George Armstrong Custer and Grand Duke Alexi
Counties named in my honor are in five states:
Colorado
Montana
Nebraska
Oklahoma
South Dakota
Custer County, Idaho, is named for the General Custer mine, which, in turn, was named General George Armstrong Custer
Private Tom Meador was killed in action at the last stand of Custer's 7th Cavalry on June 26, 1876. His death was documented allowing a stone to be placed there on the hillside. His name is on the monument at the hillcrest. He was in Co. H and hailed from Virginia
THE LITTLE BIGHORN BATTLEFIELD NATIONAL MONUMENT
Custer National Cemetery is within Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument
THE GARRY OWEN
Garryowen was the 7th Cavalry Regimental marching song. It was derived from an old Irish drinking song, and might have been suggested to Gen. Custer by one of his "melting pot" Irish soldiers, perhaps even Capt. Myles Keogh. Custer liked the tune since it matched the cadence of a cavalry horse marching in formation.
"Dandy" (left) Custer's horse for the long march and hunting, and "Vic" (right) the thoroughbred that Custer used for battle and whenever speed was required were no doubt well acquainted with the regimental song.
RE-ORGANIZATION OF MY 7th CAVALRY
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.
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.
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.
OCCUPATION OF JAPAN AND THE 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 placement at No Gun Ri during the early part of the Korean War has come under fire.
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.
THE 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 were also used extensively. The experiences of the 1st and 2nd Battalions at the Battle of Ia Drang 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 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. Ground troops were armed with the M3A1 Bradley CFV. Air cavalry Troops AH-1F Cobras, OH-58C scouts.
THE IRAQ WAR
The 7th Cavalry in Iraq
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.
CURRENT STATUS
Currently, the 2nd Battalion is in the 1st Brigade of the 1st Cavalry Division. The 1st Squadron 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.
NEW MONTANA PLATES
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Custer's blunders cost him his life but gained him everlasting fame. His defeat at the Little Bighorn made the life of what would have been an obscure 19th century military figure into the subject of countless songs, books and paintings. His widow, Elizabeth Bacon Custer, did what she could to further his reputation, writing laudatory accounts of his life that portrayed him as not only a military genius but also a refined and cultivated man, a patron of the arts, and a budding statesman.
Countless paintings of "Custer's Last Stand" were made, including one mass-distributed by the Anheuser-Busch brewing company. All of these paintings -- as did the misnomer "the Custer massacre" -- depicted Custer as a gallant victim, surrounded by bloodthirsty savages intent upon his annihilation. Forgotten were the facts that he had started the battle by attacking the Indian village, and that most of Indians present were forced to surrender within a year of their greatest battlefield triumph.
'The Gallant 7th' by John Philip Sousa
The 'Garry Owen' tune. The U.S. 7th Cavalry's adopted song
FELIX VINATIERI
7th Cavalry Band Leader
THE 7th CAVALRY REGIMENTAL BAND
THE 7TH CAVALRY DRUM AND BUGLE CORPS.
I was portraid by famous actors depicting the 'Battle Of Little Bighorn' and they are:
Francis Ford
Ned Finley
Dustin Farnum
John Beck
Clay Clement
John Miljan
Frank McGlynn
Paul Kelly
Addison Richards
Ronald Reagan
Errol Flynn
James Millican
Sheb Wooley
Douglas Kennedy
Britt Lomond
Philip Carey
Leslie Nielsen
Robert Shaw
Wayne Maunder
Richard Mulligan
Marcello Mastroianni
Ken Howard
James Olsen
Gary Cole
Josh Lucas
Peter Horton
William Shockley
History and Documentaries
Randolf Scott
George and Libby Custer (Flynn & DeHavilland) bound for the
Dakota Territory and the Seventh Cavalry with the help of
California Joe (Charlie "Uncle Henry" Grapewin)
Custer's Last Jump by Howard Waldrop and Steven Utley
Harry Turtledove's Timeline-191
The 7th Cavalry was a force to be reckoned with in the American West. Stationed out of Ft. Wallace, these men engaged in numerous battles with nearby Indian tribes.
My heroes are the men who fought and died for me
LIBBY and Maid ELIZZA
Custer Quick Chronology:
1806 - Emanuel Custer born in Cryssoptown, Md.
1807 - Maria Ward born in Burgettstown, Pa.
1836 - Emanuel and Maria wed (second marriage for both)
December 5, 1839 - George Armstrong Custer born in New Rumley, Oh.
April 8, 1842 - Elizabeth Clift Bacon born in Monroe, Mi.
