3rd Cavalry Regiment (United States)

3d Armored Cavalry Regiment
3d ACR Coat Of Arms
Active	1846 –
Country	USA
Branch	Regular Army
Part of	III Corps
Garrison/HQ	Fort Hood, Texas
Nickname(s)	Brave Rifles
Motto(s)	Blood and Steel
Engagements	Indian Wars Mexican American War/Battle of Contreras US Civil War Spanish American War Philippine American War World War I World War II Gulf War Iraq War
Commanders
Notable commanders	Winfield Scott Adna R. Chaffee George S. Patton H. R. McMaster

Template:Cavalry The 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment is a regiment of the United States Army currently stationed at Fort Hood, TX, near the city of Killeen.

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, Missouri. 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 Today, "3rd" has been replaced by the designator "3d" in the regiment's title, and the word "armored" has been added to recognize it as a heavy cavalry regiment (equipped with M1 Abrams tanks and M3 Bradley cavalry fighting vehicles)

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 The list includes William "Buffalo Bill" Cody, whose award was rescinded in 1916 for not being a member of the military.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.

At present, the 3d Armored Cavalry regiment is the only heavy Armored Cavalry Regiment in the U.S. Army. The other two remaining Armored Cavalry Regiments, the 2nd and 11th, are both considered light ACRs.

Structure

Structure 3rd Armored Cavalry (click to enlarge)

• 1st Squadron "Tiger"
• 2nd Squadron "Sabre"
• 3rd Squadron "Thunder"
• 4th Squadron "Longknife" - Aviation Squadron
• Support Squadron "Muleskinner"

Origins

File:3acrsymbols.JPG

Top Left: Branch Insignia of the 3d ACR
Top Right: Shoulder Sleeve Insignia of the 3d ACR
Bottom Right: Distinctive Unit Insignia of the 3d ACR (nicknamed the "BUG")

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.) (Deactivated as of May 2006)

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 the United States' first international expeditionary war - The Mexican-American War of 1846–1848. Crazyhorse Troop 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 suffered 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.

2nd 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")

43rd 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.

The Regiment of Mounted Riflemen was authorized by an Act of Congress on December 1 1845 and the president signed the bill in law May 19 1846. Thus came into existence a new organization in the United States Army: a regiment of riflemen, mounted to provide greater mobility than the Infantry and equipped with percussion rifles to provide greater range and more accurate firepower than the Infantry’s muskets or the Dragoon’s carbines. From the hills of central Mexico to the deserts of Iraq the 2nd Squadron has always been on the cutting edge of history.

Through six campaigns of the Mexican War, 2nd Squadron distinguished itself. On 20 August 1847, General Winfield Scott, Commander of American Forces in Mexico, made the speech from which the first sixteen words have become so important to the Regiment. The Regiment laid bloodied and exhausted from the fierce fighting at Contreras. But even so, each man stood at attention as the General approached.

General Scott, who had arrived to order the Regiment to Churubsco for an even more difficult battle, became so choked with emotion over the valor of these men, that he removed his hat, bowed low, and proclaimed: “Brave Rifles! Veterans! You have been baptized in fire and blood and have come out steel!” This accolade is emblazoned on the Regimental Coat of Arms, and it is still the source of the Regimental Motto, “Blood and Steel”.

Today 2nd Squadron maintains its combat-ready posture through frequent field training exercises and semi-annual gunnery training, emphasizing proficiency at troop, platoon, section, and squad/crew levels. Command post exercises test the ability of the Squadron to react to situations which arise in combat. Although the Squadron’s training takes place in the local training area and environment, it is still expected to be able to move, shoot, and communicate in any climate and terrain throughout the world. Despite the many tasks that 2nd Squadron is called upon to perform, it stands ready, as it has for over 150 years, to perform any assigned mission.

BRAVE RIFLES.....Sabre Ready!

By Director, 3d Armored Cavalry Museum

3rd Squadron ("Thunder")

Thunder Squadron is organized as follows:

Headquarters and Headquarters Troop ("Havoc Hounds")

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.)

