The history of conflicts involving the Texas Military spans over two centuries, from 1823 to present, under the command authority (the ultimate source of lawful military orders) of four governments including the Texas governments (3), American government, Mexican government, and Confederate government.
Since 1823, Texas forces have undergone many re-designations and reorganizations. For example, the Texas Rangers were a branch of the Texas Military Forces from 1823 to 1935 providing cavalry, special operations, and military police capabilities. Administrative control (ADCON) of the Texas Rangers was transferred from the Texas Military Department to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) in 1935 where they now perform duties similar to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for Texas as a State Bureau of Investigation (SBI). The following list of conflicts reflects duty at the time as a military unit.
Conflicts in this list may apply to several categories, but they've been generally organized by the preponderance of the mission. For example, the Laredo Smallpox Riot was a civil disorder and emergency management conflict, and Operation Border Star is both a border control and counter-drug conflict.
List Key Casualty key: KIA (killed in action), WIA (wounded in action), MIA (missing in action), DIA (deserted in action), POW (prisoner of war)
Outcome key:
Conventional Warfare / Low-intensity Conflict: Strategic, Tactical, Moral, Pyrrhic victory, or loss. Military Operations Other Than War: accomplished or failure.
Texas governments This list includes conflicts under the command authority of the Colony of Texas, Republic of Texas, and State of Texas.
Legal Authority As a colony in Mexico from 1823 to 1835, the Texas Military was legally empowered by Agustín de Iturbide and the Coahuila y Tejas legislature to "organize the colonists into a body of militia to preserve tranquility." Operations were conducted under command of Stephen F. Austin.
As a sovereign republic from 1835 to 1845, the Texas Military was legally empowered by Article 1 of the Consultation and Article 2, Section 6 of Constitution of the Republic of Texas "to execute the law, to suppress insurrections, and repel invasion." Operations were conducted under command of the War Department and Adjutant General Department.
As a state of America from 1845–present, the Texas Military is legally empowered by Title 32 of the United States Code and Article 4, Section 7 of the Constitution of the State of Texas to "execute the laws of the state, to suppress insurrections, and to repel invasions". Operations are conducted under command of the Adjutant General Department and Texas Military Department.
Conflicts
Border control
Note: These conflicts are commanded by the Texas government. For related conflicts commanded by the American government, see Border control. YearConflictTexas Military Unit(s)CommanderCasualtiesOutcomeReference2005-2006Operation LinebackerTexas State Guard
Texas Air National Guard
Texas Army National GuardUnknown
Unknown
Unknown0 0
0AccomplishedOctober 2006Operation Rio GrandeTexas State Guard
Texas Air National Guard
Texas Army National GuardUnknown
Unknown
Unknown0 0
0AccomplishedJanuary–July 2007Operation WranglerTexas State Guard
Texas Air National Guard
Texas Army National GuardUnknown
Unknown
Unknown0 0
0Accomplished2007–PresentOperation Border StarTexas State Guard
Texas Air National Guard
Texas Army National GuardUnknown
Unknown
UnknownOngoingOngoing2010-2012Operation River WatchTexas Air National Guard Texas Army National GuardUnknown Unknown0 0Accomplished2011–PresentOperation DrawbridgeTexas State Guard
Texas Air National Guard
Texas Army National GuardUnknown
Unknown
