3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment "Brave Rifles"

The Regiment of Mounted Riflemen was organized by Congress in 1846 and brought into existence a new organization in the American Army: a regiment of riflemen, mounted and equipped with hunting rifles to provide longer range and more firepower than the smoothbore muskets of the infantry and cavalry. The Regiment was organized "for establishing military stations on route to Oregon", and it was under orders to proceed on its mission at the earliest practical date. However, the Mexican War intervened and the troopers found themselves diverted to participate in the invasion of Mexico. As soon as horses and equipment were obtained, the Regiment began moving to New Orleans in detachments of one or two companies. The Mounted Rifles lost most of their horses in a terrible storm during the voyage across the Gulf of Mexico, causing them to fight as infantry during most of the Mexican War. This kept the Regiment from being left behind to escort wagon trains and chase guerrillas, allowing it to distinguish itself in six campaigns. Its participation there was climaxed by the bloody battle of Chapultepec. So legendary were their exploits in Mexico, that General Winfield Addressed the Regiment, proclaiming: "Brave Rifles! Veterans! You have been baptized in fire and blood and have come out steel." From this, the Re giment derived its name - "Brave Rifles" - and its motto - "Blood and Steel." At the end of the Mexican War, The Regiment returned to Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, and began the grueling 2,000 mile march to the Oregon Territory to accomplish the mission for which it had originally been organized - the establishment of military outposts on the route to Oregon. In December of 1851, the regiment was ordered to Texas, and for the next four years, it operated against the Indian tribes living in that area. In 1856, Indian troubles in the New Mexico Territory required additional troops, and the Regiment moved further west, marching through and also garrisoning in Fort Bliss, Texas. In August of 1861, after the outbreak of the War Between the States, the Regiment of Mounted Riflemen was re-designated the 3d United States Cavalry Regiment. The Confederate troops started this campaign at Fort Bliss, Texas to seize the territories of New Mexico and Colorado. At Glorieta Pass, near Sante Fe, the Union force defeated the Confederates, causing them to return to Texas. In December 1862, the Regiment moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where it remained until October 1863. During the period October to December 1863, the Regiment participated in operations on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, and fought in skirmishes at various locations such as Barton Station, Cane Creek, and Dickinson's Station, Alabama. Between October 1863 and March 1864, the Regiment fought in Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, and North Carolina, participating in the Chattanooga Campaign as part of the advance guard of Sherman's Army. The 3d U.S. Cavalry Regiment's losses during the Civil war were two officers and thirty enlisted men -- who were either killed in action or died of wounds and three officers -- and 105 enlisted men who died of disease or other non-combat causes. In April 1866, the 3d Cavalry was once again ordered to New Mexico to campaign against the Indians. In Aril 1866, the Regiment was again moved to the Southwest, this time to subdue an uprising of the Chiracahua Apaches led by Geronimo. In April 1870, the Regiment was ordered to Arizona for operations against the Apaches and, in late 1871, was transferred north to the department of the Platte, which included what are now the states of Wyoming, Montana, the Dakotas and Nebraska. During the summer of 1876, the Regiment participated in the Little Big Horn Campaign against the Sioux and Cheyenne. On 17 June 1876, ten companies of the 3d Cavalry fought in the battle of Rosebud Creek. This was the largest battle between the Army and the Indians in the history of the American West, with 1,400 friendly Indians and soldiers opposing more than 1,500 hostile Indians. The final surrender of Geronimo to elements of the 3d Cavalry signified the end of the Regiment's participation in the Indian Wars. In 1885, the 3d U.S. Cavalry was ordered back to Texas, where it remained until 1893. Between 1893 and 1897, the Regiment was engaged in garrison, training and ceremonial activities throughout the East and Mid-West. By July 1897, the Regimental Headquarters and four troops were stationed at Fort Ethan Allen, Vermont, while the remainder of the Regiment returned to Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. In April 1898, the Regiment was assembled at Camp Thomas, Georgia in Chickamauga National Park, and assigned to a brigade in a provisional cavalry division. On 13 May 1898, the Regiment arrived in Tampa, Florida. On 8 June, the Regiment, minus four troops, embarked for Cuba with