California Militia and National
Guard Unit Histories
Sunnyvale Home Guard
(62d Company, California Home
Guard)
The following letter was copied from the
December 22, 1917 issue of California Home Guard News
Captain, A. J. Thedieck
First Lieutenant, C. C. Coleman
Second Lieutenant, Edward J. Tait
First Sergeant, Charles W. Parkman
Sergeants
Leo H. Vishoot
Anson S. Palmer
W.J. Coates
Corporals
Fred Thews
Frank White
Porter Kimball
George Compton
Musician, Ellis Meineke
Captain A. J. Thedieck writes
I am very glad to co-operate with you fully in all matters
touching the California Home Guard, and trust that you will be
free to call upon me at any time I can be of service.
The 62d Company has been drilling regularly each Wednesday evening
since the organization was completed. Some of the members have
had military service in the regular army of the United States,
and almost all of the members have had military training to some
extent; that is to say, some time prior to the organization of
our company I had organized in Sunnyvale a company of so-called
provisional volunteers, in pursuance of a plan to organize a
regiment of volunteers from the counties of Santa Clara, San
Mateo, Santa Cruz and Monterey. That was just prior to the enactment
of the Draft Law. The company was drilled each week for a period
of about three months or more, but, of course, when the Draft
Law came into effect the company disintegrated. Most of the members
of the 62d Company as now organized belonged to the volunteer
company and received considerable training.
The 62d Company was organized with a membership of forty. We
have been conducting weekly drills, and weekly officers' and
non-commissioned officers' school. A great deal of interest is
manifest, but I must confess that there is little hope of maintaining
interest, and little hope of keeping the company together unless
the State of California supports the Guards. I mean to say that,
without arms and equipment, including uniforms, official recognition,
and means to enforce respect and obedience, the California Home
Guard is of no use whatsoever, and a detriment rather than a
help to the State of California. I would ask if the State of
California is so impoverished that it cannot adequately and promptly,
and with military precision, equip and accouter military units
of the character of the California Home Guard. These units are
coinposed of men in various walks of life; from bankers, lawyers,
doctors, mechanics and artisans, to the man who sweats for his
bread; and each one is willing, I may say anxious, to serve his
State and nation to his utmost capacity.
I am very hopeful that our most esteemed Governor of our State,
in view of present circumstances especially, will grant such
recognition to, and fill the expectations of, the California
Home Guard.
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