The 213th Coast Artillery Regiment (Anti Aircraft)

1938 - 1944

The 213th Coast Artillery Regiment (Anti Aircraft) was a unit of the Pennsylvania National Guard, headquartered in Allentown, PA.  The Regiment was inducted into Federal service on 15 September, 1940. After training and operational deployments in the United States, the Regiment deployed to North Africa as a part of Operation TORCH in 1942.  The Regiment fought in the North African Campaign, and subsequently was involved in the invasion of the Italian mainland.  In April, 1944, as a part of a general reorganization of anti aircraft artillery, the Regiment was disbanded and its component elements redesignated.

With the kind assistance of a number of members of the 213th and its successor organizations, I've been studying the 213th as it prepared for mobilization, underwent training and wartime deployments.  This blog will serve as an intermediate stop for my findings enroute to an ultimate history of the 213th and the men who led it.

As a retired Regular Army officer, I never cease to be amazed at the dedication and resourcefulness of the men who led the 213th - and other National Guard units around the United States.  Allowed little training time and even fewer resources, these men persevered in maintaining their units as a force in being, capable of being mobilized in the country's hour of need.

Obviously, the blog as currently constituted is - at best - a placeholder.  Please stay tuned as I learn enough "bloggery" to put my notes into readable form.