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3rd Cavalry Regiment (United States)

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3d Armored Cavalry Regiment
3d ACR Coat Of Arms
Active1846 –
CountryUSA
BranchRegular Army
TypeArmored Cavalry
Part ofIII Corps
Nickname(s)Brave Rifles
Motto(s)"Brave Rifles! Veterans! You have been baptized in fire and blood and have come out steel."
ColorsYellow
EngagementsBattle of Contreras
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Winfield Scott
George S. Patton

Template:Cavalry The 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment is a regiment of the United States Army currently stationed at Fort Hood, Texas in the city of Killeen, Texas.

The regiment has a history in the United States Army that dates back to May 19, 1846, when it was Constituted in the Regular Army as the Regiment of Mounted Riflemen at Jefferson Barracks. This unit was reorganized at the start of the American Civil War as the 3rd Cavalry Regiment on August 3, 1861.

Under various names it has seen action during ten major conflicts: the Indian Wars, the Mexican War, the American Civil War, the Spanish-American War, the Philippine-American War, World War I, World War II, the Persian Gulf War, SFOR in Bosnia, and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Twenty-three of the regiment’s troopers received the Medal of Honor, all awarded for gallantry in action between 1871 and 1898. The list includes William "Buffalo Bill" Cody, whose award was rescinded in 1916 for not being a member of the military. Cody's medal was reinstated in 1989.

Origins

File:3acrsymbols.JPG
Top Left: Branch Insignia of the 3d ACR
Top Right: Shoulder Sleve Insignia of the 3d ACR
Bottom Right: Distinctive Unit Insignia of the 3d ACR (nicknamed the "BUG")

1st Squadron ("Tiger")

When the Regiment of Mounted Riflemen was organized pursuant to the act of Congress in 1846, the first companies filled were A, B, C, and D They would not be designated as troops until 1883 and would later make up the core of Tiger Squadron, 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment.

Bandit troop (then B Company) is the Regiment's senior troop. It was organized 1 August 1846, and consisted of 1-Captain, 1-1st Lieutenant, 1-2nd Lieutenant, 1-Brevet 2Lt, and 75 enlisted men.
Crazyhorse Troop (then C Company) was organized next on 1 September 1846, with Captain Samuel H. Walker as its commander. He is listed as being "…on detached service at Washington, obtaining equipment and recruits for Company…" until 21 May 1847. No doubt the "equipment" he was obtaining was the shipment of 1000 Colt-Walker revolvers he had co-designed with Samuel Colt.
Apache Troop (then A Company) completed its organization 1 October 1846. Captain William Wing Loring was the first Commander of A Company, and would later become the Regiment's 2nd Colonel, before resigning his commission to serve the Confederacy.
Dragon Troop (then D Company), was organized 4 October 1846 with 3 officers and 61 enlisted. Captain Henry Pope was the first commander of D company.

The Regiment's first taste of combat would come in our nation's first international expeditionary war - The Mexican War of 1846-1848. Crazyhorse Troop would lead General Scott's investment of the City of Vera Cruz. In so doing their first "victory" was the capture of a Mexican supply train of oxen laden with casks of wine. Cadet Dabney Maury of C Company:

When our work for that day was done…We were very hungry and thirsty. So our Texas guide lassoed a fat beef, a keg of sherry was broached, and we bivouacked upon the northern beach of Vera Cruz, just beyond the cannon range of the city, and remained there until, after two or three weeks bombardment, Vera Cruz surrendered.

Apache Troop would suffer the Regiment's first enlisted and officer combat casualties. Private Timothy Cunningham was killed by a cannon ball during the siege of Vera Cruz, Mexico on 11 March 1847. One month later on 18 April 1847, 1LT Thomas Ewell was killed in action at Cerro Gordo. As he died, General Scott knelt by him and "soothed his expiring moments" saying afterwards "Ewell fell sword in hand within the works."