the rest of the invasion force. During the Spanish-American War, the 3d Cavalry Regiment participated in the attacks on San Juan and Kettle Hills, placing the first American flag at the points of victory. After the war, the Regiment was ordered to the Philippines, this time for garrison duty. At the outbreak of World War I, the Regiment was transferred to Europe. Arriving in France in November 1917, the Regiment was scattered, and its squadrons operated remount depots for the duration of the war. In 1919, the Regiment returned from Europe and was stationed throughout the Eastern United States. On 17 March 1917, the entire Regiment was transferred to Fort Sam Houston, Texas. In April, the United States entered the Great War and in August the Regiment became one of the first units deployed overseas. Arriving in France in November, the Regiment operated three major remount depots until the war's end. The only unit of the 3rd Cavalry that saw actual combat was Troop K, which was detached from the 3d Squadron and participated in the last three engagements prior to the Armistice on 11 November 1918. Troop K also was part of the Army of Occupation, remaining in Germany until it was shipped home with the rest of the Regiment in 1919. During the 1920's and 1930's the Regiment underwent a series of organizational changes. 2nd Squadron, plus troops C and D of 1st Squadron, were de-activated. 3d Squadron was re-designated as 2nd Squadron which was stationed at Fort Myer, Virginia, becoming known as the 'President's Own". Because of its proximity to Washington and Arlington National Cemetery, the 2d Squadron was frequently called upon to furnish honor guards and escorts for distinguished visitors and funeral escorts for distinguished civilian officials and military personnel. On 11 November 1921, the Regiment furnished the cavalry escort for the burial of the Unknown Soldier from WWI in Arlington National Cemetery. Until 1941, the Regiment provided the guard detail at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. During the Second World War, the Regiment was re-designated the 3D Cavalry Group (Mechanized). The cavalry Group landed in France in August 1944 and became the spearhead of the XX Corps. The Regiment was the first unit of the 3rd Army to reach the Meuse and Moselle Rivers. Troopers of the 3d Cavalry were also the first elements of the 3rd Army to enter Germany. The 3d Cavalry Group was the first military unit to cross the Alps since Hannibal, in 215 BC. The 3d Cavalry accounted for over 43,000 enemy troops killed, wounded or captured. Upon returning to the United States at the end of the war, the Cavalry Group was re-designated the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment, the name it bears today. In order to return the Regiment to a three-squadron configuration, the 35th Mechanized Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, an all-Black unit, was reassigned to the Regiment on January 15, 1948. It was re-designated as the 3d Squadron. Its incorporation into the 3d Armored Cavalry marked the first time that African-American Troopers were assigned to the Regiment. In 1961, the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment deployed to Germany in response to the Soviet threat during the Berlin Crisis. During 1962 and 1963, the lst and 2nd Squadrons relieved elements of the 14th ACR for two one-month periods along the East German border. From November 1962 through November 1964, the 3d ACR had a troop attached to the 14th ACR for border surveillance operations on a monthly rotational basis. In February 1964, the Regiment came under the direct control of the Seventh Army. On 10 June 1964, the 2nd Squadron was re-designated as the 1st Squadron, 11th ACR, and returned to the United States with that Regiment. The Regiment remained in Germany until July 1968, when the Regiment re-deployed to Fort Lewis, Washington. In 1972, the Regiment relocated to Fort Bliss, Texas, where it trained and prepared for its REFORGER mission in the defense of Western Europe. The 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment became a major REFORGER unit, capable of rapidly deploying to Germany in case of an international crisis. After returning to Fort Bliss, the 3d ACR participated in a number of major exercises. In late 1973, the Regiment took part in BRAVE SHIELD VI, followed by BRAVE RIFLES VII in February 1974, GOBI EXPRESS V in September 1974, BRAVE RIFLES IX in January 1975, and JTX GALLANT SHIELD in the spring of 1975. On 7 August 1990, the Regiment was alerted to move overseas in defense of one 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 on 5 April 1991. In April of 1996, the Regiment completed its move to its new home at Fort Carson, Colorado. In August 1998, the Regiment was notified that it would participate in the Bosnian peace-keeping mission as part of Stabilization Force 7 (SFOR 7). This would be a unique deployment because the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment (less 1st Squadron), would