Benton Armory

A National Guard unit, Company C 2/123rd Armor, was first formed in Benton in October, 1985, and the unit first started meeting in the basement of the courthouse. The courthouse was used for five or six months before the unit moved to 702 Poplar Street, a commercial building that is now used as an exercise center. Eventually, the unit moved to 111 Poplar Street, which is an old Quonset hut that was used for 6-7 years before the current armory was completed. The Quonset hut now serves as a used car dealership. Before the current armory was completed, equipment was stored at Paducah.

The same unit has been in Benton since its inception. The National Guard unit at Benton performs state active duty missions for Marshall County. The unit at Benton is the only one in the state to have an Armored Fist ("A Fist") trainer, a person who specifically trains armored recruits. Some members of Company C were activated for service in Desert Storm, where they participated as armored crewmen, helicopter and tank mechanics, supply sergeants, and military police. During mobilization for Desert Storm, the men from Benton were trained at Fort Knox. The Benton unit has not participated in any other federal active duties.

The Benton Armory was designed to be earthquake-resistant, due to its close proximity to the New Madrid fault line.

The armory at Benton is one of the newest in the state, having been finished in October of 1995, and is a modern, one-story brick facility with a two-story drill hall and maintenance area. The building is reflective of the Postmodern style of architecture.

Photos and information courtesy Kentucky Heritage Council -- Report No. 25" Inventory and Evaluation of National Guard Armories in the State of Kentucky" - 1999 by Kate Carothers.