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The 102nd Cavalry Regiment is a
cavalry Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from ''cheval'' meaning "horse") are groups of soldiers or warriors who Horses in warfare, fight mounted on horseback. Until the 20th century, cavalry were the most mob ...
regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, military service, service, or administrative corps, specialisation. In Middle Ages, Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of l ...
of the
United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...
first established in 1921. It has seen service in the Second World War, including in Normandy and at the
Battle of the Bulge The Battle of the Bulge, also known as the Ardennes Offensive or Unternehmen Die Wacht am Rhein, Wacht am Rhein, was the last major German Offensive (military), offensive Military campaign, campaign on the Western Front (World War II), Western ...
, in Iraq 2008–2009, in Jordan and Somalia in 2019, plus many exercises and
Hurricane Sandy Hurricane Sandy (unofficially referred to as Superstorm Sandy) was an extremely large and devastating tropical cyclone which ravaged the Caribbean and the coastal Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States in late ...
and
Hurricane Maria Hurricane Maria was an extremely powerful and devastating tropical cyclone that affected the northeastern Caribbean in September 2017, particularly in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, which accounted for 2,975 of the 3,059 deaths. It is the ...
relief. Its tradition of service is carried on today by the 1st Squadron 102nd Cavalry Regiment.


History

The 1st New Jersey Cavalry Regiment was raised for the
American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...
. It was mustered out at Cloud's Hills, Virginia, in 1865. On 29 May 1913, the 1st Cavalry Squadron, New Jersey National Guard was organized with headquarters at Newark. On 17 August 1921 the 1st Cavalry Squadron NJ NG was designated as the 102nd Cavalry. However the lineage of the 1st New Jersey Cavalry was not officially carried over to the 102nd Cavalry, apparently due to the lapse in existence between 1865 and 1913.


Interwar period

The 102nd Cavalry was constituted in the National Guard in 1921, assigned to the 51st Cavalry Brigade, 21st Cavalry Division, and allotted to the state of New Jersey. It was organized on 17 August 1921 by redesignation of the 1st Regiment, New Jersey Cavalry (organized and federally recognized on 29 April 1921) as the 102nd Cavalry. The regimental headquarters was organized and federally recognized at
Newark, New Jersey Newark ( , ) is the List of municipalities in New Jersey, most populous City (New Jersey), city in the U.S. state of New Jersey, the county seat of Essex County, New Jersey, Essex County, and a principal city of the New York metropolitan area. ...
. Subordinate squadron headquarters were organized and federally recognized as follows: 1st Squadron organized on 17 August 1921 at
West Orange, New Jersey West Orange is a suburban Township (New Jersey), township in Essex County, New Jersey, Essex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 48,843, an increase of 2,636 (+5.7%) from t ...
; 2nd Squadron organized at
Westfield, New Jersey Westfield is a Town (New Jersey), town in Union County, New Jersey, Union County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, located southwest of Manhattan. As of the 2020 United States census, the town's population was 31,032, an increase of 716 (+2.4% ...
. Relieved in May 1927 from the 21st Cavalry Division. Reorganized on 15 March 1929 as a three-squadron regiment; new 3rd Squadron organized with headquarters at Newark. Assigned to the separate 59th Cavalry Brigade on 12 June 1937. Further reassigned to the 21st Cavalry Division along with the brigade on 1 April 1939. The regiment, or elements thereof, was called up for the following state duties: escort for General John J. Pershing at Camp Merritt on 31 May 1924; escort to President
Calvin Coolidge Calvin Coolidge (born John Calvin Coolidge Jr.; ; July 4, 1872January 5, 1933) was the 30th president of the United States, serving from 1923 to 1929. A Republican Party (United States), Republican lawyer from Massachusetts, he previously ...
on 4 July 1926 at the opening of the Camden-Philadelphia Bridge; march unit in President
Herbert Hoover Herbert Clark Hoover (August 10, 1874 – October 20, 1964) was the 31st president of the United States, serving from 1929 to 1933. A wealthy mining engineer before his presidency, Hoover led the wartime Commission for Relief in Belgium and ...
’s inaugural parade in 1929; New Jersey representative military unit in 1931 at the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the British surrender at Yorktown. Conducted annual summer training at
Sea Girt, New Jersey Sea Girt is a borough situated on the Jersey Shore, within Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 1,866, an increase of 38 (+2.1%) from the 2010 census count of 1,82 ...
, from 1921–36, and Indiantown Gap,
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...
, in 1937. Relieved on 1 October 1940 from the 21st Cavalry Division. Reorganized and redesignated the 102nd Cavalry Regiment (Horse and Mechanized) on 16 November 1940. Assigned to the I Corps on 30 December 1940. Inducted into active federal service on 6 January 1941 at home stations and transferred to Fort Jackson,
South Carolina South Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders North Carolina to the north and northeast, the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast, and Georgia (U.S. state), Georg ...
, arriving there on 16 January 1941.