be under the operational control of the Texas National Guard's 49th Armored Division. SFOR 7 was the first time that a National Guard organization would have command authority over active component units as well as a multinational force, known as Task Force Eagle. When the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment deployed, beginning in February of 2000, it represented 75 percent of the American contribution to the Multinational Division North (MND-N) and constituted the bulk of the American maneuver element. The Troopers of Saber Squadron helped facilitate the elections that began a new era of democracy for the Bosnian state. There were no major incidents or violent demonstrations in their area of responsibility during the six month deployment. Before the troopers of Task Force Eagle could return to Fort Carson, they had to train their replacements to assume the peacekeeping mission. Once this was accomplished, the various units began returning to Fort Carson and the last unit closed on 7 October 2000. Beginning in September 2001, Tiger Squadron with elements of the Regimental Headquarters and Long Knife and Mule Skinner Squadrons, deployed to Egypt to participate in the Bright Star 01/02 exercise, as part of a Combined Forces Land Component Command (CFLCC) coalition. The coalition included Elements from the U.S. Marine Corps, Egypt, France, Kuwait, Greece, Italy, and the British Army. The soldiers took part in field training and live fire exercises while in Egypt. They also conducted training on nuclear, biological, and chemical warfare, mine warfare, and the use of smoke on the battlefield. In addition, members of Tiger Squadron and the Regimental Staff were tasked to conduct affiliation training with their Egyptian counterparts to teach them to function as Observer/ Controllers (OC) for the forces involved in ground tactical operations, as well as establishing and maintaining communications and command and control between the various multinational OC forces. Beginning in August 2002, the Regiment began to prepare for operations in the Central Command Area of Operations (CENTCOM AOR). The preparations included a National Training Center rotation, Warfighter exercises with both III Corps and V Corps, intensive individual and collective training, weapons qualification, and lane training at Fort Carson. In addition to the intense training, the Regiment fielded many pieces of new equipment, and reactivated its second AH-64A Apache attack helicopter troop. The 3d ACR received a deployment order for movement to the CENTCOM AOR on 14 February 2003. Equipment was prepared and moved by rail from Fort Carson to the port of Beaumont, Texas. The first Troopers arrived in Kuwait on 2 April and the remainder of the Regiment was in theater by the middle of the month. The Regiment missed the high profile assault into Iraq, but upon it's arrival, it assumed an economy of force mission to secure and stabilize the western province of Al Anbar. This area had been by-passed during the advance to Baghdad, and the Regiment had little intelligence on what would be found there. The Regimental Area of Operations covered one third of the country, or about 140,000 square kilometers. This was the largest single operational area of any unit, including divisions, in the theater and it included the "Sunni Triangle", the part of Iraq that Saddam Hussein, his family, and the senior leaders of the Ba'ath Party called home. Al Anbar was home to 48 primary and 14 sub-tribes and it shared a 900 kilometer western border with Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Syria. The 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment became the nucleus of a Regimental Combat Team named Task Force Rifles. While the Regiment's strength grew to include five squadrons, four battalions, and eight separate companies totaling more than 8,300 troops, Task Force Rifles, was the smallest major subordinate command in Combined Joint Task Force 7 (CJTF-7). The various elements of Task Force Rifles successfully performed many missions across the entire spectrum of military operations from offensive actions to civil affairs operations. Offensive operations included RIFLES SCORPION, RIFLES GO WEST, RIFLES BLITZ, AND RIFLES FURY. Task Force Rifles initiated operations by conducting reconnaissance missions in the Euphrates River Valley to identify targets, remove hostile Ba'ath Party members from power, and eliminate anti-coalition media sources. The Regimental Combat Team continued combat operations focused on finding and destroying regime loyalist camps and weapons caches between Lake Tar Tar and the Euphrates River. This operation resulted in the apprehension of several individuals from the Defense Intelligence Agency's Top 55 Black List of High Value Targets (HVTs). The Task Force found an Iranian terrorist organization called the Mujahideen e-Khalq (MEK) occupying a compound in Fallujah. While the MEK appeared to have taken no action against Coalition forces, it was