Kansas National Guard Hall of Fame

Col. Elmer L. Lentz, Hutchinson, enlisted in Battery A, 1st Kansas Artillery of the Kansas Army National Guard on July 28, 1920 in Hutchinson, where he served in the communications section. He became a second lieutenant in 1922 with Battery A, 130th Field Artillery Battalion and served as the communications officer, executive officer, and commander. In 1935 he became the Battalion Executive Officer for the 130th Field Artillery Battalion. He was activitated for World War II in December of 1940 and went to Camp Robinson, Arkansas.

By November of 1941, he had been appointed the commander of the 127th Field Artillery Battalion and participated in the Louisiana maneuvers during the summer months. Later, he went with the unit to Fort Ord, California.

In early 1942, Lentz was sent to Fort Mason, California to activitate the 736th Military Police Battalion for port security at the Port of Embarkation in San Francisco. He went to the Military Police Officers Advanced Course and returned to command the 736th. The next year, Lentz was sent to Fort Sam Houston, Texas to activitateand command the 508th Military Police Battalion and deployed with them to England in December of 1943. His unit supported the First U.S. Army throughout Europe during the war with emphasis on prisoner of war operations.

The 508th had occupation duty in Munich, Germany in support of the Third U.S. Army until 1946.

Upon his return to the states, he was assigned to the United States Army Reserve. Then in September 1946, he joined the Kansas Army National Guard as executive officer of the 130th Artillery Group, Hitchinson, becoming commander in May with promotion to colonel in 1947.

Lentz was activitated for federal duty for the second time in september of 1950. For a year and a half he was assigned to Headquarters, Fifth U.S. Army as the education officer. Lentz spent a year as the staff personnel officer with Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army in Seoul, Korea.

In 1954, a heart attack sent him to General Hospital in Osaka, Japan. From February to May of 1955, he was the training officer with the First U.S. Army. He retired on May 31, 1955 from the Kansas Army National Guard upon separation from active duty.

As a Guardsman, he participated in several state activations to support flood relief operations and for tornado cleanup operations in May of 1926 in the Hutchinson area.

When not involved in the military, Lentz was active in events in his hometown. He was a lifelong member of the Masonic Lodge, advancing to a 32-degree Mason in the Wichita Consistory. He also became a Noble in the Midian Shrine. He was also active in his church.

Among his awards and decorations are the American Defense World War II Medal, American Campaign World War II Medal, European, African, Middle East World War II Medal with Central Europe and the Rhineland Campaign Stars, World War II Service Medal, Army of Occupation World War II Medal, National Defense (Korea), United Nations Service (Korea), Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Kansas Army National Guard Service Ribbon with 30 year device, and the Honorable Order of St. Barbara, and the Ancient Order of St. Barbara.





			COL ELMER L. LENTZ
	Col. Elmer L. Lentz, Hutchinson, enlisted in Battery A, 1st Kansas Artillery of the Kansas Army National Guard on July 28, 1920 in Hutchinson, where he served in the communications section. He became a second lieutenant in 1922 with Battery A, 130th Field Artillery Battalion and served as the communications officer, executive officer, and commander. In 1935 he became the Battalion Executive Officer for the 130th Field Artillery Battalion. He was activitated for World War II in December of 1940 and went to Camp Robinson, Arkansas. By November of 1941, he had been appointed the commander of the 127th Field Artillery Battalion and participated in the Louisiana maneuvers during the summer months. Later, he went with the unit to Fort Ord, California. In early 1942, Lentz was sent to Fort Mason, California to activitate the 736th Military Police Battalion for port security at the Port of Embarkation in San Francisco. He went to the Military Police Officers Advanced Course and returned to command the 736th. The next year, Lentz was sent to Fort Sam Houston, Texas to activitateand command the 508th Military Police Battalion and deployed with them to England in December of 1943. His unit supported the First U.S. Army throughout Europe during the war with emphasis on prisoner of war operations. The 508th had occupation duty in Munich, Germany in support of the Third U.S. Army until 1946. Upon his return to the states, he was assigned to the United States Army Reserve. Then in September 1946, he joined the Kansas Army National Guard as executive officer of the 130th Artillery Group, Hitchinson, becoming commander in May with promotion to colonel in 1947. Lentz was activitated for federal duty for the second time in september of 1950. For a year and a half he was assigned to Headquarters, Fifth U.S. Army as the education officer. Lentz spent a year as the staff personnel officer with Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army in Seoul, Korea. In 1954, a heart attack sent him to General Hospital in Osaka, Japan. From February to May of 1955, he was the training officer with the First U.S. Army. He retired on May 31, 1955 from the Kansas Army National Guard upon separation from active duty. As a Guardsman, he participated in several state activations to support flood relief operations and for tornado cleanup operations in May of 1926 in the Hutchinson area. When not involved in the military, Lentz was active in events in his hometown. He was a lifelong member of the Masonic Lodge, advancing to a 32-degree Mason in the Wichita Consistory. He also became a Noble in the Midian Shrine. He was also active in his church. Among his awards and decorations are the American Defense World War II Medal, American Campaign World War II Medal, European, African, Middle East World War II Medal with Central Europe and the Rhineland Campaign Stars, World War II Service Medal, Army of Occupation World War II Medal, National Defense (Korea), United Nations Service (Korea), Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Kansas Army National Guard Service Ribbon with 30 year device, and the Honorable Order of St. Barbara, and the Ancient Order of St. Barbara.