Archive for January, 2004

Regimental Birthday

David.Gettman January 25th, 2004

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The Regimental birthday is celebrated on 23 May each year. On 23 May 1836, the Congress of the United States declared “be it enacted, that there shall be raised and organized, under the direction of the President of the United States to accept the service of volunteers and raise an additional Regiment of Dragoons or mounted riflemen and be it further enacted that there shall be raised and organized under the direction of the President of the United States one additional Regiment of Dragoons or mounted riflemen to be composed of the same number and rank of the officers, noncommissioned officers, musicians, and privates composing the Regiment of Dragoons now in the service of the United States, who shall receive the same pay and allowances, be subject to the same rules and regulations and be engaged for the like terms and upon the same conditions in all respects what-so-ever as are stipulated for the said Regiment of Dragoons now in service.”

On June 15, 1836, the Headquarters of the Army in Washington D.C. went on to issue General Order Number 38, which declared that : “the Second Regiment of Dragoons will be recruited and organized with as little delay as practicable, and the several officers appointed will report for orders and recruiting instructions to the Colonel of the Regiment, who will establish his recruiting headquarters at some central position and report to the Adjutant General.”

Regimental Standard and Troop guidons

David.Gettman January 24th, 2004

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The organizational flag of a mounted unit has traditionally been referred to as the “standard”, as opposed to the “colors”, which are carried by dismounted units. The Regimental Standard is the single most visible symbolic representation of the Regiment. The standard and its accompanying set of National Colors are displayed in the Regimental Commanders office and are carried to all Regimental ceremonies and formations. When a new standard is issued, the old one is retired from service and should be placed in the Reed Museum. Many former standards are on display in the Reed Museum, the oldest one dating from 1861.
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Regimental Motto

David.Gettman January 23rd, 2004

The Regimental Motto is: “Remember your Regiment and Follow your Officers.” These were the words spoken by Captain Charles A. May to his Dragoons just before their gallant charge at Resaca de la Palma in 1846.

Regimental Distinctive Unit Insignia

David.Gettman January 22nd, 2004

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BACKGROUND SHIELD
Originally called the Second Dragoons, the Regiment wore an eight-pointed guilded star as a cap ornament. Representing the very earliest of the history of the Second Armored Cavalry, the Dragoon star forms the background of the insignia….
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Regimental Colors

David.Gettman January 21st, 2004

The Regimental Colors are orange and gold. Orange reminds us of the orange trim of the Dragoon uniform and gold reminds us of the eight pointed star worn on the Dragoon shako.

Regimental Decorations And Campaigns

David.Gettman January 20th, 2004

DECORATIONS

DecorPresidentialUnit

Presidential Unit Citation (Army)
Streamer embroidered BASTOGNE (2d Tank Battalion cited; WD GO 17, 1945).

DecorPresidentialUnit

Presidential Unit Citation (Army)
Streamer embroidered IRAQ (2nd Cavalry Regiment and attached units cited for extraordinary heroism, valor and gallantry during the period
6 April 2003 to 15 June 2004).

BY VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME AS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES,
I HAVE TODAY AWARDED
THE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION
FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM
TO THE
2D ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
1ST ARMORED DIVISION
THE 2D ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT AND ATTACHED UNITS DISTINGUISHED
THEMSELVES DURING THE PERIOD 6 APRIL 2003 TO 15 JUNE 2004 BY
EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM, VALOR, AND GALLANTRY DURING COMBAT, STABILITY,
AND SECURITY OPERATIONS IN THE LIBERATION OF IRAQ. DURING THIS PERIOD,
THE REGIMENT PERFORMED NUMEROUS COMBAT, STABILITY, AND SECURITY
OPERATIONS, WHICH ULTIMATELY ENABLED THE RETURN OF CONTROL OF IRAQ
BACK TO THE CITIZENS. ALTHOUGH THE REGIMENT WAS OPPOSED DAILY BY
UNCONVENTIONAL GUERILLA-TYPE ATTACKS FROM FORMER REGIME LOYALISTS,
INSURGENTS, AND TERRORISTS, THE REGIMENT FOUGHT WITH STEADFAST
COURAGE AND AN UNWAVERING SENSE OF DUTY. THE ESPRIT DE CORPS AND
HEROISM OF THE REGIMENT’ S SOLDIERS AND THE UNITS IN SUPPORT OF THEM
EXEMPLIFIED THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF MILITARY SERVICE AND REFLECT
GREAT CREDIT UPON THE 2D DRAGOON REGIMENT, 1ST ARMORED DIVISION, AND
THE UNITED STATES ARMY.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

To see the orders authorizing the award of the PUC to 2CR and attached units and download a printable pdf file click this link: PresidentialUnitCitationfor2DACR

VUA

Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered IRAQ.

Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940 with Palm
Streamer embroidered BASTOGNE; cited in the order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action at BASTOGNE (2d Tank Battalion cited; DA GO 43, 1950 and DA GO 27, 1950).

PPUC

Philippine Presidential Unit Citation
Streamer embroidered 17 October 1944 to 4 July 1945 (776th Amphibious Tank Battalion cited; DA GO 47, 1950. Headquarters Troop, and Troops A, B, and C, 1st Squadron entitled to wear due to lineage.

CAMPAIGN CREDITS

INDIAN WARS
Seminoles; New Mexico 1852; New Mexico 1854; Cheyenne; Wyoming 1866; Wyoming 1867; Kansas 1869; Montana 1870; Montana 1872; Little Big Horn; Bannock; Nez Perce; Montana 1879; Montana 1880.

MEXICAN WAR
Palo Alto; Resaca De La Palma; Monterey; Buena Vista; Vera Cruz 1846; Cerro Gordo; Contereras; Churubusco; Molino Del Ray; Chapultepec; Nuevo Leon; Tamulipas 1846; Texas 1846; Vera Cruz 1847.

CIVIL WAR
Peninsula; Manassas; Antietam; Virgina 1863; Fredricksburg; Chancellorsville; Maryland 1863; Virgina 1864; Gettysburg; Wilderness; Spotsylvania; Cold Harbor; Petersburg; Shenandoah.

WAR WITH SPAIN
Santiago.

WORLD WAR I
Aisne-Marne; St. Mihiel; Meuse-Argonne.

WORLD WAR II
Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe; Leyte (with Arrowhead); Ryukyus.

SOUTHWEST ASIA
Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation of Kuwait.

A Horse By Any Other Name Is Still A Horse

David.Gettman January 20th, 2004

A HORSE BY ANY OTHER NAME IS STILL A HORSE

Call it what you will – comradery, esprit de corps. Around here we call it – Cav Pride. To anyone that has ever served in a Cavalry unit, or has even been attached to a Cavalry unit, it’ s just something you have to live with. The way your neck hairs bristle when someone says horse shit like it’ s a bad thing. The way your chest swells when the flag goes by. The way your heart aches when another veteran from any number of wars fails to make muster. It is both undeniable and unavoidable, yet also unexplainable. A mysterious disease that sweeps through the ranks of the troops, claiming victims in rapid succession, and leaving none unscathed. You may not like the guy standing next to you – hell, you might hate his guts – but you’ ll put your life on the line for him without a moments hesitation, because you know he’ ll do the same for you.

I’ ll let some former troopers try to explain the feeling: Continue Reading »

Regimental Formals

David.Gettman January 19th, 2004

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Regimental Formals are held twice each year and include a ball and a dining-in. As at any other Regimental function, the Regimental standard is present and the Regimental Command Seargeant Major is in charge of the posting and retirement.

This also gives the opportunity for the mixing of the Regimental Punch.
See: REGIMENTAL PUNCH AND CEREMONY
See: REGIMENTAL TOAST

Regimental Toast

David.Gettman January 18th, 2004

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I PROPOSE A TOAST
TO THE HARD BITTEN DRAGOONS WHO RODE WESTWARD FROM
THE FLORIDA EVERGLADES TO THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS SECURING
THE FRONTIERS OF OUR ADVANCING CIVILIZATION, AND WHO LED
THE VICTORY MARCH INTO MEXICO CITY….
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Regimental Punch And Ceremony

David.Gettman January 17th, 2004

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To the Regimental Punch Bowl add one bottle each of:
Cold Duck ( Champagne and Red Wine )
Rye Whiskey
Tequila
Kahlua
Southern Comfort
Bacardi’ s Rum
Vieux Bordeaux
Napoleon Brandy
Vodka
Rhine Wine
Evian Water
Two Sharp’ s Non-alcoholic Beers
Slivovitz….
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