8th Squadron - 10th Cavalry Regiment
The 10th U.S. Cavalry was formed at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in 1866. On 28 July, 1866 H Company, 10th Cavalry Regiment was born. Very high standards of recruitment were set by the regiments’ commander, Benjamin Grierson, and as a result the unit’s organization lasted over a year. By the end of July 1867 eight companies had been recruited including H company who was commanded by CPT L.H. Carpenter. For the next eight years, the 10th was stationed at numerous forts throughout the Kansas and Indian territory.
In 1875 the 10th Cavalry moved its headquarters to Fort Concho in west Texas. The 10th scouted over 34,000 miles of uncharted terrain taking troops through some of the harshest and most desolate terrain in the nation. The stay in west Texas produced tough soldiers, who became accustomed to surviving in an area that offered few comforts and no luxuries. In 1883 Cavalry companies were officially designated a Troops.
After twenty years of service in some of the most undesirable posts in the southwest, the regiment, now under the command of Colonel John K. Mizner, was transferred to the Department of Dakota in 1891. The regiment served at various posts in Montana and Dakotas until 1898.
During the Spanish-American War, four regiments served in Cuba and fought along side Teddy Roosevelt's "Rough Riders" and other units. While Teddy Roosevelt and his highly political volunteers got more press attention, the 10th Cavalry commanded by Col. John J. Pershing was instrumental in taking San Juan Hill. In 1916 Black Jack Pershing was given the assignment of leading a campaign into Mexico to capture Pancho Villa. Pershing requested that the 10th Cavalry accompany him.
On 1 September 1921, H Troop was officially demobilized at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. On 25 June 1959 H Troop was reconstituted in the regular Army and redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 8th Reconnaissance Squadron, 10th Cavalry.
On 6 December 1969, the unit was redesignated as H Troop and assigned to 4th Brigade, 25th Infantry Division and activated in Hawaii.
On 15 March 1972 the Troop was inactivated and relieved from the 25th Infantry only to be reactivated in Vietnam as an Air Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop assigned to the 17th Aviation Group on 30 April 1972. H Troop, 10th Cavalry received the Valorous Unit Award for it’s exemplary service during the Vietnam Conflict.
On 26 February 1973 H Troop was again deactivated. Reactivated in 2000, H Troop was assigned as a brigade ground reconnaissance troop in the 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized) and participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
As of January 14th, 2006, 4th Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, which included 8th Squadron 10th Cavalry Regiment, took control of Forward Operating Base Prosperity, located in Baghdad, from 4th Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division. Their mission included training Iraqi Security Forces and maintaining security within the central and southern regions of the Iraqi capital.
