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112th Cavalry Regiment (United States)
Encyclopedia
The 112th Cavalry Regiment (United States) was a Texas National Guard
Regiment that served in several Pacific campaigns during World War II
.
. The 112th's sister regiment in the Brigade, the 124th Cavalry was the last of the cavalry regiments to give up their horses and was later sent to Burma.
The Regiment patrolled the Mexican border until being shipped to New Caledonia
on 8 July 1942 arriving on 11 August 1942. They were assigned to the Americal Division
under General Alexander Patch
.
The 112th Cavalry were assigned Australian Waler horse
s, and ordered to New Caledonia to serve as a horse mounted security force. General Patch initially thought horse mounted cavalry could be used in jungle warfare, but the torrential Pacific rains and the mud that followed damaged the horses' hooves, changing the General's mind. The Australian horses were shipped to Burma and assigned to Chinese forces who mistreated them. In 1944 the Waler
s rejoined the American Army being assigned to Merrill's Marauders
.
During the heavy fighting on Guadalcanal, General Alexander Vandegrift
of the 1st Marine Division sent an urgent request for machete
s for his Marines. General Patch took the sabres of the regiment, cut them down and sent them to the Marines for jungle warfare
use.
After extensive training the 112th made its first amphibious landing
at Woodlark Island
as part of Operation Chronicle
on 30 June 1943. The landing was unopposed, and the cavalrymen established a defensible perimeter to protect Seabee
s building an airstrip on the island.
The Regiment was sent to Goodenough Island
for training and became part of Task Force Director in preparation for its first action, Operation Director the Battle of Arawe
. The 112th set sail on the USS Carter Hall
, HMAS Westralia
and the high speed transport
s USS Sands
and USS Humphreys. On 15 December 1943 the regiment landed in three separate amphibious operations on New Britain
.
One of these landings involved Troop A of the 2nd Squadron landing in rubber boats off the USS Sands against fierce defence that sank all but three of the boats. The destroyer USS Shaw
sailed close as possible to the enemy defenders to shell them and rescue the survivors of A Troop.
Troop B landed at Pilelo Island from the USS Humphreys in 15 rubber boats on the same day. When meeting resistance from Japanese troops in caves, Troop B destroyed one with a bazooka
and one with a flamethrower
the first use of the weapon in the Southwest Pacific area.
The main landings were from amphibious tractors
launched from the USS Carter Hall and landing craft from HMAS Westralia
. In this landing the 112th Cavalry were the first to use 4.5 inch rocket firing DUKW
s.
After linking up with the 1st Marine Division, the 112th was assigned to the 32nd Infantry Division in Aitape
Papua New Guinea
. The Regiment fought in the Battle of Driniumor River
for 51 days taking 62% casualties. Two of the regiment's Second Lieutenant
s, Dale Eldon Christensen
and George W. G. Boyce, Jr.
were awarded the Medal of Honor
for their actions during this period.
On 1 October 1944 the 112th Cavalry was combined with the 114th Field Artillery Battalion became the 112th Regimental Combat Team (RCT) and departed Aitape for Leyte
in the Philippines
on 31 October 1944. The 112th RCT was attached to the 1st Cavalry Division for the Battle of Leyte
and Battle of Luzon
.
Following the Japanese surrender, the 112th landed in Japan for Occupation Duties on 3 September 1945.
During World War II the 112th Cavalry served 434 days in combat. They were the first U.S. Army unit in the Southwest Pacific to use bazookas and flame throwers against enemy defences and first used rocket firing DUKWs in amphibious assaults. The 112th were the first in the Philippines to use helicopter
s to evacuate their wounded.
Two of the regiment's late replacements authored books after the war ended. Norman Mailer
wrote The Naked and the Dead
, and Francis Gwaltney authored The Day the Century Ended, later filmed as Between Heaven and Hell
.
From 1973 all of the Texas Army National Guard Armor units were renumbered as battalions of the 112th Armor. From 1988-1993 eight battalions were assigned to the 112th making it then the largest armoured regiment in the U.S. Army.
On October 17, 2008 4th Battalion, 112th Armor was renamed 1st Squadron, 112th Cavalry. The unit carries the colors and lineage of the original 112th Cavalry Squadron. The Squadron Headquarters and Headquarters Troop are based in Bryan, Texas, with A Troop, B Troop and C Troop based in Taylor, Rosenberg and Ellington Field respectively. A and B Troops are equipped as Cavalry units with Hmmwvs, and C Troop is a dismounted Infantry unit. The current commander is LTC Bruce Ferrell and the Command Sergeant Major is CSM Richard Sublett.