On 9 June 1847, a famous frontiersman is appointed as a Lieutenant of Rifles in Company C. However, because of his rugged independence and plain dealing with friend and foe, he fails to make the grade with Congress, which refuses to confirm his appointment. Christopher "Kit" Carson is carried on the rolls of Company C from May through December 1847 as " Not joined since appointment". It seems, therefore, that Tiger Squadron would have a claim on Fort Carson nearly 100 years before the post existed.

2d Squadron ("Sabre")

Sabre Squadron is organized as follows:

Rattler (HHT) Troop
Eagle Troop
Fox Troop
Grim Troop
Heavy Company
Howitzer Battery
43rd Combat Engineer Company (Regimental asset which falls under Sabre for administrative purposes.) The 43rd CEC is organized as follows: Headquarters Platoon, 1st Platoon, 2nd Platoon, 3rd Platoon, Assault and Obstacle Platoon, Maintenance Platoon.

3d Squadron ("Thunder")

Thunder Squadron is organized as follows:

Havoc (HHT) Troop
Iron Hawk Troop
Killer Troop
Lightning Troop
Mad Dog Company
Howitzer Battery
66th Military Intelligence Company (Ghost Rider falls under Thunder for administrative purposes).

4th Squadron ("Longknife")

The 4th Squadron, 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment originated from the Aviation section assigned to the Regiment while stationed at Happstadten, Germany in 1961. In July 1968, the 3d ACR, with the Aviation section, redeployed to the United States and was stationed at Ft. Lewis, Washington.

The Regiment, along with the Aviation section and a recently formed Air Cavalry Troop, relocated from Ft Lewis, Washington to Ft Bliss, Texas in 1972. In 1982, the Aviation section was consolidated and redesignated the Regimental Support Aviation Troop (RSAT) which, along with the Air Cavalry Troop (ACT), provided the Regiment with airborne command and control, troop lift, aerial resupply, and medical evacuation capabilities.

The ACT and RSAT were combined in December 1985 to form the 3d combat Aviation Squadron (Provisional). This provisional Squadron first demonstrated its contribution to the Regimental Combined Arms Team during a rotation to the National Training Center in 1987. The following year, the Squadron deployed to REFORGER to participate in the last REFORGER exercise prior to the collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989.

The Squadron was officially activated as the 4th Squadron, 3d ACR in October 1988. It consisted of Headquarters and Headquarters Troop (HHT), three Air Cavalry Troops (N, O, P), two Attack Troops (Q and R), and Assault Troop (S), and an Aviation Maintenance Troop (T). Within these organizations, the Squadron was equipped with the AH-1 Cobra Attack Helicopter, the OH-58A/C Kiowa Helicopter, the UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopter, and the EH-60 Quickfix Electronic Warfare Helicopter.

In September 1990, the Squadron deployed to Saudi Arabia as part of Operation Desert Shield and established Longknife Base Camp in North Central Saudi Arabia. On the morning of 24 February 1991, the Squadron crossed the border into Iraq and commenced offensive operations in support of the Regiment, attacking deep into Iraqi territory, moving more than 350 kilometers in less then 72 hours. Upon the Coalition Forces' victory, the Squadron redeployed to Ft Bliss, Texas in March 1991.

In late 1995, the Squadron initiated its relocation from Ft Bliss to Ft Carson, Colorado. In December 1995, the two Attack Troops (Q and R) were deactivated and their OH-58A/C and AH-1 aircraft were turned in. On 15 January 1996, the two Attack Troops were reactivated and equipped with the AH-64 Apache Attack Helicopter. The relocation to Ft Carson, Colorado was completed in March 1996.

The 571st Medical Company (Air Ambulance) was assigned to the Squadron in August 1996 with 15 additional UH-60 Blackhawk aircraft. With the addition of the 571st, the Squadron grew to a total of 83 combat aircraft and 700 Troopers, the largest Aviation Squadron/Battalion in the United States Army.

The Squadron has continued its Attack, Air Cavalry, Assault, Electronic Warfare and Medevac missions in support of the Regiment and the Mountain Post not only at home station, but also during recent deployments to the National Training Center, Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site, Operation Green Flag (Nellis, AFB), Operation Northern Edge (Alaska), Operation Intrinsic Action (Kuwait), Medevac support to Joint Task Force Sic, Ft Bliss, Texas; and Ft Riley, Kansas and to wildland firefighting contingencies throughout the Western United States.

