2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment

The 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment (2d ACR) —established by President Andrew Jackson on May 23 1836 as the Second Regiment of Dragoons. Two squadrons were originally raised, one in Florida and one at Jefferson barracks, Missouri to combat the Seminole Indians. The first Colonel of the Regiment was David Emmanual Twiggs. The Regiment fought in the Mexican War, the Indian Wars and was recalled to the East and redesignated the Second U.S. Cavalry at the onset of the Civil War. The 2d Cavalry deployed during the War with Spain to Cuba, joining Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders, fighting at El Canay, San Juan Hill, Aquadores, and Santiago. The Regiment remained in Cuba on pacification duty for the next three years. From Cuba, the Regiment deployed to the Philippines, participating in the Cavite Campaign as well as fighting the Moro in 1911 and 1912.

Related Topics:
Andrew Jackson - May 23 - 1836 - Florida - Missouri - Seminole - Indians - Colonel - Mexican War - Indian Wars - Civil War - Cuba - Teddy Roosevelt - Rough Riders - Philippines

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During WW I,the Regiment 'saddled up' again, this time under General Pershing in Europe, participating in several battles, including the Aisne-Marne Offensive. Troops B,D,F,and H became the last elements of the Regiment to ever engage the enemy as mounted horse cavalry.

Related Topics:
WW I - General Pershing - Europe

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During WW II, the Regiment (this time under the designation of '2d Cavalry Group, Mechanized') landed in France in July 1944, becoming part of General Patton's Third Army. During this period, the Regiment became known as the 'Ghosts of Patton's Army' due to their ability to conduct reconnaissance, materializing at will behind German lines. The Regiment made the deepest penetration of the war, arriving in Czechoslovakia before finally linking up with Russian forces heading west. Under the leadership of COL Charles H. Reed, the Regiment conducted a raid behind Soviet lines to rescue the famous Lippinzaner Stallions. At the end of the war, the unit was redesignated, yet again, as the 2d Constabulary Regiment, and eventually the 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment in 1948.

Related Topics:
WW II - France - General Patton - Czechoslovakia

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During the Cold War the Regiment was responsible for guarding the Iron Curtain, acting as a tripwire for the long expected but never materializing, Russian invasion of Western Europe.

Related Topics:
Cold War - Iron Curtain

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The fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe meant the Regiment had to now redefine it's role. During this process, the Regiment was alerted for deployment to Saudi Arabia in response to the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq. The regiment spearheaded the VII Corps end-run deep into Iraq. Returning from the Gulf, the Regiment was relocated from Germany to Fort Lewis, Washington. From here, the Regiment deployed in support of Peace keeping operation in Haiti during 1995-6. After this mission, the Regiment relocated once again, this time to Fort Polk, Louisiana where the unit remained until deployed again to the Gulf, this time for Operation Iraqi Freedom, remaining for a total of 14 months. On its return from combat operations, the Regiment found itself heading back to Fort Lewis, Washington. In December, 2004, the Regiment became the Second Cavalry Regiment, and is in the process of becoming the United States' Army's newest Stryker Brigade.

Related Topics:
Berlin Wall - Communism - Saudi Arabia - Kuwait - Iraq - VII Corps - Fort Lewis - Washington - Haiti - Louisiana - Operation Iraqi Freedom - Stryker

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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The 2nd ACR has the distinction of being the longest continuously serving unit in the United States Army.

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Remember your Regiment and follow your Officers

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