United States Guards (1917)

Tasked with an internal security and territorial defense mission within the Zone of the Interior, it was used to protect critical infrastructure and suppress civil unrest during World War I.

A component of the National Army, the United States Guards was composed of men over the age of 30 recruited from military veterans, police officers, and firefighters.

The following month, the United States Guards were constituted as an all-infantry force and component of the National Army designed to serve a domestic mission.

[1] According to a December 1917 article in The Morning Call, recruitment was targeted at combat veterans of the Spanish–American War and the Philippine Insurrection, as well as "men who are experienced in well organized fire and police departments".

[7] During a race riot in Winston-Salem, North Carolina on November 17, 1918, United States Guards troops were called out to reinforce local police in dispersing a white mob that had formed to lynch an African-American man being held in the city's jail.

[9] During its existence, United States Guards forces secured a total of 388 strategic sites including shipyards, government offices, bridges, dams, and mines.

[1] To the Delaware-posted 12th Battalion, United States Guards – and its commanding officer Major Lucien Wiler – was dedicated an unofficial march composed by Lt. Eugene Duffield, "They'll be Proud of the U.S.G.

A December 13, 1917, newspaper article reports on the creation of the United States Guards
Crew-served weapons, such as the Vickers machine gun , were issued to USG units at the company level.
"They'll be Proud of the U.S.G." was composed by Eugene Duffield for the 12th Battalion, United States Guards. The cover to the 1918 printing of the song's sheet music is pictured.