California Under Fire: How State Defense Forces Safeguarded the Homeland and Preserved America’s Military Strength in WWII

We’re are announcing a new origin article to StateDefenseForce.com’s library of original articles. First we would like to introduce a new author to our team, Captain (TX) David J. Walker, an author who brings an immense amount of knowledge and experience to our team. He served in The US Army and in The Texas State Guard. In his civilian career he was a reporter & anchor for over 20 years for various Television stations and networks like NBC and ABC. He also founded and owned two radio stations: KJDL AM & FM, KRBL FM. We are honored and thankful for him joining out team. In his first article we discuss how Axis Forces attempted to disrupt and destroy key facilities in California that supported the war effort but because of The California State Guard those facilities were safeguarded ensuring that US Military production was at its peak in WW2, ultimately winning the war.

About the Article:
On February 23, 1942, a Japanese submarine surfaced off the California coast and shelled the mainland, shattering the illusion that the Pacific Ocean alone could shield the United States from war. In this article, readers will learn how these brief but shocking attacks exposed weaknesses in early West Coast defenses, fueled civilian panic, and ultimately reinforced the necessity of organized, state-controlled military forces. It highlights how the California State Guard and other State Defense Forces stepped forward when federal troops and National Guard units were deployed overseas, protecting bridges, oil fields, rail lines, reservoirs, and critical infrastructure to ensure America’s war production and military mobilization were not disrupted by Axis actions. The piece underscores how these citizen-soldiers formed a vital layer of homeland defense, allowing the United States to project power abroad while remaining secure at home.

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