The 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment – (1st Regiment of Dragoons) – is the most decorated unit in the United States Army. It can trace its roots back to 1776. Follow the link below to read more about the Squadron and its history.
Vietnam
In 1967 the Squadron was detached from the 1st Armored Division, Ft. Hood, Texas. Troops, A, B and C shipped out to Vietnam aboard the troop ship USS Walker. D Troop, the aviation unit, would follow in 1968. The Squadron eventually became part of the Americal Division.
The Cold War
1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment returned to Europe and the 1st Armored Division, VII Corps taking up another frontier mission in December 1978 in the surveillance of the international “Iron Curtain” border between the Federal Republic of Germany and Czechoslovakia. As the “Eyes & Ears” of the 1st Armored Division based out of its Garrison at O’Brien Barracks in Schwabach, FRG, the Line Troops (A – “Alpha”, B “Bravo”, C “Charlie”, D “Delta”) rotated on a 30 to 45-day cycle through 1-1 Cavalry’s Border Camp Pitman in Weiden, FRG between Field Training Exercises (FTX), Unit Gunnery Exercises and augmentations of other Border Cavalry Camps along the Inner German Cold War Iron Curtain Border with East Germany and Czechoslovakia. During this border surveillance mission period the line Troops were often typically deployed from their O’Brien Barracks Garrison for around 9 to 10 Months each year participating in various FTX’s, REFORGER’s (Return of Forces to Germany), Unit Gunnery Exercises, Border Tours and Augmentations.
In 1988 the Squadron moved Garrison to Katterbach, FRG and the unit eventually gained additional aviation elements to help support its mission. As part of the move and conversion from H Series Cavalry configuration to J Series Cavalry configuration, C Troop was dropped as a ground Troop and became one of the new Aviation Troops (C & D) added.
Desert Storm & Shield
When Sadaam Hussein’s Iraq invaded Kuwait precipitating the Gulf War, the 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment moved to Saudi Arabia from their bases in Germany and into the line by 8 January 1991. The 1st Armored Division was in a wedge for the advance forward, and 1-1 Cavalry was at the “sharp end” of the wedge. On 24 February, the 1st Cavalry led the way across the border and covered 244 kilometers in the enemy’s rear during 89 hours of sustained combat operations. 1-1 Cavalry helped destroy 4 Iraqi divisions along the way, 3 of which were members of the vaunted Republican Guard. The squadron sustained no fatalities and a limited number of wounded, and only lost two M3A2 Bradley fighting vehicles.
Animo Et Fide