Smyrna times., 1941-07-03


ately six months after which they
were again mustered out of the SER
vice and returned to the military
service of the state of Delaware.
The period following the Spanish
American conflict again found the
military leaders of Delaware ac-
lively organizing companies of in
fantry which were to become the
first contingent to actively partici-
pate in World War I. A first Bat
talon was mustered into the Fed
eral Service in the middle of 1916
and was closely followed by the
End Battalion, thus forming the
regiment which was detailed to
Deming, New Mexico on July 80,
1916 for service on the Mexican
Border. This service was of short
duration, the troops being mustered
out of the service again on Febru-
ary 10, 1917 This same Regiment
from Delaware was again drafted
into the Federal Service in August
of 1917 and was closely followed by
newly organized 3rd Battlation,
Hath Infantry, United States
Army which was later scattered
among many of the organizations
of the 29th Division. The services
of this 3rd Battalion with the 29th
Division was terminated in Janu-
ary of 1918 and the men were sent
to Camp Dix, New Jersey where all
the Delaware men were moulded
into a regiment of Pioneer Infan-
try, later designated as the 59th
Pioneer Infantry. This organiza-
tion remained in training at Camp
Dix until August of 1918 from
whence it moved abroad and erved
until July in 1919 in France. These
men were credited with participa-
tion in the Meuse-Arginne and the
Verdun Defensive Sector.
Little time elapsed from the de-
mobilization of the troops following
the World War until the formation
and Federal recognition of the 1st
and End companies, Coast Artillery
Corps, Delaware National Guard.
These two companies formed the
nucleus for the present 198th Coast
Artillery, Antiaircraft, which was
federally recognized as a whole on
october 16, 1924. Reverting to the
year 1921 when the first two COM
panies of Coast Artillery troops
were formed, the units served ac-
lively for two weeks in each of
1921 and 1922 at the summer train
ing camp which was then the State
Rifle Range at New Castle, Della
ware. In 1928 the annual active
duty training was served at Camp
Upton, New York, which was later
to become the staging area of the
198th Coast Artillery in the fall of
1910. From 1924, on the regiment
has steadily progressed to the high
state of training which it has to-
day. This progress has been due
to several reasons, chief of which
were tn euntiring efforts and abil-
tiles of the Commanding Officers
and of the instructors detailed by
the War Department. In 1924 1t.
Colonel Harry w. Stark, was loan
ed to the State by the War Depart
ment to serve as Commanding Of
ficer of the Regiment until the or
ganization could develop its own
officer who would be familiar with
their new duties. Following Colon
ell Stark's tour as Commanding Of
ficer, Colonel John P. LeFevre, who
had been an active officer in the
regiment, was approved as Com
manding Officer and served in that
capacity until 1882 when he was
succeeded by the regiments pres
ent Commanding Officer, Colonel
George j. Schulz.
The regiment gratefully acknowl-
edges the services of the instruc-
tors who were designated by the
War Department to foster the mil
itary training of the troops.
Through the efforts of the instruct
ors and of the officers of the regi-
ment who were ambitious and eag-
er to learn, the 198th Coast Artil-
lery was designated as the winner
of the Coast Artillery Association
Trophy in the year 1884. The out
standing performance of the regi-
ment was again rewarded with the
same distinction in the year 1889.
During the twelve years preceding
1889 the Delaware Militia was pro-
vided with a suitable summer train
ing camp at Bethany Beach, Della
ware through the efforts of the
State authorities.
In August of 1910 the regiment
participated in the First Army
Maneuvers at Governeur, New
York and were brigaded with the
62nd Coast Artillery of oFrt Tot
ten, New York and the 260th Coast
Artillery of Washington, D. c.
Three weeks following the First
Army Maneuvers the regiment was
induted into the Federal Service
with approximately 60 officers and