Through six campaigns of the Mexican War, 3rd Squadron distinguished itself. On 20 August 1847, General Winfield Scott, Commander of American Forces in Mexico, made the speech from which the first sixteen words have become so important to the Regiment. The Regiment laid bloodied and exhausted from the fierce fighting at Contreras. But even so, each man stood at attention as the General approached. General Scott, who had arrived to order the Regiment to Churubsco for an even more difficult battle, became so choked with emotion over the valor of these men, that he removed his hat, bowed low, and proclaimed: "Brave Rifles! Veterans! You have been baptized in fire and blood and have come out steel!" This accolade is emblazoned on the Regimental Coat of Arms, and it is still the source of the Regimental Motto, "Blood and Steel".

The 3rd Squadron was the command of future GEN George S. Patton, Jr., who also served as the 28th commander of the regiment. 3rd Squadron also has seven Medal of Honor recipients throughout its history.

The 3rd Squadron maintains its combat-ready posture through frequent field training exercises and semi-annual gunnery training, emphasizing proficiency at troop, platoon, section, and squad/crew levels. Command post exercises test the ability of the Squadron to react to situations which arise in combat. Although the Squadron's training takes place in the local training area and environment, it is still expected to be able to move, shoot, and communicate in any climate and terrain throughout the world.

4th Squadron ("Longknife")

Longknife Squadron is organized as follows:

Headquarters and Headquarters Troop ("Headhunters")

N Troop ("Nomad") - AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters (OH-58D until July 2006)

O Troop ("Outlaw") - AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters (OH-58D until July 2006)

P Troop ("Pegasus") - AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters (OH-58D until July 2006)

Q Troop ("Quicksilver") - AH-64A deactivated 2004, reactivated as Quickstrike (2005), deactivated in 2006

R Troop ("Renegade") - Forward Support Troop (FST)(AH-64D until 2006)

S Troop ("Stetson") - UH-60L Blackhawk utility helicopters

T Troop ("Tomahawk") - Aviation Unit Maintenance

AVIM Troop ("Air Raiders") - Aviation Intermediate 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 3rd 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 re-designated 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 3rd 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, and the UH-60 Blackhawk 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 than 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. As of 2006, 571st Medical Company is no longer with Longknife Squadron.

The squadron 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, and OH-58D aircraft.

In 2005, during OIF III, Quicksilver Troop was re-designated "Quickstrike," and served as the Regiment's light reconnaissance troop with air-mobile capability. Additionally, Q Troop partnered with an Iraqi Army brigade and helped start the 3rd IA Division's Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) company.

In 2006, Longknife Squadron was deactivated during the Regiment's move to Fort Hood, Texas. During the summer of 2006, 3d ACR moved to Ft. Hood Texas, leaving portions of Longknife Squadron at Ft. Carson, CO. The three OH-58D Air Cavalry Troops, Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, the FST and portions of the AVIM and AVUM (specific to OH58 maintenance) remained at Ft. Carson and reflagged as 1/6 CAV. Upon the Regiment's arrival at Ft. Hood, TX, 1-1 Aviation (located at Ft. Hood fielding the AH-64D Longbow) reflagged as 4th Squadron 3d ACR, changing the makeup and capabilities of 4th Squadron. N, O and P troops no longer possess the OH-58 Kiowa Warrior and are now outfitted with AH-64D Apache Longbows. R troop is no longer the attack troop and is now the Forward Support Troop. S troop remains the UH-60L Blackhawk Troop. T troop is still the Aviation Unit level Maintenance (AVUM) Troop. Upon the reflag, Longknife gained an Aviation Intermediate Maintenance (AVIM) Troop which was previously organized under the Regimental Support Squadron (RSS) - making 4th Squadron 3d ACR a unique and extremely flexible Air Cavalry Squadron.

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 ("Bullwhip")

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 3rd 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, led by Captain Fennel for the first ten months of the deployment and First Sergeant Michael Shirley, oversaw detention operations at the Regimental Internment Facility (RIF), safeguarding and segregating over 2000 detainees. Further the unit's reconnaissance platoon traveled over 20,000 miles (32,000 km) as they conducted escort operations for the Muleskinner Logistical Convoys. The final two months of the deployment, Captain Brian Caplin took command of 89th and redeployed the company back to the states after a successful OIF deployment.

Medical Troop was commanded by Captain Dan Liedl throughout the operation; missions encompassed several mass casualty events and medical evacuations, along with medical coverage at the Regiment's displaced civilian facility during Operation Restoring Rights and on-site medical coverage at the Regimental Internment Facility. Maintenance Troop, commanded by Captain Jon Reeves 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 conducted Iraqi Police training and partnership operations. Supply and Transportation Troop lead by James Outland moved thousands of pounds of ammunition, fuel and food to the maneuver units allowing sustained operations.

