Soldiers from 2-398th Cav conduct Army Reserves’ final spur ride before casing unit colors

Editor's Note: For more photos and a video, go to https://www.flickr.com/photos/fortknoxky/albums/72177720335432838.

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FORT KNOX, Ky. — They rode off at sunset Aug. 27 aboard four Georgia National Guard UH-60 helicopters.

Minutes before, several members of the U.S. Army Reserve’s 2nd Battalion, 398th Cavalry Regiment had boarded the birds at Godman Army Airfield to start the unit’s final spur ride. As one of the spur holders later noted, all cavalry Soldiers wear a hat, not all of them wear spurs.

The moment held even greater significance as the helicopters touched down in a field southeast of Fort Knox’s cantonment area. It signified the unit’s final cavalry action; it’s final spur ride.

A spur ride is a series of physical and mental cavalry tests over a 36-hour window, giving scouts the opportunity to earn their spurs – not an easy feat, admittedly. Because the Army Reserves has moved away from cavalry units, this ride also became the last opportunity for any Reserve Soldiers to earn their spurs.

Command Sgt. Maj. Wendell Patterson, senior enlisted advisor to the unit who has earned his spurs twice before, fought back tears as he talked about the historic significance of the moment.

“When I heard about this unit [casing its colors,] I wanted to transfer back here,” he said. “This is our final spur ride, and there will be no more Cav in the Army Reserves.”

Patterson decided to join the candidates to demonstrate camaraderie and mentorship. When the helicopters touched down on a grassy field southeast of the cantonment area, 14 candidates disembarked, gathered up at a rallying point near the wood line, received their first briefing and rucked to their camp roughly three miles away.

By the time they had reached the bivouac site an hour later, one of them had already dropped out.

The unit commander, Lt. Col. Craig Kuphall, said watching his Soldiers meet the challenges for the honor to wear spurs was bittersweet for him. While he was proud of his Soldiers for taking on the challenge, he also recognized the end of the unit’s great combat and cavalry lineage.

“The unit has a long history dating back to World War I, where it was formed and fought with distinction,” said Kuphall. “It also fought with distinction in World War II at the Maginot Line [in France]. Shortly after World War II, it was designated as a cavalry squadron.”

Though the unit remained cavalry for several decades afterward, it was eventually moved from active duty to the Reserves. Kuphall said all the history and heraldry of the cavalry designation remained in the unit until its final day on Aug. 29.

“This final spur ride [ceremony] that we’re doing this morning is to celebrate that before we reorganize and lose the cavalry designation,” said Kuphall.

The 2nd Bn., 398th Cav will fall under 100th Training Division at Fort Knox and Soldiers will support the division’s training mission, according to Kuphall.

Day 2 saw Soldiers tackling three field training lanes filled with cavalry and combat-related challenges: everything from route reconnaissance to medical casualty assessments and evacuations, as well as timed small arms disassembly and reassembly.

As the day wore on, more and more candidates dropped out for various reasons. By the start of the six-mile ruck march up and down Misery Hill and Agony Hill on Day 3, only nine remained.

One of those was Sgt. 1st Class Brandon Goe, who had twisted his ankle the day prior. Leaders and spur holders were concerned about whether Goe would be able to complete the ruck march.

Though he remained at the back of the pack the entire time, Goe crossed the finish line. “My ankle eventually loosened up. It was tough going — but hey, I earned my spurs!”

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