Commencing in October 1998, the Squadron will transfer all remaining OH-58 and AH-1 aircraft and will be modernized with 24 OH-58D Warriors. This reorganization under the Army Restructuring Initiative will again distinguish the Squadron as the only Squadron of Battalion in the active force equipped with AH-64, UH-60A/L, EH-60A, and OH-58D aircraft.

The Squadron is an integral component of the Regiment's combined arms team and is prepared for worldwide deployment in support of the Regiment of Mounted Riflemen.

Support Squadron ("Muleskinner")

Support Squadron, 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment was formed on the 11th of November 1977, on the order of the 57th Colonel of the Regiment, Colonel C. Lutz, and given the mission of executing logistical operations for the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment. Support Squadron promptly adopted the nickname "Muleskinner" from the original teamsters who conducted logistical operations by wagon trains for the Regiment of Mounted Riflemen during its early years.

Subordinate units assigned to Muleskinner Squadron include since Operations Desert Storm: 89th Chemical Company, Medical Troop, Maintenance Troop, Support and Transportation Troop'.

During Operation Iraqi Freedom Three (OIF III) the 89th Chemical Company, Lead by Captain Brian Caplin and First Sergeant Michael Shirley, conducted detention operations safeguarding and segregating over 2000 detainees. Further the unit's reconnaissance platoon travelled over 20,000 miles as they conducted escort operations for the Muleskinner Logistical Convoys. Medical Troop was commanded by Captain Dan Liedl throughout the operation; missions ecompassed several mass casualty events and medical evacuations. Maitenance Troop, commanded by Captain Brian Knieriam conducted a multitude of tasks including Forward Operating Base Gate Security, continued maintenance operations, enabling the success of the regiment during Operations Restoring Rights and conduted Iraqi Police training and partnership operations. Support and Transportation Troop lead by Todd Allison moved thousands of pounds of ammunition, fuel and food to the maneuver units allowing sustained operations.

Indian Wars

Mexican War

The Regiment was organized "for establishing military stations on the route to Oregon", and it was under orders to proceed on its mission at the earliest practical date. However, the Mexican War intervened and the Regiment found itself diverted to participate in the invasion of Mexico. Here, in the heat of the campaign, was born the Regimental Accolade. As the Regiment lay bloodied and exhausted from fierce fighting at Contreras, Mexico, General Scott arrived and each man stood at attention as the General approached. General Scott, who was about to order them into another fierce battle, became so overcome by this display of valor that he removed his hat, bowed low and proclaimed: "Brave Rifles! Veterans! You have been baptized in fire and blood and have come out steel!" So was born the Regimental Accolade, and the source of the Regimental Motto.

The Regimental Accolade

The climax to the Regiment’s participation in the Mexican War came on 13 September 1847 when the brigade the Regiment belonged to was ordered to support the assault on the fortress of Chapultepec, the site of the Mexican National Military Academy. Leading the American forces, the Regiment stormed into Mexico City at 1:20 p.m. At 7:00 a.m. on 14 September 1847, Sergeant James Manly of F Company and Captain Benjamin Roberts of C Company raised the National Colors over the Mexican National Palace while Captain Porter, commander of F Company, unfurled the Regimental Standard from the balcony.

The Regiment returned to Jefferson Barracks, Missouri on 24 July 1848, and remained there until 10 May 1849. On that day, it began the grueling 2,000 mile march to the Oregon Territory to accomplish the mission for which it was originally organized.

American Civil War

In April 1861, the American Civil War broke out and nine officers left the Regiment to join the cause of the Confederacy. In August 1861, the mounted arm of the U.S. Army was reorganized, and the Regiment of Mounted Riflemen was re-designated the 3rd U.S. Cavalry Regiment. The Regiment remained in New Mexico fighting hostile Indians as well as Confederate Troops until 1862. In September of 1862, the Regiment re-deployed to Jefferson Barracks, Missouri.

