9th Cavalry Regiment (United States)

9th Cavalry Regiment
9th Cavalry Regiment coat of arms
Active	July 28, 1866 - October 20, 1950 December 1, 1957 - Modern Day
Country	United States
Branch	U.S. Army
Type	Cavalry
Size	Regiment
Nickname	Buffalo Soldiers
Motto	WE CAN, WE WILL
Engagements	Indian Wars War with Spain Philippine Insurrection World War II {not as unit} Vietnam Iraq War
Commanders
Notable commanders	Edward Hatch Adna Chaffee George S. Patton Lt Col John B. Stockton (1st Squadron, Ninth Cavalry) 1965-1966
Insignia
Distinctive Unit Insignia

U.S. Cavalry Regiments
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8th Cavalry Regiment	10th Cavalry Regiment

The 9th Cavalry Regiment includes several active duty cavalry Troops and Squadrons of the United States Army with a rich and diverse history of service and sacrifice, specifically against insurgencies.

Presently, it's role is to contribute reconnassaince assets to the combat brigade level and locate, engage and destroy the enemies of the United States.

Formation

The regiment was constituted 28 July 1866 in the Regular Army as Company F, 9th Cavalry. On 3 August 1866, Major General Philip H. Sheridan, commanding the Military Division of the Gulf, was "authorized to raise, among others, one regiment of colored (African-American) cavalry to be designated the 9th Regiment of U. S. Cavalry".^[1]

The regiment was organized on 21 September 1866 in New Orleans, Louisiana, and mustered between September 1866 and March 31, 1867. Its first commanding officer was Colonel Edward Hatch. The men enlisted for five years and received $13 per month, plus room, board and clothing. Later they were dubbed "Buffalo Soldiers". The regiment's motto was, and remains, "We Can, We Will".

The mustering, organized by Maj. Francis Moore, 65th U. S. Colored Infantry, formed the nucleus of the enlisted strength, and was obtained from New Orleans and its vicinity. In the autumn of 1866 recruiting was also established in Kentucky, and all the men of the 9th were obtained from that state and Louisiana. The horses were obtained at St. Louis, Missouri. About the middle of September all recruits were assembled in New Orleans, where empty cotton presses were used as barracks. An epidemic of cholera caused the camp to be moved to Carrollton, a suburb of New Orleans. By the end of March 1867, the 9th Cavalry was at nearly full strength with a total of 885 enlisted men, or an average of over 70 to a troop, and was ordered to San Antonio, Texas, where it arrived early in April for three months of training. However, Troops L and M went directly to their duty station at Brownsville, Texas.

Regiment's service

Indian wars

9th Regiment United States Cavalry insignia

In July 1867 the 9th Cavalry was ordered into western and southwestern Texas, to maintain law and order between the Rio Grande and Concho Rivers from Fort Clark to El Paso. Regimental Headquarters and Troops A, B, E and K, under Col. Hatch, were stationed at Fort Stockton; Troops C, D, F, G, H and I, under Lt. Col. Wesley Merritt were at Fort Davis. Troops L and M under 1st Lt. Hamilton had previously been sent to Brownsville. The 9th remained in Texas for eight years, nearly all of it in the field.

The regiment went to New Mexico Military District, which covered parts of New Mexico, Colorado and Texas, and participated in the Apache Wars from 1875 to 1881. That service included the Battle of Tularosa with Chiricahua Apache warriors led by Victorio in May 1880.

The 9th Cavalry was transferred to Fort Riley, Kansas, in 1881.

Spanish-American War and later

In 1899 and again in 1904 the 9th cavalry patrolled Yosemite National Park joining other cavalry and infantry as the first "Rangers" of the park system.

Under General John J. Pershing, the regiment fought in the Punitive Expedition against Pancho Villa in Mexico in 1916.

The regiment spent World War I in the Philippines. On 1 March 1933 the 9th Cavalry was assigned to the 3d Cavalry Division.

West Point

On March 23, 1907, the United States Military Academy Detachment of Cavalry was changed to a "colored" unit. This had been a long time coming. It had been proposed in 1897 at the "Cavalry and Light Artillery School" at Fort Riley, Kansas that West Point Cadets learn their riding skills from the black non-commissioned officers who were considered the best. The one hundred man detachment from the 9th Cavalry served to teach future officers at West Point riding instruction, mounted drill and cavalry tactics until 1947.^[2]

Second World War

The 9th Cavalry was relieved 10 October 1940 from its assignment to the 3d Cavalry Division and transferred to the 2nd Cavalry Division for deployment in the Second World War. However, the regiment did not serve in that war as a unit. It was transferred to the Mediterranean to supply soldiers for other units. It was therefore inactivated 7 March 1944 in North Africa.

