The Army's first Cavalry unit, the 1st United States Cavalry, 1st Regiment of Dragoons, has a proud heritage of over one hundred and seventy-seven years of distinguished service in the United States Army. This heritage is symbolized by over one hundred campaign streamers and decorations dating back from the Mexican War in 1846 to Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005. This is the most of any Regular Army unit. This heritage is further symbolized by the fact that 37 members of the regiment have earned the Medal of Honor.
The 1st Cavalry Regiment traces its origins to June 1832 when Henry Dodge organized a battalion of mounted rangers to fight the Black Hawk Indian War. The unit was officially organized by an act of Congress as the United States Regiment of Dragoons on March 2, 1833.
The 1st Cavalry guarded the American Frontier for over 60 years, clashing with the Black Hawk, Comanche, Pawnee, Apache, Modoc, Nez Perce, Mojave, Crow, and the Sioux Indian Nations during the Indian Wars and in the process, won five battle honors during the Mexican War. The unit took part in the Battle of Santa Cruz Rosales in Mexico after having marched 210 miles in 4 days and nights to reach it.
The 1st Cavalry fought at Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Cold Harbor, Shenandoah, Petersburg, and Appomattox during the American Civil War. During the Spanish-American War the unit fought at Santiago, Cuba, receiving it's 61st battle honor. Following the war the unit went to the Philippines to put down insurrections.
The 1st Cavalry guarded the Mexican border from the bandit, Poncho Villa, during World War I. It held it's last mounted review as a regiment of horse cavalry - December 14, 1932. On January 16, 1933, the First Cavalry became the First Mechanized unit in the United States Army.
During World War II, the 1st Cavalry served in both the European and Pacific theaters of wars, from North Africa to Italy, and the South Pacific to the Philippines. On May 1, 1946, the regiment was redesignated as the 1st Constabulary Regiment and contributed to the reconstruction of Germany.
The 1st Cavalry remained in the field continuously during Vietnam from 1967-1972, taking part in 13 campaigns.
The 1st Cavalry took up a Frontier Mission in December 1978 in the surveillance of the international border between the Federal Republic of Germany and Czechoslovakia.
During Operation Desert Storm, the 1st Cavalry spearheaded 1st Armored Division's atttack into Iraq in February 1991.
The 1st Cavalry was the first Task Force Eagle unit to cross the Sava River in Bosnia and conducted Peace Enforcement Operations from December 1995 to November 1996. In April 2003, the 1st Cavalry deployed to Kuwait, and began operations in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
On 28 September 2006, the 5th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment (RSTA) was established at Fort Wainwright, Alaska as the Reconnaissance Squadron for the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT), 25th Infantry Division. On 14 December 2006, the Squadron participated in the 172nd SBCT - 1st SBCT, 25th Infantry Division reflagging and change of command ceremony.
From September 2008 to September 2009, the 5-1 Cavalry Squadron deployed to eastern Diyala province, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
From April 2011 to April 2012, the 5-1 Cavalry Squadron deployed to Kandahar Provence, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom 11-12.
CAMPAIGN PARTICIPATION CREDIT
Mexican American War (11)
-Buena Vista
-Vera Cruz (Company F only)
-Cerro Gordo (Company F only)
-Contreras (Company F only)
-Molinno Del Ray (Company F only)
-Coahuilla 1846
-New Mexico 1846 (except Company E)
-New Mexico 1847 (except Company E)
-California 1847 (Company C only)
-Chihuahua 1848 (Except Company E)
Indian Wars (39)
-California 1846
-Kansas 1847 (Company B only)
-Nebraska 1849 (Company B only)
-New Mexico 1849
-New Mexico 1850
-Oregon 1851
-California 1852
-Oregon 1853
-New Mexico 1854
-Colorado 1855
-New Mexico 1855
-Oregon 1855
-New Mexico 1856
-Oregon 1856
-Arizona 1857
-Washington 1858
-Arizona 1859
-California 1860
-Oregon 1860
-Arizona 1866
-Oregonn 1866
-Arizona 1867 (Company E only)
-Oregon 1867
-Arizona 1868
-Oregon 1868
-California 1868
-Arizona 1869
-Arizona 1870
-Arizona 1871
-Arizona 1872 (Except Company B)
-Modocs
-Idaho 1879 (Except Company E)
-Arizona 181 (Except Company B)
-Montana 1887
-Apaches
-Nez Perces
-Bannocks
-Pine Ridge
Civil War (17)
-Peninsula
-Antietam (Except Company E)
-Fredericksburg
-Chancellorsville
-Gettysburg
-Wilderness
-Spotsylvania
-Cold Harbor
-Petersburg
-Shenandoah
-Appomattox
-New Mexico 1862 (Except Company E)
-Virginia 1862
-Virginia 1863
-Virginia 1864
-Virginia 1865
-Maryland 1863
Spanish-American War (1)
-Santiago
Philippine-American War (2)
-Luzon 1901 (Except Company E)
-Luzon 1902 (Except Company E)
World War II (11)
-Algeria-French Morocco (with arrowhead)
-Tunisia
-Naples-Foggia
-Anzio
-Rome-Arno
-North Apennines (Except Company E)
-Po Valley (Except Company E)
-Bismarck Archipelago (with arrowhead) (Company H only)
-New Guinea (Company H only)
-Leyte (with arrowhead) (Company H only)
-Luzon (Company H only)
Vietnam (16)
-Counteroffensive, Phase III (Except Companies C, D, F, G and H)
-Tet Counteroffensive (Except Companies C, D, F, and H)
Southwest Asia (3)
-Defensive of Saudia Arabia 1990-1991
-Defensive of Kuwait 1991
-Southwest Asia Ceasefire 1991-1995
GWOT Expeditionary (1)
Iraq Campaign (1)
-Iraq
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