Spanish-American War

Philippine-American War

World War I and II

Bonus Army camp burns within sight of the capital.

In August 1917, the Regiment was alerted for overseas duty. Arriving in France in November, the Regiment was broken up and operated three major remount depots until the war’s end. The only actual 3d Cavalry unit to see action in World War I was K Troop, which was detached from the 3d Squadron and participated in the last three engagements prior to the Armistice of 11 November 1918. After World War I, the Regiment deployed back to the United States and executed a garrison mission until the beginning of World War II. {In July 1932 Major George S. Patton-under order of Douglas MacArthur-led the 3rd against the Bonus Army in Washington D.C.}

In January 1943, the Regiment was re-designated the as the 3d Cavalry Group (Mechanized). The 3d Cavalry Group arrived in France in 1944 and was attached to XX Corps. ON 17 November 1944, after numerous fierce battles, the 3d Cavalry Group Troopers became the first to cross into Germany.

First Into Germany

On Friday, 31 August 1944, in an event reminiscent of the final scenes in "Saving Private Ryan", the 1st platoon of B Troop, 3rd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron - a force consisting of 30 men, 6 bantams (Jeeps) with .50 cal MG, 3 M-8 armored cars with 37mm guns made an unprecedented raid behind enemy lines to Thionville, France in a desperate attempt to prevent the bridge across the Moselle from being destroyed by the Nazis.

The platoon conducted the raid 75 miles behind enemy lines as US Forces advanced slowly towards the Moselle River to effect a crossing on its push toward the German "West Wall". Troop commander Captain James D. Jackson succeeded in crossing the river to the eastern approach to the bridge and cut the wires leading to the demolition charges, and was wounded in the attempt. An enemy sniper then killed SGT Baker when he assumed command, the only fatality among the raiders.

Their mission accomplished, the platoon crossed the dynamite-laden bridge to rescue Jackson before falling back, fighting their way out. In so doing, they were no doubt the first American troops to cross the Moselle in WW-II. The platoon suffered 6 casualties and 2 jeeps lost. The enemy suffered an estimated 1600 casualties, 2 tanks and 112 vehicles destroyed. Captain Jackson was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, and the bridge over the Moselle was temporarily saved from destruction. The remainder of the Army did not reach and cross the Moselle until 12 September at Arnaville, France.

Discovering Germany's Final Solution

On 5 May 1945, the 3rd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron entered the small village of Ebensee, Austria and came face to face with the Nazi's "Final Solution". KZ Ebensee on the edge of the town contained about 16,000 prisoners, who hadn't been fed for about 3 days and who were dying at the rate of 400 per day. First on the scene, the Squadron's first priority shifted from combat to care for the prisoners. The town's bakeries were put on round-the clock baking status. Bakers, who at first refused, found an M-8 or Sherman gun muzzle pointed into their shop.

The Squadron remained in the area caring for the prisoners until medical units relieved them. With the end of hostilities in Europe, the 3rd Squadron returned stateside to a 30 day furlough before reporting to Fort Bragg to begin training for "Operation Downfall" - the invasion of the Japanese home islands. Fortunately, their training was cancelled when Japan surrendered on August 14. After World War II, the Regiment returned to the United States and resumed its garrison activities.

File:ColdWarMed.jpg
The Cold War Victory Medal

Cold War

The first time the 3d Cavalry served on the Iron Curtain was in August, 1955, when it replaced the 2d Cavalry as part of the Army's Gyroscope plan that rotated entire units between Germany and the U.S. In February,1958, the cycle repeated and the troopers of the 3d Cavalry returned to the States as the 2d Cavalry resumed their former mission. The 3d Cavalry, though, would not remain stateside for long.

In November, 1961, the Regiment was deployed to Germany once again in response to the Soviet threat during the Berlin Crisis. The troopers were stationed in Baumholder but the unit soon found itself once again patrolling the border. Cavalry Troops within the Regiment were soon attached on a monthly, rotating basis to the 14th Armored Cavalry Regiment to assist with patrols in the 3/14 ACR sector. Additionally, the 1st and 2nd Squadrons relieved units of the 14th Cavalry for two one-month periods during 1962 and 1963. During 1964, though, the Regiment would play a larger role in border operations.

