Territorial Gov. Robert Lucas, addressing the newly formed Iowa Territorial Legislature in November 1838, recognized the territory's frontier status and the potential vulnerability of setders to attack from Native Americans occupying lands to the north and west.

"Should the Indians be disposed to hostilities," he implored the legislature, "it becomes our duty to prepare to defend ourselves against any possible attack. This preparation can only be effected by officially organizing and disciplining the Militia of the Territory."

With these words, Lucas initiated a now 1 70-year legacy of lowans, serving their state and nation.

In 1846, the Territory of Iowa organized 12 companies of volunteers for the Mexican War. Three companies went into federal service and performed garrison and patrol duty from Sept. 9, 1846, to Sept. 11, 1848, at Fort Atkinson, Iowa, relieving Regular Army troops for service in Mexico.

More than a decade later, Iowa citizens enthusiastically responded to President Abraham Lincoln's call for volunteers following the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter, S.C., eventually enlisting more than 76,000 soldiers for service with the Union Army.

Iowa volunteer regiments served honorably in all theaters of the war and with bravery and distinction at the batdes of Wilson's Creek, Mo., Pea Ridge, Ark, Forts Henry and Donelson, Tenn., Shiloh, Tenn., Vicksburg, Miss., Adanta, Ga. and Columbus, Ga. They accrued 29 Medals of Honor. Iowa troop losses during the war exceeded 13,000 men.

Iowa responded to the nation's declaration of war against Spain on April 25, 1898, by mustering four Iowa Guard infantry regiments at the state fair grounds in Des Moines the following day. In June 1898, the Guardsmen were sworn in as the 49th, 50th, 51st and 52nd regiments, Iowa Volunteer Infantry. The 50th and 52nd regiments remained in camp in the United States. The 49th traveled to Cuba for occupation duty in December 1898 and returned home in April 1899.

The 51st Regiment was sent to the Philippines for occupation duty and eventually saw combat against Philippine "insunectos" on the island of Luzon. The 51st served longer than any other state volunteer unit before returning to Iowa in November 1899. Iowa lost 163 men, including two soldiers in combat, out of 5,446 in the regiment.

The rapid expansion of the U.S. Army prior to World War I once again called units of the Iowa Guard to the colors in July 1917. All but one Iowa Guard unit served with the 34th Infantry Division, arriving at Camp Cody, Deming, N.M., in August 1917. Operating primarily as a replacement division, its late deployment to France in October 1918 prevented the division from participating in front-line operations.

Meanwhile, Iowa's 168th Infantry Regiment was assigned to the 42nd "Rainbow" Division in August 1917, and saw more combat than any other Iowa Guard unit during World War I. Following the Meuse-Argonne offensive, Brig. Gen. Douglas MacArthur, the 42nd's chief of staff, said, "Is it any wonder that my father was proud of this regiment." The 168th had served under Arthur MacArthur in the Philippines.

In response to resumption of war in Europe in 1939, the War Department mobilized most of the Guard nationwide from 1940 to 1941 for one year of preparedness training. The 34th Division from Iowa and Minnesota was called up on Feb. 10, 1941, for training at Camp Claiborne, La. Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the division deployed to Ireland in early 1942 for further training.

But, once again, the 168th Regiment was the first Iowa unit into batde, landing in North Africa on Nov. 7, 1942, as part of Operation Torch. On Feb. 14, 1943, the regiment was attacked by German troops led by Gen. Erwin Rommel in the batdes of Faid Pass and Kasserine Pass. The regiment lost approximately 1,850 soldiers - a combat loss of 66 percent.

However, Maj. Robert Moore of Villisca, Iowa, brought many of his 2nd Battalion men back to friendly lines, traveling overland on foot for several days through German lines.

The 34th Division landed in Italy in September 1943 and engaged the Germans at Naples, Anzio, Cassino, Rome-Amo, North Apennines and the Po Valley. The division holds the record for the most continuous days of combat of any U.S. Army division in the European Theater. Soldiers of the division were honored with 20 Medals of Honor and 15,000 Purple Hearts.

For capturing a mountaintop and holding it for several days against multiple fierce German counter-attacks, sometimes hurling rocks at the enemy, the 168th was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation.

Also called up in early 1941 was the 113th Cavalry Group, which had just transitioned from horses to tanks. The 113th went to Camp Bowie, Texas, for training and on to Scotland in early 1944.

