The Honey War
In 1838 the Iowa Territorial Militia was formed. Although it never fired a shot in anger, the militia was called out to protect the State’s interest in a border dispute with Missouri, called the Honey War. The courts intervened to settle the dispute.

War with Mexico
The nation went to war with Mexico in 1846, just prior to Iowa’s statehood. The territory responded by offering several companies of volunteers. One company was accepted and served as Company K, 15th US Infantry. It participated in several major battles and the occupation of Mexico City. In addition, the President authorized the formation of a battalion of Mormons to march to California. In a short time, 500 men had volunteered and left Council Bluffs for the 2,000-mile march. Traveling with them were 35 women and 50 children. The Mormon Battalion’s march helped opened the trade routes though New Mexico and Arizona to the California Coast.

In 1857, local militia from Ft. Dodge, Webster City, and other towns walked through the snow as a relief expedition in response to the incident at Spirit Lake. Two members of the party froze to death on their return trip.

The Civil War
During the Civil War, Iowa was called upon to help preserve the Union. In four years Iowa gave 72,000 volunteers and 4,000 draftees. A total of 46 infantry regiments, 9 cavalry regiments, and 4 artillery batteries were formed. One company of cavalry left Ft. Dodge to join a Pennsylvania regiment. Iowa’s regiment of black volunteers was placed into federal service as the 60th US Colored Troops. A unique regiment, the 37th Iowa Infantry, was composed of men between 45 and 82 years of age. Iowa regiments served in all areas of the war, from White Stone Mountain in Dakota Territory to the Atlantic coast. During the conflict 3,500 Iowans died of wounds and 8,500 died of disease.

The years after the Civil War were dominated by the Grand Army of the Republic. Many towns maintained militia organizations, and in 1876, regiments were organized into the Iowa National Guard. The units drilled and the state maintained a basic level of readiness.

War with Spain
In 1898, war was declared against Spain. Four infantry regiments, two artillery batteries, and a signal company were called to national service. Two units, the 50th and 52nd, returned home in a short time, depleted by disease. The artillery batteries never left Iowa. The signal corps company and the 49th Iowa Infantry were sent as occupation troops to Cuba.

The 51st Iowa departed to the Philippines where it participated in operations against the insurrection that followed the expulsion of the Spanish.

The USS Iowa, 1897-1923
The nation’s first sea-going battleship, USS Iowa, was the first to fire on the Spanish fleet as it left Santiago, Cuba, to do battle with the US fleet. Within a few hours the Spanish fleet was destroyed.

Mexican Border Campaign
In 1916, Iowa troops were mobilized and sent to New Mexico to provided protection from the attacks of the Mexican revolutionary Poncho Villa. Although the units were not involved in combat, they received training in modern warfare that would serve them well in a few short months.

World War I
The regiments had just returned from New Mexico when they were called upon to serve in WWI. The regiments served with the 34th (Red Bull) and 42nd (Rainbow) divisions in France. On the home front, Ft. Des Moines became the nation’s first training school for black officers in a segregated army and Camp Dodge became a national training center for the Army.

The national draft encouraged many Iowans to enlist in a chosen service. Iowa furnished a total of 114,000 men and women to the war effort.

After the war the National Guard continued to remain in ready condition. On several occasions it was called out to calm civil unrest and labor problems associated with the failing economies of the Great Depression.

World War II
The Iowa regiments were mobilized into national service in 1941. The famous Red Bull, 34th Division, fought in North Africa and Italy. The 113th Cavalry, now mechanized, landed on Omaha Beach to fight its way into Germany, and the newly formed 124th Observation Squadron flew anti-submarine missions over the Gulf of Mexico.

As with WWI, many Iowans chose to join one of the branches of national service. A total of 262,000 Iowans served during the war.

In 1943, the USS Iowa, BB 61 was built and gave its name to a new class of battleship. It served in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans during the war.

Korean Police Action
The troops returned from WWII to a short-lived rest. In 1951, elements of the Guard were called into service again to help in the “police action” in Korea. Some units served as training/replacement units while others were used to free regular army units for combat.
Iowa provided 70,000 citizens to this effort.

Vietnam
The citizens of Iowa participated heavily in the nation’s effort to stabilize the Republic of South Vietnam. In the eleven years of war, Iowa provided 103,000 men and women for service in Vietnam. The Iowa National Guard provided the 185th and 174th Tactical Fighter Group and the 2nd Battalion of the 133rd Infantry.

In recent years, the “all-volunteer” services and the Iowa Guard have been called upon to provide their skills in world “hot spots.” Thousands of Iowans and many of Iowa’s Guard units have served. These include specialized units: medical, transportation, quartermaster, military police, engineer, public relations, and tactical fighter support. They were instrumental in the success of the 1990 Gulf War. The fighter wings continued to maintain a rotational presence over the no-fly zone of Iraq until the current conflict.

In 2000 Iowa troops began providing a variety of services to the NATO peace missions to Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Iowa presence in this area continues today.

In response to the World Trade Center attack and the “War on Terror,” Iowans have responded with volunteers and Guard troops. Iowans serve in both Afghanistan and in Iraq. The Iowa Guard has rotated units in and out of the theaters to provide a wide variety of combat and support services. The Iowa Guard is considered a leader in the training and retention of its members and its dedication to serve the State and Nation.