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The 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment is a regiment of the United States Army currently stationed at Fort Hood, Texas in the city of Killeen, Texas. The Regiment has a history in the United States Army that dates back to May 19, 1846, when it was Constituted in the Regular Army as the Regiment of Mounted Riflemen at Jefferson Barracks. This unit was reorganized at the start of the American Civil War as the 3rd U.S. Cavalry Regiment on August 3, 1861. Today, "3rd" has been replaced by the designator "3d" in the regiment's title, and the word "armored" has been added to recognize it as a heavy cavalry regiment (utilizing M1 Abrams tanks and M2 Bradley armored personel carriers) Under various names it has seen action during ten major conflicts: the Indian Wars, the Mexican-American War, the American Civil War, the Spanish-American War, the Philippine-American War, World War I, World War II, the Persian Gulf War, SFOR in Bosnia, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Twenty-three of the Regiment’s troopers received the Medal of Honor, all awarded for gallantry in action between 1871 and 1898. The list includes William "Buffalo Bill" Cody, whose award was rescinded in 1916 for not being a member of the military. Cody's medal was reinstated in 1989.
Origins
1st Squadron ("Tiger") Tiger Squadron is currently organized as follows: Headquarters and Headquarters Troop ("Roughrider") A Troop ("Apache") B Troop ("Bandit") C Troop ("Crazyhorse") D Company ("Dragon") Howitzer Battery ("King") Air Defense Artillery Battery ("Predator") (Regimental asset which falls under the administrative control of Tiger Squadron.) When the Regiment of Mounted Riflemen was organized pursuant to the act of Congress in 1846, the first companies filled were A, B, C, and D They would not be designated as troops until 1883 and would later make up the core of Tiger Squadron, 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment. Bandit Troop (then B Company) is the Regiment's senior troop. It was organized 1 August 1846, and consisted of 1-Captain, 1-1st Lieutenant, 1-2nd Lieutenant, 1-Brevet 2Lt, and 75 enlisted men. Crazyhorse Troop (then C Company) was organized next on 1 September 1846, with Captain Samuel H. Walker as its commander. He is listed as being "…on detached service at Washington, obtaining equipment and recruits for Company…" until 21 May 1847. No doubt the "equipment" he was obtaining was the shipment of 1000 Colt-Walker revolvers he had co-designed with Samuel Colt. Apache Troop (then A Company) completed its organization 1 October 1846. Captain William Wing Loring was the first Commander of A Company, and would later become the Regiment's 2nd Colonel, before resigning his commission to serve the Confederacy. Dragon Company (then D Company) was organized 4 October 1846 with 3 officers and 61 enlisted. Captain Henry Pope was the first commander of D company. The Regiment's first taste of combat would come in our nation's first international expeditionary war - The Mexican-American War of 1846-1848. Crazyhorse Troop would lead General Scott's investment of the City of Vera Cruz. In so doing their first "victory" was the capture of a Mexican supply train of oxen laden with casks of wine. Cadet Dabney Maury of C Company: When our work for that day was done…We were very hungry and thirsty. So our Texas guide lassoed a fat beef, a keg of sherry was broached, and we bivouacked upon the northern beach of Vera Cruz, just beyond the cannon range of the city, and remained there until, after two or three weeks bombardment, Vera Cruz surrendered. Apache Troop would suffer the Regiment's first enlisted and officer combat casualties. Private Timothy Cunningham was killed by a cannon ball during the siege of Vera Cruz, Mexico on 11 March 1847. One month later on 18 April 1847, 1LT Thomas Ewell was killed in action at Cerro Gordo. As he died, General Scott knelt by him and "soothed his expiring moments" saying afterwards "Ewell fell sword in hand within the works." On 9 June 1847, a famous frontiersman is appointed as a Lieutenant of Rifles in Company C. However, because of his rugged independence and plain dealing with friend and foe, he fails to make the grade with Congress, which refuses to confirm his appointment. Christopher "Kit" Carson is carried on the rolls of Company C from May through December 1847 as " Not joined since appointment". It seems, therefore, that Tiger Squadron would have a claim on Fort Carson nearly 100 years before the post existed. 