1st Cavalry Division (United States)
The 1st Cavalry Division ( German 1st US Cavalry Division ) is now a tank division of the US Army . It currently has around 16,700 soldiers. Its history goes back to the 19th century, making it one of the longest active units in the US Army. The headquarters of the Division is currently in Fort Hood in the US state of Texas and is under the command of Major General Anthony R. Ierardi .
history
The tradition of the Division dates back to the 2nd Cavalry - Regiment , which was set up in 1855, and the 7th , 8th and 9th Cavalry Regiment . The 2nd was renamed the 5th Cavalry Regiment in 1861 and took part in the American Civil War, including the First Battle of Bull Run and the Battle of Gettysburg . The 7th Cavalry Regiment under George Armstrong Custer suffered a crushing defeat in the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876 .
After the end of the Indian Wars , the cavalry regiments were used as border patrols along the inner-American frontier .
By the end of World War I in 1918 were under the 1st, 7th and 8th Cavalry Regiment of the 15th Cavalry Division and arrived in Europe for use.
The 1st Cavalry Division was set up on August 31, 1920 as an independent large unit after the National Defense Act decided to set up further mounted divisions. In 1922 the line-up was completed and the division moved to its headquarters in Fort Bliss , Texas . On August 20, 1921, the 1st Cavalry Regiment was also subordinated to the 1st Cavalry Division.
During the Great Depression of the division was led as a job creation scheme in Fort Bliss an air defense training center , were built for the accommodation for 20,000 soldiers. During the same period the division began to be restructured, as mounted troops had already proven to be out of date during the First World War.
Second World War
At the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in World War II , the 1st Cavalry Division was undergoing large-scale restructuring and was participating in a number of major U.S. maneuvers in Louisiana that tested new tactics. As part of the reorganization, the anti-tank and machine gun troops were disbanded as independent units and placed under the cavalry regiments.
In early 1943, the division was classified as an infantry division and relocated to Australia , where it was preparing for use in the Pacific War . Following the relocation to New Guinea in the summer of 1943, the first deployment of the large association began at the end of January 1944 with the conquest of the Admiralty Islands . Against very strong Japanese resistance, the division gradually conquered the entire archipelago by the end of May 1944.
On October 20, the division took part in the landing on Leyte , which began the liberation of the Philippines . In early 1945, the island was liberated from the Japanese army and the Americans were preparing to retake Luzón , the main island of the Philippines. This began for the 1st Cavalry Division on January 27th with the landing on the beach of the Gulf of Lingayen . On February 3rd, the first units reached the capital Manila , where the fighting continued until March 3rd. By August 25, the division took part in several operations on Luzón to eliminate remaining pockets of Japanese resistance. It was then withdrawn and transferred to Japan . It landed on August 30th in Tokyo Bay and marched into Tokyo on September 8th as the first US division .
During the war, 970 soldiers of the 1st Cavalry Division were killed and a further 3,300 injured.
Korea
When the Korean War began in the summer of 1950 , the 1st US Cavalry Division was still stationed in Japan as an occupation force . The rapid advance of the North Korean People's Army pushed the South Korean defenders back to a narrow strip around the port city of Busan , the so-called Battle of the Busan Perimeter .
The division relieved the trapped UN troops around Busan by an amphibious landing near Pohang . It broke through the siege ring in mid-September 1950 and advanced north. The division crossed 38 degrees of latitude, the border between North and South Korea , on October 9, and the foremost units reached Pyongyang on October 19 . The intervention of the People's Republic of China pushed the UN troops back behind the demarcation line in late 1950 / early 1951. The South Korean capital Seoul was evacuated and recaptured in March. The 1st Cavalry Division took over the defense of the capital in the now developing trench warfare. It was replaced in January 1952 and relocated back to Hokkaidō . The division lost over 3,800 soldiers and more than 12,000 were wounded.
The division returned to Korea in 1957, four years after the armistice, and took control of the Demilitarized Zone between the north and the south by 1965.
