A Century of Support to the Governor of the State of Georgia

by Maj. William Carraway

Historian, Georgia Army National Guard

On January 14, 2019, Brian Kemp will be sworn in as the 83rd Governor of Georgia. Soldiers and Airmen of the Georgia National Guard along with volunteers from the Ga. State Defense Force will take part in inaugural activities as they have for decades. In this article, the Georgia National Guard History office looks back at how the Georgia Guard has participated in the inaugurations of past commanders in chief.

1915: Ga. Guard Secures Inauguration

June 21, 1915, just six days before he left office, Governor John Slaton commuted the death sentence of a convicted murderer who had been condemned by a jury decision that subsequent historians and legal scholars largely consider erroneous. Ensuing riots and threats of violence against Slaton prompted the activation of the Georgia Guard. Brigadier General J. Van Holt Nash, Georgia’s Adjutant General, mobilized the 5^th Infantry Regiment; Troop L, Second Cavalry Squadron and Battery B, 1^st Battalion Field Artillery.[i] Colonel Orville Hall, commander of the 5^th Infantry dispatched two companies to provide security for the governor.[ii] Arriving at the governor’s house, the companies of the 5^th Infantry were confronted by a crowd of 2,000 angry citizens who had barricaded the gate to the house. The troops had to fight their way onto the grounds. Several Guardsmen were injured by rocks or broken bottles hurled by the mob. By the morning of June 22, the Guardsmen had successfully dispersed the mob. For the next several days, Guardsmen rotated through security shifts repelling occasional assaults and arresting citizens who failed to disperse.[iii]

Governor Nathan Harris (right) with Brig. Gen. Walter
Harris, commander of the 1st Brigade, Ga. National Guard
reviews troops of the 2nd Ga. Infantry Regiment (now the
121st IR) in El Paso, Texas in 1916. Photo courtesy of the
Vivian Roberts Collection and Mrs. Tonie Maxwell

On June 27, 1915, The Georgia Guard Soldiers participated in the inauguration of Governor Nathaniel Harris providing security and firing a 17-gun salute.[iv] At the time of Harris’ inauguration the Georgia Guard was composed of 3,045 Soldiers.[v] In 1916, Harris became the first Georgia Governor to visit troops of the Georgia Guard mobilized outside the state when he visited the 1^st Brigade encampment at Camp Cotton, El Paso. Harris observed a review of the Georgia Guard units including those who had helped secure his inauguration.

1955: A Tale of Two TAGs

In 1955, two former Adjutants General were inaugurated as the Governor and Lt. Governor of Georgia.  Marvin Griffin was inaugurated as the 72nd Governor of Georgia. Griffin commanded the Georgia National Guard’s 101st Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion in the Pacific theater for 31 months during World War II and served as Georgia’s Adjutant General from 1944 to 1947. Former adjutant general Ernest Vandiver was sworn in as Georgia’s third lieutenant Governor.[vi]

Colonel Roy Hogan leads the 121st Infantry Regiment during
the inaugural parade for Gov. Griffin. Georgia Guardsman, Jan
1955, 5.

More than 2,500 Georgia National Guardsmen paraded down Peachtree Street before the governor’s reviewing stand. The Governor reviewed the Soldiers, tanks and artillery of the Macon-based 48th Infantry Division, the guns of the 108th Antiaircraft Artillery Brigade and Georgia Air National Guard floats depicting aircraft engines and an oscillating radar antenna of the 129th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron. Poor weather conditions prevented a scheduled fly-over by Georgia Air National Guard F-84 Thunderjets, but the streets echoed to the rumble of twelve tanks 14 howitzers and nine antiaircraft guns. The 48th Infantry Division Band provided music along with the 30th Infantry Division Band and 530th Air Force Band from Dobbins Air Reserve Base.[vii]

Soldiers of the Ga. ARNG's 201st Ordnance Company fires a 19
gun inaugural salute to Gov. Ernest Vandiver from the capitol
grounds. Georgia Guard Archives

