FIRST -- Unit into WWII, 200th NM Coast Artillery, Roswell NM
N 33° 23.846 W 104° 31.351
13S E 544403 N 3695449
A plaque at the memorial to the 200th NM Coast Artillery proclaims it the "first to fight" in WWI
Waymark Code: WMMF6T
Location: New Mexico, United States
Date Posted: 09/11/2014
Views: 4
A unit that has been part of NM military defense since well before statehood, is still in existence today. In 1941 it was "the first to fight" in WWII.
A memorial to this unit stands proudly on the northwest corner of the Chaves County Courthouse grounds in downtown Roswell NM. A plaque near a 90mm anti-aircraft artillery gun reads as follows:
"In Memoriam
N.M. 200th Coast Artillery AA Regt
8 Dec 1941 - First into Battle W.W. II
15 Aug 1945 - Liberated
from Death Camps
"Let us not forget their faith in
God and Country."
Donated by V.F.W. Post 2575
30 May 1959"
From Wikipedia, more details about this first: (
visit link)
"In August 1941, the 200th was given notice that it had been selected for an overseas assignment of great importance. At about 0300 hours on December 8, 1941, the 200th went on full alert when the night radio crew picked up commercial broadcasts telling of the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
It was inducted into federal service 6 January 1941 at home stations in New Mexico.
The 200th doubled in size to 1800 while at Fort Bliss preparing for overseas deployment. The Arkansas 206th and the 200th competed for position deployment to either the Philippines or Alaska. The 200th, whose personnel virtually all spoke fluent Spanish were chosen to go to the Philippines in the summer of 1941, and arrived there in September 1941. Upon arrival, this anti-aircraft unit was assigned to USAFFE and ordered to provide air defenses for Clark Field, while based at Fort Stotsenburg, although they were not attached to the Philippine Coast Artillery Command. It surrendered 9 April 1942 to the Japanese 14th Army.
The 200th CA was equipped with 12 3-inch guns (an older model with a vertical range of 8,200 m), .50-caliber machine guns, and 60-inch (1.5 m) Sperry searchlights. Elements of this unit were forced by the Japanese to march into captivity in the Bataan Death March."
Visit Instructions:As a suggestion for your visit log, please make every effort to supply a brief-to-detailed note about your experience at the Waymark. If possible also include an image that was taken when you visited the Waymark. Images can be of yourself, a personal Waymarking signature item or just one of general interest that would be of value to others. Sharing your experience helps promote Waymarking and provides a dynamic history of your adventures.