World War II U.S. National Guard Photo Album Nicholas J Constantine 136th Field Artillery Ohio 1935 to 1953

Ohio National Guardsman

Photograph

Constantine, Nicholas J. Photo album, 1935 to 1953, a longitudinal visual record of U.S. National Guard service that documents prewar training, federal mobilization, and wartime preparedness within the 136th Field Artillery Battalion of Ohio. Compiled across the years surrounding World War II, the album traces Constantine’s advancement from Sergeant to Second Lieutenant while preserving the daily operational and social structure of artillery units before and during U.S. entry into the war. The material captures the transformation of National Guard units into federally controlled forces at the onset of the European conflict, providing direct evidence of how state-based units were integrated into national military infrastructure in anticipation of global deployment.

Photo album containing approximately 150 black and white photographs, primarily measuring around 3.5 x 2.5 inches with several larger formats up to approximately 10 x 8 inches, compiled in an 11 x 14.5 inch album. Images are largely captioned in manuscript with identifications of place, date, and activity. The photographs depict artillery drills, barracks life, field exercises, and informal scenes of soldiers during periods of non-combat service. Military equipment is extensively documented, including 155mm howitzers, 75mm field artillery guns, anti-aircraft systems, field radios, tanks, and transport vehicles. The majority of the material is centered in Ohio with a significant grouping from Fort Knox, Kentucky, where the 178th Field Artillery of the Tennessee National Guard appears alongside Constantine’s unit. Newspaper clippings inserted throughout identify individual guardsmen, including Constantine, reinforcing the album’s role as both personal record and local documentation of military service.

The album offers sustained insight into the structure and culture of National Guard artillery units during a period when U.S. military policy shifted toward rapid expansion and preparedness following the outbreak of war in Europe in 1939. The federalization of units such as the 136th Field Artillery marked a critical step in the transition from peacetime training to wartime readiness, and this collection documents that process at the level of individual experience, equipment deployment, and unit cohesion. By combining captioned photographs with contemporary press coverage, the album situates local service within broader national mobilization efforts that preceded and followed U.S. entry into World War II. Album unbound with some loose pages and minor edge chipping; photographs remain sharp and well preserved. Overall good condition.

Item #17389

Price: $900.00