1959: Former Guardsmen Succeed Griffin

In 1959, former Adjutant General Ernest Vandiver was inaugurated as the 73rd Governor of Georgia. Vandiver, a World War II veteran, was appointed Adjutant General of Georgia by Gov. Herman Talmadge in 1948 and served as TAG for six years. He achieved the rank of Major General in the Air National Guard becoming the youngest person to reach that rank.[viii] His Lieutenant Governor, Garland T. Byrd, was an active member of the Ga. Guard serving as the judge advocate for the State Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment. A World War II Veteran, Byrd received the Silver Star for leading his troops on a raid more than 50 miles behind German lines.[ix]

Following Governor Vandiver’s swearing-in ceremony A thundering 19-gun salute echoed from the western lawn of the State capitol where two 75 mm cannons were manned by Guardsmen of the 201st Ordnance Company. Six F-86 fighter jets flown in tight formation by the 128th Fighter Interceptor Squadron streaked overhead as musical salutes by the 530th Air Force Band saluted the new governor.[x]

F86L Sabres of the 128th Fighter Interceptor Squadron provided an inaugural fly over for incoming Ga. Gov. Ernest Vandiver. Georgia Gard Archives

1963: Armored Reception

Georgia Guardsmen of the 878th Engineer Battalion pass the reviewing
stand of Gov. Carl Sanders. Georgia Guardsman Magazine, Jan 63, 2.

A mile-long inaugural parade honored Governor Carl Sanders following his January 1963 inauguration. Maj. Gen. George Hearn, Adjutant General of the Ga. Guard served as the grand marshal of the parade which incorporated tanks and howitzers of the 48th Armor Division as well as engineering equipment from the 265th Combat Engineer Battalion in Statesboro, home of first lady Betty Sanders. As in 1959, Guardsmen of the 201st Ordnance Company fired a 19-gun salute while C-97 Stratofreighters of the 128th Air Transport Squadron flew overhead.[xi]

1967: Salute and Security

For the January 1967 inauguration of Gov. Lester Maddox, the 19-gun salute was upgraded to 105 mm howitzers fired by the 648th Maintenance Battalion. Security for the inauguration was provided by the 48th Military Police Company.

This Ga. ARNG helicopter delivered Gov. George Busbee
to his inauguration at Philips Arena. Georgia Guardsman
Magazine, Jan. 1975, inside cover 

1971: Vandiver Returns

During inaugural ceremonies for Governor Jimmy Carter in January 1971, Carter appointed Ernest Vandiver to serve for a second time as Adjutant General of Georgia. Vandiver became the fourth TAG to serve two separate terms along with Maj. Gen. George Hearn and Brig. Gen. Charles M. Cox and J. Van Holt Nash.[xii]

1975: Workhorse

Governor Elect George Busbee was transported to his January 14, 1975 inauguration in a Georgia Army National Guard UH-1 helicopter designated as Workhorse. The 116th Army Band and 530th Air Force Band provided musical entertainment for inaugural ceremonies while military police of the 190th Military Police Company provided security.[xiii]

The Modern Era
The Georgia Guard continued to support the inauguration of Governors through the most recent administrations of Governors Sonny Perdue and Nathan Deal. For the first time since World War II, during Perdue’s inauguration, a Georgia Governor entered office with troops overseas. Collectively, Governors Perdue and Deal observed all four of the 48^th Infantry Brigade Combat team’s deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Governor Nathan Deal, followed by Maj. Gen. William T. Nesbitt, Georgia’s Adjutant General; and Col. Bill Hitchens, Ga. Department of Public Safety

Commissioner reviews a formation of Ga. Army and Air Guardsmen and Ga. State Troopers inside the state capitol shortly after being sworn into office as 

Georgia’s 82nd governor Jan 11, 2011. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Roy Henry

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[i] Report of the Adjutant General, State of Georgia for the Year 1915. Atlanta, GA: Byrd Printing Company, 1916, 97-99.

[ii] Report of the Adjutant General, State of Georgia for the Year 1915. Atlanta, GA: Byrd Printing Company, 1916, 100.

[iii] Report of the Adjutant General, State of Georgia for the Year 1915. Atlanta, GA: Byrd Printing Company, 1916, 113-117.