World War II

The regiment was 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 Exeter ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and the county town of Devon in South West England. It is situated on the River Exe, approximately northeast of Plymouth and southwest of Bristol. In Roman Britain, Exeter w ...
, 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. 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, 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, the unit was consolidated with the 117th Cavalry Regiment on 1 August 2008, and designated the 102nd Cavalry Regiment, with a single squadron which was part of the 50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. On 15 June 2017, the 50th IBCT was reflagged as the
44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team The 44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team is an Brigade Combat Team (United States)#Infantry brigade combat team, infantry brigade combat team of the New Jersey National Guard. It is headquartered at the Lawrenceville Armory in Lawrenceville, New Jer ...
to reflect the brigade's lineage as of the 44th Infantry Division.


Twenty-first century

*2008-2009 Iraq Deployment ** HHT
Camp Bucca Camp Bucca () was a forward operating base that housed a theater internment facility maintained by the United States military in the vicinity of Umm Qasr, Iraq. After being taken over by the U.S. military (800th Military Police Brigade) in April ...
** A Troop Camp Bucca. ** B Troop
FOB Grizzly FOB Grizzly (formerly FOB Spartan, FOB Red Lion and FOB Barbarian) was a United States Army, U.S. Army Forward Operating Base located within Camp Ashraf, Diyala Governorate, Diyala province, Iraq. It was located near Al Khalis, approximately 20 kil ...
. * 2012
Hurricane Sandy Hurricane Sandy (unofficially referred to as Superstorm Sandy) was an extremely large and devastating tropical cyclone which ravaged the Caribbean and the coastal Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States in late ...
Relief * Security for 2015 visit by Pope Francis * 2017 Puerto Rico Hurricane Maria Disaster Response * 1st Squadron, 102nd Cavalry Regiment,
44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team The 44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team is an Brigade Combat Team (United States)#Infantry brigade combat team, infantry brigade combat team of the New Jersey National Guard. It is headquartered at the Lawrenceville Armory in Lawrenceville, New Jer ...
, mobilized onto Title 10 Active Duty status out of Fort Bliss, TX in January 2019 and deployed in support of
Operation Spartan Shield Operation Spartan Shield (OSS) is a USCENTCOM (United States Central Command) operation in the Middle East. OSS is commanded by United States Army Central and includes units from all service branches. Task Force Spartan is the U.S. Army component ...
to
Jordan Jordan, officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, is a country in the Southern Levant region of West Asia. Jordan is bordered by Syria to the north, Iraq to the east, Saudi Arabia to the south, and Israel and the occupied Palestinian ter ...
and
Somalia Somalia, officially the Federal Republic of Somalia, is the easternmost country in continental Africa. The country is located in the Horn of Africa and is bordered by Ethiopia to the west, Djibouti to the northwest, Kenya to the southwest, th ...
. ** HHT, A Troop, B Troop, and Delta Company of the 250th BSB were deployed to the Joint Training Center Jordan under Task Force Spartan-Jordan to train, advise, and assist Jordanian Armed Forces through the Jordan Operational Engagement Program. As well as participate and facilitate Operation Eager Lion 2019, an annual multinational military training event. ** C Troop was deployed to Somalia as security forces for Baldogle Military Airfield, located 60 miles northwest of
Mogadishu Mogadishu, locally known as Xamar or Hamar, is the capital and List of cities in Somalia by population, most populous city of Somalia. The city has served as an important port connecting traders across the Indian Ocean for millennia and has ...
, Somalia's capital. On 30 September 2019, they came under attack from Al-Shabaab by VBIED and multiple dismounts, eventually repelling the attack. The attack was the largest involving Somali insurgents and U.S. forces since the Battle of Mogadishu. ** The 1-102nd Cavalry demobilized out of Fort Bliss, Texas and returned to New Jersey in December 2019. * COVID-19 ** The squadron provided soldiers for many COVID-19 missions. From medics to assist in veterans homes to soldiers to setup and operate COVID-19 vaccination distribution centers across the state. * 2021 Washington, D.C. Mission ** Providing security for the United States Capitol from January 9th to May 28th, the Naval Observatory, the 2021 Presidential Inauguration, and the 2021 State of the Union Address. * 2023 JRTC Rotation * 2024 Mobilization and deployment for
Operation Inherent Resolve {{Infobox military conflict , conflict = Operation Inherent Resolve , partof = the international military intervention against the Islamic State and the War on terror , image = , caption = U.S. Navy B ...
to Al-Tanf,
Syria Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in West Asia located in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to Syria–Turkey border, the north, Iraq to Iraq–Syria border, t ...
within the deconfliction zone along the tri-country border with Iraq and Jordan.