2d Squadron ("Sabre") Sabre Squadron is organized as follows: Headquarters and Headquarters Troop ("Rattler") E Troop ("Eagle") F Troop ("Fox") G Troop ("Grim") H Company ("Heavy") Howitzer Battery ("Lion") 43d Combat Engineer Company ("Sapper") (Regimental asset which falls under the administrative control of Sabre Squadron.) The 43rd CEC is organized as follows: Headquarters Platoon, 1st Platoon, 2nd Platoon, 3rd Platoon, Assault and Obstacle Platoon, Maintenance Platoon. 3d Squadron ("Thunder") Thunder Squadron is organized as follows: Headquarters and Headquarters Troop ("Havoc") I Troop ("Ironhawk") K Troop ("Killer") L Troop ("Lightning") M Company ("Mad Dog") Howitzer Battery ("Regulator") 66th Military Intelligence Company ("Ghostrider") (Regimental asset which falls under the administrative control of Thunder Squadron.) 4th Squadron ("Longknife") Longknife Squadron is organized as follows: Headquarters and Headquarters Troop ("Headhunters") N Troop ("Nomad") - OH-58D Kiowa Warrior scout helicopters O Troop ("Outlaw") - OH-58D Kiowa Warrior scout helicopters P Troop ("Pegusus") - OH-58D Kiowa Warrior scout helicopters Q Troop ("Quicksilver") - AH-64 Apache attack helicopters (deactivated in 2004) R Troop ("Renegade") - AH-64 Apache attack helicopters S Troop ("Stetson") - UH-60 Blackhawk utility helicopters T Troop ("Tomahawk") - Aviation Maintenance The 4th Squadron, 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment originated from the Aviation section assigned to the regiment while stationed at Happstadten, Germany in 1961. In July 1968, the 3d ACR, with the aviation section, redeployed to the United States and was stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington. The Regiment, along with the Aviation section and a recently formed Air Cavalry Troop, relocated from Fort Lewis, Washington to Fort Bliss, Texas in 1972. In 1982, the aviation section was consolidated and redesignated the Regimental Support Aviation Troop (RSAT) which, along with the Air Cavalry Troop (ACT), provided the Regiment with airborne command and control, troop lift, aerial resupply, and medical evacuation capabilities. The ACT and RSAT were combined in December 1985 to form the 3d combat Aviation Squadron (Provisional). This provisional squadron first demonstrated its contribution to the Regimental Combined Arms Team during a rotation to the National Training Center in 1987. The following year, the squadron deployed to REFORGER to participate in the last REFORGER exercise prior to the collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989. The squadron was officially activated as the 4th Squadron, 3d ACR in October 1988. It consisted of Headquarters and Headquarters Troop (HHT), three Air Cavalry Troops (N, O, P), two Attack Troops (Q and R), and Assault Troop (S), and an Aviation Maintenance Troop (T). Within these organizations, the squadron was equipped with the AH-1 Cobra Attack Helicopter, the OH-58A/C Kiowa Helicopter, the UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopter, and the EH-60 Quickfix Electronic Warfare Helicopter. In September 1990, the squadron deployed to Saudi Arabia as part of Operation Desert Shield and established Longknife Base Camp in north central Saudi Arabia. On the morning of 24 February 1991, the squadron crossed the border into Iraq and commenced offensive operations in support of the regiment, attacking deep into Iraqi territory, moving more than 350 kilometers in less then 72 hours. Upon the Coalition Forces' victory, the squadron redeployed to Fort Bliss, Texas in March 1991. In late 1995, the Squadron initiated its relocation from Fort Bliss to Fort Carson, Colorado. In December 1995, the two Attack Troops (Q and R) were deactivated and their OH-58A/C and AH-1 aircraft were turned in. On 15 January 1996, the two Attack Troops were reactivated and equipped with the AH-64 Apache Attack Helicopter. The relocation to Fort Carson, Colorado was completed in March 1996. The 571st Medical Company (Air Ambulance) was assigned to the squadron in August 1996 with 15 additional UH-60 Blackhawk aircraft. With the addition of the 571st, the squadron grew to a total of 83 combat aircraft and 700 Troopers, the largest aviation squadron/battalion in the United States Army. The squadron has