Ohio National Guard News

Ohio National Guard celebrates Black History Month

In celebration of Black History Month, the Ohio Army National Guard Historical Collections is pleased to share these photographs of the 137th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion and the 372nd Infantry Battalion. Recently, a box of negatives was found that contained thousands of images of the Ohio Army National Guard from approximately 1947 to 1957, with the majority coming from the early 1950s. These select images from the collection depict the two all-black units during field training. On Jan. 15, 1954, racial segregation in the Ohio National Guard was terminated. Today, the lineage of the 372nd Infantry is perpetuated by the 237th Support Battalion, 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. In 1959, the 137th AAA Battalion was broken up, with the individual company lineage being perpetuated today by various units of the Ohio Army National Guard.

Soldiers from the 137th AAA Bn. stand in formation at Camp Perry.

Soldiers from the 137th AAA Battalion stand in formation at Camp Perry.

Pvt. Lipkin shows paper work to Cpt. James B. Payne of the 137th AAA Bn.

Pvt. Lipkin shows paperwork to Cpt. James B. Payne of the 137th AAA Battalion

Officers from the 137th AAA Bn. control range operations

Officers from the 137th AAA Battalion control range operations
from the command post.

Soldiers from Battery B, 137th AAA Bn. stand in formation after getting off of a Boston and Albany train at Camp Perry.

Soldiers from Battery B, 137th AAA Battalion stand in formation after getting off of a Boston and Albany train at Camp Perry.

Soldiers from the 137th AAA Bn. receive a class on a 40 mm anti-aircraft gun.

Soldiers from the 137th AAA Battalion receive a class on a 40 mm anti-aircraft gun.

A Soldier from the 372nd Infantry Battalion receives instructions before firing his M1 rifle.

A group of Soldiers from the 372nd Infantry Battalion receive instructions on the Browning Automatic Rifle.

Lt. Col. Jason Palmer (right), commander of the 372nd Infantry Battalion congratulates a Soldier before presenting him a trophy.

Brig. Gen. Kenneth Cooper (right), 37th Division Artillery commander, presents the guidon of Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 137th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion to the battery commander during 37th Infantry Division Day ceremonies on July 23, 1954, at Camp Perry.