This article, “Homeland Defense: The Pennsylvania State Guard, 1941–1953,” written by Lieutenant Colonel Brent C. Bankus, provides a detailed historical overview of the Pennsylvania State Guard’s creation, missions, and contributions during World War II and the Korean War. It explains how, after the National Guard was federalized for overseas deployment, Pennsylvania organized the Pennsylvania Reserve Defense Corps in 1941—later renamed the Pennsylvania State Guard—to perform homeland defense duties such as guarding bridges, airports, and key infrastructure. The article highlights the structure, training, and leadership of the Guard, including the service of Brigadier General Robert M. Vail, and describes how the force was reactivated again during the Korean War to replace the 28th Infantry Division. It concludes by noting that the tradition of state military forces continues today in the form of modern State Defense Forces that remain vital to homeland security.
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