Organized as the Eighth Regiment, Iowa National Guard, in 1879, the present 133rd Infantry originally had units in Boonesboro, Grinnell, Marshalltown, State Center, Gilman, Eldora, and Sheldon. In 1881, the organization was re-designated as the First Regiment.
Its baptism of fire came in 1898. On June 2, of that year, the Regiment was mustered into Federal service for the War with Spain in Cuba. It was then re-designated as the Forty-ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry and served in Cuba from December 22, 1898, to April 5, 1899. In 1915, by consolidation of unites from the Fifty-third and Fifty-fourth Infantries, the unit became the First Infantry.
The Regiment saw Mexican Border service in 1916 and in the following year was mustered into Federal service for the World War. The Regiment left the United States in October, 1918, went to France, and returned in January, 1919. Under the provisions of General Orders No. 16, War Dept., 1921, as amended, the Regiment is entitled to a World War streamer, without inscription.
After the World War followed a series of re-designations, the Regiment being known as the 134th Infantry and finally in 1921, it was designated as the 133rd Infantry as part of the Sixty-seventh Infantry Brigade. The Regiment now has units in Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Waterloo, Fairfield, Mason City, Webster City, Fort Dodge, Sheldon, LeMars, Cedar Falls and Sioux City.
Col. Gordon C. Hollar, who has seen nearly thirty years service in the Iowa National Guard, is the commanding officer and maintains his headquarters at Sioux City. Colonel Hollar is surrounded by a staff of World War veterans.