Korean War

Vietnam War

The 9th Cavalry regiment next saw service as an experimental air cavalry unit during the Vietnam War composed of aero-weapons (Reds), aero-scout (Whites), and aero-rifle (Blues). Its mission was one of an aerial reconnaissance unit which would use helicopters and ground reconnaissance elements to locate the enemy and then would deploy its infantry assets to engage and destroy the enemy. During the Vietnam war, the 1st of the 9th Cavalry became one of the finest units of the war earning 3 Presidential Unit citations and 5 Valorous Unit Citations. 1/9 Cav fought in some of the most savage battles of the war, and was responsible for approximately 50% of the enemy casualties of the entire 1st Cavalry division; earning the ominous nickname of "Headhunters" through their combat proficiency. The regiment was disbanded 20 October 1950 but was reconstituted 1 December 1957 in the Regular Army as Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 6th Reconnaissance Squadron, 9th Cavalry. It was redesignated 30 June 1965 as Troop F, 9th Cavalry, and assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division, and activated in Vietnam. The 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry was the air cavalry reconnaissance squadron of the 1st Cavalry Division throughout the division's service in Vietnam. Eventually the 1/9th, the Air Cavalry Squadron, included A Troop (Apache Troop,) B Troop, C Troop (Cavaliers,) D Troop (ground recon) E Troop (Lobos,) and F Troop (Peacemakers.)

It was again inactivated on 26 February 1973 in Vietnam and relieved from assignment to the 1st Cavalry Division.

On 1 February 1974, Troop C, 9th Cavalry was activated as an armored cavalry troop assigned to the US Army Reserve, assigned to the 157th Infantry Brigade (Mechanized). Initially activated in Bristol, PA, on 31 January 1966, it was later moved to Wilkes-Barre, PA. The troop continued to serve with the 157th Infantry Brigade (Mech) until deactivation on 20 August 1995.^[3]

Operation Just Cause; Panama

The 2d Squadron, 9th Cavalry, assigned to the 7th Infantry (Light), deployed to Panama in order to conduct operations during OPERATION JUST CAUSE and the humanitarian and nation building mission OPERATION PROMOTE LIBERTY. The Air Troops were the first to deploy with their AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters and their OH-59 aerial scout helicopters. Troop A, 2-9th Cavalry soon followed and conducted route clearance, zone reconnaissance, and provided support to U.S. Army units in the interior.

Desert Peacekeepers and Beyond

The 1st Battalion, 9th Cavalry was reconstituted as infantry in 1992 and assigned to the 3d Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division. It was highly trained and well respected for its combat abilities as 3/41 Infantry of the Tiger Brigade in Desert Storm. The unit was deployed several times in the decade to thwart aggressive and hostile maneuvers by the Iraqi Army and participated in Operation Intrinsic Action. 1/9 cav was designated as the Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) unit of the 1st Cavalry Division.

Following is a brief rendition of significant events during this time period.

1993:

• Three soldiers killed on Lone Star North Range.
• NTC deployment.
• Intrinsic Action I deployment to S.W. Asia.

1994:

• Claymore mine accident severely injured a 1st Lieutenant from Company A.
• Cambrian Patrol (Special Operations competitive patrol in England) set range live fire record (Company E).
• Two soldiers from Company E killed.

1995:

• Two soldiers from HHC killed.
• Soldier injured by grenade blast at tire house.

1996:

• Intrinsic Action II deployment to SW Asia.

21st century

Today, the squadrons of the 9th Cavalry Regiment provide RSTA (Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition) capabilities forward of enemy lines and supply sniper teams for use in the area of combat operations. These recon units provide valuable real-time intelligence about the enemy while allowing the flexibility of direct engagement and subsequent destruction of enemy personnel and equipment.

