McMillan, Acquanette (Netta)
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William M. Paparian
Monday, September 9, 2024 7:44 AM
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Wafic Khalil
145 North Raymond Avenue - California Military Department CAUTION: This email was delivered from the Internet. Do not click links or open attachments unless you frnowthe content is safe. Report phish using the Phish Alert Button. For more information about the Phish Alert Button view article "KB0010263" on the DolT portal.
Dear Mayor and Council,
Item 1 on your Consent Calendar tonight refers to a building that is very much a part of the rich military history of the Crown City:
httDS://www.facebook.com/Dhoto/?fbid=1240133653091760&set=pcb. 1240143463090779
FORGOTTEN CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD ARMORIES
PASADENA ARMORY
On 29 April 1931, the California National Guard acquired from the City of Pasadena by deed a half-acre of land located at 159 North Raymond Street for the purposes of building a multiple unit armory The armory was built in 1932 as the home for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 185th Infantry Regiment [Sixth California), and the battalion's heavy weapons company, Company H. They remained there until they were mobilized for World War II in March 1941. The battalion's other three rifle companies, E, F, and G were located in Monrovia, Pomona, and Ontario respectively.
During World War II, the armory was occupied by the California State Guard's Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Infantry Regiment; Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 1st Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment; and Companies A and B, 3rd Infantry Regiment. In 1943, these units were reorganized into the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, Medical Detachment, and Company A, 4th Battalion, 29th Infantry Regiment who occupied the armory until 1946
After the war, with the reestablishment of the California National Guard, the armory was occupied by the following units:
POST WORLD WAR II ERA
- Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 223rd Infantry Regiment - Medical Company, 223rd Infantry Regiment
- Service Company, 223rd Infantry Regiment
- Headquarters and Headquarters Company, lllth Armored Cavalry Regiment.
KOREAN WAR ERA UNITS
- Headquarters and Headquarters Company, lllth Armored Cavalry Regiment. 109/09/2024
Item 1
- 3rd Holding Section, Separate Detachment, Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, California Army National Guard
- Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 2nd Group, California National Guard Reserve - Company D, 7th Battalion, California National Guard Reserve - Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 223rd Infantry Regiment [NGUS) - Medical Company, 223rd Infantry Regiment [NGUSJ
- 1st and 3rd Battalions, 223rd Infantry Regiment [NGUS)
POST KOREAN WAR ERA
- Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Combat Command C, 40th Armored Division - Company B (Clearing Station) 40th Armored Medical Battalion There are no mentions of this armory in the Biennial Reports of the Adjutant General after 1962 and it is assumed that the armory was vacated.
The armory then began its second life as a museum and today it serves as the Armory Center for the Arts.
The front facade remains relatively unchanged and still has the words, "CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD" above the front doors.
California Military Department Historical Collection No 2021.39.313.
Very Respectfully,
William Paparian
Former Mayor of Pasadena
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