Vietnam War
At the beginning of the Vietnam War , the 1st Cavalry Division was restructured from an infantry division to an airmobile division with helicopters. In July 1965, the major association began to move to Vietnam . In November 1965, during the Battle of the Ia Drang Valley, units of the United States and North Vietnam met for the first time. The 7th Cavalry Regiment of the 1st US Cavalry Division under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Harold G. Moore fought from November 14th to 18th against a four-fold superiority of the North Vietnamese People's Army. The battle was filmed in 2002 under the title We Were Heroes by Randall Wallace . The film is based on the book We Were Soldiers Once… And Young by Joseph L. Galloway , who took part in the battle as a photographer.
In 1967 the division took part in Operation Pershing , which was carried out in Binh Dinh Province against pockets of resistance by the Viet Cong . The large-scale operation was a complete success, with over 5,400 North Vietnamese fighters killed and around 2,000 reportedly captured. During the Tet offensive , the division was stationed north of Huế at Camp Evans . There she was instrumental in the recapture of Huế and Quảng Trị . The 1st Cavalry Division carried the brunt of the fighting together with units of the US Marine Corps . The 9th and 26th Marine Regiments were trapped in Khe Sanh at the end of March 1968 . With Operation Pegasus, the division shocked the trapped regiments. It broke through the Vietnamese siege ring and replaced the marines as the occupying force until the base was abandoned at the end of June. The 1st Cavalry Division was deployed from mid-April to mid-May in the A-Shau Valley , also known as the Valley of Death . There she took part in various operations against the Ho Chi Minh Trail , the main branch of which led through the valley.
In the summer of 1968 the division supported the Vietnamese population with the rice harvest and undertook missions called MedCap to provide medical care for the natives in the area of the I. Corps.
The 1st Cavalry Division was moved south in early 1969 to the border area with Cambodia, west of Saigon , known as the Parrot's Beak . She took part in the invasion of Cambodia in May 1970, which was directed against the so-called "sanctuaries" (shelters) of the North Vietnamese and the Viet Cong. The American units withdrew from Cambodia in June as part of the general withdrawal from Vietnam. In August 1972, the 1st Battalion of the 7th Cavalry Regiment left the last unit of the South Vietnam Division . The losses during the entire operation amounted to 5,444 dead and 26,592 wounded.
Following the Vietnam mission, the TRICAP restructuring took place (TRICAP: "triple capabilities" , dt. About three possible uses), which should enable the association to operate as an airborne force , as a ground-based armored division and as an air cavalry. The short-lived concept was given up again in 1975 and the 1st Cavalry Division was converted into a tank division. In 1980, the division was one of the first major US associations to be equipped with the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter and the HMMWV off-road vehicle as a replacement for the outdated M151 jeeps . The M1 Abrams was introduced as the new main battle tank , and the M2 Bradley as the new armored personnel carrier . The 1st Cavalry Division has regularly attended training at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin , California since 1982 . The National Training Center is the most modern training and maneuvering center of the US Army, in which every type of combat can be practiced under realistic conditions.
In the NATO - United maneuvers REFORGER in the summer of 1983, the US 1st Cavalry Division was almost 9,000 soldiers, the largest ever involved unit.
Desert Shield and Desert Storm
At the beginning of the Second Gulf War in the summer of 1990, the 1st Cavalry Division was moved to Saudi Arabia along with other units . In the event of an Iraqi invasion, it was supposed to defend the area around the King Khalid military base , which was considered one of the likely main targets of a possible invasion. The division made operational readiness until December and now also practiced with live ammunition in the vast desert areas of the Nefud . When the air war against Iraq began on January 16, 1991 , the division was subordinate to the VII Corps. Together with the 1st US Infantry Division , the 1st and 3rd US Armored Divisions , the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment and the British 1st Armored Division , it formed the main force of the Allies. The advance took place mainly along the Wadi al Batin. The target of the 1st Cavalry Division was the Al-Rumaylah oil field southwest of Basra . The ground war began on February 24th. The division's tank brigades fought their way through enemy positions and covered over 300 km on Iraqi territory within 14 hours. The Commander-in-Chief CENTCOM , General Norman Schwarzkopf , ordered the 1st Cavalry Division on February 26 to attack the Republican Guards first .