[iv] Report of the Adjutant General, State of Georgia for the Year 1915. Atlanta, GA: Byrd Printing Company, 1916, 106.

[v] Report of the Adjutant General, State of Georgia for the Year 1915. Atlanta, GA: Byrd Printing Company, 1916, 3.

[vi] "Marvin Griffin Becomes Georgia's Chief Executive and New Commander in Chief of the Georgia NG." The Georgia Guardsman Magazine, January 1955, 2.

[vii] “2500 Georgia Guardsmen Display Their Military Power before 200,000 Georgians in 2 1-2 hour Inaugural Parade.” The Georgia Guardsman Magazine, January 1955, 10.

[viii] “Gov. Ernest Vandiver Assumes Office with Background of Nat’l Guard Service.” The Georgia Guardsman Magazine, January 1959, 5.

[ix] “Lt. Governor Byrd Active Guardsman.” The Georgia Guardsman Magazine, January 1959, 5.

[x] "Ernest Vandiver Becomes Guard’s Commander-in-Chief." The Georgia Guardsman Magazine, January 1959, 6-7.

[xi] "Mile-Long Inaugural Parade Hails New Commander-in-Chief as Components Salute Gov Sanders" The Georgia Guardsman Magazine, January 1963, 2.

[xii] Georgia Department of Defense Annual Report 2013. Marietta, GA: 2014, 46.

[xiii] “George Busbee Sworn in As Governor of Georgia.” The Georgia Guardsman Magazine, January 1975, 4-5.

January 1919: “I belonged to the Rainbow Division.”

by Maj. William Carraway

Historian, Georgia Army National Guard

As the New Year approached, the Soldiers of the 151st settled in for what they hoped would not be a long occupation duty in Kripp and Bad Bodendorf, Germany. The men of the 151st Machine Gun Battalion were lodged among the civilian population and were thoroughly briefed on expectations of military courtesy.[i]

In this composite image, a Soldier of the 151st MGB patrols a street in Bad Bodendorf Germany during occupation duty in 1919.  Original image courtesy of The National Archives Records Administration.  Photo by Capt. Dan Nichols. Composite by Maj. William Carraway

While acclimatizing himself to his new surroundings, Sgt. Robert Gober Burton learned from correspondence that his parents had wired the house for electricity, prompting him to express anticipation of returning home to have a reading lamp in his old room.[ii]

As the terror and maneuver of combat duty transitioned to the static routine of occupation, Burton’s letters reflected the Soldiers ruminations over all they had experienced in combat and of how they would adjust to life back home. Anxious families back home awaited updates expecting “the boys” to come home now that the war was over. Burton grew testy when his mother expressed exasperation over the delay in mail.

“I am with a fighting outfit and we don’t hang around the base parts and the cable offices. Where we are, there are no cable offices. If there were, I would have answered your cable. But don’t worry about me mother dear for I am fine now.[iii]”

The last days of December 1918 were chilly with light snow falling on the Rhine. The days were short with darkness falling at 4:00 pm. To keep the Soldiers occupied and to keep thoughts from wandering homeward non-commissioned officers presided over drill and ceremony. Soldiers rotated through guard mount and various details. The men received new clothing issue and, at long last, leave was granted for up to seven days. The Soldiers were able to venture about Bad Bodendorf or visit the YMCA for coffee and writing material to pass the time. Sergeant Burton availed himself of the writing material to increase his rate of correspondence home.

Dec 31, 1918

My dearest Mother,

You see I am writing quite often now as we are stationary and don’t have so awful much to do. I write every time that I think of it. As you see by the heading, we are still in Kripp and we are enjoying ourselves very much.

There are reports and they come from good sources that we will leave here on Jan 10 on our way home. I surely do hope that we do. As rule, I am rather skeptical about rumors, but the officers are talking it and from the records and things they are taking up it looks as if we are about to sail. Oh boy, won’t that be great business.

I appreciate everyone’s good wishes and I certainly do thank them for it. But Uncle Sam won’t consent so will have to make the best of it.

