The 102nd Cavalry Regiment is a

regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, service and/or a specialisation. In Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of front-line soldiers, recruited or conscript ...

of the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land warfare, land military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight Uniformed services of the United States, U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army o ...

first established in 1913 and which saw service in

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

History

The regiment was designated as the 102nd Cavalry on 17 August 1921www.history.army.mil
/ref> from the 1st New Jersey Cavalry Regiment and had its headquarters in Newark. The regiment was initially assigned to the 21st Cavalry Division. It was re-designated as the 102d Cavalry Regiment (Horse and Mechanized) on 16 November 1940. The regiment was inducted into federal service in January 1941 and reorganized in 1943 and 1944. The 1st Squadron was redesignated the 102nd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (Mechanized) while the 2nd Squadron became the 117th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (Mechanized). The regimental headquarters troop became the headquarters of the 102nd Cavalry Group (Mechanized) on 2 January 1944 in Exeter, England. With the 38th and 102nd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadrons under its command, the group saw combat in northwest Europe during World War II with the

V Corps 5th Corps, Fifth Corps, or V Corps may refer to: France * 5th Army Corps (France) * V Cavalry Corps (Grande Armée), a cavalry unit of the Imperial French Army during the Napoleonic Wars * V Corps (Grande Armée), a unit of the Imperial French Ar ...

. The group fought in the Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe campaigns. Following the war, the 102nd Group was inactivated on 22 October 1945 at

Camp Myles Standish Camp Myles Standish was a U.S. Army camp located in Taunton, Massachusetts during World War II. It was the main staging area for the Boston Port of Embarkation, with about a million U.S. and Allied soldiers passing through the camp on their wa ...

, Massachusetts. The 117th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron was shipped to Algeria and later fought in Italy, southern France, Alsace, and Germany. Following a series of postwar reorganizations and a period in which the unit was known as the 102nd Armor Regiment,Pope, p. 16. the unit was consolidated with the 117th Cavalry Regiment on 1 August 2008 and designated the 102nd Cavalry Regiment, with a strength of one squadron that is subordinated to the

50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team The 50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team ("Jersey Blues") was an infantry brigade combat team of the United States Army National Guard of New Jersey. It was headquartered at the Lawrenceville Armory. Background The 50th Brigade Combat Team was the ...

. The

1st New Jersey Cavalry Regiment The 1st New Jersey Cavalry Regiment was a Union Army regiment from the U.S. state of New Jersey that participated in the American Civil War. Organization and Unit History The 1st New Jersey Cavalry Regiment was organized at Trenton, New Jersey, un ...

had existed previously during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states ...

, but the lineage of that incarnation of the unit was not officially carried over, apparently due to the lapse in a regimental structure between 1865 and 1913. CAMPAIGN PARTICIPATION World War I Meuse-Argonne Alsace 1918 World War II Rome-Arno Normandy (with arrowhead) Northern France Southern France (with arrowhead) Rhineland Ardennes-Alsace Central Europe War on Terrorism Iraq:Iraqi Surge Troop C, 1st Squadron (Hackettstown), additionally entitled to: War on Terrorism Iraq: National Resolution DECORATIONS French Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War II, Streamer embroidered BEACHES OF NORMANDY French Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War II, Streamer embroidered PROVENCE TO LORRAINE Troop B (West Orange), 1st Squadron, additionally entitled to: World War II Asiatic-Pacific Theater, Streamer without inscription Troop A (Dover), 1st Squadron, additionally entitled to: Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered IRAQ SEP 2008-MAY 2009

Lineage

Organized 29 May 1913 in the

New Jersey National Guard The New Jersey Army National Guard consists of more than 6,000 Citizen-Soldiers. The New Jersey Army National Guard is currently engaged in multiple worldwide and homeland missions. Units have deployed to Iraq, Guantanamo Bay, Afghanistan, Germ ...

as the 1st Cavalry Squadron with headquarters at Newark Mustered into federal service 21 June 1916 at

Sea Girt Sea Girt is a borough in Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States census, the borough's population was 1,828,29th Division Troops B and D, 1st Cavalry Squadron, consolidated to form Battery F, 110th Field Artillery, an element of the 29th Division After 15 September 1917 the above units underwent changes as follows: 104th Train Headquarters and

Military Police Military police (MP) are law enforcement agencies connected with, or part of, the military of a state. In wartime operations, the military police may support the main fighting force with force protection, convoy security, screening, rear rec ...

(less Company B), reorganized and redesignated 1 November 1918 as the 29th Military Police Company, an element of the 29th Division Demobilized 30 May 1919 at

Camp Dix Fort Dix, the common name for the Army Support Activity (ASA) located at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, is a United States Army post. It is located south-southeast of Trenton, New Jersey. Fort Dix is under the jurisdiction of the Air Force A ...