continued its Attack, Air Cavalry, Assault, Electronic Warfare and Medevac missions in support of the regiment and the Mountain Post not only at home station, but also during recent deployments to the National Training Center, Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site, Operation Green Flag (Nellis, AFB), Operation Northern Edge (Alaska), Operation Intrinsic Action (Kuwait), Medevac support to Joint Task Force Sic, Fort Bliss, Texas; and Fort Riley, Kansas and to wildland firefighting contingencies throughout the Western United States. In October 1998, the squadron transferred all remaining OH-58A/C and AH-1 aircraft and was modernized with 24 OH-58D Kiowa Warriors. This reorganization under the Army Restructuring Initiative will again distinguish the squadron as the only squadron or battalion in the active force equipped with AH-64, UH-60A/L, EH-60A, and OH-58D aircraft. The squadron is an integral component of the regiment's combined arms team and is prepared for worldwide deployment in support of the Regiment of Mounted Riflemen. Support Squadron ("Muleskinner") Muleskinner Squadron is organized as follows: Headquarters and Headquarters Troop Supply and Transportation Troop ("Packhorse") Maintenance Troop ("Blacksmith") Medical Troop ("Scalpel") 89th Chemical Company ("Chemdawg") (Regimental asset which falls under the administrative control of Muleskinner Squadron.) Support Squadron, 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment was formed on the 11th of November 1977, on the order of the 57th Colonel of the Regiment, Colonel C. Lutz, and given the mission of executing logistical operations for the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment. Support Squadron promptly adopted the nickname "Muleskinner" from the original teamsters who conducted logistical operations by wagon trains for the Regiment of Mounted Riflemen during its early years. During Operation Iraqi Freedom Three (OIF III) the 89th Chemical Company, Lead by Captain Brian Caplin and First Sergeant Michael Shirley, conducted detention operations safeguarding and segregating over 2000 detainees. Further the unit's reconnaissance platoon travelled over 20,000 miles as they conducted escort operations for the Muleskinner Logistical Convoys. Medical Troop was commanded by Captain Dan Liedl throughout the operation; missions ecompassed several mass casualty events and medical evacuations. Maintenance Troop, commanded by Captain Brian Knieriam conducted a multitude of tasks including Forward Operating Base gate security, continued maintenance operations, enabling the success of the regiment during Operation Restoring Rights and conduted Iraqi Police training and partnership operations. Supply and Transportation Troop lead by Todd Allison moved thousands of pounds of ammunition, fuel and food to the maneuver units allowing sustained operations. Mexican-American War
American Civil War In April 1861, the American Civil War broke out and nine officers left the Regiment to join the cause of the Confederacy. In August 1861, the mounted arm of the U.S. Army was reorganized, and the Regiment of Mounted Riflemen was re-designated the 3d U.S. Cavalry Regiment. The Regiment remained in New Mexico fighting hostile Indians as well as Confederate Troops until 1862. In September of 1862, the Regiment re-deployed to Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. Indian Wars Spanish-American War Philippine-American War World War I and II
First Into Germany On 31 August 1944, the 1st platoon of B Troop, 3d Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, with 30 men, 6 Jeeps armed with .50 cal MG, and three M-8 armored cars with 37mm guns made a raid behind enemy lines to Thionville, France in a desperate attempt to prevent the bridge across the Moselle from being destroyed by the Germans. The platoon conducted the raid 75 miles behind enemy lines as US Forces advanced slowly towards the Moselle River to effect a crossing on its push toward the German "West Wall". Troop commander Captain James D. Jackson succeeded in crossing the river to the eastern approach to the bridge and cut the wires leading to the demolition charges, and was wounded in the attempt. An enemy sniper then killed SGT Baker when he assumed command, the only fatality among the raiders. Their mission accomplished, the platoon crossed the dynamite-laden bridge to rescue Jackson before falling back, fighting their way out. In so doing, they were no doubt the first American troops to cross the Moselle in WW-II. The platoon suffered 6 casualties and 2 jeeps lost. The enemy suffered an estimated 1600 casualties, 2 tanks and 112 vehicles destroyed. Captain Jackson was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, and the bridge over the Moselle was temporarily saved from destruction. The remainder of the Army did not reach and cross the Moselle until 12 September at Arnaville, France. Discovering Germanys Final Solution
