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From: bcstec!shuksan!major@uunet.UU.NET (Mike Schmitt)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Definitions please?
Message-ID: <1990Nov29.002611.18929@cbnews.att.com>
Date: 29 Nov 90 00:26:11 GMT
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From: bcstec!shuksan!major@uunet.UU.NET (Mike Schmitt)

> From: richk@tera.com (Richard Korry)
> Just a quick question. How do the following unit types differ?
> Cavalry and Armored Cavalry?
> Armored Cavalry and (just plain) Armor
> Airborne and Airborne (Air Assault)
> And also, does the 1st Air Cavalry that fought in VietNam still operate as
> "Air Cavalry" or is it now just "Cavalry". And will they get to ride camels
> this time (:-))?
>         rich

  The 11th Air Assault Division was formed to test the 'new' concept of
  heliborne infantry assault tactics - along with the fledgling helicoptor
  tactics.  I believe the Division was formed at Fort Benning, GA and 
  tested some concepts during the Dominican Republic affair (1965?).  I
  believe that, early on, some elements even deployed to Vietnam for 'testing'.
  (I know that because my brother was a UH-1 helicoptor door gunner with 
  the 11th Air Assault Div - and 'deployed' three separate times to Vietnam.)
  They had a unique 'badge' - a shield with wings (like a pilot's') with 
  crossed rifles and lightning bolts.  However, once the 'concept' met with
  approval of the Department of the Army - it was decided to deploy the
  division as the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile).  Therefore, the 11th
  Air Assault Div was redisignated the 1st Cav Div and was the first Army
  division to deploy to Vietnam.

  The reason d'entendre that the 1st Cavalry was designated the first to
  deploy to Vietnam stems from an action in the Korean war that brought
  discredit to the entire unit.  If you recall the divisional patch of the
  1st Cav - big bright yellow background - black diagonal bar - black 
  silhouette of a horse head - in barracks language it was said "the
  horse they never rode, the stream they never crossed, yellow is the color
  of the outfit!"  During a period of action in Korea the 1st Cav Div was
  assigned the task to protect a sensitive radio intercept battalion - the
  303d Signal Security Battalion - the 1st Cav got word of an impending 
  Chinese attack the next morning and pulled back to a "better defensive
  position" but neglected to inform the Radio Intercept Battalion.  The
  next morning found the 303d completely surrounded by Chinese.  Only 6
  survivors of that Battalion made it back to friendly lines.  Based on that
  incident the 1st Cav "lost it's colors, no one was allowed to wear the
  1st Cav patch as a Korean combat patch - and the 1st Cav was to remain
  in Korea - not able to return to the United States until it "won it's
  colors back in battle."  

  Now it may seem that this is just 'barracks-legend' but this was alluded 
  to by three separate sources:  The first was my basic training drill
  sergeant (1961) who had served with the 1st Cav in Korea and mentioned
  something about this incident.  The second was at Fort Devens Mass in
  1962, one of my instructors was a Master Sergeant who wore the I Corps
  patch for combat in Korea - one of the survivors of the 303d Battalion. 

  Another 'fact' that may support this is that when I was assigned to 
  the 303d (now) ASA Battalion in 1965 (Fort Wolters, Texas) we wore the
  old 'toilet seat' Meritorious Unit Citation (on our lower sleeve) and the
  Battalion Sergeant Major told me the 303d won the MUC 'cause it was almost
  wiped out in Korea.   

  ---------------------

  In Vietnam - the 1st Cav (First Team) certainly won its colors many times
  over and any "Sky Trooper" should be proud to wear the patch.

  mike schmitt