FORT BENNING, Ga., (June 17, 2015) -- The Bullwhip Squadron Association will host a ceremony to mark the 50th anniversary of the activation of the 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, at 9 a.m. July 2 at Doughboy Stadium.
Retired Col. Joe Bowen, president of BSA, said that the purpose of the event is to honor troopers of the 1st Squadron, 9th Air Cavalry Regiment, the unit lineage and history of the 1st Cavalry Division.
"We wanted to have a ceremony honoring the activation of the unit and those loved ones who saw their loved ones deploy fifty years ago," Bowen said.
On June 16, 1965, as tension escalated in Vietnam, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara announced on national television that the Department of the Army had been given permission to organize an air assault division and the division was to be ready for combat in eight weeks.
McNamara also announced that the new division would be formed around the colors of the 1st Cavalry Division.
The 1st Cavalry Division was activated officially as an air assault division at Fort Benning on July 1, 1965.
Resources of the 11th Air Assault Division, the 10th Air Transport Brigade and the 2nd Infantry Division made up the new division.
On July 3, 1965, the colors of the 11th Air Assault Division were cased and retired and the colors of the 1st Cavalry Division were moved on to the field as the band played "Garry Owen" at Doughboy Stadium.
The July 2 ceremony will be a re-enactment of the activation that took place at Doughboy Stadium 50 years ago.
Ceremony events will include a reading of the squadron activation orders, uncasing the squadron colors by the 1st Cav. Div. Color Guard and veterans who participated in the July 3, 1965 activation, presentation of colors, a 21-cannon salute, a 1st Cavalry bugler playing "Taps" and a UH-1 flyover to honor veterans who lost their lives.
Bowen said 180 retirees, plus Family members, including two Medal of Honor Families, are expected to attend the ceremony.
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