Cold War The first time the 3d Cavalry served on the Iron Curtain was in August, 1955, when it replaced the 2d Cavalry as part of the Army's Gyroscope plan that rotated entire units between Germany and the U.S. In February,1958, the cycle repeated and the troopers of the 3d Cavalry returned to the States as the 2d Cavalry resumed their former mission. The 3d Cavalry, though, would not remain stateside for long. In November, 1961, the Regiment was deployed to Germany once again in response to the Soviet threat during the Berlin Crisis. The troopers were stationed in Baumholder but the unit soon found itself once again patrolling the border. Cavalry Troops within the Regiment were soon attached on a monthly, rotating basis to the 14th Armored Cavalry Regiment to assist with patrols in the 3/14 ACR sector. Additionally, the 1st and 2nd Squadrons relieved units of the 14th Cavalry for two one-month periods during 1962 and 1963. During 1964, though, the Regiment would play a larger role in border operations. Since the 11th Cavalry was scheduled to return to the U.S. in the summer of 1964, a unit was needed to fill the gap along the Iron Curtain in southeastern Bavaria. To meet this requirement, the 2nd Squadron, 3d Cavalry, was redesignated as the 1st Squadron, 11 ACR, and rotated back to the states with the 11th Cavalry. At the same time, the 11th Cavalry's 1st Squadron stationed in Straubing was redesignated as 2nd Squadron, 3d Cavalry, and conducted border operations under the regimental colors of the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment. The unit conducted border operations from its two border camps until March 1965 when it was relieved by 2/9th Cavalry of the 24th Infantry Division. The Regiment remained in Germany until July 1968. In July 1972, the 3d Cavalry received orders to move to Fort Bliss, Texas. The Lucky 16 During this time, in Nuremberg, Germany. The 2d and 11th Cavalry began a close working relationship resulting in a tradition called the "Lucky 13. " These two cavalry units trained together and often confronted one another in exercises. Lucky 13 conferences were about war and war fighting and included seminars on fielding new systems, maneuver techniques, and training. When the 3d Cavalry joined the 2d and 11th in the General Defense Plan of Europe, the regiments became known as the "Lucky 16." Whenever two of the Lucky 16 Regiments are in the same location the Lucky 16 convenes. Gulf War On 7 August 1990, the Regiment was alerted to move overseas in defense of Saudi Arabia. In September 1990, the Regiment arrived in country as part of the XVIII Airborne Corps, and moved into defensive positions south of the Kuwaiti border. On 22 January 1991, elements of I Troop led by the 63rd Colonel, Colonel Starr, engaged in the first ground combat of the XVIII Airborne Corps. On 22 February, F Troop led the Regiment across the berm into Iraq. In 100 hours, the Regiment moved over 300 kilometers, and left remnants of three Iraqi Republican Guard Divisions in its wake. As quickly as they deployed, the Regiment deployed back to the U.S. arriving 5 April 1991. In April of 1996, the Regiment completed its move to its new home at Fort Carson, Colorado. Bosnia Peacekeeping Global War on Terrorism The 3d ACR has seen two deployments during the Global War on Terrorism, both to Iraq. The 5,200 member regiment has lost 71 soldiers during two years of combat--the greatest loss of any Fort Carson unit. This has contributed to the announcement in May 2006 that Fort Carson has the Army base with the highest death toll of the war. Nine soldiers have died for every 1,000 assigned to the post. Fort Hood, Texas, and Fort Campbell, Kentucky, have lost five soldiers per thousand. At Fort Riley in Kansas, the rate is six per 1,000.* First Tour (OIF)
