The 1st Cavalry Division Patch!

Yes folks, it is "C-a-V-a-l-r-y",  NOT "C-a-L-V-a-r-y" (that refers to a church). To abbreviate it, it is; "Cav."  NOT "CALV"!  I am constantly amazed how many get it wrong, even active duty Cavalry Troopers and Officers!  

On several occasions now, while I was wearing the 1st Cavalry patch I have had complete strangers come up to me and say something like this; "1st Cav, huh, that patch, the horse head is for the horse they couldn't ride, the stripe for the river they couldn't cross, etc.."  You get the idea!  Well, needless to say, on each occasion it took all I had to keep from knocking that individual on his ass.  It really takes a set of brass b---- to come up to someone, especially a veteran and say something like that.  I do not know what I will do if I hear that crap again.  I may be calling on my fellow troopers to come bail me out of jail!

Have you ever heard the term "Steeped in tradition"? Well some think this is, and do I have a news flash for them, here is my condensed version!  It seems the old wives' tale goes like this; The reason the Cav. was still stationed in Korea was because of alleged cowardice and that the Division lost its colors in some obscure battle and could not return state-side until it regained its colors.  Well, the bottom line is this, no element of the 1st Cavalry Division ever lost its' colors!  Here is the real deal; From the Office of the Chief of Military History in Washington DC, "Official Army records contain no record of any unit in the United States Army that lost its colors to the enemy during the Korean War."  If you would like the whole story on this, Click Here for 2 attachments (scans from the Ft. Hood, TX. First Cavalry Division Museum) of the data sheets on this.

Now please, lets put this to rest once and for all!!  - jm -

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Here is some previous feedback on this topic;


From: George Gustavson
Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2001 6:40 PM

Comments:

I got in one hell of a fight with some asa boys over in Tongduchon over the patch. What I got was: the line you never crossed, the horse you never rode, and the yellow speaks for itself.  I'll remember that forever.

My Reply:

George, I guess there are a-holes all over the place.  All I can say is that while I served with the Cav, and now when I wear the insignia,
"This Patch NEVER Runs!"

It is the truly ignorant that will make stupid remarks like that... Who bails their ass out when they can't do it themselves, you got it, "The Cavalry", and who better than the First Team!!???  The First team has had WAY to many "Firsts" to put up with that crap!!

Good all over ya for standing up!!!

Having said that; 
I post for everyone's enlightenment the real story behind the 1st Cavalry patch which I will always wear and display with pride!

Origin* of the
1st Cavalry Division Patch

*Not the history of.

      The patch of the 1st Cavalry Division has a history as colorful as its design, reflecting the proud heritage of the United States Cavalry in a timeless manner.

     The insignia selected for the First team patch was designed by Colonel and Mrs. Ben Dorsey.  The colonel was then commander of the 7th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Bliss, Texas.  Mrs. Dorsey related that the combination of the golden sunset at Fort Bliss and the traditional colors of the Cavalry; blue and yellow, were a great influence on the background color and the insignia. The choice of the horse's head for the insignia was made by the family after they observed a mounted trooper ride by their home on a beautiful blue-black thoroughbred.  Later, to improve visibility, the color scheme was modified replacing the blue for black, the symbolic color of iron and armor.

     On a "sunset" yellow triangular Norman Shield with rounded corners 5 1/4 inches in height, a black diagonal stripe extends over the shield from upper left to the lower right.  In the upper right, a black horse's head cut off diagonally at the neck, appears within 1/8 inches of an Army Green border. The traditional Cavalry color of yellow and the horse's head is symbolic of the original organizational structure of the Cavalry.  The color black is symbolic of iron, alluding to the organizational transition from mounted horses to tanks and heavy armor.  The black stripe, in heraldry termed a "Sable Bend", represents a "baldric" (a standard Army issue belt worn over the right shoulder to the opposite hip - sometimes referred to as a "Sam Browne belt") which retains either a scabbard which sheaths the trooper's saber or revolver holster.

     During the Vietnam engagements, the yellow background of the patch for Battle Dress Uniform (BDU) was changed to a subdued Olive Drab (OD) green in order to minimize targeting of personnel.  The yellow/black patch is retained for Class "A" uniform dress.  Otherwise the patch has not changed from the original design and shape.

Source: The First Cavalry Division Web Site (Sep. 2000)

      When the 1st Cavalry Division was activated in 1921, a request was made that interested persons should submit designs for a unit shoulder patch. Among the designs submitted was the distinctive patch which developed into the shoulder insigne worn by the men of the 1st Cavalry today.

     The original patch was designed by Colonel and Mrs. Ben H. Dorsey of Fort Bliss, Texas.  Mrs. Dorsey's warm affection for the thousands of troopers who have worn her patch has earned her the title of "Mother of the 1st Cavalry Division".

     Mrs. Dorsey's explanation of the design is "it is big, to be worn by big men, who go places and do big things, and so as to be easily seen across the wide parade grounds at Fort Bliss".

     The gold of the background symbolizes the setting sun of the Texas prairie; and the wide black stripe is a symbol of "service", as represented by the troopers service stripes.  The shape of the patch represents the shield of the medieval knight and all he represented in chivalry and valor.  The horse's head symbolizes the love of the cavalryman for his mount, and is placed on the patch facing forward, symbolic of the charge.

