112th Cavalry Regiment
| 112th Cavalry Regiment | |
|---|---|
 Coat of arms | |
| Active | 1918–present. |
| Country |  United States |
| Allegiance |  Texas |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Type | Armored Cavalry |
| Size | Regiment |
| Nickname(s) | "Little Giant of the Pacific" |
| Motto(s) | Rarin' to Go |
| Insignia | |
| Distinctive unit insignia |  |
| U.S. Infantry Regiments | ||||
|
The112th Cavalry Regimentis aTexas National Guardregiment that served in several Pacific campaigns duringWorld War II.
Early history
[edit]The 112th Cavalry Regiment was constituted in the National Guard in 1921, assigned to the23rd Cavalry Division,and allotted to the state of Texas. The regiment was assigned along with New Mexico's111th Cavalry Regimentto the56th Cavalry Brigade;in 1929, the 111th Cavalry was replaced by the124th Cavalry.The 112th Cavalry regimental headquarters was organized on 20 July 1921 atDallas, Texas,by redesignation of the 1st Texas Cavalry Regiment (constituted on 20 February 1920; organized and federally recognized on 16 December 1920) as the 112th Cavalry. Subordinate squadron headquarters were concurrently organized at Dallas. The regimental headquarters was successively relocated as follows: toFort Worth, Texas,on 19 July 1925; to Dallas about August 1938.
The regiment, or elements thereof, was called up to perform the following state duties: to perform martial law during the reduction of theBorger, Texas,criminal ring in September–October 1929; to restore order afterthe race riotinSherman, Texas,in May 1930; and to perform patrolling and production regulation in the East Texas oilfields during September 1931–December 1932. Elements of the regiment were also called up to perform emergency relief duties after theOak Cliff, Texas,tornado, 30–31 July 1933, and theNew London, Texas,school explosionin March 1937. The regiment conducted summer training atCamp Mabry,Austin, Texas,1921–23;Camp Stanley,San Antonio, Texas,1924–26; and most years atCamp Wolters,Mineral Wells, Texas,1927–39. Its designated mobilization training station wasFort Brown,Texas, 1922–33, andFort Bliss,El Paso, Texas,1933–40.
The regiment was relieved from the 23rd Cavalry Division on 1 April 1939 after the 56th Cavalry Brigade was designated a separate brigade and assigned to theThird Army.It was reorganized on 23 July 1939 as a three-squadron regiment, with a new 3rd Squadron organized at Dallas. The headquarters and headquarters troop of the 3rd Squadron was inactivated on 1 October 1940 and Troops I and K were assigned to the 1st and 2nd Squadrons as Troops C and G, respectively. The regiment was inducted into active federal service at home stations on 18 November 1940 as an element of the 56th Cavalry Brigade, and transferred to Fort Bliss, arriving there on 28 November 1940 and being assigned to the Third Army. It transferred on 5 February 1941 toFort Clark, Texas.On arrival, it relieved the Fort Clark Command sector of the Mexican Border Patrol.[1]
World War II
[edit]On 10 November 1940 President Roosevelt federalized the National Guard, and on 18 November 1940 the 112th was posted toFort Bliss.[2]The 112th's sister regiment in the brigade, the124th Cavalrywas the last of the cavalry regiments to give up their horses and was later sent to Burma.
The regiment patrolled the Mexican border until being shipped toNew Caledoniaon 8 July 1942 arriving on 11 August 1942. They were assigned to theAmerical Divisionunder GeneralAlexander Patch.[2] The 112th Cavalry were assigned AustralianWaler horses,and ordered to New Caledonia to serve as a horse mounted security force. General Patch initially thought horse mounted cavalry could be used in jungle warfare, but the torrential Pacific rains and the mud that followed damaged the horses' hooves, changing the general's mind.[3]The Australian horses were shipped toBurmaand assigned to Chinese forces who mistreated them. In 1944 theWalersrejoined the American Army being assigned toMerrill's Marauders.[4]
During the heavy fighting onGuadalcanal,GeneralAlexander Vandegriftof the1st Marine Divisionsent an urgent request formachetesfor his Marines. General Patch took the sabers of the regiment, cut them down and sent them to the Marines forjungle warfareuse.[5]
After extensive training the 112th made its firstamphibious landingatWoodlark Islandas part ofOperation Chronicleon 30 June 1943. The landing was unopposed, and the cavalrymen established a defensible perimeter to protectSeabeesbuilding an airstrip on the island.