1853 - George enter Alfred Stebbins' Young Men's Academy in Monroe
1855 - George Returns to Harrison Co, Oh. to teach at Beech Point School
1856 - George writes to Cong. John Bingham (Oh) asking for appointment to West Point. Since the 1856 candidate has already been selected, he will have to wait one year.
1857 - George enters West Point
1860 - Lincoln elected President and Southern States begin to secede
April 12, 1861 - Confederate fire upon Fort Sumpter becomes the first engagement of the Civil War
June 1861 - Custer graduates from West Point and in July is assigned to G Company of the Second U.S. Cavalry
1862 - Elizabeth (Libbie) graduates from Boyd's Seminary in Monroe as valedictorian of her class
June 29, 1863 - Custer promoted to rank of Brigadier General and to command Michigan Cavalry Brigade
July 1 - 3, 1863 - Battle of Gettysburg
February 9, 1864 - George A. Custer and Elizabeth C. Bacon wed at Presbyterian Church in Monroe, Mi.
April 9, 1865 - Civil War ends as General Lee surrenders to General Grant at Appomattox Court House, Va.
July 1866 - Custer receives his appointment as Lieutenant-Colonel of the newly formed Seventh Cavalry
1867 - Kidder Massacre
November 27, 1868 - Battle of Washita
March 1873 - Custer and the 7th Cavalry ordered to the Plains and stationed at Fort Abraham Lincoln in North Dakota
June 1874 - Start of the Black Hills Expedition
January 1876 - Start of the Sioux Campaign
March 1876 - Custer testifies against William Belknap, Secretary of war under President Grant, involving the sale of post traderships
May 2, 1876 - Custer ordered to remain in Chicago
May 8, 1876 - President Grant withdraws objections and allows General Alfred Terry to order Custer to join Seventh Cavalry
May 17, 1876 - Expedition leaves Fort Abraham Lincoln under command of General Terry
June 10, 1876 - Major Marcus Reno and detachment of Seventh Cavalry discover fresh Indian trail heading for the Little Big Horn River
June 17, 1876 - General Crook's troops attacked by a combined force of Sioux and Cheyenne on the upper Rosebud Creek.
June 22, 1876 - Custer and men begin move south along Rosebud Creek
June 24, 1876 - Custer, with more than 600 cavalrymen, 55 Indian scouts, and 20 others camp 25 miles east of the Little Big Horn. Sioux and Cheyenne from the Rosebud battle join tribesmen at the Little Big Horn Camp.
June 25, 1876 - Battle of the Little Big Horn
1877 - Custer's body exhumed from the battle site and reinterred at West Point
1886 - The battle site becomes a National Cemetery
June 4, 1910 - Custer statue "Sighting the Enemy"" dedicated in Monroe
April 4, 1933 - Elizabeth Bacon Custer dies and is buried beside George at West Point
1946 - Battle site is renamed Custer Battlefield National Monument
1991 - Battle site is renamed Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument
MYTHS ABOUT THE BATTLE
Contrary to what is depicted in the many movies and paintings, there were no sabers at the battle. When the 7th Cavalry left fort Abraham lincoln it did indeed have sabers, but these were collected and boxed at Custer's command before the column left the main unit under General Terry. Custer wanted to ride fast and as silently as possible. The sabers created a noisy clatter when a mounted unit was moving rapidly. The fact that Custer decided against carrying the sabers also marks the end of a custom in the mounted unit. The pistol had proven to be the weapon of choice in by the rapidly charging cavalryman. Some, have said that Capt. Keogh might have smuggled his favorite ceremonial saber, his good luck charm, with him and into the battle. But it was never drawn and was discovered among his belongings by Indians pillaging the belongins of the slain soldiers on Custer Hill.
Custer did not carry his long golden curly locks into the battle. In deference to Mrs. Custer, who prior to the departure of Custer's command from Ft. Lincoln, had a dream in which she saw an Indian standing over her dead huband with a freshly acquired blond scalp in his hand, Custer had his long curls sheared prior to departing.
ABOUT THE 7th CAVALRY
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 Ft. 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.
Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory
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. The regiment perpetrated the Wounded Knee Massacre on December 29, 1890, the end of the Indian Wars.
HONORS
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
DECORATIONS
Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for ANTIPOLO, LUZON
Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for YONCHON, KOREA
Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for TAEGU, KOREA
Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for PUSAN, KOREA
Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for PLEIKU PROVINCE
Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for BINH THUAN PROVINCE
Valorous Unit Award for QUANG TIN PROVINCE
Valorous Unit Award for FISH HOOK
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for SOUTHWEST ASIA
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation for 17 OCTOBER 1944 TO 4 JULY 1945
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation for WAEGWAN-TAEGU
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation for KOREA 1952-1953
Chryssoun Aristion Andrias (Bravery Gold Medal of Greece) for KOREA