(The Marion National Guard Armory was named in honor of 1SG Carson G. Davidson on September 14, 2002.)
The Kentucky National Guard has a long and proud history in Marion and Crittenden County beginning with the “Marion Rifles” organized in 1860, part of the Kentucky State Guard. Men from this area served with the 48th Kentucky Volunteer Mounted Infantry during the Civil War. Men from Marion and Crittenden County served in the Spanish-American War at the end of the 19th century.
In March 1908, Company K, 3rd Infantry Regiment was located in Marion, through the reorganizations of the 1920's the unit finally became Company I, of the 149th Infantry. During the 1930's the Marion unit was activated for duty numerous times, from the coal strike in Harlan, labor disturbances in Hopkins, Christian, and Union counties to flood duty in Paducah. [NOTE: According to "Kentucky Guardsman Armory Edition January 1956" Marion had a company of the 3rd Kentucky Infantray from 1901 to 1909. The unit was disbanded after having completed almost two years of State duty during the "Night Rider" distrubances. Co C 149th Infantry was organized 9 March 1925.]
1SG Carson DavidsonDuring World War II the Marion unit was called up for active duty. Following training at Camp Shelby, Mississippi the unit was deployed to the South Pacific, where it participated in campaigns in New Guinea, Mindanao, the Philippines, and Luzon. When the company returned home, the unit was disbanded, and not reorganized until 1955. In 1955, Carson G. Davidson was contacted by the Adjutant General about reorganizing the National Guard in Marion.
The Marion unit was reorganized with a commander and eighteen personnel with the designation of Battery C, 640th Field Artillery. During the 1950's and 60's the Marion unit attended summer camp and held annual training at Camp Breckenridge, Kentucky. In the early 1960's, the unit was activated for duty for the Berlin crisis. The unit trained at Fort Knox, Kentucky, but were never sent overseas.
Over the years the Marion unit has been reorganized and redesignated as Companies C and D, 123rd Armor Battalion, and in 1968, they became Company A, 1st Battalion, 123rd Armor, which they remained until June 1995, when they were reorganized as the present, Company B, 2nd Battalion, 123rd Armor. In addition to their long military history in Marion, the local Guard unit has participated in many state active duty missions, protecting the citizens and property of Crittenden and surrounding counties. The unit only recently returned from a overseas deployment in support of the war on terrorism. The men and women of the Kentucky National Guard continue the proud traditions of service to the nation, our state and the community.
Marion Armory The current Marion National Guard Armory was built in 1963 and dedicated April 19,1964. Four other buildings have served as a home for the local Guard unit since its beginnings in Marion. The first building used was a county-owned maintenance garage located near the entrance of the city, exact street location is unknown. The unit was next housed in a concrete block building on Walker Street, which is now used by the city maintenance department. A commercial building located on West Belleville Street in downtown Marion served as the third armory. When the unit was reorganized in 1955, they were housed in a leased building. In August 1963, the unit moved into an existing two-bay gas station located on Highway 60, until moving into the current armory.
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.