The regiment was sent toGoodenough Islandfor training and became part of Task Force Director in preparation for its first action,Operation DirectortheBattle of Arawe.The 112th set sail onUSSCarter Hall,HMASWestraliaand thehigh speed transportsUSSSandsandUSSHumphreys.[6]On 15 December 1943 the regiment landed in three separate amphibious operations onNew Britain.
One of these landings involved Troop A of the 2nd Squadron landing in rubber boats offSandsagainst fierce defense that sank all but three of the boats. The destroyerUSSShawsailed close as possible to the enemy defenders to shell them and rescue the survivors of A Troop.[7]
Troop B landed atPileloIsland fromHumphreysin 15 rubber boats on the same day. When meeting resistance from Japanese troops in caves, Troop B destroyed one with abazookaand one with aflamethrowerthe first use of the weapon in theSouthwest Pacificarea.[8]
The main landings were fromamphibious tractorslaunched fromCarter Halland landing craft fromWestralia.In this landing the 112th Cavalry were the first to use the 4.5-inch (110 mm) rocket firingDUKWs.[9]
After linking up with the 1st Marine Division, the 112th was assigned to the32nd Infantry DivisioninAitapePapua New Guinea.The regiment fought in theBattle of Driniumor Riverfor 51 days taking 62% casualties.[10]Two of the regiment'ssecond lieutenants,Dale Eldon ChristensenandGeorge W. G. Boyce Jr.were awarded theMedal of Honorfor their actions during this period.
On 1 October 1944 the 112th Cavalry was combined with the 114th Field Artillery Battalion became the 112th Regimental Combat Team (RCT) and departed Aitape forLeytein thePhilippineson 31 October 1944. The 112th RCT was attached to the1st Cavalry Divisionfor theBattle of LeyteandBattle of Luzon.
Following the Japanese surrender, the 112th landed in Japan for Occupation Duties on 3 September 1945.
During World War II the 112th Cavalry served 434 days in combat. They were the first U.S. Army unit in the Southwest Pacific to use bazookas and flame throwers against enemy defenses and first used rocket firing DUKWs in amphibious assaults. The 112th were the first unit in the Philippines to usehelicoptersto evacuate their wounded.[11]
Two of the regiment's late replacements authored books after the war ended.Norman MailerwroteThe Naked and the Dead,andFrancis GwaltneyauthoredThe Day the Century Ended,later filmed asBetween Heaven and Hell.
Postwar
[edit]The regiment was inactivated in Japan in 1946 but was re-organized on 13 November 1947 as the 112th Mechanized Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, then reorganized on 12 September 1949 as the 112th Armored Cavalry Regiment.[12]On 16 March 1957 the regiment became the 112th Armor and was transferred to active service. In 1961 it was transferred back to the National Guard as part of the49th Armored Division.Following the reflagging of the 49th Armored Division, the 112th Armor became part of the56th Brigadeof the36th Infantry Division.[13]
From 1973 all of the Texas Army National Guard armor units were renumbered as battalions of the 112th Armor. From 1988 to 1993 eight battalions were assigned to the 112th making it then the largest armored regiment in the U.S. Army.[14]
21st Century
[edit]
On 17 October 2008, the 4th Battalion, 112th Armor was renamed 1st Squadron, 112th Cavalry. The unit carries the colors and lineage of the original 112th Cavalry Regiment. The squadron Headquarters and Headquarters Troop is based in Bryan, Texas, with A Troop, B Troop, and C Troop based in Taylor, Rosenberg, and Houston, respectively. A and B Troops are equipped as cavalry units with HMMWVs, and C Troop is a dismounted infantry unit.
The 1st Squadron, 112th Cavalry is part of the72nd Infantry Brigade Combat Teamnow part of the35th Infantry Division.
In early 2015, 1-112 Cavalry deployed to theSinai Peninsulain Egypt as multinational force and observers (MFO), tasked with ensuring peace between Israel and Egypt in accordance with the1979 treatybetween the two nations.[15]The squadron completed its tour in November 2015 and redeployed to the United States.
In 2020, 1-112 Cavalry again deployed to the Sinai Peninsula.[16]1-112 Cavalry officially assumed MFO duties in the Sinai on 8 March 2020, relieving 1st Battalion, 294th Infantry Regiment of theGuam Army National Guard.[17]On 24 November 2020, 1-112 Cavalry was relieved by 1st Battalion,133rd Field Artillery Regiment,also of the Texas Army National Guard.