I don’t care anything about parading in Washington. There is only one place in the U.S. that I want to parade in and that is Monroe. I don’t doubt tho that we will parade quite a bit when we come over. We have about forgotten all the parade soldiering that we knew. We know the other kind now.

Tomorrow is New Years and we are going to have fresh pork for dinner. We bought three nice little shoats and are going to have them for dinner tomorrow. You see we are faring quite well.

Well mother dear, am always looking for a long letter from you.

Your ever devoted

Son[iv]

One week later, writing in response to a letter received from home, Burton expresses his pride in being a member of the 42nd Division and his contempt for reports of hardship in Germany.

Kripp Germany

January 5, 1919

My dearest Mater,

I haven’t heard from you I about a week or so but will write just the same. I am getting along fine. As you will notice, we are still at Kripp. The place is not so large, but it is quite a nice place. I am still living in the same house and like it just as much as ever.

Rumors are flying fast now to the effect that we are soon to return to the U.S. the latest dope is that we are to be decorated by the French and given a pin that we can wear when we are discharged. I doubt if there is any truth in it tho so don’t believe too much of it. Take it with salt. But I do think that it won’t be long before we are home.

The Germans don’t seem to mind our being here anymore than they did at first. We are being well fed and have good places to sleep so all that we have to worry about is going home.

I want to take some schooling when I get home, but I will be a little too old to commence again where I left off, so I think that I shall take some kind of a special course. What do you think about it? Is that a good idea or not?

There is one thing that I will always have to be proud of and that is that I belonged to the Rainbow Division. It is a great outfit. I believe that it will go down in American History as the greatest of American Divisions. I am proud to belong to it and justly so.

Listen mater, when they tell you Germany is starving for food don’t believe it for she is not. The people look slick and well fed and they dress as nice as the people at home do. I haven’t seen anyone suffering for food yet and I have been in Germany for a month. We came into Germany on Dec 3. Everywhere I have been the people seem to have plenty. There is not as much of course as prewar days but no one is starving. The restaurants of Coblentz and Cologne are running full blast and there is no limit to what you can buy. So don’t be fooled when you are told that Germany is starving.[v]

Burton closes his Jan. 5, 1919 letter with a bit of branch rivalry inspired humor at the expense of the aviation. After learning that the sons of one of his former neighbors in Monroe were aspiring aviators, Burton chided them with a song sung to the tune of the popular bawdy British tune Mademoiselle from Armentières:

“I appreciate Mrs. Nowell’s interest in me, but I wonder why her boys didn’t come earlier to help win the war. They think that they are getting into a bomb proof job when they get in aviation, but they haven’t seen what I have seen of the aviators. It will be entirely different from what they think. I am not the least bit envious of them nor am I jealous. I wouldn’t take worlds for my experience as a machine gunner, but I think that the next war will find me in the service of supplies. We have a little song that we sing about the aviators. It goes like this:

The aviators so nice and fine

Parley Vous

The aviators so nice and fine

Parley Vous

The aviators so nice and fine they won the war behind our line

Hinkey Dinkey Parley Vous

Sgt. Burton's signature on his correspondence of
Jan. 5, 1919.  Georgia Guard Archives.

But I know who won the war: The Doughboys.

Well mother dearest I must be in a bad humor tonight so had better close.

Your ever-devoted son.

Sgt. R. G. Burton

Co. A. 151 M.G. Bn

American E.F.[vi]

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[i] Peavy, Arthur and Miller, White, The 151st Machine Gun Battalion 42d (Rainbow) Division: A Battalion History and Citations of the Rainbow August 13, 1917 to April 26, 1919. J. W. Burke Co., 1919