Mexican-American War

The Regiment was organized "for establishing military stations on the route to Oregon", and it was under orders to proceed on its mission at the earliest practical date. However, the Mexican-American War intervened and the Regiment found itself diverted to participate in the invasion of Mexico. Here, in the heat of the campaign, was born the Regimental Accolade. As the Regiment lay bloodied and exhausted from fierce fighting at Contreras, Mexico, General Scott arrived and each man stood at attention as the General approached. General Scott, who was about to order them into another fierce battle, became so overcome by this display of valor that he removed his hat, bowed low and proclaimed: "Brave Rifles! Veterans! You have been baptized in fire and blood and have come out steel!" So was born the Regimental Accolade, and the source of the Regimental Motto.

The Regimental Accolade

The climax to the Regiment’s participation in the Mexican War came on 13 September 1847 when the brigade the Regiment belonged to was ordered to support the assault on the fortress of Chapultepec, the site of the Mexican National Military Academy. Leading the American forces, the Regiment stormed into Mexico City at 1:20 p.m. At 7:00 a.m. on 14 September 1847, Sergeant James Manly of F Company and Captain Benjamin Roberts of C Company raised the National Colors over the Mexican National Palace while Captain Porter, commander of F Company, unfurled the Regimental Standard from the balcony.

The Regiment returned to Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, on 24 July 1848, and remained there until 10 May 1849. On that day, it began the grueling 2,000-mile (3,200 km) march to the Oregon Territory to accomplish the mission for which it was originally organized.

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

• See Battle of Powder River
• See Battle of the Rosebud

World War I and II

Bonus Army camp burns within sight of the capital.

In August 1917, the Regiment was alerted for overseas duty. Arriving in France in November, the Regiment was broken up and operated three major remount depots until the war’s end. The only actual 3d Cavalry unit to see action in World War I was K Troop, which was detached from the 3rd Squadron and participated in the last three engagements prior to the Armistice of 11 November 1918. After World War I, the Regiment deployed back to the United States and executed a garrison mission until the beginning of World War II. In July 1932 Major George S. Patton-under order of Douglas MacArthur-led the 3d against the Bonus Army in Washington D.C.

In January 1943, the Regiment was re-designated the as the 3d Cavalry Group (Mechanized). The 3d Cavalry Group arrived in France in 1944 and was attached to XX Corps. On 17 November 1944, after numerous fierce battles, the 3d Cavalry Group Troopers became the first to cross into Germany.

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 37 mm 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 (121 km) 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. 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 Germany's Final Solution

On 5 May 1945, the 3d Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron entered the small village of Ebensee, Austria and came face to face with the Nazi's "Final Solution". KZ Ebensee on the edge of the town contained about 16,000 prisoners, who hadn't been fed for about 3 days and who were dying at the rate of 400 per day. First on the scene, the Squadron's first priority shifted from combat to care for the prisoners. The town's bakeries were put on round-the clock baking status. Bakers, who at first refused, found an M-8 or Sherman gun muzzle pointed into their shop.

The Squadron remained in the area caring for the prisoners until medical units relieved them. With the end of hostilities in Europe, the 3rd Squadron returned stateside to a 30 day furlough before reporting to Fort Bragg to begin training for "Operation Downfall" - the invasion of the Japanese home islands. Their training was canceled when Japan surrendered on August 14. After World War II, the Regiment returned to the United States and resumed its garrison activities.

File:ColdWarMed.jpg

The Cold War Victory Medal

Cold War

The first time the 3d Cavalry served on the Iron Curtain was in August, 1955, when it replaced the 2nd 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 2nd Cavalry resumed their former mission. The 3d Cavalry, though, would not remain stateside for long.

When 3d Cavalry returned to the United States from Germany in February 1958, and was once again stationed at Fort Meade. The Regiment became part of the Strategic Army Corps (STRAC) and, from 1958-1961, it was the recipient of four STRAC streamers, awarded for superior readiness and training.

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 re-designated 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 re-designated 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 when it moved to Fort Lewis,Washington. The 3rd Armored Cavalry regiment participated in Operation Reforger 1 in 1968 and Reforger 2 in July and August of 1971.

