CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Monday marked 285 years since the establishment of what was the first militia company for what is now West Virginia, the modern-day West Virginia Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 201st Field Artillery Regiment.
It is considered the oldest active National Guard unit and the longest continuously serving unit in the entire U.S. Army, according to Guard information.
“Even before West Virginia was a state, loyal militiamen gathered together to serve a cause greater than themselves,” said Maj. Gen. James Hoyer, adjutant general for the West Virginia National Guard, in a statement.
On Feb. 17, 1735 in Berkeley County, Morgan Morgan was commissioned to the rank of captain to lead the First Virginia Regiment.
It was a new company of riflemen that would go on to serve in the American Continental Army.
In 1889, the unit became part of the newly-created West Virginia National Guard’s First Infantry covering the northern part of the state.
Since then, the regiment has served in every U.S. conflict including current deployments to the Middle East in support of Operation Spartan Shield.