Since the 11th Cavalry was scheduled to return to the U.S. in the summer of 1964, a unit was needed to fill the gap along the Iron Curtain in southeastern Bavaria. To meet this requirement, the 2nd Squadron, 3d Cavalry, was redesignated as the 1st Squadron, 11 ACR, and rotated back to the states with the 11th Cavalry. At the same time, the 11th Cavalry's 1st Squadron stationed in Straubing was redesignated as 2nd Squadron, 3rd Cavalry, and conducted border operations under the regimental colors of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment. The unit conducted border operations from its two border camps until March 1965 when it was relieved by 2/9th Cavalry of the 24th Infantry Division. The Regiment remained in Germany until July 1968.

In July 1972, the 3d Cavalry received orders to move to Fort Bliss, Texas.

The Lucky 16

During this time, in Nuremberg, Germany. The 2d and 11th Cavalry began a close working relationship resulting in a tradition called the "Lucky 13. " These two cavalry units trained together and often confronted one another in exercises. Lucky 13 conferences were about war and war fighting and included seminars on fielding new systems, maneuver techniques, and training. When the 3d Cavalry joined the 2d and 11th in the General Defense Plan of Europe, the regiments became known as the "Lucky 16." Whenever two of the Lucky 16 Regiments are in the same location the Lucky 16 convenes.

Gulf War

On 7 August 1990, the Regiment was alerted to move overseas in defense of Saudi Arabia. In September 1990, the Regiment arrived in country as part of the XVIII Airborne Corps, and moved into defensive positions south of the Kuwaiti border. On 22 January 1991, elements of I Troop led by the 63rd Colonel, Colonel Starr, engaged in the first ground combat of the XVIII Airborne Corps. On 22 February, F Troop led the Regiment across the berm into Iraq. In 100 hours, the Regiment moved over 300 kilometers, and left remnants of three Iraqi Republican Guard Divisions in its wake. As quickly as they deployed, the Regiment deployed back to the U.S. arriving 5 April 1991. In April of 1996, the Regiment completed its move to its new home at Fort Carson, Colorado.

Bosnia Peacekeeping

Global War on Terrorism

The 3d ACR has seen two deployments during the Global War on Terrorism, both to Iraq. The 5,200 member regiment has lost 71 soldiers during two years of combat--the greatest loss of any Fort Carson unit. This has contributed to the announcement in May 2006 that Fort Carson has the Army base with the highest death toll of the war. Nine soldiers have died for every 1,000 assigned to the post. Fort Hood, Texas, and Fort Campbell, Kentucky, have lost five soldiers per thousand. At Fort Riley in Kansas, the rate is six per 1,000.[1]

First Tour (OIF)

The largely Sunni western Iraq province of Al Anbar is highlited on this map.
3d Cavalry's commander, COL David Teeples wearing the Cavalry Stetson in Iraq.

In 2003 the regiment was to invade Iraq from Turkey, but was forced to enter Iraq from Kuwait after Turkey denied the United States permission to launch an attack from its land. This delayed the 3d Cavalry's entry into the war, and most of the regiment had not moved into Iraq until mid- or late-April. Once in Iraq, the 3d Cavalry was responsible for the Al Anbar province; a huge task well beyond the ability of an element as small as the 3d Cavalry. The Army soon relived some of the 3d Cavalry's woes by sending the 3d Infantry Division's 2d Brigade to control Fallujah, but that still left the 3d ACR with the volatile city of Ar Ramadi and the troubled string of Sunni towns running from Ramadi to the Syrian border. Furthermore, many elements of the 3d Infantry Division had been in the Middle East over 14-months and had been involved in the lion's share of the fighting during the war, so that Division was soon redeployed to the United States leaving the 3d Cavalry once again responsible for Fallujah as well as the rest of the Al Anbar province.

