For 4th Cavalry Regiment History click here.
also see Chapter History by Keliher
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John Moore: The United States Army Regimental System (USARS) provides each unit and each soldier with continuous identification with a single historic Army regiment, and to increase a soldier's probability of serving recurring assignments with his or her regiment. The USARS was intended to enhance combat effectiveness by providing the opportunity for a regimental affiliation, thus obtaining some of the benefits of the traditional regimental system.
So if a current soldier's regimental affiliation is the 4th Cavalry regiment when not in military schools, drill sergeant duty, etc he is suppose to be assigned back to one of the squadrons affiliated with the regiment such as 3/4, 1/4, 4/4, 5/4, 6/4.
Only 3 cavalry regiments have their squadrons based together and assigned to them: 2ACR, 3ACR, 4th ACR. The last time the 4th Cavalry regiment operated as a single regiment was in 1942 at Ft. Meade, SD.
Nearly all US Army units are based on regiments. An example is the Wolfhounds. The units the 25th Div had in Vietnam were the 1st and 2nd Battalions, 27th Infantry Regiment.
During the Indian wars on the frontier, there was only the Regiment, which in the 1870's was made up of (I think) 12 companies, which were spread around among different posts. At one point, the Regiment was tasked with establishing a post on the Concho River in Texas. That is where they were when Ranald Mackenzie was assigned as Regimental Commander. When the 4th first arrived, there was nothing there and they camped in tents. Over the years, the city of San Angelo grew up around the post.
Dave Cox: Most of us who have been attending the 4th Regiment Reunions are Vietnam vets. At the two prior ones, there were a number of guys there from the Quarterhorse who served in Vietnam.
In my case, I'm an avid military history buff and the 4th has a remarkable history. When I first reported into A Troop at Schofield in 1965, I immediately learned that the unit was going by the "Mackenzie's Raiders" nickname. I thought, "Wow! Am I in THAT outfit?" I was remembering the TV show from the 1950's. That's my main incentive for attending them.
Wiki: A regiment is a military unit. In Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of front-line soldiers, recruited or conscripted in one geographical area, by a leader who was often also the feudal lord in capite of the soldiers. Lesser barons of knightly rank could be expected to muster or hire a company or battalion from their manorial estate.
By the end of the 17th century, infantry regiments in most European armies were permanent units, with approximately 800 men and commanded by a colonel.