Campaign Participation Credit
[edit]World War II: New Guinea Bismarck Archipelago (with arrowhead) Leyte Luzon
Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion; Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion; and Company B, 3rd Battalion, each additionally entitled to: World War II-EAME: Naples-Foggia Anzio Rome-Arno Southern France (with arrowhead) Rhineland Ardennes-Alsace Central Europe
Company C, 1st Battalion, additionally entitled to: World War II-EAME: Ryukyus
Decorations
[edit]Army Superior Unit Award: 4th Battalion, 112th Armor Regiment (HHC, A, B, C Troops - 18 JAN 06 to 6 DEC 06). Army Superior Unit Award: 1st Battalion, 112th Armor Regiment (2 SEP 05 - 11 OCT 05). Army Superior Unit Award: 5th Battalion, 112th Armor Regiment (2 SEP 05 - 11 OCT 05). Meritorious Unit Award: 2nd Battalion, 112th Armor Regiment (5 JAN 05 - 21 NOV 05). Meritorious Unit Award: 3rd Battalion, 112th Armor Regiment (5 JAN 05 - 10 FEB 06). Navy Unit Commendation: 2nd Battalion, 112th Armor Regiment (1 MAR 05 - 28 MAR 06).
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation: 17 October 1944-4 July 1945 DA GO 47.
Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, additionally entitled to: French Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War II, Streamer embroidered VOSGES (636th Tank Destroyer Battalion cited, DA GO 43).
Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, and Company B, 3rd Battalion, each additionally entitled to: Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered SIEGFRIED LINE (142d Infantry cited, WD GO 37, 1946). Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered SELESTAT (1st Battalion, 142d Infantry cited; WD GO 56, 1946). French Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War II, Steamer embroidered VOSGES (142d Infantry cited; DA GO 43, 1950).
References
[edit]- ^Clay, Steven E. (2010).U.S. Army Order of Battle, 1919-1941, Volume 1. The Arms: Major Commands and Infantry Organizations, 1919-41.Fort Leavenworth, KS: Combat Studies Institute Press. p. 634.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
- ^ab"WWII Summary History: 112th Cavalry Regiment".Archivedfrom the original on 19 August 2009.Retrieved28 March2009.
- ^"The Motley Crew".Archivedfrom the original on 9 January 2011.Retrieved28 March2009.
- ^p.78 Ogburn Jr, CharltonThe Marauders1959 Harper
- ^"World War II Plus 55 – August 20th–22nd, 1942".Archived fromthe originalon 7 July 2011.Retrieved28 March2009.
- ^"HyperWar: US Army in WWII: CARTWHEEL--The Reduction of Rabaul".ibiblio.org.Retrieved30 July2016.
- ^Drea, E.J.Defending the Driniumor: Covering Operations in New Guinea 19441984 Diane Publishing, p.48
- ^"Chapter 14: The Flame Thrower in the Pacific: Guadalcanal to the Marshall Islands".Archivedfrom the original on 5 May 2009.Retrieved28 March2009.
- ^Charles H. Bogart."Trucking with the Duck"(PDF).Archived(PDF)from the original on 17 June 2011.Retrieved28 March2009.
- ^Brandon Traister."The World War II Lecture Institute".Archivedfrom the original on 26 July 2008.Retrieved28 March2009.
- ^"Title Unknown"(PDF).Archived(PDF)from the original on 29 April 2009.Retrieved28 March2009.and"Treasurer".Archivedfrom the original on 29 April 2009.Retrieved28 March2009.
- ^pp 28–29 Pope, Jeffrey Lynn & Kondratiuk, LeonidArmor-Cavalry Regiments: Army National Guard Lineage1995 Diane Publishing
- ^Globalsecurity.org,2nd Battalion, 112th Armor
- ^"Post World War II Texas National Guard".Archivedfrom the original on 10 May 2008.Retrieved28 March2009.
- ^"Texas National Guard Cavalry Regiment Deploys to Sinai Peninsula – Texas Military Department".
- ^"1-112th Cavalry Regiment to Deploy to the CENTCOM Region – Texas Military Department".
- ^"Ceremony marks transfer of authority in the Sinai between Guam and Texas National Guard units".
External links
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