[ii] Robert G. Burton to Mrs. R. F. Burton. Dec. 31, 1918

[iii] Robert G. Burton to Mrs. R. F. Burton. Dec. 31, 1918

[iv] Robert G. Burton to Mrs. R. F. Burton. Dec. 31, 1918

[v] Robert G. Burton to Mrs. R. F. Burton. Jan. 5, 1919

[vi] Robert G. Burton to Mrs. R. F. Burton. Jan. 5, 1919

November to December 1918: “We will probably have to go into Germany”

by Maj. William Carraway

Historian, Georgia Army National Guard

First Sgt. Lucius G. Hughes,
Company A 151st Machine Gun Battalion 

On November 17, 1918, the 42nd Division was designated to take part in the American Army of Occupation. Three days later, the 42nd Division was on the march. Leaving Brandeville France November 20, the 151st Machine Gun Battalion marched to Belgium and arrived at Septfontaines, Luxemburg Nov. 23, 1918 where they would remain for the next seven days.[i]

Four days after arriving in Luxemburg, Burton wrote to Mrs. Bessie Aycock, wife of his former company commander during the Mexican border mission.

Septfontaines Luxemburg

Nov 27, 1918

My dear Miss Bessie,

I feel very much ashamed for not having written you, but it looks as if mama was the only one I could find time to write while the war was on, but now, is it over or am I merely having a glorious dream? Will I wake up after a while and find myself in the trenches again? I can hardly grasp the fact that the war is over. It is too much of a daze to take all at once.

We were in the lines when the war stopped, and we couldn’t sleep for the quiet. The “Rainbow” was racing the 1st Division for the heights of Sedan. You have probably read in the papers about the last great push in the Argonne Forest. Well, we were in it.

The lucky seven from H Co were in all the engagement that the Americans took part in. I don’t mean to be bragging but that is a fact.

Ed (Sgt. Augustus Williamson) is mess sergeant in this Co. Tom (Hensler) is off at some machine gun school as instructor. Haley Moore and I are line sergeants. (Leonard B.) Chandler is a corporal and (Waymen G.) Guthrie is a 1st Class private. A pretty good record. Six non-comms out of seven.

I thought that Noria (New Mexico) was a big battle but it wasn’t I was pretty scared there, but oh day, some of these over here. Chateau Thierry – wow-.

But God was good and spared us thru.

Ed has been recommended for a D.S.C. Distinguished Service Cross for bravery under fire ad well he deserves it too.

I have about learned to speak French. I can speak enough to understand most anything they say and make them understand most anything I say.

I spoke excellent French last winter. The Frenchmen admitted it, it was so good that they couldn’t even understand it.

Well, it looks as if another Xmas will see me away from home, but I think that the next one won’t.

Please write me if you have the time.

Sincerely,

Gober

Sgt. R.G. Burton[ii]

While still in Luxemburg, Burton wrote home to his father and related some of the exploits that he could not previously share due to the censors.

Septfontaines Luxemburg

Nov 29, 1918

My dear papa,

As the censorship has been lifted so will write to tell you what I have been doing since I left home and the U.S.

We sailed from New York on the 31st of October and came in sight of land on the 12th of Nov. On the night of the 9 of Nov, one of the ships in the convoy ran into us and we had quite a scare.

We landed at Brest France Nov. 17. We then went in to training around Chaumont France at a little village called Viller sur Suize.

We left Viller sur Suize and went into the trenches in the Luneville sector. The exact place was a little place called Ancerviller. The first time in we stayed 10 days. The scaredest 10 days of my life. We stayed in this sector for four months.

From Lorraine we went into the sector Champagnes, before Chalaus. Here, we helped to stop the great German offensive of July 14. We stayed here from July 4 to the 18.

We moved from the Champagne to the Marne Salient. Here we threw the famous Prussian Guards. It was here north of Chateau Thierrey that I was wounded on July 31.

I stayed in the hospital about a month and 1 days. I then went back to old A. Co. and it was like going home again almost.

I came to them just after they had started the drive in the Saint Mihiel Salient. So, I got into that also.

From here we went to the Argonne forest. Thru there was tough going and the weather was bad.

From the Argonne we went into the (final) drive, the one that ended the war. We were in the front line when the armistice was signed.

I haven’t missed a single big fight that the Americans have been in.

Christmas has come again, and I can’t be at home which makes the third, but I think that next years’ Xmas. I think that we will come home by March 1.

I certainly will be glad to come back to the U.S.

Well, here’s hoping for you and all a Merry X Mas. I hope to be with you for the next one.

