The first recognized medals of the US Army appeared during the American Civil War and were generally issued by local commanders on an unofficial basis. The Medal of Honor was the first award to be established in regulations as a permanent Army decoration, complete with benefits. The Medal of Honor is the only Civil War era award which has survived as a decoration into the modern age.

Furthermore, the US Army mandates that all unit awards will be worn separate from individual awards on the opposite side of a military uniform. The Army is the only service to require this separation between unit and individual decorations. All Army unit awards are worn enclosed in a gold frame.

The Spanish-American War was the first widespread award of campaign medals, both for service in the actual conflict and for participation in subsequent garrison and occupation duty. After the Spanish-American War, however, medals in the US Army fell into disuse and, apart from a few peacetime Medal of Honor decorations, there were no further Army medals created until the First World War. World War I saw the first widespread distribution of medals for combat, as the Medal of Honor returned awarded for bravery in battle against an enemy force. The Distinguished Service Cross was also created for those soldiers who had performed feats of bravery but not to the level required of the Medal of Honor. The only other medal of World War I was the World War I Victory Medal, accompanied by a confusing array of battle clasps to denote combat participation.

In the 1920s and 30s, the US Army issued very few decorations and it was often common for a service member to spend an entire career without receiving a single medal. With the outbreak of World War II, however, the Army began the largest expansion of medals since the Spanish-American War as well as the first wide scale issuance of inter-service awards. In addition, several World War II campaign medals were created for various theaters and a World War II Victory Medal was established at the end of the conflict as well as an occupation medal.

In the 1950s and 1960s, the Army expanded both its number of medals and ribbons, as well as having its service members eligible for several new inter-service campaign and service medals (such as the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and the National Defense Service Medal).

In the modern age, members of other military branches serving under an Army command are also eligible to receive Army decorations. All Army service members may receive inter-service awards, international decorations, and authorized foreign medals. The Department of the Army also awards a limited number of civilian awards.

Only time and fate knows the future of peace, wars and the new missions that the subordinate units of the 1st Cavalry Division may be called on to perform. In any situation, they stand ready and can look to its combat record with justifiable pride and hard earned satisfaction. All of the tasks have been tough and they have been done well.