US President George Bush announced a ceasefire on February 27. Some units in the division had reached the Tigris about a day's march from Baghdad . After the armistice, the associations began to move to their starting positions in Saudi Arabia and prepared there to be relocated to the USA.
After returning to the United States, the 1st “Tiger” Brigade of the 2nd Armored Division was renamed the 3rd “Greywolfs” Brigade and was then subordinated to the 1st Cavalry Division in May 1991. This made it the largest active tank division in the US Army. The other brigades also received their historical association designations until August 1993. In the following years, parts of the division were regularly relocated to Kuwait in order to meet the security guarantees of the United States and to practice together with Kuwaiti and Saudi units.
Bosnia Herzegovina
In April 1998 the Ministry of Defense decided to relocate the 1st Cavalry Division to Bosnia and Herzegovina as part of the SFOR mission . The division commander, Major General Kevin P. Byrnes, took over command of the American SFOR contingent in the north of the operational area from the 1st US Armored Division on October 7th. In the months that followed, the 1st Cavalry Division monitored compliance with the Dayton Peace Agreement and helped refugees return to their homes, cleared mines and secured important traffic routes by setting up checkpoints .
War on Terrorism and Iraq War
Immediately after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks , the division's air defense units were relocated to Washington, DC and monitored the airspace there. Units of the division's military police have been serving in Afghanistan since mid-December 2001 to assist in interrogating terrorist suspects and suspected Taliban during Operation Enduring Freedom .
Above all, the army aviators of the 1st Cavalry Division supported the advancing units of the Coalition of the Willing in March 2003 during the Iraq war . The relocation of the entire division to Iraq was prepared in autumn 2003. It was to become the command association for the American units in Baghdad by April 2004. Under the supervision of the division, the restoration of state sovereignty of Iraq and the first parliamentary election took place. At the beginning of 2005, the division handed over command of the unit known as Task Force Baghdad to the 3rd US Infantry Division . The 1st Cavalry Division returned to the United States in early April. From November 2006 to December 2007 she was relocated to Iraq again, where she served as the Baghdad Multi-National Division .
organization
The three operational brigades ( Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT)) Division were according to the army reform reclassified 15 July 2005 (final reform implementation no later than 2009). The brigades no longer consist exclusively of tank or infantry battalions, but have mixed operational battalions and their own support elements. All battalions are equally structured and equipped. These battalions are called Combined-arms maneuver battalions (CAB). The Army hopes that this concept will significantly improve the mobility of the brigade and expand the range of possible operations.
The 1st Cavalry Division currently consists of the Division Special Troops Battalion , and three combat brigades and three support brigades:
Staff troops
-
Division Special Troops Battalion (command and command support battalion )
- Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 1st Cavalry Division (Headquarters and Headquarters Company)
- Headquarters Service Company (supply company)
- Alpha Company (Telecommunication Company)
- 1st Cavalry Division Band (military band)
- 1st Cavalry Division Horse Detachment (mounted unit for parades etc.)
Heavy combat brigades ( Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT))
- 1st Brigade, "Iron Horse":
- 1 × Armored Reconnaissance Battalion ( M3 Bradley )
- 3 × mixed battalions each with:
- 1 × headquarters company
- 2 × tank companies ( M1 Abrams )
- 2 × mechanized infantry companies ( M2 Bradley )
- 1 × Artillery Battalion ( M109 Paladin )
- 1 × supply battalion
- 1 × engineer battalion (engineers, military intelligence , telecommunications )
- 2nd Brigade, "Blackjack": same structure as 1st Brigade.
- 3rd Brigade, "Gray Wolf": same structure as 1st Brigade.