The situation was finally rectified when in September of 2003 a brigade of the 82d Airborne was deployed to take the cities of Ramadi and Fallujah off of the 3d Cavalry’s hands. This left the 3d Cavalry to handle the troubled towns leading to Iraq’s Syrian border, as well as the more peaceful towns along Iraq's borders with Jordan and Saudi Arabia. In March of 2004 the Marines took control of the entire Al Anbar province, and the 3d ACR as well as the 82d Airborne Division rotated home.

It is worth noting that the 3d Cavalry received very little attention during the war for a unit that was in charge of such hotbeds. While the 82d Airborne Division, 3d Infantry Division and Marines have all received extensive news coverage for their time in Fallujah, Ramadi and the Syrian border; the 3rd Cavalry is largely overlooked. Why this is so remains a mystery. The 3d ACR and its attached units were known in Iraq collectively as Task Force Rifles. It included 8,300 soldiers, making it the smallest major subordinate command in the Coalition (CJTF-7). Of those 8,300, 31 cavalry troopers and 18 soldiers of units attached to Task Force Rifles died in Iraq.

Significant operations conducted by the third cavalry included Operation Rifles Blitz on the volatile Syrian border town of Al Qaim and Operation Rifles Fury (a.k.a. Operation Santa's Claws) on the insurgent strongholds of Rwawa and Ana. The 3rd Cavalry also was responsible for Iraq's border with Saudi Arabia during the Hajj of 2004, when thousands of Iraqis had to be searched and processed before they could leave for and return from Mecca.

For their actions in Iraq, the 3d cavalry was awarded a Valorous Unit Award from April 25, 2003 to September 18, 2003.

Capt. David M. Rozelle

Capt. David M. Rozelle is the first amputee to return to U.S. military duty in a combat zone. Capt. Rozelle deployed to the town of Hit, Iraq as the commander of the 3d ACR's Kilo Troop ("Killer"). During operations in Hit, Rozelle's Humvee ran over an anti-tank mine which destroyed both the Humvee and Rozelle's right lower leg. One of the contributing factors that caused this was that Capt. Rozelle had failed to line the bottom of his Humvee with sand bags. This was to supposed to help prevent the blast from entering the vehicle. Has he followed this order, the injury might not have been that substantial. This resulted in the amputation of Rozelle's foot and ankle.

After being given a false leg, Capt. Rozelle returned to duty as commander of the 3d Cavalry's Headquarters Troop. He then redeployed to Iraq with the 3d ACR on their second tour in Iraq. Since his injury, Rozelle has completed the New York Marathon and written the book, Back In Action: An American Soldier’s Story of Courage, Faith and Fortitude.

"Steve-O"

File:Steve-o.JPG
A screenshot from Steve-O's visit on the The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Known as "Steve-O" to protect his identity, this 13-year old boy was one of the 3d Cavalry's most helpful informants.

Steve-O's father was once an army captain in the Republican Guard, and led a 40-man insurgent group after the Coalition invasion. Forced to fight along side his father against the Americans and severely beaten by his father, Steve-O walked to a 3d Cavalry check-point to turn in his father.

After turning in his father, Steve-O turned in a number of other insurgents. Often riding in the back of a Humvee, Steve-O would simply point out people he saw at the meetings of insurgents his father used to take him to. However, with Steve-O's father arrested and his mother killed by insurgents in retribution, Steve-O had nowhere left but to live on Forward Operating Base "Tiger" with the troopers of the 3d Cavalry.

After the 3d Cavalry returned from their year-long deployment to Iraq, Steve-O continued to live on post with the Marines that replaced the cavalry. Eventually, First Sgt. Daniel Hendrex was able to arrange for Steve-O to leave Iraq and come to the United States.

Steve-O's story came to public attention when he and the troopers responsible for his successful move to the United States appeared on an episode of the Oprah Winfrey Show.