The 1st Squadron, 112th Cavalry, is part of the 72nd Infantry Brigade of the 36th Infantry Division.
Texas National Guard
The Texas National Guard consists of the Texas Army National Guard and the Texas Air National Guard. The Guard is administered by the adjutant general, an appointee of the governor of Texas. The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal and state...
Regiment that served in several Pacific campaigns 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...
.
Early history
The 112th Cavalry was first organised in 1918 as the 5th Texas Cavalry Regiment in 1918 before being disbanded in 1920. In December 1920 the Texas National Guard was reorganised as the 36th Infantry Division and the 1st Texas Cavalry Brigade less one regiment. On 20 July 1921 the 1st Texas Cavalry Regiment became the 112th Cavalry. In March 1929 the 2nd Squadron and the Machine Gun Squadron of the 112th were reorganised into the 124th Cavalry Regiment. The 112th and 124th Cavalry were brigaded into the 56th Cavalry Brigade between the wars.World War II
On 10 November 1940 President Roosevelt federalized the National Guard, and on 18 November 1940 the 112th was posted to Fort BlissFort Bliss
Fort Bliss is a United States Army post in the U.S. states of New Mexico and Texas. With an area of about , it is the Army's second-largest installation behind the adjacent White Sands Missile Range. It is FORSCOM's largest installation, and has the Army's largest Maneuver Area behind the...
. The 112th's sister regiment in the Brigade, the 124th Cavalry was the last of the cavalry regiments to give up their horses and was later sent to Burma.
The Regiment patrolled the Mexican border until being shipped to New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
on 8 July 1942 arriving on 11 August 1942. They were assigned to the Americal Division
Americal Division
The 23rd Infantry Division, more commonly known as the Americal Division of the United States Army was formed in May 1942 on the island of New Caledonia. In the immediate emergency following Pearl Harbor, the United States had hurriedly sent three individual regiments to defend New Caledonia...
under General Alexander Patch
Alexander Patch
General Alexander McCarrell "Sandy" Patch was an officer in the United States Army, best known for his service in World War II. He commanded Army and Marine forces during the invasion of Guadalcanal, and the U.S...
.
The 112th Cavalry were assigned Australian Waler horse
Waler horse
The Waler is an Australian breed of riding horses that developed from the horses that were brought to the Australian colonies in the 19th century...
s, and ordered to New Caledonia to serve as a horse mounted security force. General Patch initially thought horse mounted cavalry could be used in jungle warfare, but the torrential Pacific rains and the mud that followed damaged the horses' hooves, changing the General's mind. The Australian horses were shipped to Burma and assigned to Chinese forces who mistreated them. In 1944 the Waler
Waler horse
The Waler is an Australian breed of riding horses that developed from the horses that were brought to the Australian colonies in the 19th century...
s rejoined the American Army being assigned to Merrill's Marauders
Merrill's Marauders
Merrill’s Marauders or Unit Galahad, officially named the 5307th Composite Unit , was a United States Army long range penetration special operations unit in the South-East Asian Theater of World War II which fought in the China-Burma-India Theater of Operations, or CBI...
.
During the heavy fighting on Guadalcanal, General Alexander Vandegrift
Alexander Vandegrift
Alexander Archer Vandegrift, KBE, CB was a General in the United States Marine Corps. He commanded the 1st Marine Division to victory in its first ground offensive of World War II — Battle of Guadalcanal. For his actions during the Solomon Islands campaign, he received the Medal of Honor...
of the 1st Marine Division sent an urgent request for machete
Machete
The machete is a large cleaver-like cutting tool. The blade is typically long and usually under thick. In the English language, an equivalent term is matchet, though it is less commonly known...
s for his Marines. General Patch took the sabres of the regiment, cut them down and sent them to the Marines for jungle warfare
Jungle warfare
Jungle warfare is a term used to cover the special techniques needed for military units to survive and fight in jungle terrain.It has been the topic of extensive study by military strategists, and was an important part of the planning for both sides in many conflicts, including World War II and the...
use.
After extensive training the 112th made its first amphibious landing
Amphibious warfare
Amphibious warfare is the use of naval firepower, logistics and strategy to project military power ashore. In previous eras it stood as the primary method of delivering troops to non-contiguous enemy-held terrain...
at Woodlark Island
Woodlark Island
Woodlark Island, known to its inhabitants simply as Woodlark or Muyua, is an island in Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea. It is called Murua by the inhabitants of some other islands in the province...
as part of Operation Chronicle
Operation Chronicle
Operation Chronicle was the Allied invasion of Woodlark and Kiriwina Islands during World War II, in the South West Pacific as part of Operation Cartwheel. An early planning name for this operation was Operation Coronet...
on 30 June 1943. The landing was unopposed, and the cavalrymen established a defensible perimeter to protect Seabee
Seabee
Seabees are members of the United States Navy construction battalions. The word Seabee is a proper noun that comes from the initials of Construction Battalion, of the United States Navy...
s building an airstrip on the island.
