7th Cavalry Regiment (United States)

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7th Cavalry

7th Cavalry Coat of Arms
Active September 21, 1866 –
Country United States
Branch Regular Army
Type Armored Cavalry
Nickname Garry Owen
Motto The Seventh First
Colors Yellow
March Garry Owen
Battles/wars Indian Wars
Philippine-American War
Mexican Punitive Expedition
World War II
Korean War
Vietnam War
Persian Gulf War
Iraq War
Commanders
Notable
commanders		 Col George Armstrong Custer
Lt. Col. Brice C. W. Custer
Adna R. Chaffee, Jr.
Insignia
Distinctive Unit Insignia
U.S. Cavalry Units
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U.S. 6th Cavalry Regiment U.S. 8th Cavalry Regiment

The United States 7th Cavalry Regiment is a United States Army cavalry regiment, whose lineage traces back to the mid-19th century. Its official nickname is "Garryowen", which alludes to the traditional Irish drinking song Garryowen that was adopted as its march tune.

Contents

[edit] Indian Wars

The regiment was constituted on July 28, 1866 in the Regular Army as the 7th Cavalry. It was organized on September 21, 1866 at Fort Riley, Kansas as part of an expansion of the Regular Army following the demobilization of the wartime volunteer and draft forces. From 1866 through 1871, the regiment was posted at Fort Riley and fought in the Indian Wars, notably at the Battle of the Washita in 1868.

Typical of post-Civil War cavalry regiments, the Seventh was organized as a twelve company regiment without formal battalion organization. However, battalions — renamed "squadrons" in 1883 — did exist. Companies A–D were assigned to 1st Battalion; Companies E–H were assigned to 2nd Battalion; and Companies I–L were assigned to 3rd Battalion. Throughout this period, the cavalryman was armed with Colt Single Action Army .45 caliber revolvers and single shot Springfield carbines, caliber .50–70 until 1870 and caliber .45–70 until 1892. He used one of the many variants of the McClellan saddle. Sabres were issued but not carried on campaign. On July 17, 1870 in Hays, Kansas a fight between Sheriff Wild Bill Hickok and 2 troopers resulted in 1 soldier dead of wounds and 1 wounded.

From 1871 through 1873, 7th Cavalry companies participated in constabulary duties in the deep American South in support of the Reconstruction Act, and, for half the regiment, again in 1874-1876. In 1873 the 7th Cavalry moved its garrison post to Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory. From here, the regiment carried out the historic reconnaissance of the Black Hills in 1874, making the discovery of gold in the Black Hills public and starting a gold rush that precipitated the Black Hills War. Lieutenant Colonel George A. Custer's disaster at the Battle of the Little Bighorn on June 25 and 26, 1876, while a stunning defeat, demonstrated the sheer bravery of the 7th Cavalrymen despite the sheer stupidity of its commander: fourteen soldiers received the Medal of Honor during that battle. (To be fair to Custer, many historians argue that due to rampant government corruption of the time, reservation attendance rolls were routinely inflated, causing Custer's intelligence on enemy forces to be hopelessly tainted). The regiment perpetrated the Wounded Knee Massacre on December 29, 1890, the end of the Indian Wars.

[edit] Before World War II

In 1892, the Army replaced the Springfield .45–70 Rifle with the U.S. Magazine Rifle, Model 1892, also known as the .30–40 Krag-Jorgensen Rifle. A carbine version, the M1896, issued in 1896.

From 1895 until 1899, the Regiment served in New Mexico (Fort Bayard) and Oklahoma (Ft. Sill), then overseas in Cuba (Camp Columbia) from 1899 to 1902. An enlisted trooper with the Seventh Cavalry from 1895 to 1897 at Fort Grant Arizona Territory was author Edgar Rice Burroughs.

In 1903, the Army replaced the Krag .30–40 with the M1903 Springfield Rifles, initially in caliber .30–03 and later in its more familiar .30–06 form. In 1911, the Army adopted the superb M1911 Automatic Colt Pistol, replacing the Colt single and double action .45 and .38 caliber revolvers.

The Regiment served in the Philippines during the Philippine-American War from 1904 through 1907, with a second tour from 1911 through 1915. Back in the United States, the Regiment was once again stationed in the southwest, in Arizona (Camp Harvey J. Jones), where it patrolled the U.S.-Mexico border and later was part of the Mexican Punitive Expedition of 1916 to 1917.

In December 1917, 7th Cavalry was assigned to the 15th Cavalry Division, a on-paper organization designed for service in France during World War I that was never more than a simple headquarters because of the speed in which the war ended after the entry of the United States. 7th Cavalry was released from this assignment in May 1918.

On September 13, 1921, 7th Cavalry Regiment was assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division, which assignment was maintained until 1957. The Division and its 2nd Brigade was garrisoned at Fort Bliss, Texas, while the 1st Brigade was garrisoned at Douglas, Arizona. Additional garrison points were used as well.