, New Jersey Company B, 104th Train Headquarters and Military Police, reorganized and redesignated 29 October 1918 as Company C, First Army Military Police Battalion, and relieved from assignment to the 29th Division Redesignated 15 March 1919 as the 216th Company, Military Police Corps Demobilized 14 July 1919 at Camp Dodge,

Iowa Iowa () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States, bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west. It is bordered by six states: Wisconsin to the northeast, Illinois to th ...

Battery F, 110th Field Artillery, redesignated 27 November 1917 as Battery F, 112th Field Artillery, an element of the 29th Division Demobilized 31 May 1919 at Camp Dix, New Jersey Former 1st Cavalry Squadron reorganized 1919-1920 in the New Jersey National Guard; Headquarters federally recognized 29 September 1920 at Newark Expanded, reorganized, and redesignated 1 March 1921 as the 1st Cavalry, with headquarters at Newark Reorganized and redesignated 17 August 1921 as the 102d Cavalry Assigned in June 1937 to the 21st Cavalry Division Relieved 16 November 1940 from assignment to the 21st Cavalry Division Inducted into federal service 6 January 1941 at home stations 2d Squadron withdrawn 30 November 1943, reorganized, and redesignated as the 117th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Mechanized (1st Squadron – see ANNEX 1 emainder of 102d Cavalry—hereafter separate lineages 117th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Mechanized, inactivated 25 November 1945 in

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Reorganized and federally recognized 20 November 1946 at West Orange as the 117th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron Reorganized and redesignated 1 November 1949 as the 2d Battalion, 102d Armored Cavalry Consolidated 1 February 1968 with the 6th Battalion, 50th Armor (see ANNEX 2), and consolidated unit reorganized and redesignated as the 102d Armor, a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System, to consist of the 1st and 2d Battalions Consolidated 1 December 1971 with the 50th Armor (see ANNEXES 3, 4, and 5) and consolidated unit designated as the 102d Armor to consist of the 1st and 2d Battalions and the 3d, 4th, and 5th Battalions, elements of the 50th Armored Division Reorganized 1 July 1975 to consist of the 1st, 2d, 3d, and 5th Battalions, elements of the 50th Armored Division Withdrawn 1 June 1989 from the

Combat Arms Regimental System The Combat Arms Regimental System (CARS), was the method of assigning unit designations to units of some of the combat arms branches of the United States Army, including Infantry, Special Forces, Field Artillery, and Armor, from 1957 to 1981. ...

and reorganized under the

United States Army Regimental System The United States Army Regimental System (USARS) is an organizational and classification system used by the United States Army. It was established in 1981 to replace the Combat Arms Regimental System (CARS) to provide each soldier with continu ...

Reorganized 1 September 1991 to consist of the 2d and 3d Battalions, elements of the 50th Armored Division Reorganized 1 September 1993 to consist of the 2d and 3d Battalions, elements of the 42d Infantry Division Reorganized 1 September 1994 to consist of the 2d Battalion, an element of the 42d Infantry Division Ordered into active federal service 12 – 27 April 2004 at home stations; released from active federal service 11 – 26 April 2005 and reverted to state control Redesignated 1 October 2005 as the 102d Armored Regiment (Ordered into active federal service 16 June 2008 at home stations) Consolidated 1 September 2008 with the 117th Cavalry Regiment (see ANNEX 1) and consolidated unit designated as the 102d Cavalry Regiment, to consist of the 1st Squadron, an element of the

Released from active federal service 20 July 2009 and reverted to state control

ANNEX 1

*Organized and federally recognized 29 April 1921 in the New Jersey National Guard from new and existing elements as the 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry, with headquarters at Newark *(1st Cavalry redesignated 17 August 1921 as the 102d Cavalry) *Assigned in June 1937 to the 21st Cavalry Division *Relieved 16 November 1940 from assignment to the 21st Cavalry Division *Inducted into federal service 6 January 1941 at home stations *Reorganized, and redesignated 2 January 1944 as the 102d Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Mechanized (remainder of 102d Cavalry—hereafter separate lineage) *Inactivated 23 October 1945 at

Camp Shanks Camp Shanks was a United States Army installation in the Orangetown, New York area. Named after Major General David C. Shanks, it was situated near the juncture of the Erie Railroad and the Hudson River. The camp was the largest U.S. Army embarka ...