The Regiment was sent to Goodenough Island
Goodenough Island
Goodenough Island in the Solomon Sea is the westernmost of the three large islands of the D'Entrecasteaux Islands in Milne Bay Province of Papua New Guinea. It lies to the east of mainland New Guinea and south west of the Trobriand Islands.It should not be confused with Goodenough's Island...
for training and became part of Task Force Director in preparation for its first action, Operation Director the Battle of Arawe
Battle of Arawe
The Battle of Arawe was a battle during the New Britain Campaign of World War II. This campaign formed part of Operation Cartwheel and had the objective of isolating the key Japanese base at Rabaul. Arawe was attacked on 15 December 1943 by U.S...
. The 112th set sail on the USS Carter Hall
USS Carter Hall (LSD-3)
USS Carter Hall was an in the United States Navy, named in honor of Carter Hall, the Millwood, Virginia estate of Lt.Col. Nathaniel Burwell ....
, HMAS Westralia
HMAS Westralia (1939)
HMAS Westralia was an auxiliary cruiser of the Royal Australian Navy .-Construction and acquisition:Westralia was built at the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Glasgow for the Huddart Parker company as a twin screw motor vessel, being completed in 1929. Westralia was requisitioned for war service by...
and the high speed transport
High speed transport
High Speed Transports were converted destroyers and destroyer escorts used to support amphibious operations in World War II and afterward. They received the US Hull classification symbol APD; "AP" for transport and "D" for destroyer....
s USS Sands
USS Sands (DD-243)
The first USS Sands was a Clemson-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She was the first ship named for Benjamin F. Sands and his son, James H...
and USS Humphreys. On 15 December 1943 the regiment landed in three separate amphibious operations on New Britain
New Britain
New Britain, or Niu Briten, is the largest island in the Bismarck Archipelago of Papua New Guinea. It is separated from the island of New Guinea by the Dampier and Vitiaz Straits and from New Ireland by St. George's Channel...
.
One of these landings involved Troop A of the 2nd Squadron landing in rubber boats off the USS Sands against fierce defence that sank all but three of the boats. The destroyer USS Shaw
USS Shaw (DD-373)
USS Shaw , a Mahan-class destroyer, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for Captain John Shaw, a Naval officer. Commissioned in 1936, she was plagued by construction deficiencies and was not fully operational until 1938...
sailed close as possible to the enemy defenders to shell them and rescue the survivors of A Troop.
Troop B landed at Pilelo Island from the USS Humphreys in 15 rubber boats on the same day. When meeting resistance from Japanese troops in caves, Troop B destroyed one with a bazooka
Bazooka
Bazooka is the common name for a man-portable recoilless rocket antitank weapon, widely fielded by the U.S. Army. Also referred to as the "Stovepipe", the innovative bazooka was amongst the first-generation of rocket propelled anti-tank weapons used in infantry combat...
and one with a flamethrower
Flamethrower
A flamethrower is a mechanical device designed to project a long controllable stream of fire.Some flamethrowers project a stream of ignited flammable liquid; some project a long gas flame. Most military flamethrowers use liquids, but commercial flamethrowers tend to use high-pressure propane and...
the first use of the weapon in the Southwest Pacific area.
The main landings were from amphibious tractors
Landing Vehicle Tracked
The Landing Vehicle Tracked was a class of amphibious vehicles introduced by the United States Navy, Marine Corps and Army during World War II. Originally intended solely as cargo carriers for ship to shore operations, they rapidly evolved into assault troop and fire support vehicles as well...
launched from the USS Carter Hall and landing craft from HMAS Westralia
HMAS Westralia (1939)
HMAS Westralia was an auxiliary cruiser of the Royal Australian Navy .-Construction and acquisition:Westralia was built at the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Glasgow for the Huddart Parker company as a twin screw motor vessel, being completed in 1929. Westralia was requisitioned for war service by...
. In this landing the 112th Cavalry were the first to use 4.5 inch rocket firing DUKW
DUKW
The DUKW is a six-wheel-drive amphibious truck that was designed by a partnership under military auspices of Sparkman & Stephens and General Motors Corporation during World War II for transporting goods and troops over land and water and for use approaching and crossing beaches in amphibious...
s.
