The 135TH ARTILLERY was a local Ohio National Guard (ONG) unit which traced its lineage to the 1ST OHIO VOLUNTEER LIGHT ARTILLERY (OVLA). After Mexican border duty (1916-17), the 1st Battalion, OVLA was redesignated the 1st Field Artillery (FA) ONG (May 1917) and then the 134th FAONG (Sept. 1917). The 134th FA served in France during WORLD WAR I, returned to the U.S. (1919) and reverted to the designation 1st FAONG (1920). The 1st FAONG was redesignated the 134th FA and further redesignated the 135th FA and activated (Oct. 1940) for maneuvers at Camp Shelby, MS.
Redesignated 1st Battalion, 135th FA, 37th Div., ONG, the unit served in the Pacific Theater of WORLD WAR II in the Solomon Islands and on Luzon in the Philippines (1942-45) until demobilized at Camp Anza, CA. (1945). The unit was federally recognized as the 135th FA Battalion, 37 Div., ONG in the Cleveland area (1946-52). During the KOREAN WAR, the unit was activated (Jan. 1952) for training maneuvers at Ft. Polk, LA, but was never shipped overseas and was deactivated (June 1954). The 135th FA Battalion HQ was located in Cleveland (1954-59) until redesignated the 1st and 2d Howitzer Battalions, 37th Infantry Div., ONG, and withdrawn from Cleveland. The Howitzer Battalions were redesignated 1st Battalion, 135th Artillery, 37th Div., ONG elsewhere in Ohio until being deactivated and completely phased out (15 Feb. 1968). Tracing its lineage back to the CLEVELAND LIGHT ARTILLERY, the 135th Artillery earned 17 battle streamers (1861-1918) and a Presidential Unit Decoration from the Philippine government for the Luzon Campaign during World War II.
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