Support brigades
- 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, "Warrior" (Army Aviation): Consists of four Army Aviation Battalions , armed with AH-64D Longbow Apache , OH-58 Kiowa Warrior and UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters , as well as a supply and support battalion.
- 1st Cavalry Division Artillery
- 1st Cavalry Division Support Brigade
badge
As one of the oldest unit badges of the United State Army, the badge of the 1st Cavalry Division is probably also one of the most famous and well-known, together with that of the 1st US Infantry Division. The heraldic elements of the badges are explained in more detail below.
Shoulder badge
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- Description: On a yellow Norman shield with rounded corners and 13.34 cm high there is a black bar running diagonally from top right to bottom left and a black horse's head in the top left corner. The shield is surrounded by a 3 mm thick green border.
- Symbolism: yellow as the traditional color of the cavalry and the horse's head refer to the beginnings of the division as a mounted unit. Black as a symbol for iron stands for the transition to armored vehicles. The black diagonal bar symbolizes a sword bandolier and is considered a sign of military honor, it can also be understood as a symbol for aggressive vigor and attack. The single bar and the horse's head also stand for the numerical designation of the division.
- History: Officially introduced as a shoulder badge on January 3rd, 1921, it was often to be found in the sub-units in different variations and with various additions. Since December 11, 1934, the badge has been binding for all units of the 1st Cavalry Division.
Unity badge
- Description: An enamelled metal emblem 2.54 cm high, consisting of a yellow Norman shield with a horse's head and a black diagonal bar with two gold stars
- Symbolism: The unit badge is a miniature reproduction of the division's shoulder badge, supplemented by the two stars. Between 1922 and 1934 the badge was worn as a shoulder badge by the division commander and his staff.
- History: The unity badge was introduced on August 15, 1965.
guide
Command Group
The Command Group of the Division Staff consists of Commander Lieutenant General Anthony R. Ierardi , his two deputies (a Brigadier General and either another or a Colonel ), the Chief of Staff (a Colonel) and the Command Sergeant Major of the division.
List of commanders
| Surname | Beginning of the appointment | End of appointment |
|---|---|---|
| Paul T. Calvert | October 2017 | |
| John C. Thomson III | January 2016 | October 2017 |
| Michael A. Bills | March 2014 | January 2016 |
| Anthony R. Ierardi | June 2012 | March 2014 |
| Daniel B. Allyn | January 2010 | June 2012 |
| Daniel P. Bolger | March 2008 | January 2010 |
| Vincent K. Brooks (Interim) | February 2008 | March 2008 |
| Joseph F. Fil, Jr. | November 2005 | February 2008 |
| Peter W. Chiarelli | August 2003 | November 2005 |
| Joe Peterson | October 2001 | August 2003 |
| David D. McKiernan | October 1999 | October 2001 |
| Kevin P. Byrnes | July 1997 | October 1999 |
| Leon J. LaPorte, Jr. | July 1995 | July 1997 |
| Eric K. Shinseki | March 1994 | July 1995 |
| Wesley K. Clark | July 1992 | March 1994 |
| John H. Tilelli, Jr. | July 1990 | July 1992 |
| William F. Streeter | 1988 | July 1990 |
| John J. Yeosock | June 1986 | May 1988 |
| Michael J. Conrad | June 1984 | June 1986 |
| Andrew P. Chambers | July 1982 | June 1984 |
| Richard D. Lawrence | November 1980 | July 1982 |
| Paul S. Williams, Jr. | November 1978 | November 1980 |
| W. Russell Todd | November 1976 | November 1978 |
| Julius W. Becton, Jr. | November 1975 | November 1976 |
| Robert M. Shoemaker | January 1973 | February 1975 |
| James C. Smith | May 1971 | January 1973 |
| George W. Putnam | August 1970 | May 1971 |
| George W. Casey, Sr. | May 1970 | July 1970 |
| EB Roberts | May 1969 | May 1970 |
