1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry
On June 8th at the Conn Barracks Parade Field in Schweinfurt, Germany, the colors of the 1st Squadron, 4th U.S. Cavalry Regiment were cased, ending the unit's designation as part of the 1st Infantry Division."Quarter Cav," as the 1st Infantry Division's 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment is a blend of tanks, Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and helicopters, all under a single commander. One of only two cavalry units in Europe, there is one such squadron under each of the Army's two Europe-based divisions - the 1st Infantry and 1st Armored Division.Headquarters and Headquarters Troop provides the command, decision making and logistical support necessary for all other troops to perform their diverse missions.The Ground Cav Troops, A, B and C, consist of a combination of armor, mechanized infantry and artillery into unit that is capable of bringing overwhelming firepower to bear at the critical time and place on the battlefield. The Squadron's three Ground Cav Troops perform their primary mission as the muscle of the Squadron by putting steel on target with the M3 Bradley Cav Fighting Vehicle, the M1 Abrams tank and mortar-equipped M113s.The Air Troops, D, E and F, add the third dimension to the cavalry effort, reaching farther and faster into the battle space than any other manned weapon system. Delta and Echo Troop perform their primary mission as the forward eyes of the Squadron and Division using the OH-58D(I) Kiowa Warrior armed reconnaissance helicopter. Foxtrot Troop is the Squadron's aviation maintenance troop.The 4th Cavalry Regiment was created in 1855. Since then, the Regiment has earned thirteen U.S. and foreign awards and 56 battle and campaign streamers. Additionally, 29 troopers of the Regiment have further distinguished themselves by earning the Congressional Medal of Honor. These 29 troopers were awarded a total of 30 Medals of Honor, with Sergeant William Wilson having presented with two of them.One year after its establishment, the 4th Cavalry Regiment's first military action was a peacekeeping mission in "Bleeding Kansas," where pro-slavery and free state factions clashed violently. The Regiment first fought on the 30th of July, 1857, at the Battle of Solomon River, Kansas, against a large force of 'southern Cheyenne warriors. With the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861, the 4th Cavalry Regiment dissolved. Many of its maneuver commanders rose to prominence during the war; including Robert E. Lee, George B. McClellan, and the infamous J.E.B. Stuart. Reformed and redesignated, the Regiment later fought in the major battles of First Bull Run, the Peninsula, Fredericksburg, Antietam, Chickamagua, Murfreesboro and Nashville. After participating in the Battle for Columbus, Georgia - the last battle of the war - the Regiment captured the fugitive Confederate President, Jefferson Davis.From 1869 to 1886, the Regiment served on the Western Frontier, participating in the Battles of Red River, Ramonlina, and Pale Duro Canyon. With a swift assault on the Northern Cheyenne village, the Regiment ended the Great Sioux War, which was earlier marked by the annihilation of Custer's 7th U.S. Cavalry at Little BigHorn. The Regiment also waged one of the last campaigns of the Indian Wars: the pursuit of Geronimo's Apaches in 1886.In World War II, the regiment put ashore the first allied soldiers of the D-Day invasion of islands off the coast of France. The regiment added to its laurels in fierce fighting among the hedgerows of Normandy and in the Huertegan Forest during the Battle of the Bulge. In 1965, 1-4 Cavalry deployed to the Republic of Viet Nam, spending eight years fighting in the jungles of Southeast Asia. The Squadron's firepower, mobility, and shock effect led to their use as "Fire Brigades" at the scenes of the hottest action.In 1990, the Squadron deployed to Saudi Arabia, as part of Operation Desert Shield. This led to the Squadron's spearhead of the division assault into Iraq during Operation Desert Storm in 1991.In 1995, 1-4 Cavalry was the first unit deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina, supporting the peacekeeping mission set forth by the Dayton Peace Accord, for a period of eleven months. 1999 and 2000 saw the air cav elements of the Quarterhorse returning to the Balkans, this time Kosovo, as members of Operation Joint Guardian II.In mid-October 2002 soldiers with 1st Infantry Division's 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment were abruptly told they would not deploy to Kosovo for peacekeeping duties. 1st Infantry Division officials in Kosovo said they could not comment on the change, while a spokesman for V Corps, the division's parent headquarters, referred all questions to US European Command. A EUCOM spokesman, however, said he could not comment on the change, referring all questions back to V Corps. The first trainloads of the squadron's equipment bound for the Balkans from Germany had to be called back over the weekend. The Schweinfurt-based Quarter Cav was to be part of the 1st Infantry Division's 3rd Brigade task force due to rotate into Kosovo. The squadron was to lead the US contingent's aviation task force of OH-58 Kiowa and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, as well as provide perimeter guards at the US headquarters at Camp Bondsteel.
