Tag Archives: 11th Cavalry

Militare Omnia Animalia Curant

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Mexican Punitive Expedition. The 5th U.S. Cavalry passing near San Geronimo. Colonel Wilder of the 5th Cavalry in front on the left, Colonel Tate of the 11th Cavalry in front on the right, during the campaign against Villa, 15 May 1916. Signal Corps Photo 111-SC-102703

Some 110 years ago today, on 4 June 1916, the U.S. Army established the Veterinary Corps as part of the National Defense Act. While each field artillery and cavalry regiment had enlisted farriers and medical officers, they were part of the regiment itself or drawn from remount depots as needed.

Beginning with just 72 veterinary officers and no enlisted, the Corps was tasked with caring for a vast number of animals crucial to the Army’s operations at home, on campaign in Mexico and the Philippines, and, soon, on the battlefields of Europe.

By the end of the Great War, the Veterinary Corps numbered no less than 2,312 officers and 16,391 enlisted personnel, primarily supporting the American Expeditionary Force in Europe, which fielded over 165,000 mules and horses. Such personnel also took care of the myriad of unofficial mascot and casualty dogs adopted by units headed “Over There.”

Of note, the Fifth Avenue Uniform Company alone produced 377,000 American-made horse gas masks during the war.

Masked horse and rider, Western Front, 10 June 1918, Signal Corps Photo 165-WW-96H-1

The U.S. Army Veterinary Corps is still going strong and still specializes in horses, mules, and military working dogs. Their historical motto is “Militare Omnia Animalia Curant” (They Care for All Military Animals).

Blackhorse at 125

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Led by its regimental band, the 11th U.S. Cavalry is shown passing in review on the parade ground of Fort Des Moines, in the summer of 1904. The unit is three years old in this image and had just returned from fighting overseas in the Philippines. Via Mike Brubaker. http://temposenzatempo.blogspot.com/2010/05/11th-us-cavalry-band.html

Founded on 2 February 1901 as a horse-mounted cavalry unit, the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment has served the nation for over a century across nearly every major era of conflict.

Blackhorse troopers first saw action during the Philippine-American War and the 1916 Mexican Expedition.

11th Cavalry Regiment in garrison at the Presidio of Monterey, 1932. They retired their horses for armor shortly after, inactivating as a mounted unit in July 1942.

Later, charging into history in World War II during the Normandy invasion and the liberation of Europe, picking up five battle honors as the 11th Cavalry Group, Mechanized.

M-4 Sherman tanks of the 11th Cavalry Group (Mechanized) in Europe during WWII. (US Army 11th ACR Museum)

The Regiment continued its legacy through Vietnam, stood watch at the Fulda Gap against aggression during the Cold War, and answered the call again in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Members of the 11th ACR talk with West German border police during the Cold War, 1986 DA-ST-86-06121

11th Armored Cavalry Regiment M-1 Abrams Reforger 85 DF-ST-85-13232

In every generation, Blackhorse has adapted to meet the demands of modern warfare while preserving its proud cavalry heritage.

Today, the Regiment carries that legacy forward as the Army’s premier Opposing Force at the National Training Center, forging combat-ready formations and sharpening the force for future conflict as, through the years, the 32nd Guards Motorized Rifle Regiment, or the Krasnovian local forces in the Mojave Desert of Fort Irwin.

This started life as an M113

OPFOR.. the NTC Fort Irwin, CA.. It’s an M113 dressed as a Warsaw Pact BMP-2

Sadly, the 11th ACR’s Horse Detachment is scheduled for retirement this year, making this week one of its final unit rides.

The poster from the 11th ACR’s 100th birthday, now a quarter century in the rearview and lacking the most recent honors from the Sandbox. DA-SD-03-07553

Happy birthday, Blackhorse, Allons!