National Guard Proves Readiness in Statewide Alert
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Minutes after M/Sgt. Dennis M. Goodwin received notification of the alert by telephone,
Guardsmen were assembled at the Camp Glenn armory to receive their orders and put mobil
ization operations into effect. With Sergeant Goodwin are, left to right, Sfc. John C. Noe,
Pfc. Thomas C. Oglesby, tpl. Malcolm R. Willis Jr. and Cpl Joseph T. Hall.
Even though the men had to change from "civvies" into their
uniforms at the armory, it only took minutes for Battery C of the
690th Field Artillery Battalion to set up defenses in pre-designated
areas in Morehead City and Beaufort. Here Pfc. Romaine Willis
prepares to get into uniform
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Some o I the men are briefed as to what Uieir particular assignment will be during the alert.
Battery administrator, M/Sgt. Dennis M. Goodwin, far right, does the briefing. Facing the cam
era, left to right, are Spe.-4 Charles E. Nobles. Sfc. Krndel If. Cbristensen, Pfc. Thomas C.
Oglesby, Cpl. George K. Willis and Pvt. Connie M. Willis. Private Willis was the first man to
arrive at the armory after the alert was sounded.
"Sleep well tonight, your National Guard is awake." This state
ment was particularly true last Thursday night when National
Guardsmen all across the state were called away from their homes
and Jobs to participate in "Operation Hornet's Nest." Here Cpl.
Joseph T. Ball is shown at his guard post, the' telephone office, in
Morehead City.
The vrlooMwss with which etch man undertook his assignment during "Operation Hornet's Neat" is reflected in the facet of these
men gathered in the orderly room to receive their orders. Left to right are Sgt. John B. Allen, Pfc. William G. Green, M/Sgt. Robert
L. Hoggard and M/Sgt. Dennis M. Goodwin. When the picture was taken Sergeant Hoggard had just arrived at the armory and not yet
gotten into uniform.
"Operation Hornet's Nest," the largest mobilization
maneuver of the North Carolina National Guard since
the end of World War II, was put into effect last Thurs
day night to test the readiness of the National Guard in
the event of a national disaster.
The alert, which assumed the form of retaliatory
measures against a hypothetical invasion by enemy
aggressor forces, was called by adjutant general Capus
Waynick. It sent into action 11,548 Army and Air Na
tional Guardsmen.
The alert was received in Morehead City at approxi
mately 7:10 p.m. Thursday and within minutes guards
men of Battery C, 690th Field Artillery Battalion had
assembled at the Camp Glenn armory, ready to move
out to their pre-designated "strategic areas."
Some of the areas guarded by the local unit included
power and light installations, water facilities, the More
head City hospital, the telephone office and the three
drawbridges.
The commanding officer of the Morehead City unit,
Lt. Merrit Bridgman said after the alert that he was
"very well pleased" with the unit's response to the alert.
"We have an active strength of 59 men in the unit and
within 45 minutes after the firpt alarm, 55 of them had
reported to the armory," said Lieutenant Bridgman.
"Our attendance strength of 91 per cent was consider
ably higher than the state-wide average which was
somewhere around 65 per cent," he added. Weather
conditions slowed down the mobilization of some units
in the western part of the state.
Lieutenant Bridgman added that most of the credit
for the successful operation goes to the men. "When
you stop to consider that some of the men in our unit
had to come from places like Salter Path, Harkers
Island and Havelock and then had to change into the
uniforms after arriving, receive their orders and get to
their posts, it's gratifying to know that it went off so
efficiently," said Lieutenant Bridgman.
Other officers in the unit are Lt. Gene Smith and Lt.
Frank Fulford. The unit's administrator is M/Sgt. Den
nis M. Goodwin.
During the alert, constant radio contact was kept between com
mand headquarters and communications vehicles. Here firing bat
tery chief, M/Sgt. Lester L. Hall Jr. transmits orders to one of the
vehicles.
After the alert Iknc'i the enrfmat Job af cleaning thr ride* before they arc retaraed to the
?Mpm' ram. Pfc. labert A. Boater and Cpl. George P. Whittle are khowa cleanlag their field
wUttfi < weapoat.
Beaufort drawbridge attendant, Herbert Lewis, shows Spec. -4
Verooa L. Gltkrie how the lawi of each ahip panlii through
the bridge arc lotted in his book. Guthrie waa atii|aed the Job
of guarding the bridge during the alert
After It't ill over ike n alt's three odlcfn, U. Merrlt ItMpiu, Lt. Oae Smith aad U. Frank
Fulford father la Ueateaaat BrMfaaa'a office far a welcome cap of coffee and a crlUqae of the
uait'i faactioaiac dartaf the alert.