A rich history of the armed forces in Abbotsford

On March 18, 1920, four years after the National Defense Act of 1916, Company B, 1st Bn, Support Train was activated in the village of Abbotsford. The calvary unit, under the command of Lt. Oakley L. Parkhill, recruited its personnel from a community of just over 700. It is believed that at this time, Abbotsford was the smallest community in the nation to support a full time NG unit. Locker space and the property room were located in the old post office building on Main Street and regular drills were held in the Opera House. The first sergeant of the original unit was W.O. Colby. The redesignation of the Co. B as Wagon Co. 113th, 32nd Infantry Division occurred in May 1921 at which time Lt. Harry Ketcham was promoted to captain. At this time, Abbotsford still had less than 750 people and had a strength of almost 100 men recruited from the village and the surrounding rural areas of Clark, Taylor and Marathon Counties.

In 1922, the community promoted construction of a new armory building with a 73 x 90 foot drill floor, locker room and office space for a cost of approximately $45,000.

The armory still stands today and has served as a place where community events were held in the past. On Jan. 1, 1927, Wagon Co. 113, 32nd Division Train was redesignated as Hg. Battery 121st Field Artillery Regiment and contained 65 enlisted men. During the summer of 1947, news spread that a new unit was to come to Abbotsford. Service Battery 173rd Field Artillery Battalion Wis. ARNG began to take form. On Aug. 18, the first men, many veterans of the original unit were enlisted in the embryo organization.

By Oct. 6 enough men had been recruited from the village, still with a population of less than 1,000 people, to permit federal recognition. Lt. Howard Bobbe, CO, presented the unit to the community and surrounding communities of Colby, Dorchester, Unity and adjacent areas.

During the summer of 1961, the crisis in Berlin, Germany, increased to greater proportions with the erection of a wall by the Russians and increased threat of war. President Kennedy placed four NG units on alert, including the 32nd of Wis. and on Sept. 9, officially placed the 32nd on active duty.

The division was relieved from active duty and returned to state control on Aug. 10, 1962. The division was reorganized multiple times over the next decade.

The history of military service in Abbotsford has led to support for veteran organizations over the years including the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion posts.