Capt. David M. Rozelle Capt. David M. Rozelle is the first amputee to return to U.S. military duty in a combat zone. Capt. Rozelle deployed to the town of Hit, Iraq as the commander of the 3d ACR's K Troop ("Killer"). During operations in Hit, Rozelle's Humvee ran over an anti-tank mine which destroyed both the Humvee and Rozelle's right lower leg. This resulted in the amputation of Rozelle's foot and ankle. After being given a false leg, Capt. Rozelle returned to duty as commander of the 3d Cavalry's Headquarters Troop. He then redeployed to Iraq with the 3d ACR on their second tour in Iraq. Since his injury, Rozelle has completed the New York Marathon and written the book, Back In Action: An American Soldier’s Story of Courage, Faith and Fortitude. "Steve-O"
Prisoner Abuse It was during Operation Rifles Blitz the 3d Cavalry captured 112 prisoners to include the sons of the former commander of the Iraqi military's anti-aircraft batteries, Major General Abed Hamed Mowhoush. Subsequently Gen. Mowhoush turned himself in at the 3d Cavalry's Forward Operating Base "Tiger" on Nov. 10, 2003 in an attempt to free his sons, then died in custody on November 26th, 2003 under unclear circumstances. Hours after Mowhoush's death in U.S. custody on Nov. 26, 2003, military officials issued a news release stating that the prisoner had died of natural causes after complaining of feeling sick. In August of 2005, The Washington Post revealed that Mowhoush had been severely beaten by a paramilitary Iraqi group sponsored by the CIA two days before he died. The ensuing investigation brought attention to the general's death and three troopers of the 66th Military Intelligence Company of 3/3 ACR (nicknamed "Ghost Rider") along with a fourth trooper from the 3d ACR's support squadron. Sgt. 1st Class William J. Sommer and Spec. Jerry L. Loper from the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment, who were assigned to the detention facility at the time of the interrogation, faced dereliction of duty charges while the other two troopers were then charged with the general's murder. On January 12, 2006 the army dropped its charge of murder against Chief Warrant Officer Jeff L. Williams in exchange for his testimony in the case of Chief Warrant Officer Lewis E. Welshofer Jr., who continues to be charged with the general's murder. Williams will instead face administrative discipline (e.g. suspension, demotion or loss of pay). The army alleges that Mowhoush was suffocated by Welshofer with an electrical cord during an interrogation by Welshofer and Williams which Williams failed to stop. On January 9th another death of a prisoner at the regiment’s base camp in Al Asad has drawn the attention of Army investigators. Second Tour (OIF III)
Operation Restoring Rights Since the 3d Cavalry's return from Iraq, the growing praise for their actions in Tal Afar has made their second deployment likely to be one of the highlights of the war. By the time 3d Cavlary returned to Iraq in 2005, the northern city of Tal Afar had fallen entirely under the control of insurgents. Led by Colonel H.R. McMaster, who had earned fame as a cavalry commander during the first Gulf War, the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment focused first on pacifying the smaller surrounding cities and closing down the nearby Syrian border to prevent supplies and routes of escape to the insurgents occupying the city. The next stage was to build a massive earthen berm that enclosed Tal Afar, as law-abiding residents were ordered out to evacuation camps. Finally, with the months of practice from the smaller cities, the soldiers moved in to root the insurgents out of Tal Afar. The 3d Cavalry also adopted a host of other largely successful approaches to their second deployment, such as a program that involved interviewing all detainees upon release about how they were treated while in custody, dubbed the "Ask the Customer" program. After the regiment returned from Iraq, Tal Afar Mayor Mayor Najim Abdullah al Jubori sent a letter to Gen. George Casey, the senior U.S. commander in Iraq, thanking the 3d Cavalry for liberating his town. The Mayor's letter became the subject of widespread media attention after U.S. President George W. Bush mentioned it during a speech in March 2006.* For full text of letter see: Letter to 3d ACR from Tal Afar Mayor Lineage The U.S. Army Center of Military History summarizes the regiment's lineage as follows: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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