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Edward W. Phifer, Jr. in his book, “Burke: The History of a North Carolina County”, stated the North Carolina National Guard unit at Morganton was organized and federally recognized on January 11, 1923. Company B, 105th Engineers commanders included Senator Sam J. Ervin, Jr. The Old Armory Building was built by the Works Progress Administration of North Carolina and completed in 1938 for a total cost of approximately $50,000 which included contributions from Burke County and the City of Morganton of about $9,000. |
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According to an article by Edna Mae Herman published in “The News Herald”, President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered the National Guard members to active military service on September 16, 1940. From that date, Morganton’s Company B slept, ate and trained at The Old Armory Building
until they left for Fort Jackson, South Carolina on September 27, 1940. The unit officers at that time were H.J. (Doggie) Hatcher, Company Commander; James W. Amos, 1st Lt.; and Alex Shuping, 2nd Lt. The officers along with 92 enlisted men marched to the Southern Railway depot with an escort including the Morganton High School band as local citizens lined the streets to watch the parade. The Morganton unit remained at Fort Jackson for about two years before it was sent overseas. In February, 1942 there was a reorganization of the 30th Division and Company B became Company E, 175th Engineers and remained that until the end of World War II. Most of the original Morganton unit served in North Africa, Sicily and Italy. |
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