Campaign Participation

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
* Meuse-Argonne * Alsace 1918
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
* Rome-Arno * Normandy (with arrowhead) * Northern France * Southern France (with arrowhead) * Rhineland * Ardennes-Alsace * Central Europe War on Terrorism * Iraq: Iraqi Surge


Awards and Decorations

French Croix de Guerre The (, ''Cross of War'') is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was first awarded during Worl ...
with Palm, World War II, Streamer embroidered BEACHES OF NORMANDY.(DA GO 1950-43 WWII Foreign Unit Awards) Awarded to 102d Cav Group (Mecz), Hq & Hq Troop, 102d Cav Rcn Sq (Mecz) (Atchd to 29th Inf Div). * Awarded under Decision No.268, 22 July 1946, by
Charles de Gaulle Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle (22 November 18909 November 1970) was a French general and statesman who led the Free France, Free French Forces against Nazi Germany in World War II and chaired the Provisional Government of the French Re ...
, the President of the
Provisional Government of the French Republic The Provisional Government of the French Republic (PGFR; , GPRF) was the provisional government of Free France between 3 June 1944 and 27 October 1946, following the liberation of continental France after Operations ''Overlord'' and ''Drago ...
, with the following citation: (for citation, see "29th Infantry Division"). French Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War II, Streamer embroidered PROVENCE TO LORRAINE. Awarded to 117th Cav Rcn Sq (Mecz). * Awarded under Decision No.267, 22 July 1946, by
Charles de Gaulle Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle (22 November 18909 November 1970) was a French general and statesman who led the Free France, Free French Forces against Nazi Germany in World War II and chaired the Provisional Government of the French Re ...
, the President of the
Provisional Government of the French Republic The Provisional Government of the French Republic (PGFR; , GPRF) was the provisional government of Free France between 3 June 1944 and 27 October 1946, following the liberation of continental France after Operations ''Overlord'' and ''Drago ...
, with the following citation: When a unit is mentioned twice, it is awarded the fourragère of the Croix de Guerre. This fourragère is worn by all men in the unit, but it can be worn on a personal basis: those permanently assigned to a unit, at the time of the mentions, were entitled to wear the fourragère for the remainder of service in the military. Troop C (Hackettstown), 1st Squadron, additionally entitled to: * War on Terrorism, Iraq Campaign: Streamer with National Resolution 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 The Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC; pronounced ''muck'') is a mid-level unit award of the United States Armed Forces. The U.S. Army awards units the Army MUC for exceptionally meritorious conduct in performance of outstanding achievement or ...
(Army), Streamer embroidered IRAQ SEP 2008-MAY 2009 * Belgian fourragère, awarded to 102d Cav Rcn Sq (Mecz), Troop A. The Belgian fourragère is not authorized to be worn temporarily. * CITED IN THE ORDER OF THE DAY of the Belgian Army, by Decree No.6133, 18 June 1949, by the Ministry of National Defense, Regent of the Kingdom, with the following citation: * CITED IN THE ORDER OF THE DAY of the Belgian Army, by Decree No.6133, 18 June 1949, by the Ministry of National Defense, Regent of the Kingdom, with the following citation:


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 Naval Base, Guantan ...
as the 1st Cavalry Squadron with headquarters at Newark *Mustered into federal service 21 June 1916 at
Sea Girt Sea Girt is a Borough (New Jersey), borough situated on the Jersey Shore, within Monmouth County, New Jersey, Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 1,866, an increase ...
; mustered out of federal service 21 October 1916 at Newark *Mustered into federal service 28 July 1917 at Sea Girt; drafted into federal service 5 August 1917 Squadron broken up 15 September 1917 and its elements reorganized and redesignated as follows: *Squadron (less Troops B and D) reorganized and redesignated as the 104th Train Headquarters and Military Police, an element of the 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. Not to be confused with civilian police, who are legally part of the civilian populace. In wartime operations, the military police may supp ...
(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, 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 U.S. state, state in the upper Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west; Wisconsin to the northeast, Ill ...
*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
Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...
*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. A ...
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 contin ...
*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 50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team *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,
New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...
* 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 The New York Army National Guard is a component of the New York National Guard and the Army National Guard. Nationwide, the Army National Guard comprises approximately one half of the United States Army's available combat forces and approximate ...
; 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 * 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 West South Central region of the Southern United States. It borders Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, Texas to the southwest, and Oklahoma ...
, 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 A tank destroyer, tank hunter or tank killer is a type of armoured fighting vehicle, predominantly intended for anti-tank duties. They are typically armed with a direct fire anti-tank gun, artillery gun, also known as a self-propelled anti-ta ...
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 Camp Patrick Henry,
Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...
* 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 * (Location of headquarters changed 31 December 1947 to
Dover Dover ( ) is a town and major ferry port in Kent, southeast England. It faces France across the Strait of Dover, the narrowest part of the English Channel at from Cap Gris Nez in France. It lies southeast of Canterbury and east of Maidstone. ...
) * 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 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 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 continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...
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) Squadron for the
44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team The 44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team is an Brigade Combat Team (United States)#Infantry brigade combat team, infantry brigade combat team of the New Jersey National Guard. It is headquartered at the Lawrenceville Armory in Lawrenceville, New Jer ...
, 42nd Infantry Division, NY ** Headquarters and Headquarters Troop (HHT), Westfield, NJ ** A Troop (Mounted),
Dover Dover ( ) is a town and major ferry port in Kent, southeast England. It faces France across the Strait of Dover, the narrowest part of the English Channel at from Cap Gris Nez in France. It lies southeast of Canterbury and east of Maidstone. ...
, 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


See also

* List of armored and cavalry regiments of the United States Army * Rhino tank


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/ * https://www.usarcent.army.mil/News/Features/Article/1917868/jordan-america-launch-new-training-cycle/ * https://www.stripes.com/branches/army/2022-12-28/new-jersey-national-guard-somalia-8565947.html * https://taskandpurpose.com/news/army-al-shabaab-battle-somalia/ 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