This page is always under construction so please check in as we add links and pictures. 9th Cavalry Unit History:
On 28 July 1866, the 39th Congress of the United States passed an act to improve the peace establishment of the nation. This act authorized the formation of an additional two cavalry and four infantry regiments. For the first time in our nation’s history, these Regular Army regiments
were to consist of black enlisted soldiers. The Ninth Cavalry was organized on 21 September 1866 at Greenville, Louisiana, a town near New Orleans. Colonel Edward Hatch, a veteran cavalryman and former general officer in the recently concluded Civil War, was selected to be the regiment’s first commander. The Ninth Cavalry along with its sister regiment, the Tenth Cavalry, became known as the “Buffalo Soldier” regiments - a title of respect bestowed by the Indians they fought. Indian Wars:
In the 1870s and the 1880s, the Ninth Cavalry fought with great distinction throughout the western United States in numerous campaigns against marauding American Indians, Mexicans, and lawless settlers. The Ninth Cavalry was often the only source of security on the frontier and was often at odds with those who would profit from banditry. While most of the Ninth’s actions were against hostile Indians, in 1884 the regiment also protected the friendly Indian tribes settled in present-day Oklahoma from settlers seeking to steal their land. From these early campaigns, the Ninth Cavalry derived a part of its unit insignia: an Indian in breach cloth mounted on a galloping pony and brandishing a rifle in one hand. The Ninth Cavalry troopers earned fifteen Medals of Honor during the Indian Wars. Most of these medals were earned by noncommissioned officers leading small detachments of soldiers. The regiment participated in campaigns against the Comanche’s, Utes, Sioux, and Apaches. Spanish American War:
Two months after the battleship Maine sank in Cuban waters, the regiment, then stationed at Fort Robinson, Nebraska, was alerted for deployment to war. The regiment departed four days later on 60 rail cars destined for Florida to stage for invasion. One of the first units to go ashore, it fought as dismounted infantry alongside Theodore Roosevelt’s Roughriders in the gallant charge up Kettle Hill and San Juan Heights. The regiment’s commanding officer, Colonel Hamilton, was killed in action during the attack. It was here that the regiment derived the rest of its insignia: the five bastioned fort patch of the Fifth Army Corps to which the Ninth Cavalry was assigned. After the fighting ended in Cuba, the regiment was sent to another trouble spot, the Philippines. Philippine Insurrection to World War II:
During the Insurrection, the Ninth Cavalry continued its hard fighting tradition by conducting three successful deployments to the Philippines from 1900 to 1916 to fight the rebellious Moro tribesmen and earned the respect of the military governor, General Arthur MacArthur. While most of the regiment was deployed to the Philippines, several troops remained stationed at the Presidio of San Francisco. In 1903, these troops served as a Guard of Honor to President Theodore Roosevelt. This was the first time black regular cavalrymen served in this capacity. During the 1920s and the 1930s, the regiment patrolled the Mexican border and was assigned to the 3d Cavalry Division on 1 March 1933. World War II:
The regiment was called upon again during World War II. On 10 October 1940, the Ninth Cavalry was reassigned to the 2d Cavalry Division and prepared for overseas deployment. The regiment trained in the Arkansas Maneuver Area from August to October 1941 then returned to Fort Riley. Due to overcrowding at Fort Riley, the regiment transferred to Fort Clark Texas in July 1942 where it continued training for combat in Europe. The War Department decided a second cavalry division unnecessary for victory and directed the division deploy to the Mediterranean theater and inactivate to provide replacements to critical logistical organizations. Accordingly, the regiment dismounted, embarked at Hampton Roads, Virginia on 31 January 1944, arrived in North Africa on 9 February 1944, and inactivated on 7 March 1944 at Assi-Ben Okba, Algeria. The regiment’s soldiers were transferred to support units. The unit was formally disbanded after the Second World War on 20 October 1950. Unit Reactivation:
The unit was assigned on 20 April 1999 to the 1st Cavalry Division and formally activated on 17 April 2003 at Fort Hood, Texas. This activation was part of the transformation of the 1st Cavalry Division to the US Army's Force XXI force structure. Troop F, 9th Cavalry became the brigade reconnaissance troop for 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division. Between 2001 and 2004, the unit deployed with 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The beginning of 6-9 CAV:
As part of the US Army's transformation towards a modular force, Troop F, 9th Cavalry was again reorganized and redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 6th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, with its organic elements concurrently constituted and activated. The personnel formerly assigned to Troop F, 9th Cavalry were reflagged as B Troop, 6th Squadron, 9th Cavalry. The Squadron was formally activated on 14 July 2005 at Fort Hood, Texas. Operation Iraqi Freedom:
As part of the Army's transformation towards a modular force, 6th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment was stood up with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team on July 14, 2005 at Fort Hood, Texas. The Squadron trained in preparation for Operation Iraqi Freedom, and deployed for it’s first time in September 2006 to the Diyala province. During the deployment the Squadron participated in the surge which was instrumental in eliminating insurgent forces from the region. In December of 2007 the Squadron re-deployed back to Fort Hood Texas and immediately started preparations to return to Iraq. The Squadron deployed once again to the Ninawa province Iraq in December 2008 with the primary mission Iraqi Security Forces improvement and border interdiction. The Squadron returned once again to Fort Hood in December 2009 and currently continues to prepare for future deployments. Operation New Dawn:
The 6-9 CAV deployed in support of Operation New Dawn on January 30, 2011. The squadron's main body flights arrived in Kuwait on January 31, 2011 to begin final training before movement to Iraq. On February 15, the Squadron began its movement to Camp Liberty, Iraq to serve as the USF-I Operational Reserve. At Camp Liberty, the Squadron was TACON to the 2nd AAB, 1st Inf. After completing RIP/TOA with 1-63 AR and 5-4 CAV, the Squadron became Fully Operationally Capable (FOC) on March 15, 2011. Prior to achieving FOC, Saber Squadron provided two separate Aerial Reaction Forces in support of Operation Day of Protest, providing extra security for JSS Shield. 6-9 CAV also participated in Operations Day of Rage and Day of Regret. These operations required the Squadron to send a Troop-sized element to JSS Shield to serve as the Quick Reaction Force for the installation. Saber Squadron partnered with the 4th Federal Police Division in an advise and assist capacity in order to strengthen the 4th Federal Police as well as securing Victory Base Complex. While partnered with the 4th Federal Police Division, Saber Squadron conducted several named operations and Humanitarian Assistance missions. During this time, Saber Squadron's partnered operations increased security in Rhadwaniyah and West Baghdad and directly influenced the C-IDF operations on VBC. On May 28, 6th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment received orders to move to COB Delta in Wasit Province, Iraq. Saber's new mission would be two fold. Its initial mission was to provide Security Force Assistance to the 32nd IA BDE, 8th IA, Provincial Police, 3rd BDE Department of Border Enforcement, as well as to influence local Iraqi officials and tribal leaders to improve the security situation in Wasit Province. On order, Saber's mission changed to the responsible draw down of forces and transition of COB Delta to the Iraqi Air Force and the transition of PB Shocker to DBE control. Through close and persistent partnership with all MoI, MoD, and GOI elements throughout Wasit Province, Saber was able to greatly increase security and decrease attacks on USF and ISF in the province. In early August, the Squadron continued its current mission and presence at COB Delta as 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division took over from 3d ACR. In late October, Saber Squadron then completed transition of COB Delta to GOI control and conducted air and ground maneuver operations to COB Adder before redeploying to Fort Hood, TX.