| George T. Forsythe | August 1968 | April 1969 |
| Richard L. Irby | August 1968 | August 1968 |
| John J. Tolson | March 1967 | August 1968 |
| John Norton | May 1966 | March 1967 |
| Harry WO Kinnard | July 1965 | May 1966 |
| Hugh Exton | October 1964 | June 1965 |
| Chas F. Leonard, Jr. | August 1963 | October 1964 |
| Charles P. Brown | June 1963 | August 1963 |
| Clifton F. From May | October 1962 | June 1963 |
| DC Clayman (Interim) | September 1962 | October 1962 |
| James K. Woolnough | July 1961 | September 1962 |
| Frank H. Britton | December 1960 | July 1961 |
| Charles G. Dodge | May 1960 | December 1960 |
| Charles E. Beauchamp | April 1959 | May 1960 |
| George E. Bush | January 1958 | April 1959 |
| Ralph W. Zwicker | October 1957 | January 1958 |
| Edwin HJ Carns | November 1956 | August 1957 |
| Edward J. McGraw | May 1955 | November 1956 |
| Orlando C. Troxel, Jr. | December 1954 | May 1955 |
| Armistead D. Mead | June 1953 | December 1954 |
| Joseph P. Cleland | May 1953 | June 1953 |
| William J. Bradley | March 1953 | April 1953 |
| Arthur G. Trudenu | March 1952 | March 1953 |
| Thomas L. Harrold | July 1951 | March 1952 |
| Charles D. Palmer | February 1951 | July 1951 |
| Hobart R. Gray | September 1949 | February 1951 |
| Henry I. Hodes | August 1949 | September 1949 |
| John M. Devine | February 1949 | August 1949 |
| William B. Bradford | February 1949 | February 1949 |
| William C. Chase | July 1945 | February 1949 |
| Hugh FT Hoffman | February 1945 | July 1945 |
| Verne D. Mudge | August 1944 | February 1945 |
| Innis Palmer Swift | February 1941 | August 1944 |
| Robert C. Richardson, Jr. | October 1940 | February 1941 |
| Kenyon A. Joyce | November 1938 | October 1940 |
| Ben Lear | October 1936 | November 1938 |
| Francis Le J. Parker | September 1936 | October 1936 |
| Hamilton S. Hawkins | April 1934 | September 1936 |
| Walter C. Short | October 1933 | April 1934 |
| Frank R. McCoy | March 1933 | October 1933 |
| Walter C. Short | March 1932 | March 1933 |
| Ewing E. Booth | December 1930 | March 1932 |
| George C. Barnhardt | October 1930 | December 1930 |
| Charles J. Symmonds | September 1929 | October 1930 |
| Van Horn Moseley | November 1927 | September 1929 |
| Samuel D. Rockenbach | October 1927 | November 1927 |
| Edwin B. Winaus | January 1926 | October 1927 |
| Joseph C. Castner | June 1925 | January 1926 |
| Robert L. Howze | September 1921 | June 1925 |
Web links
- Official homepage of the 1st Cavalry Division (English)
- 1st U.S. Cavalry Division at globalsecurity.org (English)
Individual evidence
- ^ 1st Cavalry History. Archived from the original on June 24, 2007 ; accessed on June 12, 2017 (English).
- ^ Andrew Feickert: US Army's Modular Redesign: Issues for Congress. (PDF; 118 kB) Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress, May 5, 2006, accessed September 20, 2007 .
- ↑ Military symbols at mapsymbs.com and at army.ca ( Memento of April 30, 2007 in the Internet Archive ), viewed on May 17, 2008 (English)
- ^ Army Institute of Heraldry ( Memento from September 12, 2012 in the Internet Archive )
Divisions 1st Armored Division | 1st Cavalry Division | 1st Infantry Division | 2nd Infantry Division | 3rd Infantry Division | 4th Infantry Division
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10th Mountain Division |
25th Infantry Division | 82nd Airborne Division | 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)
Other associations 2nd Cavalry Regiment | 3rd Cavalry Regiment | 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment | 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team
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Special Operations Forces 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) | 75th Ranger Regiment (Airborne) | 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment Delta (Airborne)
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