Write me a letter soon.

Your Devt son,

Gober

Sgt. R.G. Burton

Co. A. 151 M. G. Bn.[iii]

On Dec. 1, 1918, the 151st MGB resumed the march and passed into Germany on December 3. For the next six days marching to Boos, Germany, the Soldiers endured their most difficult marching since their 70-mile march to Rolamport the previous year.[iv]

Eisenach, Germany. The 151st MGB marched through Eisenach on Dec. 4, 918 on the way to occupation duty. Photo by Capt. Dan Nichols 

This is the only road from Bettenfeld to Neichen, Germany. It was along this route that the 151st MGB experienced its hardest marching. Photo by Capt. Dan Nichols

The battalion rested in Boos before resuming their march to the Rhine. They arrived in the towns of Kripp and Bad Bodendorf five days before Christmas and received new clothing and billets among the civilian population.

On Dec. 15, 1918, the 151st MGB’s marching route took it through Waldorf Germany. Photo by Capt. Dan Nichols

Writing home, the day after Christmas, Gober related his experiences spending Christmas on occupation duty.

Kripp Germany

December 26, 1918

My dear mother,

Well, it is the day after Xmas and all is quiet along the Rhine tonight. I spent a very nice Xmas and enjoyed myself lots better than I did last year.

Our mess (the Sgts) had quite a nice diner. We had light wine as an appetizer, soup, chicken, chicken soup, dressing, fried rabbit, potatoes, apple sauce, tapioca pudding, coffee and cigars. I think that considering everything it was quite a nice dinner. We have our mess in a pretty villa overlooking the Rhine. We have plates, cups, saucers, silver knives forks and spoons that the lady that owns the house kindly lent to us. We do not sleep here but down the street in another villa that is just as pretty as the one in which we have our mess.

The man that lives where I am staying is certainly nice to us. Last night he and his wife brought us in an Xmas tree all lighted up with candles and decorated up with the things that go on a Xmas tree. There are no children here, so he must have fixed just for us. There are eight of us that sleep here. In former days he was an artist and his sketches are on the walls. They are good too. Some of his paintings of the Rhine in winter are great. He and his wife can’t seem to do enough for us.

There is a rumor out here that we start for home on Jan 10 and that the Rainbow parades in Washington Feb 22. I don’t hold out any false hopes, however. That is rumor.

To think that we will be over here so very much longer. So little mother be patient and your war-boy will be home before long a very peace-loving citizen of the United States of America.

The Y gave us an Xmas tree yesterday and each of us got some smoking tobacco, chocolate and cookies. They were certainly appreciated. Our Christmas boxes haven’t come in yet, but we are expecting them every day. I had about as soon have a letter from home as the box. When I have received the box, I will write Miss Griffin again and thank her for this candy. I certainly do appreciate her sending it.

I have written all the children a card wishing them the merriest of Xmas and the most prosperous of New Years.

Have you received the souvenirs I sent home? I will have quite a collection. Save the letters and I will explain them all when I get home. There are lots of things interesting that I can’t write but can tell you all about.

I am looking for a long long letter. My love to Ida and Toombs.

Your ever-devoted Son,

Gober[v]

Post card sent home by Robert Gober Burton from Kripp Germany Dec 21, 1918.  Georgia Guard archives

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[i] Peavy, Arthur and Miller, White, The 151st Machine Gun Battalion 42d (Rainbow) Division: A Battalion History and Citations of the Rainbow August 13, 1917 to April 26, 1919. J. W. Burke Co., 1919, 20.

[ii] Robert G. Burton to Mrs. Bessie Aycock. Nov. 27, 1918.

[iii] Robert G. Burton to Mr. R. F. Burton. Nov. 29, 1918

[iv] Peavy, Arthur and Miller, White, The 151st Machine Gun Battalion 42d (Rainbow) Division: A Battalion History and Citations of the Rainbow August 13, 1917 to April 26, 1919. J. W. Burke Co., 1919, 21.

[v] Robert G. Burton to Mrs. R. F. Burton. Dec. 26, 1918