A Tribute to the Fourth Battalion: South Carolina State Guards

SFC Lee Altman

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After being out of the Army for several years. I still missed the military life style and tried to get in the South Carolina National Guard after returning from Europe in 1998. Unfortunately due to my medical discharge and the fact that I’ve become to old for service hindered me from joining.                                
Then came the 911 terrorist attacks. I sat on the edge of my chair while I watched on TV as the second plane hit the World Trade center. I knew I had to do something; the patriot in me came alive again. I checked all kinds of websites looking for ways to do my part as an American. Finally I can across the South Carolina State Guard.

4th BN Commander LTC Shands

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4th BN Executive Officer 1LT Blackwell

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After reading some history on the State Guard and speaking with some of the unit members I decided to join. I was assigned to 4th Battalion 2nd Brigade as a Staff Sergeant and received the position of acting First Sergeant. After getting to know my soldiers I found out that most of the men and woman joined for the same reasons I did, and that was to give something back to the community and do a service to the State and Country.
Before I go any further, you must understand that these soldiers were all volunteers. They received no pay for their service, no big bonuses and were away from their families and friends sometimes two or three weekends each month.

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Second Brigade of the South Carolina State Guard sent twenty-eight volunteers to work at St Paul’s Chapel in New York City after the 911 attacks. They did everything from relieving soldiers to spend Thanksgiving with their families to relieving firefighter and police when they needed a break. They also passed out pillows and blankets when they were needed and conducted security. This was the first time the South Carolina State Guard was deployed outside of South Carolina since the Civil war. The Second Brigade is the only State Guard unit in the nation awarded a battle streamer for their service at Ground Zero.

LTC Shands at Ground Zero

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Fourth Battalion also assists in many local missions conducting security, along with crowd and traffic control. They also assist the Local and State police department during festival, major events and State and Local emergencies. There training covers everything from crowd control to responding to a natural or Man-made disaster.
When the South Carolina National Guard deployed to Afghanistan the State Guard including 4th battalion stepped up to the plate and assumed the duties of the National Guard until they returned.

2nd Brigade flag being raised in Afghanistan

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map reading class

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Some of the organization Fourth battalion work with is the  State and County Emergency Responder Division receiving Community emergency responder training, and weather alert training. They also worked with Amtrak conducting Passenger Emergency Responder training. Through all of the local and state training and missions, the men of Fourth battalion still prepared for and conducted hurricane evacuation drills. 
Serving with the men and woman of the Mighty Fourth has been an honor and I’ll never forget the Guardsmen with whom I served. They are just as dedicated and honorable as any soldier I served with while on active duty.  

”GO MIGHTY FOURTH”