Troop B, 9th Cavalry (pre-transformation, not 1/9 during OIF I)

Troop B ("Bloody Knife")/9th Cavalry, 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, was deployed from Fort Carson, CO, to Iraq in April 2003. After arriving at Camp Wolfe, Kuwait the unit moved to Camp New Jersey in Northern Kuwait. The lead elements of the Brigade Reconnaissance Troop (BRT) then crossed into Iraq, covering a distance of over 300 kilometers. This combat operation was the first for the 4th Infantry Division since Vietnam. The BRT has operated in more Iraqi cities than any other unit in the 4th Infantry Division including: Samarra East Airfield, Samarra, Ad Dawr, Tikrit East, Tuz Khurmat, Jalula, MEK, Daquq, Kirkuk, Taza Khormatu, Al Huwayjah, Ad Duluyah, At Tarmyia, Ad Dujayl, and Balad South. On 23 October 2003, the soldiers of Troop B/9th Cavalry were issued their combat patches (e.g., the authorization to wear the division patch on the right shoulder) for conducting combat operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Troop consisted of 2 platoons of scouts and 1 platoon of COLT (Combat Observation Lasing Teams). The unit deployed under the command of CPT William Sachse and redeployed under the command of CPT Clinton Fuller. The Bloody Knife Troop became the quick reaction force for one of the largest logistics bases in Iraq while still conducting operations where ever the Brigade needed them. The unit had several Platoon Leaders rotate in and out but maintained its Platoon Sergeants from start to finish during OIF 1. 1st Platoon - SFC Olvera, 2nd Platoon - SFC Baird, and 3rd Platoon - SSG Collins. The Bloody Knife Troop was one of the last Recon Troops to fall directly under a Brigade Headquarters.

1st Squadron / 9th Cavalry

The 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment (1-9th Cav), is stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, as an armored reconnaissance squadron of the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. Originally part of the 3rd BCT at Fort Hood, the "1st of the 9th" moved to Fort Bliss to fill the RSTA (Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition) needs of the newly-created 4th BCT in October 2005.^[4] The unit is nicknamed the "Headhunters"; it was estimated to have been responsible for 50% of the enemy kills of the entire 1st Cavalry Division during the Vietnam War. [3] The unit was featured as the command of LTC Kilgore in the movie Apocalypse Now.

The 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment (1-9th Cav), began deployment to Iraq in September 2003 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Headquarters & Headquarters Troop (HHT) and the Troop C, 1-9th Cav were assigned a National Guard infantry unit, a combat engineer unit, a support unit and a civil support unit to comprise Task Force 1-9 (TF1-9). Companies A and B, 1-9th Cav, were assigned to other task forces in Iraq, notably Task Force All American (TF-AA).^[5]

During their first deployment, 124 Purple Heart medals were awarded to Task Force 1-9 soldiers, who operated in one of the most dangerous sections of the Iraqi capital, including Sadr City. In October 2006, the 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, began its redeployment to Iraq from Fort Bliss, Texas, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, along with the rest of 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, to work alongside the 25th Infantry Division to comprise Task Force Lightning.

In March 2008, the 8th Squadron, 10th Cavalry of the 4th Infantry Division was reflagged as the 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry, part of the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. In June 2008, 1-9th Cav deployed to OIF 08-10 to CSC SCANIA and assumed responsibilities for MSR TAMPA and the cities of Hamza, Qasim, Hashimiyah, Ash Shumali and other smaller towns from 3rd Squadron, 73rd Cavalry of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. In August 2008, 1-9th Cav was given orders to build a Forward Operating Base (FOB) along the Iranian Border in order to interdict lethal accelerants from being smuggled. The base is known as FOB Hunter and is in the Maysan province which resides in the marsh lands of Iraq.

2nd Squadron / 9th Cavalry

The 2nd Squadron, 9th Cavalry was created by expanding Troop B after their OIF I deployment. It was stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado and was the armored reconnaissance squadron for 3d Brigade, 4th Infantry Division. The Squadron, nicknamed "Hunters," deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom IV, serving in two provinces: first in Salah ad-Din near ad-Dawr, as an attachment to the 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, and then in Diyala with the rest of the 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, after handing over the base in ad-Dawr to the Iraqi Army. The 2nd Squadron was inactivated on October 18, 2007, and reflagged as the 4th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment (4-10th Cav).

4th Squadron / 9th Cavalry

The 4th Squadron, 9th Cavalry, "Darkhorse" is stationed at Fort Hood, Texas and is the armored reconnaissance squadron for the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, serving in Diyala Governate, Iraq. It was built from Troop D, 2nd Brigade's Recon Troop during OIF II.

