighbors in the community, makes
them most valuable in combating sabotage efforts. They will detect,
even more quickly than a secret service man from the outside, any
strange faces in the community, or any unusual activities on the part
of local inhabitants.
The Maryland Minute Men, armed with weapons with which they are
thoroughly familiar from long use, operating in a community in which
they are accustomed to every road and trail and stream, and aroused
to fighting pitch by the knowledge that they are serving to protect
their own homes, their family and all that they hold dear in life,
will prove a staunch defense against any enemy activity.
Through conferences among the Military, Naval, State Guard and Minute
Men officials, operation plans for each area will be carefully
prepared, I am assured by the Third Corps Headquarters. Surveys will
be made to determine the importance of facilities and installations
which might be subjected to sabotage and raids; the availability of
Military and Naval police and State Guard forces; and the quality and
type of communications which are available for notification for
additional protective forces when necessary.
Based on these surveys, definite missions will be assigned each of
the organizations concerned; and the proper liaison will be arranged.
All available firearms will be reported and those individuals to be
armed with rifles will be assigned to tasks where the long-range and1
accurate fire of rifles will be necessarily employed. Those to be
armed with shot guns will be assigned tasks where the short range,
spreading fire of shot guns will be most effective.
As I attempted to outline before, no unnecessary discipline and
training will be required. However, as this is serious business there
will be exacted from all members obedience to orders, sobriety, and
self-sacrifice. Military advisors suggest that time need not be spent
on close-order or other military drill. It is not intended that this
be a parade organization. But officers and men must be willing to
cooperate and to devote time and work to meet any local situation.
I should also point out another cardinal rule of the new
organization. We all know that an enemy raiding party does not stop
to give considerations to a victim's social background, or to his
political affiliation, or to class distinction. Therefore, I give
assurance that such considerations will completely absent from the
organization, training and discipline of the Maryland Minute Men from
top to bottom.
I now issue a call for volunteers to serve as Maryland Minute Men.
Arrangements have been made to accept enlistments at once. State
headquarters for the new organization will be the Office of the
Adjutant General of Maryland, Fifth Regiment Armory, Baltimore.
However, persons can make known their readiness to serve at any of
the State Armories, one of which is located in all the counties of
Maryland except five. In these five counties; where no armories
exists, namely, Garrett, Howard, St. Mary's, Calvert and Charles
Counties, other headquarters will be established, the location of
which will be made known through the local press.
Already arrangements are made to receive group enlistments from the
membership rolls of Rifle Clubs, Trap Shooting Associations, Skeet
Clubs and sportsmen's groups of every type. The number of units to be
formed in different sections of the State will depend upon the size
and population of the area and also upon the important public
facilities and military objectives, which are designated by the War
Department in different sections of our State.
I wish to repeat that in every move, with respect to this
organization, the advice and direction of Army officials will be
sought, as has been the practice in connection with the organization
and functioning of the Maryland State Guard.
And so, my fellow-Marylanders, I ask your support and assistance in
this new undertaking which will be maintained at a minimum of
expense. It will however, represent a maximum of protection by
civilian soldiers, whose first duty it will be to stand in defense of
their home, in protection of plants and facilities which are
essential to life.
To these men, many of whom will be veterans of the last war, who
incidentally may have "chafed at the bit" when they have observed
their sons and younger men marching away recently to the Country's
defense, let me say that here is an opportunity that will make them
truly an important part of the public defense forces. Here is a
function of military organizations to which they can address
themselves with enthusiasm, because it will be of utmost importance
and will thereby release a number of regular Army forces for combat
service abroad.
Inconvenient, yes; overtime work, yes. But let us remember that
hardships and privations are now being suffered for us by General
MacArthur and his valiant men in Bataan. Those who do not leave
United States as a part of the armed forces to avenge the wrong done
to Americans and to the United States flag abroad, will be untrue to
these American boys if we do not protect their homes and their
communities while they are away fighting for us. Let us preserve the
communities and their firesides, so that there will be a familiar
place to which they will be welcomed on their return after victory
has, been won.
The flower of America's young manhood now being sent to distant parts
of the world will face the period of hardship and discouragement. But
like the Crusaders of old, they are privileged to fare forth to free
a land of civilization from the Barbarians.
America's Crusade today is to wipe the scourge of slavery from a
world of Hitler and the Japanese war lords, and to establish once and
for all time the freedom of man and his dignity as an individual, and
this should awaken a responsive chord in every heart.
No, we didn't want this war. We went to all lengths to avoid it. And
in so doing we laid ourselves open to just the very reverses that
lack of preparedness has occasioned. Now that we are in this war,
however, now that we know how necessary it is to fight as we have
never fought before, not only to defend our Democracy, our own
freedom, but to bring back freedom to all the enslaved people of the
earth, we know America shall not fail. Maryland today, as in every
other crisis in our Nation's; history, pledges itself to stop short
of nothing to preserve American ideals and American privileges for
generations to come.
_______________________________________________
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