forced to turn over its weapons and evacuate the compound. Hand in hand with combat operations, Task Force Rifles spent an enormous amount time and energy performing civil-military operations (CMO). In an effort to re-energize local government agencies and get people back to work, the GST was able to channel over 60 million U.S. dollars to some 40,000 civil servants in Fallujah, Habbaniyah, Ramadi, Hit, Hadithah, Al Qaim, and Ar Rutbah and about 30,000 former soldiers living in the province who had been sent home during CJTF-7's consolidation prior to Task Force Rifles' arrival in the province. Various units of the Task Force found themselves managing a large number of projects, many aimed at rebuilding the infrastructure and restoring basic services. The United Nations World Food Program facility, operating from Ar Ramadi, was initially secured by elements of the Task Force. This facility received and distributed over 1,400 truck loads of food to the local citizens. Task Force Rifles also distributed over 49,000 Humanitarian Daily Rations (HDRs) to various hospitals, clinics, and other facilities in the area. Another security mission performed by Task Force Rifles was taking control of the border crossing points of Husayba (Syria), Tenaf (Syria), and Trebil (Jordan). In addition, a crossing control point was established at Ar Ar (Saudi Arabia) where only an open border had existed before. Another Task Force project to increase security was the establishment of the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps (ICDC) training facility north of the city of Hit. More that 3000 troops were trained, resulting in the formation of two ICDC battalions. The various Forward Operation Bases (FOBs) established by the Task Force became nodes in a massive logistical network. The various support organizations in the Task Force ran more than 800 convoys, driving over 3.8 million miles to keep Task Force units supplied with everything needed to continue operations. On 18 January initial contact was made with the U.S. Marine Corps' 7th Regimental Combat Team when representatives of that unit arrived at Rifles Base for briefings in order to begin the planning necessary to accomplish the Marines' relief of Task Force Rifles. The Marines began arriving in numbers by the middle of February, and beginning on 4 March, joint missions were conducted with Marine units. Task Force Rifles continued to conduct combat operations until 14 March 2004, when authority for the Al Anbar Province Area of Operations was officially transferred to the U.S. Marine Corps. The Regimental Combat Team's last flight from Al Asad occurred on 18 March. The last flight from Kuwait departed on 31 March 2004. 31 3d Armored Cavalry Troopers died during OIF-1. 18 attached Troopers of the Task Force also died. Over 200 Task Force Rifles Troopers were wounded. Less than eleven months after returning from Iraq, the Regiment re-deployed to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom III. The Regiment began arriving in Kuwait and Iraq in late February. Initially, the Regiment moved into South Baghdad province to secure the Sunni farmlands populated by former Regime loyalists - heavily populated by former Republican guard and intelligence officers. On April 6, 2005 lead elements of the Regiment from 3rd Squadron assumed the critical mission of securing RTE Tampa - the main supply route in Iraq. The Rest of the Regiment flowed into South Baghdad and immediately began combat operations. As it arrived in South Baghdad, the Regiment received a fragmentary order to move again to Western Ninewa Province, some 300 miles Northwest of Baghdad. The area of operations had become a highway for foreign fighters entering Iraq and moving into Mosul and down the Sunni Triangle towards Baghdad. The center of this enemy support base was the city of Tall Afar, where the Regimental headquarters would set-up. During April and the first half May, the Regiment operated in South Baghdad while it sent advanced elements North to begin securing the city of Tall Afar. Sabre Squadron entered combat operations in Tall Afar on 27 April, immediately upon its arrival. The Regimental, split between two locations, continued to operate at an intense pace. In South Baghdad, 1st Squadron, 3rd Squadron, and 2-70 Armor conducted detailed offensive reconnaissance operations in the area and severely disrupted a previously unchallenged enemy safe-haven. The Regimental headquarters, 1st Squadron, Support Squadron, and aviation Squadron moved to Tall Afar in mid-may. 3rd Squadron remained in South Baghdad attached to the 3rd Infantry Division to provide much-needed combat power and experience while the Rest of the Regiment moved North. The Regiment immediately expanded its control in Western Ninewa province, covering over 10,000 square kilometers of land. It moved 1st Squadron to a series of remote locations along a 270 km Syrian-Iraq Border to interdict the flow of foreign fighters. 