5th Squadron / 9th Cavalry

The 5th Squadron, 9th Cavalry, was reconstituted at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, with headquarters at Wheeler Army Airfield. Its motto is "We can, we will." The unit is continuing a time-honored tradition of the Buffalo Soldiers.

6th Squadron / 9th Cavalry

The 6th Squadron, 9th Cavalry, is assigned to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, and is stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. 6th squadron was built from Troop F, 3rd Brigade's Recon Troop for OIF II. The unit is nicknamed the "Saber Squadron." Coincidentally, the unit replaced the 2nd Squadron in Diyala when it deployed in October 2006 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 06-08, from which the last of the unit's soldiers returned on 18 December 2007. The squadron is currently preparing for its third deployment to Iraq as of 17 December 2010.

Current status

• 1st Squadron is the Armored Reconnaissance Squadron of the 4th Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas.
• 4th Squadron is the Armored Reconnaissance Squadron of the 2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division stationed at Fort Hood, Texas.
• 6th Squadron is the Armored Reconnaissance Squadron of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division stationed at Fort Hood, Texas.

Gallery

• 

  General Adna Chaffee

• 

  General Robert M. Shoemaker

• 

  Sgt. John Denny (Medal of Honor recipient)

• 

  Sgt. Henry Johnson (Indian Wars soldier) (Medal of Honor recipient)

• 

  Sgt George Jordan (Medal of Honor recipient)

• 

  Thomas Shaw in 1889 as a Sergeant in K Troop, 9th Cavalry

• 

  Sgt. Brent Woods (Medal of Honor recipient)

• 

  Sgt. Augustus Walley (Medal of Honor recipient)

• 

  The 9th and 10th cavalry in the Battle of Las Guasimas, Cuba, 1898.

• 

  With colors flying and guidons down, the lead troops of the famous 9th Cavalry pass in review at the regiment's new home in rebuilt Camp Funston. Ft. Riley, Kansas (May 28, 1941) Cavalry School Photo #A-541-11

• 

  A rifle squad from the 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry exiting from a UH-1D

• 

  CPL John Ross, Troop I, 9th Cavalry, the Buffalo Soldier Memorial of El Paso, in Fort Bliss.

Notable members

The 9th Cavalry Regiment boasts many notable members including:

• John H. Alexander, second African American graduate of West Point (commissioned in 1887).
• Charles Young, third African American graduate of West Point (commissioned in 1889).
• General (Retired) Robert M. Shoemaker
• Lieutenant General (Retired) Paul Funk, Sergeant Major of the Army (Retired) William Connelly
• Dr. Hal Kushner M.D.^[6]
• Lt. Col. John B. Stockton
• Colonel Thomas Macdonald^[7]
• Robert Temple Emmet- Colonel of the regiment and Medal of Honor recipient.
• CPT Jon E. Swanson - The only OH-6A pilot recipient of the Medal of Honor.

References

1. ^ At the same time, Lt. Gen. William T. Sherman, commanding the Military Division of the Mississippi, was directed to form one regiment of colored regulars to be designated the 10th Regiment U.S. Cavalry.
2. ^ Buckley, Gail Lumet (2001), [:http://www.amazon.com/American-Patriots-Blacks-Military-Revolution/dp/0375502793 American Patriots: The Story of Blacks in the Military from the Revolution to Desert Storm (Hardcover)], Random House; 1st edition (May 22, 2001), ISBN 0375502793,

   http://www.amazon.com/American-Patriots-Blacks-Military-Revolution/dp/0375502793 

3. ^ Spearhead. (1995, Summer). Troop C, 9th Cavalry, 8(2), 9. (Newsletter of the 157th SIB(M))
4. ^ Global Security article on 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry
5. ^ http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/1-9cav.htm
6. ^ [1]
7. ^ [2]

External links

• 1876 9th US cavalry at Fort Union New Mexico
• The Ninth Regiment of Cavalry, History of 9th US Cavalry 1861-1895
• 9th Cavalry, The Story of America's Black Patriots, US Army
• 9th Memorial Cavalry
• Buffalo Soldiers Ninth & Tenth (Horse) Cavalry Association
• [4] 4th Brigade 1st Cavalry
• 1-9th Official Website
• 4-9th Official Website
• 6-9th Official Website
• ENGAGEMENTS by the BUFFALO SOLDIERS AND SEMINOLE-NEGRO INDIAN SCOUTS