Colonel Javier "Nerf" Ball, USMC

Deputy Chief of Staff

HQ USPACOM

The file is a PDF. Click Here to view/download it!

9th Cavalry Distinctive Badge

As we wore in the 50's - 60's.	As is worn today.

     An Indian in breech clout and war bonnet, mounted on a galloping pony, brandishing a rifle in his right hand and holding a single rein in his left, all gold and superimposed on a dark blue five bastioned fort.
    
     The five bastioned fort was the badge of the Fifth Army Corps in Cuba, of which the 9th Cavalry was a part.  The gold (yellow) is for the Cavalry and the blue is for active service during the War with Spain.  The mounted Indian represents the Indian campaigns of the regiment. 
     The sample of the badge was approved 31 December 1925.

     This insignia (badge, or (D.I.) Distinctive Insignia) is often referred to as the "Unit Crest", this is in error.  Contrary to the belief of some, the Indian does NOT represent "Crazy Horse" or any other individual! See above! The description for the 9th Cavalry Unit Crest follows; 

     Unit Crest: On a wreath of the colors of a horseshoe with nine nail holes, heels down argent, winged purpure, debruised by two arrows in saltire sable and flitted gules.

        Shield: Or, on a pile azure, in a chief a sun of eight points of rays between three five pointed mullets, two and one of the field; in a base overall the block house of San Juan Hill, Santiago, Cuba, proper.

     The field is yellow for Cavalry and the blue triangle with the sun and three five-pointed stars are from the old flag of the Philippine Insurrection with a change of color.  The three stars also represent the three tours of duty in the Islands.  The block house is the old pride of the regiment, a representation of the actual one which was taken at San Juan, Santiago, Cuba in 1898.  The wedge is blue in color and recalls the fact that the 9th split the Spanish line at Santiago with the capture of the block house when they charged dismounted as Infantry.  The crest is the well known Scotch device signifying the alertness of the mounted man and the arrows are for the Indian campaigns of the regiment.

The 9th Cavalry Motto: We Can, We Will.

     Several years ago I found a web site that had the story of "Fiddlers' Green", it described Fiddlers' Green in great detail and was well done.

     I have again searched for that web site and story with no luck.  If anyone has the "Story", I would appreciate a copy.

     Here is a little something on Fiddlers' Green.  Yes, I would still like to have the story to post here (in addition to this)...

Fiddlers' Green

Halfway down the trail to Hell,

In a shady meadow green

Are the Souls of all dead troopers camped,

Near a good old-time canteen.

And this eternal resting place

Is known as Fiddlers' Green.

Marching past, straight through to Hell

The Infantry are seen.

Accompanied by the Engineers,

Artillery and Marines,

For none but the shades of Cavalrymen

Dismount at Fiddlers' Green.

Though some go curving down the trail

To seek a warmer scene.

No trooper ever gets to Hell

Ere he's emptied his canteen.

And so rides back to drink again

With friends at Fiddlers' Green.

And so when man and horse go down

Beneath a saber keen,

Or in a roaring charge of fierce melee

You stop a bullet clean,

And the hostiles come to get your scalp,

Just empty your canteen,

And put your pistol to your head

And go to Fiddlers' Green.

      The origin and author of Fiddlers' Green is unknown.  It was believed to have originated in the 1800's and was composed as a song, sung by the soldiers of the 6th and 7th Cavalry.  Its first known appearance in published form was in a 1923 Cavalry Journal.

Taps

   We have all heard the haunting song, "TAPS." It's the song that gives us that lump in our throats and usually creates tears in our eyes.  But did you know the story behind the song or about it's humble beginnings?

   "TAPS" In 1862 during the Civil War, when Union Army Captain Robert Ellicombe was with his men near Harrison's Landing in Virginia.  The Confederate Army was on the other side of the narrow strip of land.  During the night, Captain Ellicombe heard the moans of a soldier who lay severely wounded on the field.  Not knowing if it was a Union or Confederate soldier, the Captain decided to risk his life and bring the stricken man back for medical attention.

   Crawling on his stomach through the gunfire, the Captain reached the stricken soldier and began pulling him toward his encampment. When the Captain finally reached his own lines, he discovered it was actually a Confederate soldier, but the soldier was dead.

   The Captain lit a lantern and suddenly caught his breath and went numb with shock.  In the dim light, he saw the face of the soldier.  It was his own son.  The boy had been studying music in the South when the war broke out.  Without telling his father, the boy enlisted in the Confederate Army.

   The following morning, heartbroken, the father asked permission of his superiors to give his son a full military burial despite his enemy status.  His request was only partially granted.  The Captain had asked if he could have a group of Army band members play a funeral dirge for his son at the funeral.  The request was turned down since the soldier was a Confederate.  But, out of respect for the father, they did say they could give him only one musician.

   The Captain chose a bugler.  He asked the bugler to play a series of musical notes he had found on a piece of paper in the pocket of the dead youth's uniform.  This wish was granted.

   The haunting melody, we now know as "TAPS" used at military funerals, was born.

That Is Pure FICTION!!

   While the above story is poignant and heartwarming, it is total fiction - Check it out Here!  Rather than take up the space here and put another version online and open to conjecture, I invite the viewer to go to www.google.com or any other search engine and search on "origin of taps" and then make up their/your own mind.

   Thanks to Curt Pendergraft for the enlightenment!