UnknownOngoingOngoing2012–PresentOperation River Watch IITexas Air National GuardUnknownOngoingOngoingOctober 2014Operation Strong SafetyTexas Air National Guard Texas Army National GuardUnknown Unknown0 0AccomplishedNovember 2014- September 2016Operation Strong Safety IITexas Air National Guard Texas Army National GuardUnknown UnknownAccomplished2021—PresentOperation Lone StarTexas State Guard Texas Air National Guard
Texas Army National GuardUnknown Unknown
Unknown4 Suicide 1 KIAOngoing
Civil disorder / Insurrection
YearConflictTexas Military Unit(s)CommanderCasualtiesOutcomeReference1842Texas Archive WarFrontier Battalion, Texas RangersThomas I. Smith / Eli Chandler0Failure1844Regulator–Moderator WarTexas MilitiaTravis G. Broocks / Alexander HortonUnknownAccomplished1857Cart WarTexas MilitiaUnknown0Accomplished1886Laredo Election RiotFrontier Battalion, Texas Rangers Texas MilitiaUnknown
UnknownUnknown UnknownAccomplished1873Coke-Davis ControversyTravis Rifles, Texas MilitiaUnknown0Accomplished1877-1878San Elizario Salt WarFrontier Battalion, Texas RangersJohn B. Tays 0Accomplished1883-1888Fence Cutting WarFrontier Battalion, Texas RangersUnknown0Accomplished1888Rio Grande City RiotFrontier Battalion, Texas Rangers San Antonio Rifles, Texas Militia
Belknap Rifles, Texas Militia
Houston Light Guards, Texas MilitiaUnknown
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown0 0
0
0Accomplished1891-1893Garza RevolutionFrontier Battalion, Texas RangersUnknownUnknownAccomplished1893Battle of Tres JacalesCompany D, Frontier Battalion, Texas RangersFrank Jones1 KIAFailure1899Laredo Smallpox RiotFrontier Battalion, Texas RangersJohn H. Rogers1 WIAAccomplished1919Longview Race RiotTexas Rangers Texas Army National GuardRobert H. McDill / T.E. Barton / H.W. Peck0 0Accomplished1930Sherman RiotTexas Rangers Texas Army National GuardUnknown
Unknown0 0Accomplished1931Red River Bridge WarTexas Rangers Texas Air National Guard
Texas Army National GuardUnknown Unknown
Unknown0 0
0Inconclusive1931East Texas Oilfield RiotTexas Rangers Texas Army National Guard
Texas State GuardUnknown
Unknown
Unknown0 0
0Accomplished1943Beaumont RiotEighteenth Battalion, Texas State GuardFred C. Stone0Accomplished2020George Floyd protestsTexas State Guard Texas Air National Guard
Texas Army National GuardUnknown Unknown
Unknown0Accomplished
Counterdrug
Note: These conflicts are commanded by the Texas government. For related conflicts commanded by the American government, see War on Drugs. YearConflictTexas Military Unit(s)CommanderCasualtiesOutcomeReference1920-1933Los TequilerosTexas RangersUnknownUnknownVictory1978–PresentDSCA air interdictionTexas Air National GuardUnknownOngoingOngoing1989–PresentJoint Counterdrug Task ForceDomestic Operations CommandMiguel TorresOngoingOngoingOperation LinebackerTexas State Guard
Texas Air National Guard
Texas Army National GuardUnknown
Unknown
Unknown0 0
0VictoryOperation Rio GrandeTexas State Guard
Texas Air National Guard
Texas Army National GuardUnknown
Unknown
Unknown0 0
0Victory2006–PresentMexican drug warTexas Air National Guard
Texas Army National GuardUnknown
UnknownOngoingOngoing2007Operation WranglerTexas State Guard
Texas Air National Guard
Texas Army National GuardUnknown
Unknown
Unknown0 0
0Victory2008–PresentOperation Border StarTexas State Guard
Texas Air National Guard
Texas Army National GuardUnknown
Unknown
UnknownOngoingOngoing2010-2012Operation River WatchTexas Air National Guard Texas Army National GuardUnknown Unknown0 0Victory2011–PresentOperation DrawbridgeTexas State Guard
Texas Air National Guard
Texas Army National GuardUnknown
Unknown
UnknownOngoingOngoing2011–PresentOperation CrackdownDomestic Operations CommandUnknownOngoingOngoing2012–PresentOperation River Watch IITexas Air National GuardUnknownOngoingOngoing2014Operation Strong SafetyTexas Air National Guard Texas Army National Guard
Texas State GuardUnknown Unknown0 0Victory
