Military: WWI 

This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by:
Cay Merryman caym@infowest.com
September 2002

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Report of the Adjutant General of Iowa
For the Biennial Period Ended June 30, 1918
Published by the State of Iowa
Des Moines

     The office of the Adjutant General has been a very busy
place during the past two years. The United States has been
involved in two wars during this period. At the beginning of the
year 1917 the Iowa National Guard, with the exception of the
Field Artillery, which was mustered out in December, was in
Federal service and was on duty on the Mexican Border guarding
the border states from invasion.  The organizations were returned
to their homes early in the year and by March 23, 1917 were all
out of active service.
     On March 25, 1917 the President again issued a proclamation
calling into active service a part of the National Guard from
each state, preparatory to entering the World War. In Iowa the
First Regiment of Infantry was called into service and placed on
duty guarding bridges and munition plants.  By July 15, 1917 all
other organizations of National Guard had been called into
service.
     On August 5, 1917 all men who had been mustered into
National Guard service were drafted into U. S. service.  This
took the Guard entirely from under the control of the state.  By
the latter part of August all Iowa units had left the state.
     Iowa Guard units sent into the service were all efficient,
but it so happened that only one of them, the Third Iowa Infantry
(168th U.S. Infantry) experienced any battle field service.  This
regiment was a part of the 42nd or Rainbow, division, and was a
composite organization, composed of the third and parts of the
First and Second Infantry regiments.  Three-fifths of the
enlisted men of the Third, when it left Iowa, had been for some
time  in the ranks of this regiment.  Two-fifths were Guardsmen,
transferred from the First and Second Regiments.  As a result it
was truly a representative Iowa National Guard unit, and its
brilliant achievements on the battle fields reflects credit upon
the National Guard as a whole.

Third Infantry

Fifteen companies, Colonel Ernest R. Bennett, commanding
Headquarters, Des Moines.
Headquarters Company, Des Moines, Polk County
Supply Company, Des Moines, Polk County
Machine Gun Company, Des Moines, Polk County
Company A, Winterset, Madison County
Company B, Des Moines, Polk County
Company C, Creston, Union County
Company D, Centerville, Appanoose County
Company E, Shenandoah, Page County
Company F, Red Oak, Montgomery County
Company G, Ottumwa, Wapello County
Company H, Oskaloosa, Mahaska County
Company I, Glenwood, Mills County
Company K, Corning, Adams County
Company L, Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie County
Company M, Red Oak, Montgomery County
Sanitary Detachment, Des Moines, Polk County