, New York * Westfield elements reorganized and federally recognized 26 September 1946 as the 50th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, with headquarters at Westfield, and assigned to the 50th Armored Division (remainder of 102d Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Mechanized—hereafter separate lineage) *Redesignated in 1947 as the 50th Mechanized Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron *Reorganized and redesignated 1 March 1949 as the 50th Reconnaissance Battalion *Reorganized and redesignated 1 March 1959 as the 5th Reconnaissance Squadron, 50th Armor, an element of the 50th Armored Division *Reorganized and redesignated 31 January 1963 as the 117th Cavalry, a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System, to consist of the 5th Squadron, an element of the 50th Armored Division *(Troop B allotted 1 February 1968 to the New York Army National Guard; withdrawn 1 April 1975 from the New York Army National Guard; allotted 1 July 1975 to the New Jersey Army National Guard. Troop C allotted 1 February 1968 to the

Vermont Army National Guard The Vermont National Guard is composed of the Vermont Army National Guard and the Vermont Air National Guard. Together, they are collectively known as the Green Mountain Boys. Both units use the original Revolutionary War-era Flag of the Green Mo ...

; withdrawn 16 October 1984 from the Vermont Army National Guard; allotted 2 October 1986 to the New Jersey Army National Guard) *Withdrawn 1 June 1989 from the Combat Arms Regimental System and reorganized under the United States Army Regimental System *Reorganized 1 September 1993 to consist of the 5th Squadron, an element of the 42d Infantry Division *Redesignated 1 October 2005 as the 117th Cavalry Regiment *Ordered into active federal service 16 June 2008 at home stations

ANNEX 2

Organized and federally recognized 13 February 1951 in the New Jersey Army National Guard as the 3d Battalion, 102d Armored Cavalry, with headquarters at Phillipsburg Reorganized and redesignated 1 May 1954 as the 250th Tank Battalion Reorganized and redesignated 1 March 1959 as the 2d Medium Tank Battalion, 53d Armor Redesignated 31 January 1963 as the 2d Battalion, 53d Armor Redesignated 15 April 1964 as the 6th Battalion, 50th Armor

ANNEX 3

Organized and federally recognized 16 June 1937 in the New Jersey National Guard from existing units as the 3d Battalion, 157th Field Artillery, an element of the 44th Division (later redesignated as the 44th Infantry Division), with headquarters at

Vineland ''Vineland'' is a 1990 novel by Thomas Pynchon, a postmodern fiction set in California, United States in 1984, the year of Ronald Reagan's reelection.Knabb 2002 Through flashbacks by its characters, who have lived the sixties in their youth, th ...

Inducted into federal service 16 September 1940 at home stations Redesignated 7 January 1941 as the 2d Battalion, 157th Field Artillery Regiment Reorganized and redesignated 20 February 1942 as the 157th Field Artillery Inactivated 12 November 1945 at Camp Chaffee,

Arkansas Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the South Central United States. It is bordered by Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, and Texas and Oklahoma to the west. Its name is from the O ...

, and relieved from assignment to the 44th Infantry Division Converted and redesignated 5 July 1946 as the 114th Tank Battalion and assigned to the 50th Armored Division Reorganized and federally recognized 21 November 1946 with headquarters at Vineland Redesignated 1 March 1949 as the 114th Medium Tank Battalion Redesignated 1 December 1952 as the 114th Tank Battalion Consolidated 1 March 1959 with the 644th Tank Battalion (see ANNEX 4), 113th Tank Battalion (see ANNEX 5), 215th Tank Battalion (organized and federally recognized 11 April 1947 with headquarters at Dumont), and the 50th Reconnaissance Battalion (organized and federally recognized 26 September 1946 from existing units with headquarters at Westfield) and consolidated unit reorganized and redesignated as the 50th Armor, a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System, to consist of the 1st, 2d, 3d, and 4th Medium Tank Battalions and the 5th Reconnaissance Squadron, elements of the 50th Armored Division Reorganized 31 January 1963 to consist of the 1st, 2d, 3d, 4th, and 6th Battalions, elements of the 50th Armored Division (5th Reconnaissance Squadron ormerly the 50th Reconnaissance Battalionconcurrently withdrawn, reorganized, and redesignated as the 117th Cavalry – see ANNEX 1) Reorganized 1 February 1968 to consist of the 1st, 2d, and 3d Battalions, elements of the 50th Armored Division (4th Battalion ormerly the 215th Tank Battalionreorganized and redesignated as the 3d Squadron, 104th Armored Cavalry—hereafter separate lineage)

ANNEX 4

Constituted 3 December 1941 in the Army of the United States as the 644th Tank Destroyer Battalion, Light Organized 15 December 1941 at Fort Dix, New Jersey, from the Anti-tank Battalion (Provisional) of the 44th Division (organized 1 July 1941 at Fort Dix, New Jersey) Allotted 13 March 1942 to the New Jersey National Guard Inactivated 5 December 1945 at

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Reorganized and federally recognized 18 November 1946 in eastern New Jersey as the 644th Tank Battalion with headquarters at Red Bank Redesignated 1 March 1949 as the 644th Heavy Tank Battalion and assigned to the 50th Armored Division Redesignated 1 December 1952 as the 644th Tank Battalion

ANNEX 5

Constituted 9 July 1946 in the New Jersey National Guard as the 113th Tank Battalion and assigned to the 50th Armored Division Organized and federally recognized 8 April 1947 in eastern New Jersey with headquarters at

Orange Orange most often refers to: *Orange (fruit), the fruit of the tree species '' Citrus'' × ''sinensis'' ** Orange blossom, its fragrant flower *Orange (colour), from the color of an orange, occurs between red and yellow in the visible spectrum * ...