Covert YearConflictTexas Military Unit(s)CommanderCasualtiesOutcomeReference1839Battle of AlcantraTexas MilitiaSamuel W. Jordan7 KIAVictory1840Battle of SaltilloTexas MilitiaSamuel W. JordanUnknownLoss1843Snively ExpeditionBattalion of Invincibles, Texas MilitiaJacob SnivelyUnknownInconclusive
Emergency management
YearConflictTypeTexas Military Unit(s)CommanderCasualtiesOutcomeReference1837Racer's HurricaneNatural disasterTexas MilitiaUnknownUnknownAccomplished1875Hurricane Indianola Natural disasterTexas MilitiaUnknownUnknownAccomplished1899Laredo Smallpox RiotEpidemicFrontier Battalion, Texas RangersJohn H. Rogers1 WIAAccomplished1900Great StormNatural disasterTexas MilitiaUnknownUnknownAccomplished1947Texas City DisasterAnthropogenic disasterTexas State GuardUnknown0Accomplished1954Hurricane AliceNatural disasterTexas Army National GuardUnknownUnknownAccomplished1957Hurricane AudreyNatural disasterTexas State Guard
Texas Army National GuardUnknown UnknownUnknown UnknownAccomplished1961Hurricane CarlaNatural disasterTexas State Guard
Texas Army National GuardUnknown UnknownUnknown UnknownAccomplished1967Hurricane BeulahNatural disasterTexas State Guard
Texas Army National GuardUnknown UnknownUnknown UnknownAccomplished1970Hurricane CeliaNatural disasterTexas State Guard
Texas Army National GuardUnknown UnknownUnknown UnknownAccomplished1980Hurricane AllenNatural disasterTexas State Guard
Texas Army National GuardUnknown UnknownUnknown UnknownAccomplished1983Hurricane AliciaNatural disasterTexas State Guard
Texas Army National GuardUnknown UnknownUnknown UnknownAccomplished1988Hurricane GilbertNatural disasterTexas State Guard
Texas Army National GuardUnknown UnknownUnknown UnknownAccomplished2003Space Shuttle Columbia disasterSearch and rescueTexas State GuardUnknown0Accomplished2005Hurricane KatrinaNatural disasterTexas State Guard 254th Combat Communications GroupUnknown Unknown0 0Accomplished2005Hurricane RitaNatural disasterTexas State Guard 254th Combat Communications GroupUnknown Unknown0 0Accomplished2007Eagle Pass TornadoNatural disasterTexas State GuardUnknown0Accomplished2007Hurricane DeanNatural disasterTexas State GuardUnknown0Accomplished2007Hurricane HumbertoNatural disasterTexas State GuardUnknown0Accomplished2007Marble Falls FloodNatural disasterTexas State GuardUnknown0Accomplished2008Hurricane IkeNatural disasterTexas State Guard 254th Combat Communications GroupUnknown Unknown0 0Accomplished2008Hurricane GustavNatural disasterTexas State Guard 254th Combat Communications GroupUnknown Unknown0 0Accomplished2008Tropical Storm EdouardNatural disasterTexas State GuardUnknown0Accomplished2008Hurricane DollyNatural disasterTexas State GuardUnknown0Accomplished2010Hurricane AlexNatural disasterTexas State GuardUnknown0Accomplished2011Tropical Storm LeeNatural disasterTexas State Guard
Texas Army National GuardUnknown
Unknown0Accomplished2011Bastrop County Complex FireNatural disasterTexas State GuardUnknown0Accomplished2013West Fertilizer Company explosionAnthropogenic disaster Texas State GuardUnknown0Accomplished2017Hurricane HarveyNatural disasterTexas State Guard Texas Army National GuardUnknown
Unknown0Accomplished2019Tropical Storm ImeldaNatural disasterTexas State GuardUnknown0Accomplished2020-2021COVID-19Pandemic72nd INF Brigade Combat Team 56th INF Brigade Combat Team
176th Engineer Brigade
Texas State GuardUnknown Unknown
Unknown
Unknown0Accomplished2021Winter Storm UriNatural Disaster136th Airlift WingTexas State GuardTexas Army National GuardOngoing0Accomplished
Expedition YearConflictTexas Military Unit(s)CommanderCasualtiesOutcomeReference1837Yucatan CampaignBrutus, Texian NavyJames D. BoylanUnknownFailure1841-1842Texan Santa Fe ExpeditionTexas MilitiaHugh McCleod / George T. Howard320 POWFailure1842Somervell ExpeditionTexas MilitiaAlexander SomervellUnknownInconclusive1842Mier Expedition / Battle of MierTexas MilitiaWilliam S. Fisher30 KIA, 280 POWLoss1843Naval Battle of CampecheTexas NavyEdwin Ward Moore7 KIA, 24 WIAInconclusive
Guerrilla