7th Cavalry Regiment continued to train as a horse cavalry regiment right up to World War II, including participation in several training maneuvers at the Louisiana Maneuver Area on April 26–May 28, 1940; August 12–22, 1940; and August 8–October 4, 1941.

[edit] World War II

7th Cavalry Regiment was dismounted on February 28, 1943, and started packing up for deployment to the Pacific Theater, still part of 1st Cavalry Division. 7th Cavalry staged at Camp Stoneman, California on June 18, 1943, and departed the San Francisco Port of Embarkation on June 26, 1943. It arrived in Australia on July 11, 1943, where it trained for combat, and then participated in the New Guinea campaign, which began on January 24, 1943, and did not end until December 31, 1944.

7th Cavalry was relieved from duty in this campaign, and moved on to be reorganized under special Cavalry and Infantry Tables of Organization & Equipment on December 4, 1943, and then trained for combat, and participated in the Bismarck Archipelago campaign, which started on December 15, 1943, and did not end until November 27, 1944.

7th Cavalry moved to Oro Bay, New Guinea on February 22, 1944, and moved by Landing Craft to Negros Island to reinforce the units there on March 4, 1944, securing Lombrum Plantation.

7th Cavalry moved on to Hauwei Island, which it secured on March 12–13, 1944. The regiment continued on, and arrived at Lugos Mission on Manus Island on March 15, 1944.

Troop E, 7th Cavalry Regiment, advances towards San Jose on Leyte, 20 October 1944

The Leyte campaign started on October 17, 1944, and 7th Cavalry moved on towards the Philippines, and assaulted Leyte on October 20, 1944. 7th Cavalry reached the Visayan Sea in late December, 1944, and reassembled with the 1st Cavalry Division near Tunga on January 7, 1945. Leyte did not end until July 1, 1945, but 7th Cavalry was needed for the Luzon campaign, which started on December 15, 1944.

Deploying again by landing craft, 7th Cavalry landed at Luzon on January 27, 1945, where the regiment engaged until the end of the Luzon campaign on July 4, 1945. 7th Cavalry again reorganized — this time entirely under Infantry Tables of Organization & Equipment, but still designated as a Cavalry Regiment, on July 20, 1945 to prepare for the invasion of the main Japanese islands. However, the invasion was not to be. 7th Cavalry Regiment was at Lucena Batangas in the Philippines until September 2, 1945, when it was moved to Japan to start Occupation duty.

[edit] Occupation of Japan and Korean War

The 7th stayed in Japan as part of the occupation force. Coincidentally, one of its officers during this period was Lt. Col. Brice C. W. Custer, the nephew of former commander George Armstrong Custer.

During World War II and the Korean War, it used the main weapons of the U.S. Army (namely, the M1 Garand, M1 Carbine, M1911A1, and BAR). However, it converted to a tank unit, and used mainly the M26 Pershing. The conduct of 7th Cavalry soldiers with respect to their involvement with the tragedy at No Gun Ri during the early part of the Korean War has come under fire. Their story is most fully told by a veteran of the regiment, historian and Army Captain Robert Bateman, who wrote a book on the event using veterans accounts and historical documents.

7th Cavalry Regiment was reorganized under a new Table of Organization & Equipment on March 25, 1949, when the Troops were once again designated as Companies.

[edit] Cold War

The regiment was relieved from its assignment to the 1st Cavalry Division on October 15, 1957, and then reorganized under the Combat Arms Regimental System (CARS) on November 1, 1957. HQ & HQ Company transferred to the control of the Department of the Army. 01 November, As part of this reorganization, Company "A" redesignated, 1st Battle Group, 7th Cavalry and assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division. Company "B" redesignated 2nd Reconnaissance Squadron, 7th Cavalry and Company "C" redesignated, 3d Reconnaissance Squadron, 7th Cavalry and assigned to the 10th Infantry Division.

After the Korean War, 7th Cavalry was used mainly in a reconnaissance role. It received the M14 rifle, along with various other new weapons and equipment (including the M60 Super Patton tank). Also, a few OH-13s were used by the reconnaissance squadrons.

Three battalions, the 1st, 2nd and 5th served during the Vietnam War, armed with the new M16 rifle, the M203 grenade launcher replacing the M79 grenade launcher. Claymore mines, and Bell UH-1B helicopters were also used extensively. The experiences of the 1st and 2nd Battalions at the Battle of Ia Drang in November, 1965, were recounted in the book We Were Soldiers Once...And Young by Lt Gen Harold G. Moore, then a lieutenant colonel and commander of the 1st Battalion, and UPI correspondent Joseph L. Galloway. The book was later adapted into the film We Were Soldiers, with Mel Gibson as Moore and Barry Pepper as Galloway.

The other 2 units, the 3rd and 4th reconnaissance squadrons were based in Germany, and Korea.