Prisoner Abuse

It was during Operation Rifles Blitz the 3d Cavalry captured 112 prisoners to include the sons of the former commander of the Iraqi military's anti-aircraft batteries, Major General Abed Hamed Mowhoush. Subsequently Gen. Mowhoush turned himself in at the 3d Cavalry's Forward Operating Base "Tiger" on Nov. 10, 2003 in an attempt to free his sons, then died in custody on November 26th, 2003 under unclear circumstances. Hours after Mowhoush's death in U.S. custody on Nov. 26, 2003, military officials issued a news release stating that the prisoner had died of natural causes after complaining of feeling sick.

In August of 2005, The Washington Post revealed that Mowhoush had been severely beaten by a paramilitary Iraqi group sponsored by the CIA two days before he died. The ensuing investigation brought attention to the general's death and three troopers of the 66th Military Intelligence Company of 3/3 ACR (nicknamed "Ghost Rider") along with a fourth trooper from the 3d ACR's support squadron. Sgt. 1st Class William J. Sommer and Spec. Jerry L. Loper from the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment, who were assigned to the detention facility at the time of the interrogation, faced dereliction of duty charges while the other two troopers were then charged with the general's murder.

On January 12, 2006 the army dropped its charge of murder against Chief Warrant Officer Jeff L. Williams in exchange for his testimony in the case of Chief Warrant Officer Lewis E. Welshofer Jr., who continues to be charged with the general's murder. Williams will instead face administrative discipline (e.g. suspension, demotion or loss of pay). The army alleges that Mowhoush was suffocated by Welshofer with an electrical cord during an interrogation by Welshofer and Williams which Williams failed to stop.

On January 9th another death of a prisoner at the regiment’s base camp in Al Asad has drawn the attention of Army investigators.

Second Tour (OIF III)

File:3ACRPatrol(OIF3).jpg
The 3d. ACR on patrol in Tal Afar during OIF 3.

The 3d Cavalry only remained stateside for one year, before returning to Iraq for a second tour. The 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom III in February of 2005, and has received acclaim from many quarters for their performance. The Regiment is served from South Baghdad province to Western Ninewa Province in Northwestern Iraq until March of 2006. The 2d Battalion of the 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment (of the 82nd Airborne Division)served with the Regiment in Iraq from September – December 2005. In September, 2005, the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment conducted 'Operation Restoring Rights' to defeat a terrorist stronghold in the city of Tal Afar.

In July 2005 the Army announced that the regiment will re-station to Fort Hood within months of returning from [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]]. The 3rd Cavalry Regiment officially departed Fort Carson, Colorado, in July of 2006.

Two elements of the regiment stayed behind at Fort Carson and were subsequently reflagged. The regiment's aviation element was reflagged as 1/6th Cavalry, part of the 1st Infantry Division, while the other element was reflagged as part of the 4th Infanty Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team rear detachment.

Operation Restoring Rights

Since the 3d cavalry's return from Iraq, the growing praise for their actions in Tal Afar has made their second deployment likely to be one of the highlights of the war. By the return of the 3d cavlary in Iraq, Tal Afar, a city of 250,000, had fallen entirely under the control of insurgents. Led by the famed cavalry commander Colonel H.R. McMaster of the first Gulf War, the 3d. armored cavalry regiment focused first on pacifying the smaller surrounding cities and closing down the nearby Syrian border to prevent supplies and routes of escape to the insurgents occupying the town. The next stage was to build a massive earthen berm that closed Tal Afar in as law-abiding residents were ordered out to evacuation camps. Finally, with the months of practice from the smaller cities, the soldiers moved in to root the insurgents out of Tal Afar.

The third cavalry also adopted a host of other largely successful approaches to their second deployment. Such as interviewing all detainees upon release about how they were treated while in custody, dubbed the "Ask the Customer" program. The following is a letter to the 3d Cavalry from the Mayor of Tal Afar, thanking them for their liberation of the town.

In the Name of God the Compassionate and Merciful


To the Courageous Men and Women of the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment, who have changed the city of Tall’ Afar from a ghost town, in which terrorists spread death and destruction, to a secure city flourishing with life. To the lion-hearts who liberated our city from the grasp of terrorists who were beheading men, women and children in the streets for many months. To those who spread smiles on the faces of our children, and gave us restored hope, through their personal sacrifice and brave fighting, and gave new life to the city after hopelessness darkened our days, and stole our confidence in our ability to reestablish our city.

