After seven Iowa members were recruited into the SVR at the 2001 SUVCW National Encampment, they were temporarily assigned to the Headquarters Company. Iowa membership in the SVR quickly grew with the efforts of Pvts. Larry Roach in Mason City and James Hawk in Des Moines. After three months, the Iowa contingent had doubled and Pvt. James Hawk sought a separate Iowa organization.

The original 37th Iowa Vol. Inf. was known as the "Graybeard Regiment," as it consisted exclusively of no men under the age of 45 and many over 65 years of age. It was assigned garrison duty, enabling younger men to be sent to the front. The 37th served from October 1862 until May 1865 and was assigned to two military prisons and the arsenal at St. Louis, the Pacific Railroad between St. Louis and Jefferson City, saw guerrilla action in Tennessee while guarding the railroad, and performed guard duty at Camp Chase, Ohio.

The present day 37th Iowa draws members from the Des Moines area and has performed distinguished service in early 2002, during the transfer of Iowa's Civil War battle flags from the state capitol to the Iowa State Historical Society for preservation. That May, the unit dedicated a new headstone for a Civil War Medal of honor recipient.

Contact:

2Lt. James Hawk, Commander

Cpl. Larry Brewer, Adjutant
20450 300th Street
Bloomfield, IA 52537
(641) 929-3418