The National Guard has been in Hopkinsville since before World War I, when they were designated Company D of the old Third Kentucky Regiment. This unit was mustered out after the war, and shortly after, a group of citizens decided to organize a new cavalry troop. On February 10, 1922, the Troop was Federally recognized and mustered in as Troop 'C', Fifty-fourth Machine Gun Squadron. In 1930, the troop was reorganized as a Machine Gun troop.
The unit at Hopkinsville served in World War II, and was then mustered out after the war. The designation of the unit that served in World War II is unknown. In May 1946, an Antitank Company of the 149th Infantry was organized. In 1947, a Medium Tank Battalion/149th Infantry, and Company B/ 243rd Tank Battalion were stationed in Hopkinsville. Tank companies remained in Hopkinsville until the late 1960s, when the company was reorganized as Company B, 1st battalion/123rd Armor in 1967. Company B remained in Hopkinsville in the 1970s and 80s, and was reorganized again on May 1, 1995, as Detachment 2, Scouts and Mortars of the 2nd battalion/123rd Armor; this is the current occupant of the armory.
Prior to the armory's completion in 1963, the National Guard leased a commercial building on 5th Street, as well as an adjacent house. A 1957 picture shows the back of the commercial building and the house during a flood. The dates that these buildings were used is unknown. The current armory was completed in 1963 at a cost of $236,000, and was dedicated on October 27. The building was the first one in Kentucky to be jointly occupied by units of both the U.S. Army Reserve and the Kentucky National Guard. Currently, the 3rd Battalion/399th Regiment (U.S. Army Reserve) occupies the west end of the armory, while the National Guard occupies the east end. Offices, storage, and classroom space in the armory are all shared by the National Guard and the Army Reserve.
The armory/drill hall is used quite often for community activities, including Postal Service exams, Board of Education and union meetings, company parties and dinners, and high school wrestling matches, along with the high school band's winter color guard. South Central Bell distributes phone books from the building, churches rent it for revivals, tool companies rent the building for shows, and two circuses perform at the armory twice a year.
The entire National Guard unit at Hopkinsville has not been called up for active duty overseas since World War II, but select people from the unit did participate in Desert Storm. Personnel needed for transportation and water purification were some of those that participated.
Hopkinsville Armory The current, red brick, one-story armory was built in 1962, and was the first armory constructed in Hopkinsville. The armory was constructed for both the National Guard and the Army Reserve. This is the only armory in the state constructed for both organizations. Today both the Reserve and the National Guard still share the building. The armory sits on several acres in a residential area of Hopkinsville.
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.