The 102nd Cavalry Regiment is a cavalry regiment of the United States Army first established in 1921. It has seen service in the Second World War, including in Normandy and at the Battle of the Bulge, in Iraq 2008–2009, in Jordan and Somalia in 2019, plus many exercises and Hurricane Sandy and Hurricane Maria 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. 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.Clay, p. 628. 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. Subordinate squadron headquarters were organized and federally recognized as follows: 1st Squadron organized on 17 August 1921 at West Orange, New Jersey; 2nd Squadron organized at Westfield, New Jersey. 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 on 4 July 1926 at the opening of the Camden-Philadelphia Bridge; march unit in President Herbert Hoover’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, from 1921–36, and Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, 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, 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, England.Stanton, p. 310. 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.Stanton, p. 323.
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 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 to reflect the brigade's lineage as of the 44th Infantry Division.
Twenty-first century 2008-2009 Iraq Deployment HHT Camp Bucca A Troop Camp Bucca. B Troop FOB Grizzly. 2012 Hurricane Sandy 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, mobilized onto Title 10 Active Duty status out of Fort Bliss, TX in January 2019 and deployed in support of Operation Spartan Shield to Jordan and Somalia. 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 to guard Baledogle Airfield, located 60 miles northwest of Mogadishu, 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 to Al-Tanf, Syria within the deconfliction zone along the tri-country border with Iraq and Jordan.
Current configuration The 1st Squadron serves as the Reconnaissance Surveillance and Target Acquisition (RSTA) Squadron for the 44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 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
The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Squadrons of the regiment are inactive.
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 Syria: Operation Inherent Resolve
Awards and decorations
French Croix de Guerre 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, the President of the Provisional Government of the French Republic, 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, the President of the Provisional Government of the French Republic, 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 (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 as the 1st Cavalry Squadron with headquarters at Newark
Mustered into federal service 21 June 1916 at Sea Girt; 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 (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 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 [remainder of 102d Cavalry—hereafter separate lineages])
117th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Mechanized, inactivated 25 November 1945 in Germany 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