In July 1972, the 3d Cavalry received orders to move to Fort Bliss, Texas.

The Lucky 16

During this time, in Nuremberg, Germany. The 2nd 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 2nd 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

3d ACR was a part of SFOR 7 maintaining a peacekeeping presence in Bosnia during the summer of 2000.

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.[1]

First Tour (OIF)

The largely Sunni western Iraq province of Al Anbar is highlited on this map.

3d Cavalry's commander, COL David Teeples wearing the Cavalry Stetson in Iraq.

In 2003, the regiment was to invade Iraq from Turkey, but was forced to enter Iraq from Kuwait after Turkey denied the United States permission to launch an attack from its land. This delayed the 3d Cavalry's entry into the war, and most of the regiment had not moved into Iraq until mid- or late-April. Once in Iraq, the 3d Cavalry was responsible for the Al Anbar province; a huge task well beyond the ability of an element as small as the 3d Cavalry. The Army soon relieved some of the 3d Cavalry's woes by sending the 3rd Infantry Division's 2nd Brigade to control Fallujah, but that still left the 3d ACR with the volatile city of Ar Ramadi and the troubled string of Sunni towns running from Ramadi to the Syrian border. Furthermore, many elements of the 3rd Infantry Division had been in the Middle East over 14-months and had been involved in the lion's share of the fighting during the war, so that Division was soon redeployed to the United States leaving the 3d Cavalry once again responsible for Fallujah as well as the rest of the Al Anbar province.

The situation was finally rectified in September 2003 when a brigade of the 82nd Airborne was deployed to take the cities of Ramadi and Fallujah off of the 3d Cavalry’s hands. This left the 3d Cavalry to handle the troubled towns leading to Iraq’s Syrian border, as well as the more peaceful towns along Iraq's borders with Jordan and Saudi Arabia. In March 2004, the Marines took control of the entire Al Anbar province, and the 3d ACR as well as the 82nd Airborne Division rotated home.

It is worth noting that the 3d Cavalry received very little attention during the war for a unit that was in charge of such hotbeds. While the 82nd Airborne Division, 3rd Infantry Division and Marines have all received extensive news coverage for their time in Fallujah, Ramadi and the Syrian border; the 3d Cavalry is largely overlooked. Why this is so remains a mystery. The 3d ACR and its attached units were known in Iraq collectively as Task Force Rifles. It included 8,300 soldiers, making it the smallest major subordinate command in the Coalition (CJTF-7). Of those 8,300, 31 cavalry troopers and 18 soldiers of units attached to Task Force Rifles died in Iraq.

Significant operations conducted by the 3d Cavalry included Operation Rifles Blitz on the volatile Syrian border town of Al Qaim and Operation Rifles Fury (a.k.a. Operation Santa's Claws) on the insurgent strongholds of Rawah and Anah. The 3d Cavalry also was responsible for Iraq's border with Saudi Arabia during the Hajj of 2003 and 2004, when thousands of Iraqis had to be searched and processed before they could leave for and return from Mecca.

For their actions in Iraq, the 3d Cavalry was awarded a Valorous Unit Award from April 25 2003 to September 18 2003.

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 an artificial 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"

Known as "Steve-O" to protect his identity, this 13-year old boy was one of the 3d Cavalry's most helpful informants.

Steve-O's father was once an army captain in the Republican Guard, and led a 40-man insurgent group after the Coalition invasion. Forced to fight along side his father against the Americans and severely beaten by his father, Steve-O walked to a 3d Cavalry check-point to turn in his father.

After turning in his father, Steve-O turned in a number of other insurgents. Often riding in the back of a Humvee, Steve-O would simply point out people he saw at the meetings of insurgents his father used to take him to. However, with Steve-O's father arrested and his mother killed by insurgents in retribution, Steve-O had nowhere left but to live on Forward Operating Base "Tiger" with the troopers of the 3d Cavalry.

After the 3d Cavalry returned from their year-long deployment to Iraq, Steve-O continued to live on post with the Marines that replaced the cavalry. Eventually, First Sgt. Daniel Hendrex was able to arrange for Steve-O to leave Iraq and come to the United States.

Steve-O's story came to public attention when he and the troopers responsible for his successful move to the United States appeared on an episode of the Oprah Winfrey Show.