7th Cavalry Regiment Decorations
The following decorations have been earned by the 7th Cavalry Regiment in service for their country. Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered LEYTE (Trp G, 2nd Squadron, 7th Cavalry, cited for the period 12 to 18 Dec 1944; DA GO 58, 1945) Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered ANTIPOLO LUZON (7th Cavalry, cited for the period on 23 Feb to 11 Mar 1945; WD GO 36, 1946) Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered TAEGU KOREA (3rd Battalion, 7th Cavalry, cited for action 12 Sept 1950; DA GO 33, 1952) Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered PUSAN KOREA (3rd Battalion, 7th Cavalry, cited for the period of 21 to 27 September 1950; DA GO 35, 1952) Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered 17 OCTOBER 1944 TO 4 JULY 1945 (7th Cavalry, cited for the period; DA GO 47, 1950) Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered WAEGWAN-TAEGU (7th Cavalry, cited for the period 15 Aug to 26 Sep 1950; DA GO 35, 1951) Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered KOREA (7th Cavalry and attached units, cited for the period; DA GO 24, 1954) Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered KOREA (7th Cavalry, cited for the period 11 Jul 1952 to 01 Oct 1953; DA GO 24, 1954) Chryssoun Aristion Andrias {Gold Bravery Medal of Greece}, Streamer embroidered KOREA (7th Cavalry, cited for the period of the war in Korea; DA GO 02, 1956)
1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment Decorations
The following decorations have been earned by the 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment in service for their country. Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered ANTIPOLO LUZON (7th Cavalry, cited for the period on 23 Feb to 11 Mar 1945; WD GO 36, 1946) Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered YONCHON KOREA (1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, cited for the period 03 to 12 Oct 1951; DA GO 74, 1952) Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered PLEIKU PROVINCE (1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, cited for the period 23 Oct to 26 Nov 1965; DA GO 40, 1967) Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered BINH THUAN PROVINCE ("B" Co, 1st Bn, 7th Cavalry, cited for the period 12 Dec 1966 to 18 Feb 1967; DA GO 02, 1973) Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered QUANG TIN PROVINCE (1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, cited for the period 01 to 31 Oct 1967; DA GO 39, 1970) Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered FISH HOOK (1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, cited for the period 01 May to 29 Jun 1970; DA GO 43, 1972) Valorous Unit Award, Streamer ("HHT", "A", "B" and "C" Trp., 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry, cited for the period 01 Feb to 31 May, 2007; PO 148-17, 28 May, 2009) Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered SOUTHWEST ASIA (1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry, cited for the period 28 Sep 1990 to 14 Apr 1991; DA GO 27, 1994) Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer (1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry, cited for the period 01 Apr to 30 Sept, 2004; PO 071-04, 11 Mar 2008) Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered 17 OCTOBER 1944 TO 4 JULY 1945 (7th Cavalry, cited for the period; DA GO 47, 1950) Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered WAEGWAN-TAEGU (7th Cavalry, cited for the period 15 Aug to 26 Sep 1950; DA GO 35, 1951) Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered KOREA (7th Cavalry and attached units, cited for the period; DA GO 24, 1954) Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered KOREA (7th Cavalry, cited for the period 11 Jul 1952 to 01 Oct 1953; DA GO 24, 1954) Chryssoun Aristion Andrias {Gold Bravery Medal of Greece}, Streamer embroidered KOREA (7th Cavalry, cited for the period of the war in Korea; DA GO 2, 1956) Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1965 (1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, cited for the period 14 to 16 Nov 1965; DA GO 21, 1969, amended DA GO 48, 1968) Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1965 - 1969 (1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, cited for the periods 09 Aug to 13 Nov 1965 and 17 Nov Nov 1965 to 19 May 1969; DA GO 70, 1969, amended DA GO 59, 1969) Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1969 - 1970 (1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, cited for the period May 1969 to Feb 1970; DA GO 11, 1973, amended DA GO 42, 1972) Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1970 - 1971 (1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, cited for the period 21 Feb 1970 to 28 Feb 1971; DA GO 42, 1972) Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1965 - 1972 (1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, cited for the period 17 Sep 1965 to Jun 1972; DA GO 54, 1974) Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM (1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, cited for the period 01 Jan 1969 to 01 Feb 1970; DA GO 42, 1972)
2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment Decorations
The following decorations have been earned by the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment in service for their country. Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered ANTIPOLO LUZON (7th Cavalry, cited for the period on 23 Feb to 11 Mar 1945; WD GO 36, 1946) Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered YONCHON KOREA (1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, cited for the period 03 to 12 Oct 1951; DA GO 74, 1952) Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered PLEIKU PROVINCE (2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry, cited for the period 23 Oct to 26 Nov 1965; DA GO 40, 1967) Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered PLEIKU PROVINCE (earned by the 3rd Reconnaissance Trp as part of the 2nd Bn, 7th Cavalry, cited for the period ;) Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered BINH THUAN PROVINCE (2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry, cited for the period 23 Aug 1966 to 04 Apr 1967; DA GO 02, 1973) Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered BINH THUAN PROVINCE (earned by the 3rd Reconnaissance Trp as part of the 2nd Bn, 7th Cavalry, cited for the period ;) Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered FALLUJAH ("HHC", "A" and "C" Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry, cited for the period of 03 to 24 November 2004; DA GO Pending, 2008) Navy Unit Commendation (Navy), Streamer embroidered ANBAR PROVICE ("HHC", "A", "B" and "C" Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry as part of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force (Reinforced) stationed in Anbar Provice, Iraq, cited for the period of 02 August 2004 to 01 February 2005; COMMARCENT Ltr 1650 1 MEF, 07 Jun 2005) Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered FISH HOOK (2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry, cited for the period 01 May to 29 Jun 1970; DA GO 43, 1972) Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered FISH HOOK (earned by the 3rd Reconnaissance Trp as part of the 2nd Bn, 7th Cavalry, cited) French Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War II, Fourragere (as 3rd Reconnaissance Squadron, 7th Cavalry, cited, WD GO 43, 1950) Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered 17 OCTOBER 1944 TO 4 JULY 1945 (7th Cavalry, cited for the period; DA GO 47, 1950) Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered WAEGWAN-TAEGU (7th Cavalry, cited for the period 15 Aug to 26 Sep 1950; DA GO 35, 