2nd Cavalry Regiment
2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment
"Second Dragoons"
Upon receiving orders, 2nd Cav. is to rapidly deploy and execute reconnaissance and security operations anywhere in the world and be prepared to fight upon arrival and win.
The Army announced Friday, July 23 (2004) that a Brigade Combat Team Unit of Action (BCT/UA) will be located at Fort Polk. This unit, the 4th Brigade of the 10th Mountain Division (4/10 th MTN), is a new light infantry unit that will be formed in 2005. The 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment (2ACR) will move from Fort Polk to Fort Lewis, Washington. In May of 2004, the Army signed a Record of Decision related to transformation of the 2ACR to a Stryker Brigade Combat Team. The 2ACR has performed admirably in peace and war and will be missed from the post, but it will remain a relevant and lethal force wherever it is stationed. The Army remains committed to taking care of its soldiers during this transition. This decision supports Army efforts to transform now to meet current and future challenges in the War on Terror. At a press conference on 13 August 2004, Acting Secretary of the Army Les Brownlee pointed out that Fort Lewis, as home of the first two Stryker Brigades, is well suited to support the 2ACR, which will transform to a Stryker Brigade Combat Team. Additionally, the stationing of modular BCT/UAs is operationally imperative now to ensure the Army is properly postured to fully support its strategic commitments and to transform to a campaign-quality force with joint and expeditionary capabilities that meet the demands of the Combatant Commanders. The locations for BCT/UA were selected based on existing capacities, available training space, and current locations of similar units. The Army will address permanent stationing through the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) 2005 analysis.
In support of Army initiatives to meet evolving security requirements, the Army has designated the 2d ACR to transform as an element of the Interim Force to the 2d Interim Cavalry Regiment (2d ICR), a medium-weight force that is strategically responsive and more rapidly deployable by air. In October 1999, the Secretary of the Army and the Chief of Staff of the Army articulated a vision to posture the Army to meet the demands of the 21st century: The Army Vision is about people, readiness, and transformation. Transformation addresses the need for change based on emerging security challenges of the 21st century. Chief among these challenges is the need to be able to respond more rapidly to different types of operations requiring military action. Toward these ends, the Army will field an Interim Force to address strategic near-term capability gaps and to validate and develop operational concepts on which subsequent transformation planning and implementation activities can logically build. Ultimately, the Army will field an Objective Force designed to render the Army more responsive, deployable, agile, versatile, lethal, survivable, and sustainable.
In April of 1997 the Regiment received a Warning Order to be prepared to deploy to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Following the first Mission Rehearsal Exercise held at the JRTC in June, the unit moved to Germany to begin integration with the First Armored Division. Meanwhile, all its equipment was shipped to the Intermediate Staging Base at Tazar, Hungary.
The Regiment's participation in Operation Joint Guard began when the Second and Third Squadrons moved across the Sava River into Bosnia in August 1997 to augment the First Infantry Division (Forward) in support of Bosnia-Herzegovina's first free municipal elections. The Regiment's air cavalry, the Fourth Squadron and the Regimental Support Squadron also moved into the country. The Regiment's separate companies - the 502d Military Intelligence Company, 84th Engineer Company, H-159th Aviation Maintenance company, and the Air Defense Battery - completed the Regimental troop list.
While the ground squadrons were in Bosnia, the Regimental headquarters deployed to Germany to train with the First Armored Division Headquarters in preparation for assuming command in Bosnia. During August and September, the Regiment was spread across five countries on two continents, and was under the direct command and control of three different general officer commands. This period included another first for any army unit during a 12-month period: The Regiment participated in major training exercises at all three of the Army's Combat Training Centers: The National Training Center (NTC) at Fort Irwin, the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) at Fort Polk, and the Combined Maneuver Training Center (CMTC) at Hohenfels, Germany. In October the remainder of the Regiment rode into theater, assuming responsibility for the American sector of Multinational Division (North), which stretched from the war-torn bridge at Brcko in the north to the shattered city of Srebrenica in the south.
The first major action of the Regiment in Bosnia was the seizing of Serbian radio-television towers to prevent the broadcast of inflammatory propaganda into the Republic of Srpska. Other significant operations that the Regiment conducted include: the restructuring of the Republic of Srpska Specialist Police; the creation of the first multiethnic police department, in the city of Brcko; security for the announcement of the Brcko Arbitration Decision (an effort to resolve the status of this Serb-dominated city within Bosnia); institution of common license plates and currency in Bosnia, and the opening of the Bosnian rail system. In conducting operations in sector, the Regiment executed an estimated 12,500 patrols and 480 weapon storage site inspections, supervised the removal of over 12,000 mines, and oversaw 350 training exercises for the Former Warring Factions.
The Regiment's redeployment to Fort Polk marked the end of its eighth operational overseas deployment in the service of our country. It returned home to reassume its mission as the armored cavalry regiment of the XVIII Airborne Corps and to await the call to service.
