61st Cavalry Regiment (United States)
Encyclopedia
The 61st Cavalry Regiment is a Regiment
of the United States Army
first established in 2004.
A Gold color metal
and enamel
device 1 1/8 inches (2.86 cm) in diameter overall blazoned as follows: Per pale Gules and Argent, a pall Sable charged with ten mullets Or, three, three and four in pale at base, overall a rifle and a saber grips to base, saltirewise of the like and in chief a dagger point up of the last. Attached below the shield is a Black scroll inscribed “FORGING DESTINY” in Gold.
The black pall represents the unit’s military lineage to the 601st Tank Destroyer Battalion
and the Regiment’s determination, strength and support to accomplish the unit’s military operations. The ten stars suggest the campaign participation during World War II
. Red and white are the colors used for the Cavalry’s guidon. The crossed rifle and saber suggest the combined arms and the lineage of the major elements used to create the 61st Cavalry Regiment. The dagger symbolizes the unit’s military readiness, the early warriors and the dismounted reconnaissance
troop.
The distinctive unit insignia was approved on 14 December 2005.
Per pale Gules and Argent, a pall Sable charged with ten mullets Or, three, three and four at base, overall a rifle and saber saltirewise of the like grips to base, the rifle muzzle and the saber handgrip, pommel and part of the blade edged Gules, in chief a dagger point up Proper.
From a wreath Argent and Gules, between a wreath consisting of a grapevine fructed in dexter and a palm frond in sinister Proper, a stylized mountain range Argent (Silver Gray) surmounted by a panther head affronté Sable garnished Or, eyed of the first and second, crushing in its mouth a tank of the third garnished of the fourth.
Motto FORGING DESTINY.
Red and gold are the colors traditionally used by Cavalry
units. The black pall represents the unit’s military lineage to the 601st Tank Destroyer Battalion and the Regiment’s determination, strength and support to accomplish the unit’s military operations. The ten stars suggest the campaign participation during World War II. Red and white are the colors used for the Cavalry’s guidon. The crossed rifle and saber suggest the combined arms and the lineage of the major elements used to create the 61st Cavalry Regiment. The dagger symbolizes the unit’s military readiness, the early warriors and the dismounted reconnaissance troop.
The wreath, consisting of a grapevine and palm branch refers to the citation awarded the unit for campaigns in Colmar
and Tunisia
. The stylized mountain signifies the strength and steadfastness of the Regiment. The panther crushing the tank, adapted from the Tank Destroyer shoulder sleeve insignia, recalls the unit’s history.
The coat of arms
was approved on 14 December 2005
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
of the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
first established in 2004.
Distinctive Unit Insignia
- Description
A Gold color metal
Metal
A metal , is an element, compound, or alloy that is a good conductor of both electricity and heat. Metals are usually malleable and shiny, that is they reflect most of incident light...
and enamel
Enamel
Enamel may refer to:* Tooth enamel, the hard mineralized surface of teeth* Vitreous enamel, a smooth, durable coating made of melted and fused glass powder-See also:* Enamel organ, a cellular aggregation that functions in the formation of tooth enamel...
device 1 1/8 inches (2.86 cm) in diameter overall blazoned as follows: Per pale Gules and Argent, a pall Sable charged with ten mullets Or, three, three and four in pale at base, overall a rifle and a saber grips to base, saltirewise of the like and in chief a dagger point up of the last. Attached below the shield is a Black scroll inscribed “FORGING DESTINY” in Gold.
- Symbolism
The black pall represents the unit’s military lineage to the 601st Tank Destroyer Battalion
601st Tank Destroyer Battalion
The 601st Tank Destroyer Battalion was a battalion of the United States Army active during the Second World War. It was the first of the newly formed tank destroyer battalions to see combat, and the only one to fight as a "pure" tank destroyer force...
and the Regiment’s determination, strength and support to accomplish the unit’s military operations. The ten stars suggest the campaign participation during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Red and white are the colors used for the Cavalry’s guidon. The crossed rifle and saber suggest the combined arms and the lineage of the major elements used to create the 61st Cavalry Regiment. The dagger symbolizes the unit’s military readiness, the early warriors and the dismounted reconnaissance
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
troop.
- Background
The distinctive unit insignia was approved on 14 December 2005.
Blazon
- Shield
Per pale Gules and Argent, a pall Sable charged with ten mullets Or, three, three and four at base, overall a rifle and saber saltirewise of the like grips to base, the rifle muzzle and the saber handgrip, pommel and part of the blade edged Gules, in chief a dagger point up Proper.
- Crest
From a wreath Argent and Gules, between a wreath consisting of a grapevine fructed in dexter and a palm frond in sinister Proper, a stylized mountain range Argent (Silver Gray) surmounted by a panther head affronté Sable garnished Or, eyed of the first and second, crushing in its mouth a tank of the third garnished of the fourth.
Motto FORGING DESTINY.
-
- Symbolism
- Shield
Red and gold are the colors traditionally used by Cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
units. The black pall represents the unit’s military lineage to the 601st Tank Destroyer Battalion and the Regiment’s determination, strength and support to accomplish the unit’s military operations. The ten stars suggest the campaign participation during World War II. Red and white are the colors used for the Cavalry’s guidon. The crossed rifle and saber suggest the combined arms and the lineage of the major elements used to create the 61st Cavalry Regiment. The dagger symbolizes the unit’s military readiness, the early warriors and the dismounted reconnaissance troop.
- Crest
The wreath, consisting of a grapevine and palm branch refers to the citation awarded the unit for campaigns in Colmar
Colmar
Colmar is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.It is the capital of the department. Colmar is also the seat of the highest jurisdiction in Alsace, the appellate court....
and Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
. The stylized mountain signifies the strength and steadfastness of the Regiment. The panther crushing the tank, adapted from the Tank Destroyer shoulder sleeve insignia, recalls the unit’s history.
- Background
The coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
was approved on 14 December 2005
Current configuration
- 1st Battalion 61st Cavalry Regiment (United States)http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/1-61cav.htm
- 2nd Battalion 61st Cavalry Regiment (United States)
- 3rd Battalion 61st Cavalry Regiment (United States)
- 4th Battalion 61st Cavalry Regiment (United States)
See also
- United States Army branch insigniaUnited States Army branch insigniaBranch insignia of the United States Army refers to military emblems that may be worn on the uniform of the United States Army to denote membership in a particular area of expertise and series of functional areas...
- Coats of arms of U.S. Armor and Cavalry RegimentsCoats of arms of U.S. Armor and Cavalry RegimentsThis page has been split as follows:* Coats of arms of U.S. Armor Regiments* Coats of arms of U.S. Cavalry Regiments-See also:* commons:Field Army insignia of the United States Army* Corps insignia of the United States Army...
- Field Artillery Branch (United States)
External links
- http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/ar/default.htm
- http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/cav/default.htm