2nd Squadron continued to battle a stubborn enemy in the city of Tall Afar. It soon became clear after a number of intense engagements with the enemy in Tall Afar that the Regiment needed to attack this enemy safe haven. Over the months of June - August, the Regiment set conditions for a major offensive against the enemy safe haven in Tall Afar. This operation was called Operation Restoring Rights. Tall Afar is an ancient trading town on the old Silk road that led from the Mediterranean to India. Nestled at the edge of the Sinjar mountain range on a North-South intersection of the Silk Road, Tall Afar has been a critical spot for armies since the Assyrian empire. Alexander came through Tall Afar on his way to fight the battle of Gaugmela (Northeast of Mosul). During the Ottoman Empire, the city became a key citadel, seeing the construction of a large castle in the middle of the city. This 16th Century castle (pictured on the Poster and T-Shirt) overlooked the Sarai district of the city. The Sarai district – literally meaning the palace -- is the ancient seat of the city, which used to house the Turkish officers and officials who occupied the town. Consisting of sturdy, labrynthine structures and laced with narrow alleys, this became an enemy defensive stronghold - where U.S. vehicles could not fit. In the early 1920s, the British garrisoned the city and built a new fortification 5 kilometers to the East of the City to control this critical trading/smuggling route. In the summer of 2005, as the Regiment arrived, Tall Afar was firmly under enemy control. Operation Restoring Rights included forces from 1st Squadron, 2nd Squadron, Support Squadron, the Air Squadron, and various U.S. Special Forces formations. Additionally, Iraqi Army formations moved into the city en masse, consisting of 5,000 soldiers from the Iraqi Army 3rd Division (partnered with the 3d Cavalry), 1,000 soldiers from the 1st Battalion of the 1st Brigade of the 2nd Iraqi Army Division (from Irbil and partnered with the U.S. Special Forces), and the Iraqi Special Forces commandoes. Additionally, an Iraqi Police Brigade and Mosul Police units moved in to provide perimeter security. Operation Restoring Rights began in late August as 1st Squadron and its Iraqi Army Brigade moved into Tall Afar and began conducting focused raids on the Western part of Tall Afar, while 2nd Squadron and its Iraqi Army Brigade moved to isolate the enemy strongpoint in the Sarai District - Eastern part of the city by the Castle. Meanwhile, as the Regiment moved to isolate the eastern port ion of the city, the enemy put up an intense fight against 1st Squadron as they pursued them relentlessly through the Western part of the city. Regimental Apaches Attack and Kiowa Scout helicopters tracked the enemy while ground forces pursued them into their safe haven, destroying them with direct fire from ground platforms and hellfire missiles from the air. Air Force munitions were used against especially hardened defensive positions. As 2nd Squadron an Iraqi Army Battalion from the 2nd Iraqi Army Division moved into place, they received critical intelligence on the enemy battle positions and Improvised Explosive devices that allowed them to destroy the enemy in detail with precision fires from the Apache and Kiowa Helicopters and Air Force Munitions. Over half of the enemy leadership was killed or captured in the days leading up to the assault on the Sarai, and the enemy put out the word to their forces: "Leave and hide, we are getting slaughtered." 2nd Squadron, 1st Squadron, and elements of Support Squadron manning checkpoints, captured over 1,200 enemy fighters as they tried to flee the city - some even hiding behind children and dressed as women. The Regiment attacked into the Sarai and cleared it of the remaining enemy, finding a complex enemy training base within the ancient structures. At the end of Operation Restoring Rights, the 2nd Battalion of the 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment - the White Falcons - joined the fight and occupied the Sarai District. Along with 2nd Squadron, they began the critical part of the Operation: restoring security and providing the safety needed for the residents of the city to be able to shed their passive support for the insurgency. The Regiment, reinforced with the critical light infantry capability, continues to pursue the remnant enemy in the city, rebuild the city, and re-establish the Iraqi Army and the Tall Afar Police force in the Area. 1st Squadron has moved back in force to the border, where it has effectively reduced enemy infiltration to a fraction of what it was before they arrived. 3rd Squadron has remained in South Baghdad and secured the critical Main Security Route Tampa, while continuing to pursue the enemy along the Tigris River Valley. Its Armor, mobility, and expertise on counterinsurgency operations has been critical to stabilizing this troubled region South of the Capitol. The Third Armored Cavalry Regiment lost forty-four troopers during its deployment that ended in late February, 2006.