Prisoner Abuse

It was during Operation Rifles Blitz that 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 November 10, 2003 in an attempt to free his sons, then died in custody on November 26, 2003 under unclear circumstances. Hours after Mowhoush's death in U.S. custody on November 26, 2003, military officials issued a news release stating that the prisoner had died of natural causes after complaining of feeling sick.

In August 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 9, 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)

File:3ACRPatrol(OIF3).jpg

The 3rd ACR on patrol in Tal Afar during OIF 3.

The 3d Cavalry only remained stateside for one year, before returning to Iraq for a second tour. The 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom III in February 2005, and has received acclaim from many quarters for their performance. The Regiment served from South Baghdad province to Western Ninewa Province in Northwestern Iraq until March of 2006. The 2nd Battalion of the 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment (of the 82nd Airborne Division)served with the Regiment in Iraq from September – December 2005. In September, 2005, the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment conducted 'Operation Restoring Rights' to defeat a terrorist stronghold in the city of Tal Afar.

In July 2005, the Army announced that the Regiment would re-station to Fort Hood within months of returning from Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment officially departed Fort Carson, Colorado in July 2006.

Two elements of the Regiment stayed behind at Fort Carson and were subsequently re-flagged. The Regiment's aviation element was re-flagged as 1st Squadron, 6th Cavalry, part of the 1st Infantry Division, while the other element was re-flagged as part of the U.S. 4th Infantry Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team rear detachment.

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 Cavalry 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.[2]

Post OIF III

Following OIF III, the Regiment relocated from Fort Carson, Colorado to Fort Hood, Texas. The Regiment officially completed its move in July 2006. On June 29 2006, COL H.R. McMaster completed his change of command and officially gave the guidon to COL Michael Bills. Currently, the 3d ACR is continuing to train for another tour in OIF, field new weapons systems (including new M1A2 Abrams tanks and M3A3 Bradley fighting vehicles) and re-build the organization following the move from Fort Carson. From June-July '07, the Regiment completed NTC rotation 07-09.

Third Tour (OIF V-VI)

On 25 OCT 2007, the Regiment began its third tour in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. 1st and 3rd Squadrons are deployed in the Ninawa Province. 1st Squadron in Qayarrah, and 3rd Squadron in Mosul. Because Mosul is one of the worst cities in Iraq, Heavy Company (2/3 ACR) was attached to 3rd Squadron to help with increased insurgent activity. A platoon from Heavy Company was also attached to Lightning Troop in order to help bear the largest, and most dangerous area of the city. 2nd Squadron (minus Eagle, Heavy and 43rd CEC) is currently attached to 4/2 ID and serving in the Diyala Province. 4th Squadron is serving in Baghdad.

Lineage

The U.S. Army Center of Military History summarizes the regiment's lineage as follows:

• Constituted 19 May 1846 in the Regular Army as the Regiment of Mounted Riflemen.
• Organized 12 October 1846 at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. Redesignated 3 August 1861 as 3rd United States Cavalry.
• Inactivated 15 July 1942 at Fort Benning, Georgia; personnel and equipment transferred to 3rd Armored Regiment.
• Redesignated 18 January 1943 as 3rd Cavalry, Mechanized.
• Activated 15 March 1943 at Camp Gordon, Georgia.
• Regiment broken up 3 November 1943 and its elements reorganized and redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3rd Cavalry Group, Mechanized and the 3rd and 43rd Reconnaissance Squadrons, Mechanized.
• Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3d Cavalry Group, Mechanized, inactivated 22 December 1945 at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey.
• Activated 26 February 1946 at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland.
• Redesignated 5 November 1948 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3d Armored Cavalry; organization of the remainder of 3d Armored Cavalry completed 3 November 1948 by redefinition of elements of 3d and 43rd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadrons, Mechanized and by reconstruction, redefinition, and activation of certain other elements of the 3d Cavalry which had been inactivated or demobilized 1921-1928.
• 3rd, 777th, and 21st Tank Battalions consolidated with 3d Armored Cavalry 8 January 1951. (Battalions and Companies redesignated Squadrons and Troops, 1 June 1960).

External links

• Official website, including regimental history in PDF format
• The Mounted Rifleman, an official publication of the 3d ACR
• New Locations for ... Combat Teams, the July 2005 announcement which includes an update on the 3d ACR
• From Iraq, troops see parallels in Katrina, a September 2005 Associated Press article about 3d ACR activities in Ninawa