Hazard Armory

The National Guard at Hazard first organized in the Perry County courthouse. The first drill was held in August of 1978. The unit was federally recognized on September 1, 1978, and began as a detachment of the Jackson National Guard unit of the 207th Engineers. The National Guard met at the courthouse a couple of times before moving to a small room at the Hazard Memorial Gym. The gym was originally built for the Hazard community by a group of coal miners, and is now owned by the Perry County school system.

In October of 1985 the unit became a full-fledged company, and in 1986 the current armory was dedicated. Since 1985, the unit has been Company D of the 206th Engineers. The National Guard in Hazard recruits from Perry, Leslie, Knott, and Letcher counties. The unit is currently at full strength, and includes the detachment at Prestonsburg. The unit has never been involved in active duty overseas, but does have some men who served in the regular Army during Desert Storm. Before the current armory was completed, any military vehicles and equipment were stored at the Jackson armory.

A DES office, located in the armory, works closely with the Emergency Operation Center. During emergencies, the National Guard and DES work out of the 911 Center. The local DES organized the 1998 snowstorm clean-up. During the snowstorm, the National Guard cut down trees and cleared roads. In addition to snowstorms, the National Guard unit at Hazard has been called for state active duty during floods, forest fires, and other duties. In 1979, the unit was guarding overpasses from the Ohio to the Tennessee border during a truckers strike. They have been called to clear trees in Mt. Sterling, Williamsburg, and Barbourville. During the flood of 1997, the unit was activated for cleanup in Shelbyville. The Guard received the call to help in Shelbyville on a Friday evening, by 7:00 am on Saturday, 75 men were ready to go, and by 4:00 pm on Saturday the unit was in Shelbyville. The unit has been activated for flood duty three times.

In the Hazard community, as well as surrounding areas, the Guard has participated in parades and festivals such as the Black Gold festival, the Knott County Gingerbread festival, the Leslie County Mary Breckinridge festival, and the Letcher County Mountain Heritage festival. The Family Support Group at the armory was at every parade last year (1997), and they have won trophies for participation in festivals and parades. The unit at Hazard has received several plaques and awards for rifle competitions. In addition, the unit has had exchanges with the British National Guard.

The armory is a focal point for the community, as many rentals and special events take place in the drill hall. Four Guard members have been married at the armory.

The armory was built for a detachment, although there is currently an entire company stationed there. Detachment 1 of the 207th Engineers was the original unit stationed at Hazard. The armory sits on about ten and-a-half acres of reclaimed coal mine land which was donated by Roy Campbell, a coal operator in Hazard. The current armory is the third location of the National Guard in Hazard. Prior to the armory, the Guard was housed in the courthouse, and in Hazard Memorial Gym.

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.