Over 372 years ago a citizen of a new country picked up what he had and took a stand against tyranny and oppression, defending those who could not defend themselves. These citizens were ordinary people who became something more than extraordinary; they became the NATIONAL GUARD.
Nearly four centuries later, these Citizen-Soldiers have protected you from all major wars and disasters that have faced this great nation. Everyday these warriors are training and preparing for when they are called upon again to help their communities, cities, states and country. Though you may pass them by on the street, talk to them in a store, or sit next to them in a college class, you may never know they are a Citizen-Soldier. They ask for nothing and protect everything.
With the help of Nissan North America and 23 other companies we have built our story to share with you…….
The Black Ops 350z was built to show that even though a National Guard Soldier may not stand out in the crowd they have been trained and are standing fast to protect their state and country.
On the hood you will find the silhouette of a Soldier inlayed in carbon fiber as a true Citizen-Soldier is inlayed in the fabric of their community.
On the driver side of the 350z you will find 6 major wars that Guard soldiers have served in:
World War 1 The U.S. entered World War I in April 1917, and by that summer the entire National Guard, more than 300,000 men, were on active duty. The troops who sailed to France to fight with the British and French included three regiments of African-American Guardsmen.
World War 2The most famous Guard division of the Second World War was the 29th, the "Blue and Grey" Division from Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. Its 116th Infantry had a distinguished history- it was Stonewall Jackson's original Civil War command. On June 6, 1944, the 116th, followed later in the day by Maryland's 115th Infantry, again found themselves in horrific fighting as the assault regiment on D-Day's Omaha Beach.
Korean War This war brought more than 183,000 National Guard members to active duty. National Guard units included eight infantry divisions and three regimental combat teams. The Guard called up included 66 of its 92 flying squadrons along with numerous support organizations. Two infantry divisions, the 40th of California and the 45th of Oklahoma, and two air wings, the 116th and the 136th, fought in Korea.
Vietnam 22,000 National Guard Soldiers were ordered to active duty following the seizure of the U.S.S. Pueblo by the North Koreans. The communists' Tet Offensive in South Vietnam in February 1968 led to another limited mobilization of National Guard units. Many other Guardsmen volunteered to be in the war zone.
Desert Storm Guard Soldiers and Airmen reacted, initially as volunteers, and later as members of mobilized units. More than 62,000 National Guard Soldiers and 12,000 Air Guard Airmen were mobilized. The first major mobilization of the all-volunteer era, the largest since the Korean War, was a huge success.
War on Terror A significant portion of the force deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq continues to come from the National Guard. At one point in 2005, half of the combat brigades in Iraq were National Guard – the highest percentage of commitment as part of the overall Army effort since the first years of World War II.
On the Passenger side of the 350z you will find 6 of the major disasters that Guardsmen have supplied aid to their communities, states and country:
Earthquakes In 1906 San Francisco, Santa Rosa and other Bay cities, suffered from the terrible catastrophe of earthquake, fire and consequent depredations of crooks, thieves and looters. Within relatively a few hours, a vast metropolis had been reduced to an area of indescribable devastation and destruction. Earthquake, and then fire, destroyed a city. 300,000 people were rendered homeless before the setting of another day (April 18, 1906). Immediately after the disaster occurred, National Guardsmen of the 1st Infantry Regiment and one battalion of Coast Artillery (now 250th Coast Artillery Regiment, C. N. G.) reported, of their own free will, to their armories, realizing that they would be needed to assist in preserving order and rendering aid to the homeless.
Floods As flood waters swept through southeastern Minnesota, National Guard Soldiers were awakened by a 3 a.m. call to mobilize and support flood relief efforts. The Minnesota National Guard’s 34th Military Police Company was sent to the area in and around Winona, Minnesota, the 1st Battalion, 151st Field Artillery was sent to Caledonia and the 34th Combat Aviation Brigade was tasked with the mission of being the eye-in-the-sky to survey the heavily damaged counties and search for stranded citizens.
Tornados For three terrifying hours on March 18, 1925, the worst tornado in American history ripped a mile-wide, 216-mile-long scar into the states of Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana, but even before the storm clouds could clear, National Guard Units from Missouri, Illinois and Indiana were mobilized in relief to stranded people, damaged housing, power outages and to protect citizen from rising water and looting vandals.
Blizzards On Thursday, January 26, 1978 more than 5,000 members of the Ohio National Guard were called to duty and pressed into long hours of work with heavy equipment clearing roads, assisting electric utility crews, and transporting doctors and nurses to hospitals. Forty-five National Guard helicopters flew 2,700 missions across Ohio rescuing thousands of stranded persons, many in dire medical emergencies.
Hurricanes When Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, it triggered the largest and fastest disaster response in the National Guard's 372-year history. Within four hours of the storm, troops were in the water, on the streets and in the air saving lives. The National Guard would be lauded in congressional hearings as the most organized, well-prepared agency responding to the disaster. In an operation resembling the Berlin Airlift, 58,000 National Guard Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen poured into the stricken area—more than three times the number of Guard members deployed to any previous natural disaster. All this occurred while 79,000 Guard Soldiers were in federal service for the War on Terror.
Fires July 11, 2008 California's wildfire season became so severe so swiftly that for the first time in more than 30 years, National Guard troops have been deployed to fight the flames on the ground. Many arrived at the fire line just after returning from combat zones. The Guard stepped in as crews across the state struggled to contain hundreds of lightning-sparked fires that have burned more than 1,000 square miles and destroyed nearly 100 homes.
Now you have a brief understanding of what the everyday life of Guardsmen involves and the duties they hold every time they step into their uniform. To learn more about the National Guard, ask one of the Soldiers in uniform or visit www.NationalGuard.com