During the Cold War era the 2d ACR was responsible for surveillance of 731 kilometers along the Iron Curtain. Its section included 375 kilometers of the border separating West and East Germany, as well as the entire 356 kilometers of the West German-Czechoslovakian border. From a distance the border area appeared deceptively peaceful and scenic. Closer inspection however revealed the Iron Curtain's massive and deadly barrier system. Its series of metal mesh fences topped with barbed wire and equipped with sensitive warning devices, guard towers with interlocking fields of observation, and concrete walls similar to those found in Berlin were an imposing deterrent to those on both sides. Only a few legal crossing points existed and these were heavily guarded and fortified.
The former East German and Czech border commands consisted of hand picked individuals who were considered politically reliable and were well-trained in marksmanship and surveillance skills. The low number of successful escapes from East Germany, normally about 25 a year in the 2d ACR sector, testified to the deadly efficiency of the barrier system. The Walt Disney feature film "Flight to Freedom" depicted a successful escape by a family from East Germany into the 2d ACR border region.
To conduct continuous border surveillance in sector, the Regiment operated six border camps in addition to the home garrisons of the squadrons. Camp Harris located in the town of Coberg, Kingsley Barracks in Hof, Camp Gates in Brand, Camp Pitman in Weiden, Camp Reed in Rosts, and Camp May in Regen. From the border camps, 2d ACR units patrolled their border sectors both by vehicle and on foot. Helicopters from the Fourth Squadron assisted from the air. At each border camp, a reaction force was kept on standby around the clock and could clear the camp within minutes of the alert horn sounding. Finally the Regiment worked closely with the German border agencies, the BGS (Bundesgrenzshutz) and BBP (Bavarian Border Patrol), and the ZOLL (customs) Police, sharing intelligence information and conducting joint patrols. The mission of the Regiment demanded the constant vigilance and dedication of all the soldiers stationed along the wall.
In November of 1989, the 2d ACR witnessed the opening of the Iron Curtain. With the fall of the communist bloc in Eastern Europe, regular border patrols were discontinued on 1 March 1990, ending the Cold War phase of the Regiment's history.
On 8 November 1990, the Second ACR was in the process of redefining its post-Cold War mission when it was alerted for deployment to Saudi Arabia. On 11 November, what had been VII Corps' initial instructions to "move no earlier than 20 November" became "begin movement tomorrow."
Leading the VII Corps deployment to Saudi Arabia, the Regiment occupied assembly areas deep in the Saudi desert by mid-December. There, intensive training and planning for the ground offensive took place for several months. The 210th Artillery Brigade, the AH 64 Apache helicopters of the 2-1 Aviation Battalion, the 82nd Engineer Battalion, and other assets were added to form the 8,500 strong "Dragoon Battle Group."
This battle group, which had worked together in Europe, continued to train and to provide security for the Corps through the commencement of hostilities. The Regiment, commanded by Colonel Leonard D. "Don" Holder, the 65th Colonel of the Regiment, was given the following mission: "At G-day, H-hour, 2nd ACR attacks through the western flank of the enemy defenses and conducts offensive cover operations in order to develop the situation for VII Corps." On 23 February artillery fire prepped the area and the Second Cavalry attacked, breaching the Iraqi-Saudi border berm and moving north into Iraq. It was the first time the Regiment had seen combat in over 45 years.
For the next 72 hours the Second Cavalry spearheaded the VII Corps' attack as it advanced into southern Iraq. On 26 February the Regiment fought a series of fierce engagements with elements of four Iraqi divisions, three of them armored or mechanized. Best known is the "Battle of 73 Easting" in which G, E, and I Troops destroyed an entire armored brigade. By the end of its covering force mission, the Regiment had broken the defensive line of the Republican Guard's Tawakalna Division and led three heavy divisions into the fight. During the 100-hour war, the Regiment moved over 250 kilometers, captured over 2000 prisoners, and destroyed 159 enemy tanks and 260 other fighting vehicles. Its actions against the Iraqi divisions have become textbook examples of modern tank warfare. The Battle Group had limited its casualties to seven soldiers killed in action and nineteen wounded.
After the cease-fire, the Regiment moved into Kuwait, and then back into Iraq, occupying a position along the demarcation line south of the Euphrates River. From there, it monitored the border for compliance with the cease-fire and provided humanitarian aid to thousands of Iraqi refugees escaping the ravages of the conflict.
The Regiment was relieved on the demarcation line on 7 April and returned to Saudi Arabia for redeployment to the Federal Republic of Germany. The Regiment earned two more tan colored streamers for the Regimental standard and the red with blue streamer of the Valorous Unit Award for actions in Southwest Asia.
As part of the draw-down of forces in Europe after the Cold War, the Regiment relocated to Fort Lewis, Washington, in 1992. The unit was redesignated as the Second Armored Cavalry Regiment (Light) and tasked with developing a new organizational structure for a lethal, yet more rapidly deployable cavalry. The Regiment remains at the forefront of operational doctrine development.
