Texas Military Forces Historical Sketch
More Federal Connections
On June 15, 1933, the President of the United States approved an amendment to the National Defense Act which changed the status of the National Guard of the various states to the extent of constituting it a reserve component of the army in peace as well as in war. The effect of the amendment was twofold in its beneficial provisions respecting National Guard forces; namely, making them immediately available in the event of a national emergency, through a "call" or "order" by the President without the necessity of "draft," as was formerly the case.
The National Guard Reserve was replaced by the Inactive National Guard, which was limited to the federally recognized personnel, commissioned and enlisted, who had been transferred to or enlisted in the Inactive National Guard, and who were assigned to war vacancies in active and inactive units. Allotted units whose organization had not been authorized were included in the Inactive National Guard.
It was during 1933 and 1934 that the Adjutant General's department had fabrication and distributed to qualified applicants the Meritorious Service Medal, the Faithful Service Medal and the Texas Service Medal, each with its appropriate service ribbon, as authorized by the 41st and the 43rd legislatures.
The Meritorious Service Medal
The medal for meritorious service was awarded to all persons who served as officers or enlisted men with the Texas National Guard; who were recommended by the Commanding General of the 36th Infantry Division, or the Commanding General of the 56th Cavalry Brigade, for meritorious service rendered at any time, under the provisions of Articles 5778, 5830, and 5831, Texas Revised Civil Statutes then in force, or thereafter to be enacted, authorizing the governor to call forth the National Guard for active military duty for the preservation of peace and order and the enforcement of the laws.
Service rendered on occasions, during domestic disturbances, when the governor of the State of Texas used the military to enforce the civil laws of the State, would each be denoted by a bronze acorn attached to the ribbon from which the medal was suspended.
The Medal For Faithful Service
The medal for Faithful Service was awarded to all persons who served as officers or enlisted men in the Texas National Guard Volunteer Militia: (1) during the Spanish-American War, (2) during the Philippine Campaign, (3) on Mexican Border Duty, (4) during World War I, (5) for five continuous years during any other period.
Each service enumerated above, and each five-year period of additional service, was denoted by a bronze cactus leaf, attached to the ribbon from which the medal was suspended.
The Texas Service Medal
The Texas Service Medal was awarded to all citizens of the State of Texas who served honorably in the forces of the United States including the Army, Navy and Marine Corps during the Spanish-American War, Philippine Campaign, Mexican Punitive Expedition, Mexican Border Service, World War I, or any other service with Armed Forces which the United States should in the future recognize as a military campaign by a distinctive service ribbon.
Each service listed above would be denoted by a silver star attached to the ribbon from which the medal was suspended.
On April 1, 1936, the National Guard Bureau authorized an increase in the Texas National Guard of 44 commissioned officers and 437 enlisted men, making an authorized strength of 680 commissioned officers, 10 warrant officers and 8,206 enlisted men. At the close of the fiscal year 1936, the actual strength was 654 commissioned officers, 10 warrant officers and 8,140 enlisted men, a total of 8,804.
Transfer of the Rangers
The personnel of the Ranger Force was transferred to the Department of Public Safety, August 10, 1935, marking the passage of this force from the direction of the Adjutant General's department under whose guidance it had been since first officially organized.
Texas has many things of which to be proud, but there is none that has brought more honor and respect and admiration to the State than its famous, fighting, law-enforcing Texas Rangers.