The 113th landed at Omaha Beach on the coast on France on June 29, 1944, and was the lead reconnaissance force for the 30th Infantry Division during the breakout from St. Lo. By May 8, 1945, the day the war ended in Europe, 1 13th soldiers had traveled more than 800 miles across Europe and were one of the first Allied units to meet the Russian forces near the Elbe River.

An uneasy peace following when World War II ended, and the Cold War turned hot when the North Koreans invaded South Korea in late June 1950. In response, the 3657th Ordnance Company and 194th Field Artillery mobilized. After training at Ft. McCoy, Wis., in the fall of 1950, the 194th deployed to Germany in the spring of 1951, where it augmented NATO forces until March 1953.

In addition, the new Iowa Air Guard saw its first federal duty during hostilities on the Korean peninsula. The 132nd Fighter Wing mobilized on April 1, 1951, and, in January 1952, the unit was assigned to the Air Force Tactical Command. Other Iowa Air Guard units mobilized included the 133rd Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron and the 232nd Air Service Group.

During the Vietnam War, the Iowa Guard was again called to active duty. The 185th Tactical Fighter Group was mobilized Jan. 26, 1968. The group, and its subordinate 174th Tactical Fighter Squadron, flew F-100C fighter aircraft in more than 6,500 close-air support and bombing/strafing missions from its base at Phu Cat, Vietnam. The 174th lost one pilot killed in action and three planes to enemy activity.

Meanwhile, more than 860 Iowa National Guard soldiers from the 2nd Battalion (Mechanized), 133rd Infantry, mobilized from home stations in May 1968 and were sent to Ft. Carson, for training. The battalion provided 385 officers and men as replacements for Vietnam duty while the battalion flag remained at Ft. Carson.

The battalion lost a total of 12 men killed and 63 men wounded in action. Battalion soldiers earned seven Silver Stars, 144 Air Medals, 137 Bronze Stars, 294 Army Commendation Medals, 186 Combat Infantry Badges and numerous other awards for their Vietnam service.

U. S. forces deployed to the Middle East in August 1990 following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait on Aug. 2, 1990. Iowa mobilized the 1133rd Transportation Company, 134th Medica Company, 209th Medical Company, 1034th Quartermaster Company, 1187th Medical Company, 1168th Transportation Company and 186di Military Police Company.

Following later were the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment of the 34th Military Police Battalion, 3654th Maintenance Company and 224th Engineer Battalion. In addition, individual members of the 132nd Tactical Fighter Wing and the 185th Tactical Fighter Group mobilized for Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

In all, 2,016 Iowa Guardsmen, or nearly one quarter of the state's total, were mobilized during the Persian Gulf War. Fortunately, none lost their lives in the conflict.

After the attack on the United States on Sept. 11, 2001, the Iowa Guard experienced its largest mobilization since World War II. The first unit to respond was the 185th, which escorted Air Force One to Offutt Air Force Base, Omaha, Neb., with F-16 Fighting Falcons immediately after the attack

In the days that followed, Gov. Tom Vilsack ordered the Iowa Guard to secure the major airports in the state. The 3657th Maintenance Company provided security at two Iowa Air Guard bases. The 1st Battalion, 194th Field Artillery was mobilized for Operation Noble Eagle providing homeland defense of die United States.

In November 2001, Company D, 109th Aviation, was mobilized to support the elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR), the "Nightstalkers," at Ft. Campbell, Ky. Company D served one year, demobilized on Oct. 31, 2002, and remobilized a second time Feb. 10, 2003, for another year with the 160th SOAR in Afghanistan.

On March 20, 2003, the United States and other coalition nations launched a ground war against the country of Iraq. The Iowa Army Guard, beginning in January 2003, mobilized forces in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, calling up transportation, military police, quartermaster, aviation and maintenance units. In subsequent call-ups, the 234th Signal Battalion and 224di Engineer Battalion mobilized for duty in Iraq.

Following those call-ups, the 1st Battalion, 133 Infantry; 1st Battalion, 168 Infantry; and 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry mobilized for duty in Iraq or Afghanistan.

In addition, elements of the 132nd Tactical Fighter Wing, 185th Air Refueling Wing and 133rd Control Squadron (Test) have supported the war effort with individuals and teams for several extended periods.

Mobilization of Iowa units has continued to the present day in support of the Global War on Tenor. As of last month, approximately 12,000 Iowa Army and Air Guardsmen have served on federal duty in the war on tenor, some on more than one tour. Twenty-one Iowa Guardsmen have made the ultimate sacrifice.

© 2008 National Guard Association of the United States Provided by ProQuest LLC. All Rights Reserved.