In the summer of 1993 the Regiment moved again to its present home at Fort Polk, Louisiana. The Second Dragoons became the cavalry regiment for the XVIII Airborne Corps, serving as part of a rapid deployment force able to move quickly anywhere around the globe. In addition, the Regiment has played an important part in cultivating the war fighting skills of the Army's light forces through its continual support of the Joint Readiness Training Center. By augmenting both opposing and friendly forces, the dragoons have helped to provide the light soldiers of today's Army with the most realistic training they can receive.
In January 1995, the Regiment was called upon to reinforce American foreign policy through the aptly named and highly successful United Nations mission "Operation Uphold Democracy." The Second Dragoons were an essential part of a multinational force that helped the Haitians reestablish democracy. The soldiers of the Regiment provided security for legislative and presidential elections and ensured the first democratic transition of power in that country's history.
The Regiment rotated Headquarters Troop and all three of its maneuver squadrons to the fledgling democracy between January 1995 and March 1996, with the Support Squadron providing logistical support. While in Haiti, the troopers of the Second Dragoons operated in a variety of roles. They guarded humanitarian relief convoys filled with food for the Haitian people and served as the United Nations Quick Reaction Force (UNQRF). By assisting in the seizure of illegal weapons and conducting security patrols, the Regiment helped to restore civil order to the capital of Port-Au-Prince and throughout the Haitian countryside. They provided protection not only to the Haitian president, but also to the U.S. president and vice president on their state visits. In all of these missions, the Second Dragoons displayed the professionalism and dedication to duty that have characterized the Regiment since its inception.
Bull Troop, 1st Squadron, deployed to Southwest Asia on April 13th 2002 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and the Global War on Terrorism. There, the unit served in Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, and Djibouti providing port and site security. The unit was relieved by Lightning Troop, 3rd Squadron, in October 2002.
The Regiment deployed as a whole since May of 2003, with 2nd Squadron leaving out first on April 5th. Soldiers from the unit repeatedly executed tasks, maintained the vigilance, and just plain done the things that distinguish 2ACR as a leader in the process of transforming Iraq into a more independent, self governing nation. The Second Regiment of Dragoons spent a year in the eastern part of Baghdad, helping the people of that city rebuild their lives and regain their livelihood. When the Regiment got orders to move south, they did just that. One of the cities they assumed responsibility for was Najaf.
An increase in the number of Improvised Explosive Devices (IED's) found in November 2003 was a clear indicator that the enemy was getting frustrated with 2 ACR success and sought to interrupt the ongoing progress to rebuild the post-Saddam Iraq. The Regiment continued to conduct combat operations to capture or destroy the enemy. The unit came to face a different environment with the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. As a command, the unit focused on this important holiday season for the Iraqi people in an effort to gain more cultural awareness. With increasing unrest among the local Shiia leaders that has resulted in increasing violence in 2 ACR zones the men and women of the Regiment faced severe challenges and rose to the occasion.
The Regiment continued to take the fight to the anti-Coalition forces by conducting daily patrols and raids to disrupt the terrorist cells operating in our area of operations in Baghdad. Although progress continued Baghdad was still a dangerous place. The first priority remained conducting combat operations to capture or destroy the enemy. Numerous raids in the 2 ACR zone continued to result in the capture of dangerous criminals/terrorists intent on disrupting the transition of authority to the Iraqi people. In addition, the Iraqi Civilian Defense Corps continued to play a larger and more central role in Regimental operations. The Regiment, under direction from higher headquarters, has continued to expand this successful program.
In January 2003 a benchmark was a visit by the senior leadership from the 1st Brigade, 1st CAV Division, which was slated to replace 2 ACR upon its redeployment. The Regiment did everything in its power to take care of them and to make the transition a smooth one.
The Army announced on May 14, 2004 that 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment (Light), would begin the transformation to an Infantry-based Stryker Brigade upon its return from Operation Iraqi Freedom. The unit is expected to attain an initial operational capability (IOC) as an infantry-designed SBCT by late 2006. The conversion of the 2d ACR to an infantry-centric SBCT supports the Army's transition to modularity, standardizes the design for all six planned SBCTs, and increases the number of Army infantry formations available to combatant commanders worldwide to set the tempo of battle and act decisively against enemy forces.
On June 1, 2006 at Ft Lewis, WA, a large Army reflagging ceremony occurred. The 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry’s colors were cased, the colors of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment were transferred, and the 4th Brigade, 2d Infantry Division colors were uncased. Two respected military units conducted a joint reflagging ceremony at Gray Army Airfield. The 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division deactivated to be reflagged as 2nd Cavalry Regiment; 2nd Cavalry Regiment, in turn, joined the 2nd Infantry Division, activating as the Indianhead Division's 4th Brigade. In its history that began in 1917, 2nd Inf. Div. has never included a 4th Bde. The former 2nd Cav. Regt. will begin a fresh set of traditions as a brand new Stryker brigade combat team in the Indianhead Division. The newly constituted 2nd Cav. Regt. completed a move to Germany in the summer of 2006.
