Minnesota National Guard History

12/20/2025

Another mystery photo. This is 257 MP Co. wearing BDUs on a stage. Where? When? Recognize anyone?
The photo is part of the 257 MP Collection at the Minnesota Military and Veterans Museum.
84th Troop Command

10/17/2024

Does anyone remember these soldiers?

One of the many duties of a museum archivist is identifying mystery photos. You can help! Anyone remember these soldiers? This is HHC, 1st Brigade, 47th Infantry Division from Stillwater at Camp Ripley for Annual Training, date unknown.
Thanks,
Dan
Stillwater Military History, 1st Brigade, 34th Infantry Division,

10/03/2024

Shout out to the 125th FA!

107 years ago today, the 1st Battalion, 125th Field Artillery, 34th Red Bull Infantry Division, Minnesota National Guard, was formed from the 3rd Infantry Regiment, which itself was formed in 1887.
Here, self-propelled Howitzers of the 125th prepare to fire at Camp Ripley.
Photo by Thomas Porter, 135th Public Affairs Detachment, ca. 1990s.

03/09/2024

Our museum could use your help collecting NOREX materials.

Ever participate in NOREX? We are seeking Norwegian Exchange documents, photos, patches, Norwegian uniforms, interviews, etc. Please help us represent!
NOREX - Norwegian Reciprocal Troop Exchange, NOREX, Minnesota National Guard, Camp Ripley, Norwegian Home Guard, Home Guard (Norway),

03/26/2023

Hey Red Bulls, please help us identify these 1st Brigade, 34th Infantry Division soldiers. During the "long deployment" to Iraq. Near the main gate of Tallil Airbase/Camp Adder, Iraq, sometime between Feb and June 2007.
1. MAJ Paul Hosfield
2. MAJ Carl Fassbender
3. CPT Steve Jacobs
4. MSG Linnea Velsvaag
5. MAJ Mark Hoyne
6. SFC Scott McDonald
7. CPT Gary Windels
8. CW4 Peter Panos
9. MAJ Jacob Kulzer
10. MSG John Schwartz
11. CPT ___ Brunner
12. SFC Joseph Schwinghammer
13. MAJ Jon Ostecamp
14. MAJ Luke Charpentier
15. LTC Paul Zimmerman
16. LTC Robert Larson
17. COL Eric Kerska
18. MSG Dan Lancaster
19. COL David Elicerio
20. LTC Jon Jensen
21. MAJ Randall Kastberg
22. MAJ Mark Lappegaard
23. ___
24. MAJ Mike Lins
25. 1LT/CPT Matt Majeski
26. COL Michael Rath
27. MAJ Dave Munson
28. CDR Scott A. Davis
29. MAJ Bill Hamann
30. MAJ Bryon Studer
31. SGM Douglas Julin, BDE SGM
32. MAJ Mike Homer
33. MAJ Lance Swanke
34. CW3 ___ Clegg
35. SGT Brandon Gerold
36. LTC ___ Goldberg
37. SFC Paul Opdahl
38. Chap. (MAJ) Randy Wendt
39. SSG Thomas Murray Jr.
40. SSG Bob Roeser
41. CPT Kevin Schooler
42. CPT Rick Jensen
43. SGM Scott Mills
44. SGM David Larson
45. CPT Joshua Simer
46. SFC James Rolshouse
1. LT Ben Nichols
47. MAJ Jerry Gunn
48. LTC Larry Herke

02/23/2023

Anyone recognize these buildings? Could this be on the Minnesota State Fair Grounds or University of Minnesota Twin Cities?
Photo is part of a panoramic photo of Company B, 1st Battalion, Minnesota National Guard. Ca. 1919? The photo studio was from St Paul.

02/21/2023

Apparently, it was our Minnesota pilots that shot down the UFO.

The object was very different from the Chinese spy balloon. It was much smaller, and not maneuverable.

08/22/2022

Recognize anyone?

Put a name to the face:
Back row from left to right 1- Tim Howe, 2 - Charlie Burdette, 3 - Jen Karbowski, 4 - Dave Arone, 5 - , 6 - Tom Lay , 7 - , 8 - Gary Strauss
Front row from left to right 1 - Ken Dee, 2 - Randdy Vaske, 3 - Regeno, 4 - Chris Tuckner

06/27/2022

Please Share Your Post-9/11 Story!
This retrospective study of the Minnesota experience since 9/11 will chronicle individual service members and state units deployed overseas as well as a range of home-front stories. Minnesotans were in the towers, planes and Pentagon on September 11, among the first boots on the ground in Afghanistan, and some of the very last to leave in 2021.
Minnesotans also served in long and repeated deployments to Iraq and across the greater Middle East. Closer to home, communities came together in new ways to support the families of those deployed and welcomed immigrants as it has done before. Together, these stories start to stitch together a shared state history in America’s longest war.
The resulting retrospective will be published as a PDF in the summer of 2023 and be made available to the public without charge. Published copies will be provided to schools and libraries.
Share your stories and photos at MnMilitaryMuseum.org or email [email protected] to schedule a brief Zoom call to record your story as an informal Q&A.
This publication is a joint effort of the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum, and MDVA’s 9/11 & Global War on Terrorism Remembrance Task Force. It is inspired by much earlier state efforts to draft definitive histories in the aftermath of previous conflicts (Civil War, Great War, etc) and is undertaken for the benefit of future generations.

04/29/2022

Quite a display at the old Mpls Armory!

A bit of 34th Infantry Division history surfaced in the Archive.
34ID Reunion, ca. 1964, Minneapolis.