The 1st, 2nd, and 5th battalions were deactivated after the Vietnam war, and only the 3rd and 4th squadrons remained as divisional reconnaissance squadrons assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division and 2nd Infantry Division respectively. Both the 3rd and 4th squadrons were aviation-tank cavalry squadrons using M60 Patton tank, M113 & M114 Armored Personnel Carriers. Both squadrons had an air cavalry "Delta" Troop, that had both reconnaissance & gunship UH-1B's. The gunships were armed with M-5 rocket launchers, and M-22 anti-tank guided missiles. In the early 80's the 3rd Squadron became the divisional cavalry squadron for the 8th Infantry Division and was stationed at Coleman Barracks West Germany. The Squadron consisted of two ground troops, two aviation troops and a headquarters troop. The ground troops were equipped with M60A3 tanks, M113 Armored Personnel Carriers, ITV (Improved TOW Vehicle, a M113 variant) and a morter section with 4.2 inch mortars mounted in a M113 variant. In 1989 the M60 tanks were replaced with M1A1 Abrams tanks. The aviation troops were equipped with OH-58 scout helicopters and AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters. The 3rd Squadron was deactivated along with the 8th Infantry Division in 1991.

However, between 1974 and 1975 other units were reactivated. The 1st Battalion became an armored unit, the 2nd Battalion and 5th Battalion as mechanized infantry. In 1978, the 5th Battalion was once again deactivated.

The 7th's service in the Vietnam War was famously marked with a refusal (broadcast by CBS) by one patrol to attack the NLF, on the grounds that it would threaten casualties.

[edit] Persian Gulf War

The 1st Squadron and 4th Squadron fought in the Persian Gulf War. The 1st Squadron was the divisional cavalry squadron for the 1st Cavalry Division and assigned to an aviation brigade.

The 4th Squadron was also the divisional cavalry squadron for 3rd Armored Division, taking part of the Battle of Phase Line Bullet. Ground troops were armed with the M3A1 Bradley CFV. Air cavalry Troops AH-1F Cobras, OH-58C scouts.

[edit] Iraq War

The 3rd Squadron fought in the Iraq War, Operation Iraqi Freedom and as the "Eyes and Ears" for the 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized) and the "Iron Fist" for the XVIII Airborne Corps. The unit was engaged with the enemy earlier or more often in the war than any other unit. The 3rd Squadron was the spearhead and the screening force for the main elements of the 3rd Infantry Division.

[edit] Current status

Currently, the 1st Squadron is in the 1st Brigade of the 1st Cavalry Division. The 2nd Battalion is assigned to the 4th Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, as the Division Cavalry Squadron. The 1st Squadron is stationed at Fort Hood, Texas and the 2nd Battalion at Fort Bliss, Texas.

The 3rd Squadron is part of the 2nd Brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division, while the 5th Squadron is part of the division's 1st Brigade. Both are based at Fort Stewart in Georgia. The 4th Squadron is part of the 2nd Infantry Division, stationed at Camp Casey, South Korea.

[edit] Honors

[edit] Campaign Participation Credit

  • Indian Wars:
  1. Comanches;
  2. Little Big Horn;
  3. Nez Perces;
  4. Pine Ridge;
  5. Montana 1873;
  6. North Dakota 1874
  • Mexican Expedition:
  1. Mexico 1916-1917
  • World War II:
  1. New Guinea;
  2. Bismarck Archipelago (with arrowhead);
  3. Leyte (with arrowhead);
  4. Luzon
  • Korean War:
  1. UN Defensive;
  2. UN Offensive; CCF Intervention;
  3. First UN Counteroffensive;
  4. CCF Spring Offensive;
  5. UN Summer-Fall Offensive;
  6. Second Korean Winter;
  7. Third Korean Winter
  • Vietnam:
  1. Defense;
  2. Counteroffensive;
  3. Counteroffensive, Phase II;
  4. Counteroffensive, Phase III;
  5. Tet Counteroffensive;
  6. Counteroffensive, Phase IV;
  7. Counteroffensive, Phase V;
  8. Counteroffensive, Phase VI;
  9. Tet 69/Counteroffensive;
  10. Summer-Fall 1969;
  11. Winter-Spring 1970;
  12. Sanctuary Counteroffensive;
  13. Counteroffensive, Phase VII;
  14. Consolidation I;
  15. Consolidation II;
  16. Cease-Fire
  • Southwest Asia:
  1. Defense of Saudi Arabia;
  2. Liberation and Defense of Kuwait;
  3. Cease-Fire

[edit] Decorations

  1. Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for ANTIPOLO, LUZON
  2. Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for YONCHON, KOREA
  3. Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for TAEGU, KOREA
  4. Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for PUSAN, KOREA
  5. Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for PLEIKU PROVINCE
  6. Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for BINH THUAN PROVINCE
  7. Valorous Unit Award for QUANG TIN PROVINCE
  8. Valorous Unit Award for FISH HOOK
  9. Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for SOUTHWEST ASIA
  10. Philippine Presidential Unit Citation for 17 OCTOBER 1944 TO 4 JULY 1945
  11. Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation for WAEGWAN-TAEGU
  12. Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation for KOREA 1952-1953
  13. Chryssoun Aristion Andrias (Bravery Gold Medal of Greece) for KOREA

[edit] See also

[edit] Sources

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