The Iowa State Guard is the currently inactive
state defense force
In the United States, state defense forces are military units that operate under the sole authority of a state government. State defense forces are authorized by state and federal law and are under the command of the governor of each state.
...
of
Iowa
Iowa () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States, bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west. It is bordered by six states: Wisconsin to the northeast, Illinois to th ...
. The Iowa State Guard was organized during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
in order to replace the
Iowa National Guard
The Iowa National Guard consists of the:
*Iowa Army National Guard and the
* Iowa Air National Guard
The Iowa National Guard headquarters is at Camp Dodge in Johnston, several miles north of the state capital Des Moines. The facility serves do ...
which was federalized as a result of the war. The Iowa State Guard is recognized as a part of the organized militia of Iowa.
History
In December 1941, Governor
George A. Wilson
George Allison Wilson (April 1, 1884 – September 8, 1953) was an American politician and lawyer. He was a United States Senate, United States Senator and List of Governors of Iowa, 28th Governor of Iowa.
Personal background
Born on a farm near ...
ordered the organization of the Iowa State Guard. Former adjutant general of Iowa and World War I veteran, Lieutenant General Mathew A. Tinley, was assigned as the commanding officer of the Iowa State Guard. An officer corps and two regiments were organized. Each regiment consisted of 16 companies of 3 officers and 60 enlisted men, each, and a medical detachment of 5 officers and 30 enlisted men. The First Regiment was organized in the southern half of the state and the Second Regiment was organized in the northern half. A Military Police Battalion was also established.
Members included those who were rejected from federal service due to medical conditions, workers given industrial exemptions from the draft, those above the drafting age, and those men who were waiting to be drafted. These guardsmen were trained at a basic training course which lasted thirteen weeks.
The State Guard also assisted with several state emergencies, including a major fire in
Dubuque
Dubuque (, ) is the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. At the time of the 2020 census, the population of Dubuque was 59,667. The city lies at the junction of Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin, a r ...
, tornadoes in
Sioux and
Webster Counties and several western Iowa floods in 1943 and 1944.
During the summer and fall of 1945, Iowa State Guard units were deployed to quell a riot at the State Training School for Boys at
Eldora and maintain order in the aftermath.
Disbandment
With the reorganization of the Iowa National Guard in 1946 and 1947, the last units of the Iowa State Guard were deactivated on 17 September 1947.
Other militias
Other units of militia were able to organize and receive a charter as a Military Order of Guard from the state of Iowa. In 1935, because African-Americans were not allowed to serve in the Iowa National Guard, the aviator John C. Robinson requested and received from the state a charter to organize a collection of black pilots and mechanics as the Military Order of Guard, Aviation Squadron.
A unit composed solely of women and girls was organized in 1943 in
Davenport and consisted of roughly 150 members who received training in infantry drill, equitation, first aid, radio code, self-defense, scouting and patrolling from a captain in the Iowa State Guard.
Both of these organizations operated parallel to the Iowa State Guard. They, along with the Iowa State Guard, served as components of the Iowa organized militia as volunteer paramilitary organizations under the authority of the state of Iowa.
Legal status
State defense forces are recognized by the federal government of the United States under Title 32, Section 109 of the
United States Code.
Iowa state law allows the
Governor of Iowa
A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...
to activate the Iowa State Guard when any part of the
Iowa National Guard
The Iowa National Guard consists of the:
*Iowa Army National Guard and the
* Iowa Air National Guard
The Iowa National Guard headquarters is at Camp Dodge in Johnston, several miles north of the state capital Des Moines. The facility serves do ...
is called to active duty by the federal government of the United States.
See also
*
Iowa Wing Civil Air Patrol
References
{{State Defense Forces
State defense forces of the United States
Military in Iowa
Military units and formations in Iowa