After linking up with the 1st Marine Division, the 112th was assigned to the 32nd Infantry Division in Aitape
Aitape
Aitape is a small town of about 8,000 people on the north coast of Papua New Guinea in the Sandaun Province. It is a coastal settlement that is almost equidistant from the provincial capitals of Wewak and Vanimo, and marks the midpoint of the highway between these two capitals...
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
. The Regiment fought in the Battle of Driniumor River
Battle of Driniumor River
The Battle of Driniumor River, also known as The Battle of Aitape, 10 July – 25 August 1944, was part of the Western New Guinea campaign of World War II. Japanese forces attacked United States forces on the Driniumor River, near Aitape in New Guinea...
for 51 days taking 62% casualties. Two of the regiment's Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
s, Dale Eldon Christensen
Dale Eldon Christensen
Dale Eldon Christensen was a United States Army officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.-Biography:...
and George W. G. Boyce, Jr.
George W. G. Boyce, Jr.
George W. G. Boyce, Jr. was a United States Army officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.-Biography:...
were awarded the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
for their actions during this period.
On 1 October 1944 the 112th Cavalry was combined with the 114th Field Artillery Battalion became the 112th Regimental Combat Team (RCT) and departed Aitape for Leyte
Leyte
Leyte is a province of the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is Tacloban City and occupies the northern three-quarters of the Leyte Island. Leyte is located west of Samar Island, north of Southern Leyte and south of Biliran...
in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
on 31 October 1944. The 112th RCT was attached to the 1st Cavalry Division for the Battle of Leyte
Battle of Leyte
The Battle of Leyte in the Pacific campaign of World War II was the invasion and conquest of the island of Leyte in the Philippines by American and Filipino guerrilla forces under the command of General Douglas MacArthur, who fought against the Imperial Japanese Army in the Philippines led by...
and Battle of Luzon
Battle of Luzon
The Battle of Luzon was a land battle fought as part of the Pacific Theater of Operations of World War II by the Allied forces of the U.S., its colony The Philippines, and Mexico against forces of the Empire of Japan. The battle resulted in a U.S. and Filipino victory...
.
Following the Japanese surrender, the 112th landed in Japan for Occupation Duties on 3 September 1945.
During World War II the 112th Cavalry served 434 days in combat. They were the first U.S. Army unit in the Southwest Pacific to use bazookas and flame throwers against enemy defences and first used rocket firing DUKWs in amphibious assaults. The 112th were the first in the Philippines to use helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
s to evacuate their wounded.
Two of the regiment's late replacements authored books after the war ended. Norman Mailer
Norman Mailer
Norman Kingsley Mailer was an American novelist, journalist, essayist, poet, playwright, screenwriter, and film director.Along with Truman Capote, Joan Didion, Hunter S...
wrote The Naked and the Dead
The Naked and the Dead
The Naked and the Dead is a 1948 novel by Norman Mailer. It was based on his experiences with the 112th Cavalry Regiment during the Philippines Campaign in World War II...
, and Francis Gwaltney authored The Day the Century Ended, later filmed as Between Heaven and Hell
Between Heaven and Hell (film)
Between Heaven and Hell is a 1956 20th Century Fox Cinemascope colour war film based on the novel The Day the Century Ended by Francis Gwaltney that the film follows closely...
.
Postwar
The regiment was inactivated in Japan in 1946 but was re-organized on 13 November 1947 as the 112th Mechanized Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, then reorganised on 12 September 1949 as the 112th Armoured Cavalry Regiment. On 16 March 1957 the Regiment became the 112th Armor and was transferred to active service. In 1961 it was transferred back to the National Guard as part of the 49th Armored Division. Following the disbandment of the 49th Armored Division, the 112th Armor became part of the 56th Brigade of the 36th Infantry Division.From 1973 all of the Texas Army National Guard Armor units were renumbered as battalions of the 112th Armor. From 1988-1993 eight battalions were assigned to the 112th making it then the largest armoured regiment in the U.S. Army.
On October 17, 2008 4th Battalion, 112th Armor was renamed 1st Squadron, 112th Cavalry. The unit carries the colors and lineage of the original 112th Cavalry Squadron. The Squadron Headquarters and Headquarters Troop are based in Bryan, Texas, with A Troop, B Troop and C Troop based in Taylor, Rosenberg and Ellington Field respectively. A and B Troops are equipped as Cavalry units with Hmmwvs, and C Troop is a dismounted Infantry unit. The current commander is LTC Bruce Ferrell and the Command Sergeant Major is CSM Richard Sublett.
The 1st Squadron, 112th Cavalry, is part of the 72nd Infantry Brigade of the 36th Infantry Division.
External links
- Texas military forces museum http://www.texasmilitaryforcesmuseum.org/112th.htm
- Oral history project http://web3.unt.edu/news/story.cfm?story=9778