(Location of headquarters changed 31 December 1947 to Dover) Redesignated 1 March 1949 as the 113th Medium Tank Battalion Redesignated 1 December 1952 as the 113th Tank Battalion

Distinctive unit insignia

* Description A Gold color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86 cm) in height overall blazoned: SHIELD: Per chevron enhanced Azure an Or, on the first two fleurs-de-lis of the second, in base a horse's head erased of the first. CREST: On a wreath of the colors Or and Azure, a lion's head Or collared four fusils Gules. Attached below and to the sides of the shield a Gold scroll inscribed "SHOW ‘EM THE WAY" in Red. * Symbolism SHIELD: The division of the shield per chevron alludes to the assault on the Normandy Beach. The two fleurs-de-lis represent service in Europe during World Wars I and II. The horse's head is from the historic crest of the Essex Troop. CREST: The crest is that of the New Jersey Army National Guard. * Background The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 117th Cavalry Regiment on 20 November 1964. It was amended to revise the symbolism on 23 February 1972. The insignia was redesignated effective 1 September 2008, for the 102d Cavalry Regiment with the description updated.

Coat of arms

*Blazon ** Shield: Per chevron enhanced Azure and Or, on the first two

fleurs-de-lis The fleur-de-lis, also spelled fleur-de-lys (plural ''fleurs-de-lis'' or ''fleurs-de-lys''), is a lily (in French, and mean 'flower' and 'lily' respectively) that is used as a decorative design or symbol. The fleur-de-lis has been used in the ...

of the second, in base a horse's head erased of the first. ** Crest: That for the regiments and separate battalions of the New Jersey Army National Guard: From a wreath Or and Azure, a lion's head erased Or collared four fusils Gules. ** Motto: SHOW ‘EM THE WAY. * Symbolism ** Shield: The division of the shield per chevron alludes to the assault on the Normandy Beach. The two fleurs-de-lis represent service in

Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a subcontinent of Eurasia and it is located entirel ...

during World Wars I and II. The horse's head is from the historic crest of the Essex Troop. * Background: The coat of arms was originally approved for the 117th Cavalry Regiment on 20 November 1964. It was amended to revise the symbolism on 23 February 1972. The insignia was redesignated effective 1 September 2008, for the 102d Cavalry Regiment

Current configuration

* 1st Squadron 102nd Cavalry Regiment (United States) Serves as the Reconnaissance Surveillance and Target Acquisition (

RSTA Reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition (RSTA) refers to a joint doctrine of reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition conducted by the United States Armed Forces. RSTA operations are designed to support military operatio ...

) Squadron for the 50th IBCT, 42nd Infantry Division, NY ** Headquarters and Headquarters Troop (HHT), Westfield, NJ ** A Troop (Mounted), Dover, NJ ** B Troop (Mounted), West Orange, NJ ** C Troop (Dismounted), Hackettstown, NJ ** D Company, 250th Brigade Support Battalion (D-250th BSB) (Forward Support Company), Westfield, NJ * 2nd Squadron 102nd Cavalry Regiment (United States) INACTIVE * 3rd Squadron 102nd Cavalry Regiment (United States) INACTIVE * 4th Squadron 102nd Cavalry Regiment (United States) INACTIVE

References

* Clay, Steven E., ''U.S. Army Order of Battle 1919-1941'' (Vol. 2), Fort Leavenworth: Combat Studies Institute Press, 2010. * Stanton, Shelby, ''U.S. Army Order of Battle in World War II'', New York: Galahad Books, 1994. * Pope, Jeffrey L. and Kondratiuk, Leonid E., ''Armor-Cavalry Regiments'', Washington: National Guard Bureau, 1995. * Historical register and dictionary of the United States Army, from ..., Volume 1 By Francis Bernard Heitma

* Encyclopedia of United States Army insignia and uniforms By William K. Emerson (page 51

External links

* https://web.archive.org/web/20110513005759/http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/ar/default.htm * https://web.archive.org/web/20110513005804/http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/cav/default.htm * http://117th-cav.org/History%20of%20the%20102nd.pdf {{Webarchive, url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304105411/http://117th-cav.org/History%20of%20the%20102nd.pdf , date=4 March 2016 * https://web.archive.org/web/20130219021017/http://www.essextroop.org/ Cavalry regiments of the United States Army National Guard, 102 Military units and formations established in 1913 1913 establishments in New Jersey New Jersey National Guard