Show a p t r t a at t BATTALION OFFICERS conduct change of command at National Guard Saturday Left to right Col Wm H Thompson assistant general of Utah Col Ray T Kingston executive of- of officer Eng Col Laurence V Erickson Commander Eng Major Wm Hook acting army advisor National Guard Engineers State of Utah Y 1 4 1 Vy 2 T r 1 ai aih aiLT h LT VEARL R TUCKER left of Altamont Is congratulated on becoming the new National Guard company commander by Captain Nelson J Marshall retiring commander Observing Is Gary B Taylor Taylor- Staff pho photo o Local Rate With Visiting Officers s At an impressive military ceremony Saturday evening the change of command of the local National Guard rd unit was effect effect- effected effected ed Captain Nelson J Marshall who has been commander of the unit for the past seven years re- re retired retired tired and Lieutenant Vearl Vear R Rucker of Altamont was named to head the unit The affair was directed by Col Laurence V Erickson and wal was attended by battalion staff members and their wives Also attending were city and county officials and townspeople Highlights in the history of the unit were given by Capt Brent N Gudmunson of the battalion staff The story of the guard goes back to April 28 1939 when Company B Engineer Reg of the Division was first assembled in the streets of Vernal The streets were used for the orderly room supply room and drill floor until the second floor of the old Central Hotel was obtained for the first home of the unit COMMANDING the guard in Its first years were Hugh W Colton T R Johnston and Frank W Wright until the time of Federal Activation on March 3 1941 The unit has developed into one of exceptional level said the captain When the unit was redesignated ed Co B Engineers Batt Batt- Batt Battalion alion Combat on February 5 1912 many of the original memo mem- members bers had been scattered to other units At the end of World War II on deactivation date April 7 1946 the unit honors had grown to three campaign streamers one of f which is accompanied by byan byan an arrowhead signifying a beach assault landing and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation Later members of the old Engineer C were to form three engineer battalions in Continued on page 8 Guard Continued from page 1 the state Company B from Vcr Ver nal started the Engineer and on July 7 1948 received Federal Recognition as Co A i 1st Company Engineer C On July I 1 1959 the mil In n Utah was revised with the of the Vernal Unit as It is today Co A Engineer C FOLLOWING NG the war and un- un until tani til lii the spring of 1955 when the present building was the unit had armories such as the Imperial Hall hail the Old Hud son garage on Second South across from Sutton Cleaners From 1948 1946 to the present the unit has been commanded by 1st Lt Milton St Sterling Nielsen Capt Robert Charles 1st Lt Ralph Lawr Lawrence nce Ashton Capt Robert W Johnston Capt Richard F Perkins and Capt Marshall In 1961 Company A was ord ord- ordered ered to Ft Lewis Washington under the command of Capt Marshall FOLLOWING the history by Capt Gudmunson the change of command took place In turning over his command Capt Marsh all said that he considered the seven years he had spent with the guard as one of the high lights of his life I Iere ere in this community Is Isan isan an organization that is a very important part of our lives If our young men dont don't support It it will be taken away In this organization are opportunities to serve our country and our corn com While doing so we de skills disc discipline pline and res- res responsibility responsibility said the captain I dont don't recall in all the time that I served in the guard with our young men that any of them were ever in trouble Many of them finished college and mis lions while serving as citizen soldiers We should encourage our r young men to take lake advant advant- advantage age of the opportunities avail avail- available able here If we dont don't then this will cease to be a part of our this lives be unfortunate ate said Capt Marshall Colonel Erickson paid a trio trl kute to Capt Marshall as one of the best skilled engineers inthe in lIe the battalion lie also praised the qualifications of Lt Tucker A 44 desk clock was presented to Capt Marshall from the batta ion staff Col Ray T Kingston said he was proud of the local unit and praised Capt Marshall lie He read reada a letter of commendation from Col Herbert M l Price com com- commander mander Co Wm II Thompson assis- assis assistant assistant tant adjutant general of the state of utah said that without the wholehearted support of the community of Vernal the unit could not have succeeded We look with pride on this unit and want it to continue said the officer |