Philadelphia
(1900-1910)
The Troop started the new century
in a new armory. On November 17, 1900, the corner-
stone of the new armory was laid. The Troop occupied
our new home on April 29,1901 by hosting a “Troop
Night” celebration. The years prior to the
World War were spent much as the pre-Spanish-American
years, with training and ceremony. Three items marked
this period. The Troop answered the call of the
Governor and served in Luzerne county during the
1902 coal strikes. We escorted several Presidents
during this period, and in 1904 conducted ceremonies
for Governor Pennypacker at the St Louis Exposition.
Philadelphia and the Mexican Border
(1910-1916)
The period of the second decade
of this century saw the Troop fully involved in
the national military training movement known as
“Preparedness” as well as continuing
to observe our traditional customs and escorts of
notables. In 1916 the Troop voted to expand the
size of the Active Roll, at the suggestion of Captain
McFadden. Later in 1916 the Troop, along with the
rest of the National Guard, was nationalized and
posted to Fort Bliss on the Mexican-Texas border.
The 142d Anniversary of the troop was celebrated
at the Hotel Paso Del Notre; while Washington’s
church service was commemorated at St. James’
Episcopal Church in Philadelphia and at St. Clement’s
in El Paso. The Troop returned from the border in
time to celebrate General Washington’s Birthday,
at home with friends and family, in Philadelphia.
World War I and period (1917-1920)
The international situation continued
to deteriorate and the 28 th Division was reorganized,
but without provisions for Cavalry. Several troopers
attended military training schools in order to qualify
as officers and the Troop itself was redesignated
as a trench mortar battery. The troop was deployed
to Europe and saw action in the Argonne Forest as
well as other locations. The Troop returned from
Europe and continued to observe its traditional
customs and escort duties. It was reassigned to
its traditional role as Cavalry in 1920.
Pennsylvania between the World
Wars (1921-1939)
During the period between the World
Wars the Troop continued to perform traditional
duties, serving as a training ground for National
Guard Officers and training as a military cavalry
unit. We escorted numerous members of royalty, and
distinguished persons from this country and from
abroad. The years of 1924 and 1925 were filled with
numerous escorts and ceremonies celebrating the
sesquicentennial of the nation and the Troop. significant
state event occurred during this period. In 1936
the Troop was called to active state duty, to aid
in the recovery efforts following the “Johnstown
Flood”.
World War II (1940- 1949)
By 1940, the world situation dictated
that the United States must once again prepare for
war, and military training was again being emphasized.
As a result the troop had to function in a variety
of new military and political roles as well as maintain
its traditional duties. The Troop was redesignated
Troop A of the 104 th Cavalry Regiment in September
of 1940 and served as an active military unit from
1941 until 1945. The Troop sadly said good-bye to
its mounts during a heavy rain on April 2, 1942.
The Troop served two major missions stateside during
the war; patrolling the Delaware River and afterwards
patrolling the Pacific coast first near the Columbia
River and then later in Southern California. In
February 1945 the Troop was dispatched to Europe,
where it served in Belgium and Germany, and it returned
to the United States and was inactivated by the
end of 1945. The Troop was redesignated once again
in the spring of 1946 as the Reconnaissance Troop,
28 th Division. During this period of general reorganization
and confusion within the military it continued to
perform both its traditional and military duties.
Once again several troopers, with guidance from
the Troop leadership, underwent training and were
commissioned officers, both within and outside of
the Troop.
Korean War (1950-1953)
In the fall 1950, the Troop was
Federalized. The Troop was posted to Camp Atterbury,
Indiana, where it was refitted and assigned new
personnel. It trained there and in the Fort Bragg
area and was posted to Bavaria, near Munich in November
of 1951. The troop served in Germany until it returned
to the United States in the summer of 1952. Once
again, as they had during World War II the officers
and gentlemen of the non-active and honorary roles
assumed the tasks of maintaining the armory and
fulfilling traditional duties during the absence
of the active roll personnel. This pattern would
be employed in the future when general activation
and deployment of the Troop took the active role
personnel out of the Armory for extended periods.
Philadelphia (1954-1960)
The rest of the decade saw the Troop
performing its traditional duties and taking part
in the almost continuous reorganization of the national
guard. One significant event occurred in 1954, the
establishment of the “Boyer Memorial Scholarship
Program”.
Trooper John Boyer had tragically
died, in an accident, during the summer. His father,
Honorary Francis Boyer’s, generosity, supported
by the generosity of other family and friends, founded
the fund. The fund and scholarship program exist
to this day.
Philadelphia (1961-1969)
This was a period of transition
for the Troop. The twin military pressures of the
Viet-Nam conflict and the concept of combined arms
operations caused several effects in the National
Guard as a whole and the Troop itself. The guard
reorganization in 1964 resulted in the Troop becoming
Troop “A” of the 223 rd Cavalry. The
unit was increased to 134 officers and men and equipment
now included tanks, armored personnel carriers and
mortars. The unit trained in several states outside
of Pennsylvania and the squadron itself had troops
assigned from Virginia and New York. Operations
on the ceremonial and traditional fronts continued
at full pace. The armory underwent significant repair
during the decade and was closed for a period. It
was rededicated in May of 1969. TheTroop continued
observing its traditional meetings and turn-outs.
The escorts during this period included President
Eisenhower and foreign officials, such as the Royal
Pricess of Sweden.
Philadelphia (1970-1999)
The cold war was in full operation
during this period and the duties of the Troop reflected
the pressures of the cold war and the draft. The
concept of 2 days a month and two weeks a summer
of drill became firmly entrenched and combined arms
operations was the rule of training. Toward the
end of this period the use of virtual training devices
became more firmly established. A number of significant
events marked the Troop’s performance of traditional
duties during this period. The Troop continued to
escort national and international figures including
the Irish Prime Minister, hosting President and
Mrs. Nixon at the Armory, and taking part in the
Inauguration of President Bush. The Troop’s
excellent Museum was opened on January 23, 1972.
The years of 1975 and 1976 witnessed many events
associated with the Bicentennial Anniversaries of
the Troop and the Nation. Two events that stand
out were the Troop’s Ride from Philadelphia
to Cambridge, in honor of the escort of “new”
General Washington in 1775 and the participation
of troopers in St. Croix in 1976 in honor of our
first Captain Abraham Markoe. The final years of
the century witnessed the end of the cold war and
saw a new emphasis being placed upon training to
meet the dangers of terrorism.