Our city was the main base of operations for Abu Mousab Al Zarqawi. The city was completely held hostage in the hands of his henchmen. Our schools, governmental services, businesses and offices were closed. Our streets were silent, and no one dared to walk them. Our people were barricaded in their homes out of fear; death awaited them around every corner. Terrorists occupied and controlled the only hospital in the city. Their savagery reached such a level that they stuffed the corpses of children with explosives and tossed them into the streets in order to kill grieving parents attempting to retrieve the bodies of their young. This was the situation of our city until God prepared and delivered unto them the courageous soldiers of the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment, who liberated this city, ridding it of Zarqawi’s followers after harsh fighting, killing many terrorists, and forcing the remaining butchers to flee the city like rats to the surrounding areas, where the bravery of other 3d ACR soldiers in Sinjar, Rabiah, Zumar and Avgani finally destroyed them.

I have met many soldiers of the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment; they are not only courageous men and women, but avenging angels sent by The God Himself to fight the evil of terrorism.

The leaders of this Regiment; COL McMaster, COL Armstrong, LTC Hickey, LTC Gibson, and LTC Reilly embody courage, strength, vision and wisdom. Officers and soldiers alike bristle with the confidence and character of knights in a bygone era. The mission they have accomplished, by means of a unique military operation, stands among the finest military feats to date in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and truly deserves to be studied in military science. This military operation was clean, with little collateral damage, despite the ferocity of the enemy. With the skill and precision of surgeons they dealt with the terrorist cancers in the city without causing unnecessary damage.

God bless this brave Regiment; God bless the families who dedicated these brave men and women. From the bottom of our hearts we thank the families. They have given us something we will never forget. To the families of those who have given their holy blood for our land, we all bow to you in reverence and to the souls of your loved ones. Their sacrifice was not in vain. They are not dead, but alive, and their souls hovering around us every second of every minute. They will never be forgotten for giving their precious lives. They have sacrificed that which is most valuable. We see them in the smile of every child, and in every flower growing in this land. Let America, their families, and the world be proud of their sacrifice for humanity and life.

Finally, no matter how much I write or speak about this brave Regiment, I haven’t the words to describe the courage of its officers and soldiers. I pray to God to grant happiness and health to these legendary heroes and their brave families.

NAJIM ABDULLAH ABID AL-JIBOURI Mayor of Tall ‘Afar, Ninewa, Iraq

Lineage

The U.S. Army Center of Military History summarizes the regiment's lineage as follows:

  • Constituted 19 May 1846 in the Regular Army as the Regiment of Mounted Riflemen.
  • Organized 12 October 1846 at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. Redesignated 3 August 1861 as 3d United States Cavalry.
  • Inactivated 15 July 1942 at Fort Benning, Georgia; personnel and equipment transferred to 3d Armored Regiment.
  • Redesignated 18 January 1943 as 3d Cavalry, Mechanized.
  • Activated 15 March 1943 at Camp Gordon, Georgia.
  • Regiment broken up 3 November 1943 and its elements reorganized and redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3d Cavalry Group, Mechanized and the 3d and 43d Reconnaissance Squadrons, Mechanized.
  • Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3d Cavalry Group, Mechanized, inactivated 22 December 1945 at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey.
  • Activated 26 February 1946 at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland.
  • Redesignated 5 November 1948 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3d Armored Cavalry; organization of the remainder of 3d Armored Cavalry completed 3 November 1948 by redefinition of elements of 3d and 43d Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadrons, Mechanized and by reconstruction, redefinition, and activation of certain other elements of the 3d Cavalry which had been inactivated or demobilized 1921-1928.
  • 3d, 777th, and 21st Tank Battalions consolidated with 3d Armored Cavalry 8 January 1951. (Battalions and Companies redesignated Squadrons and Troops, 1 June 1960).
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