Mankato Armory Records

After the reorganization of the National Guard following the World War One, the headquarters of the newly formed 205th Infantry Regiment was based at the Mankato Armory with other towns in southern Minnesota supporting the formation of additional companies to the regiment. In July 1939, the 205th Infantry Regiment was converted into the 215th Coastal Artillery Regiment as the United States prepared for the possibility of war. In 1941, the 215th Coastal Artillery Regiment was stationed in Alaska in order to defend the United States from attack from the army and navy of the Japanese during World War Two. After World War Two, the Minnesota National Guard was again reorganized to meet the new national military needs, as such, the Mankato Army was the home base for the headquarters of the 135th Infantry Regiment and its medical company. Other towns in Minnesota organized additional companies of the 135th Infantry Regiment these included the towns of Austin, Stillwater, and Redwood Falls. The 135th Infantry Regiment was activated by the Federal Goverment in 1951 because of the Korean War. After being federalized the regiment was sent to Camp Rucker, Alabama to undergo addtional training before individuals were sent to Korea as replacements. By 1953, the 135th Infantry Regiment was returned to state control and was re-organized along with other elements of the 47th Infantry Division. In January 1986, the 135th Infantry Regiment was activated by the Governor of Minnesota, Rudy Perpich, to protect the strikebreakers during the Hormel Plant strike in Austin, Minnesota. In 1989, the 2nd Battalion of the 135th Infantry was sent to Camp Ripley, Minnesota to Fort Greely, Alaska to attend winter training. The 2nd Battalion also participated in the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas in July 1990 as an element of Task Force Thor in Operation Northern Thunder. On February 10, 1991, the 1st and 2nd Battalions, 135th Infantry were relieved from assignment to the 47th Infantry Division and were re-assigned to the 34th Infantry Division. The 135th Infantry as well as other organizations of the Minnesota National Guard were reduced and reorganized in 1992 following the end of the Cold War and the Persian Gulf War.