1951) Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered KOREA (7th Cavalry and attached units, cited for the period; DA GO 24, 1954) Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered KOREA (7th Cavalry, cited for the period 11 Jul 1952 to 01 Oct 1953; DA GO 24, 1954) Chryssoun Aristion Andrias {Gold Bravery Medal of Greece}, Streamer embroidered KOREA (7th Cavalry, cited for the period of the war in Korea; DA GO 2, 1956) Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1965 ("A" Co, 2nd Bn, 7th Cavalry, cited for the period 15 to 16 Nov 1965; DA GO 21, 1969, DA GO 70, 1969, amended DA GO 46, 1968) Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1965 - 1969 ("A" Co, 2nd Bn, 7th Cavalry, cited for the periods 09 Aug to 14 Nov 1965 and 17 Nov Nov 1965 to 19 May 1969; DA GO 70, 1969, amended DA GO 59, 1969) Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1965 ("B" Co, 2nd Bn, 7th Cavalry, cited for the period 14 to 16 Nov 1965; DA GO 21, 1969, DA GO 70, 1969, amended DA GO 46, 1968) Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1965 - 1969 ("B" Co, 2nd Bn, 7th Cavalry, cited for the periods 09 Aug to 13 Nov 1965 and 17 Nov Nov 1965 to 19 May 1969; DA GO 70, 1969, amended DA GO 59, 1969) Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1969 - 1970 (2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry, cited for the period May 1969 to Feb 1970; DA GO 11, 1973, amended DA GO 42, 1972) Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1970 - 1971 (2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry, cited for the period 21 Feb 1970 to 28 Feb 1971; DA GO 42, 1972) Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1965 - 1969 (earned by the 3rd Reconnaissance Trp as part of the 2nd Bn, 7th Cavalry, cited for the period ;) Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1969 - 1970 (earned by the 3rd Reconnaissance Trp as part of the 2nd Bn, 7th Cavalry, cited for the period ;) Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1970 - 1971 (earned by the 3rd Reconnaissance Trp as part of the 2nd Bn, 7th Cavalry, cited for the period ;) Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM (2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry, cited for the period 01 Jan 1969 to 01 Feb 1970; DA GO 42, 1972)
3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment Decorations
The following decorations have been earned by the 3rd Squadron,7th Cavalry Regiment in service for their country. Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered COLMAR (3rd Reconnaissance Trp, cited; WD GO 44, 1945) Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered ANTIPOLO LUZON (7th Cavalry, cited for the period on 23 Feb to 11 Mar 1945; WD GO 36, 1946) Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered YONCHON KOREA (1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, cited for the period 03 to 12 Oct 1951; DA GO 74, 1952) Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered IRAQ (3rd Infantry Division and supporting units, cited for the period 17 Mar to 01 May 2003; DA GO , 2003) French Croix de Guerre, World War II, Streamer embroidered COLMAR (3rd Reconnaissance Trp, cited; DA GO 43, 1950) French Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War II, Streamer embroidered COLMAR (3rd Reconnaissance Squadron, 7th Cavalry, cited; WD GO 43, 1950) French Croix de Guerre, World War II, Fourragere (3rd Reconnaissance Trp cited; DA GO 43, 1950) Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered 17 OCTOBER 1944 TO 04 JULY 1945 (7th Cavalry, cited for the period; DA GO 47, 1950) Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered WAEGWAN-TAEGU (7th Cavalry, cited for the period 15 Aug to 26 Sep 1950; DA GO 35, 1951) Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered KOREA (7th Cavalry and attached units, cited for the period; DA GO 24, 1954) Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered KOREA (7th Cavalry, cited for the period 11 Jul 1952 to 01 Oct 1953; DA GO 24, 1954) Chryssoun Aristion Andrias {Gold Bravery Medal of Greece}, Streamer embroidered KOREA (7th Cavalry, cited for the period of the war in Korea; DA GO 02, 1956)
4th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment Decorations
The following decorations have been earned by the 4th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment in service for their country. Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered ANTIPOLO LUZON (7th Cavalry, cited for the period on 23 Feb to 11 Mar 1945; WD GO 36, 1946) Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered YONCHON KOREA (1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, cited for the period 03 to 12 Oct 1951; DA GO 74, 1952) Belgian Fourragere 1940 (, cited; DA GO _, 19 ) Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action in the ARDENNES (, cited; DA GO _, 19 ) Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action at ELSENBORN CREST (, cited; DA GO _, 19 ) Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered 17 OCTOBER 1944 TO 04 JULY 1945 (7th Cavalry, cited for the period; DA GO 47, 1950) Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered WAEGWAN-TAEGU (7th Cavalry, cited for the period 15 Aug to 26 Sep 1950; DA GO 35, 1951) Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered KOREA (7th Cavalry and attached units, cited for the period; DA GO 24, 1954) Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered KOREA (7th Cavalry, cited for the period 11 Jul 1952 to 01 Oct 1953; DA GO 24, 1954) Chryssoun Aristion Andrias {Gold Bravery Medal of Greece}, Streamer embroidered KOREA (7th Cavalry, cited for the period of the war in Korea; DA GO 02, 1956)
5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment Decorations
The following decorations have been earned by the 5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment in service for their country. Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered ANTIPOLO LUZON (7th Cavalry, cited for the period on 23 Feb to 11 Mar 1945; WD GO 36, 1946) Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered QUANG TIN PROVINCE (5th Battalion 7th Cavalry, cited for the period 01 to 31 Oct 1967; DA GO 39, 1970) Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered FISH HOOK (5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry, cited for the period 01 May to 29 Jun 1970; DA GO 43, 1972) Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered 17 OCTOBER 1944 TO 04 JULY 1945 (7th Cavalry, cited for the period; DA GO 47, 1950) Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered WAEGWAN-TAEGU (7th Cavalry, cited for the period 15 Aug to 26 Sep 1950; DA GO 35, 1951) Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered KOREA (7th Cavalry and attached units, cited for the period; DA GO 24, 1954) Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered KOREA (7th Cavalry, cited for the period 11 Jul 1952 to 1 Oct 1953; DA GO 24, 1954) Chryssoun Aristion Andrias {Gold Bravery Medal of Greece}, Streamer embroidered KOREA (7th Cavalry, cited for the period of the war in Korea; DA GO 2, 1956) Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1965 - 1969 (5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry, cited for the period 09 Aug to 19 May 1969; DA GO 59, 1969) Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1969 - 1970 (5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry, cited for the period May 1969 to Feb 1970; DA GO 11, 1973, amended DA GO 42, 1972) Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1970 - 1971 (5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry, cited for the period 21 Feb 1970 to 28 Feb 1971; DA GO 42, 1972) Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM (5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry, cited for the period 01 Jan 1969 to 01 Feb 1970; DA GO 42, 1972)