World War II, Pacific Theater

In February 1943, the entire 1st Cavalry Division was alerted for an overseas assignment as a dismounted unit. An impatient 1st Cavalry Division was dismounted and they were processed for movement to the Southwest Pacific theater as foot solders. In mid June 1943, the last troops of the division departed Fort Bliss, Texas for Camp Stoneman, California and later on 03 July, boarded the "S.S. Monterey and the S.S. George Washington" for Australia and the Southwest Pacific.

On 26 July, three weeks later, the division arrived at Brisbane and began a fifteen mile trip to their new temporary home, Camp Strathpine, Queensland, Australia. The division received six months of intense combat jungle warfare training at Camp Strathpine in the wilds of scenic Queensland and amphibious training at nearby Moreton Bay. In January 1944 the division was ordered to leave Australia and sail to Oro Bay, New Guinea. After a period of staging in New Guinea, it was time for the 1st Cavalry Division to receive their first baptism of fire.

"Island Combat"
On 27 February, Task Force "Brewer", consisting of 1,026 troopers, embarked from Cape Sudest, Oro Bay, New Guinea under the command of Brigadier General William C. Chase. Their destination was a remote, Japanese occupied island of the Admiralties, Los Negros, where they were to make a reconnaissance of force and if feasible, capture Momote Airdrome and secure a beachhead for the reinforcements that would follow.

Just after 8:00 on 29 February, the 1st Cavalry troopers climbed down the nets of the APD's and into the LCM's and LCPR's, the flat bottomed landing craft of the Navy. The task force, including the 1st Collecting Troop and "B" Troop, 1st Medical Squadron, landed at Hayane Harbor took the Japanese by surprise.

On 18 May 1944, the Admiralty Islands campaign officially ended. Japanese casualties stood at 3,317 killed. The losses of the 1st Cavalry Division included 290 dead, 977 wounded and 4 missing in action. Training, discipline, determination and ingenuity had won over suicidal attacks. The First Cavalry Troopers were now seasoned veterans.

"Return to the Philippines"
The next action for the 1st Cavalry Division was on the Philippines Island of Leyte. On Columbus Day, 12 October 1944, the 1st Cavalry Division sailed away from its hard earned base in the Admiralties for the Leyte invasion, Operation King II. On October 20, the invasion force must have appeared awesome to the waiting Japanese as it swept toward the eastern shores of Leyte. The division fought tirelessly against Japanese fortifications. With the last of the strongholds of Leyte eliminated, the division moved on to Luzon, the main island of the Philippines. Leyte had been the biggest campaign of the Pacific war, but the record was about to be shattered by the invasion of Luzon.

On 26 January, conveys were formed and departed for the Lingayan Gulf, Luzon Island, the Philippines. Landing without incident on 27 January, the division assembled in an area near Guimba and prepared for operations in the south and southwest areas. One of the First Team's most noted feats was accomplished during the fighting for Luzon. General MacArthur issued an order "Get to Manila!". The resulting mission, and the participating units, was dubbed a "flying column" by General Mudge. The rescue mission, lead by Brig. General William C. Chase, was divided into three "serials", of which included "A" Troop, 1st Medical Squadron. On 03 February 1945, lead elements of the rescue column crossed the city limits of Manila at 6:35 PM, covering the 100 miles of rough terrain in approximately 66 hours. The first of many "Firsts" was recorded in history;

"First in Manila"

"First in Tokyo".

1946 was welcomed as a new dawning of peace for the 1st Cavalry Division. The days of privation, hardship, suffering and death were over for the first time since 07 December 1940. The following years of the occupation found the 1st Cavalry Division in control of Tokyo and vicinity, the capital of the war-built Japanese Empire. On 25 March 1949, the 1st Medical Squadron was redesignated as the 15th Medical Battalion, consisting of a Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, "A" Company (Ambulance) and "B" Company (Clearing). 1950 called for an increased training to improve the ever-increasing combat effectiveness of the division, which was soon to be tested.

Korean War

"The Pusan Perimeter"
It happened before dawn on 25 June 1950. Less than 5 years after the terrible devastations of World War II, a new war broke out from a distant land whose name means "Morning Calm". On 18 July the 1st Cavalry Division was ordered to Korea. Initially scheduled to make an amphibious landing at Inchon, it was redirected to the southeastern coast of Korea at Pohang-dong a port 80 miles north of Pusan. The North Koreans were 25 miles away when elements of the 1st Cavalry Division swept ashore to successfully carry out the first amphibious landing of the Korean War. Its initial mission was to establish the Pusan Perimeter. By 22 July, all regiments were deployed in battle positions; in itself a remarkable logistical achievement in the face of Typhoon Helene that pounded the Korean coastline.

Their baptism of fire came on 23 July. They were hit by heavy artillery fire and mortar barrage, and North Korean infantrymen swarmed toward their entrenched positions. The Pusan Perimeter continued to hold. With added reinforcements, Pusan became a staging ground and depot for United Nations supplies and soldiers from all around the world. The defenders now outnumbered the attackers and they had the equipment and firepower to go on the offensive.

In late October 1950, orders came from I Corps to saddle up the rest of the division and move north. The Korean war seemed to be nearing a conclusion. The North Korean forces were being squeezed into a shrinking perimeter along the Yalu and the borders of Red China and Manchuria. By now, more than 135,000 Red troops had been captured and the North Korean Army was nearly destroyed.

On 25 October 1950, the Korean War took a grim new turn. The sudden intervention of Communist Chinese forces dashed hopes of a quick end to the war. In the morning of 01 November, patrols from the 1st and 2nd Battalions, 8th Cavalry, clashed with soldiers clearly identified as Red Chinese. By 28 December, the true extent of the enemy buildup had become clear. There was at least 20 Red Chinese divisions poised for a drive on Seoul. Now there was almost a million and a half Chinese and North Korean troops on the Korean peninsula.

"The UN Counter Attack, 1951"
On 25 January 1951, the First Team moved back into action. The movement began as a reconnaissance in force to locate and assess the size of the Red Army, believed to be at least 174,000. The Eight Army moved slowly and methodically, ridge by ridge, phase line by phase line, wiping out each pocket of resistance before moving farther North. The advance covered 2 miles a day, despite heavy blinding snowstorms and subzero temperatures.

On 27 November, the advance party from the division, left Korea and by late January 1952, all units had arrived on Hokkaido, under the command of Major General Thomas L. Harrold. Arriving in the port of Muroran, each unit was loaded on trains and moved to the new garrison areas. Three camps were established outside Sappro, the Islands capital city. The division controlled a huge training area of 155,000 acres. The mission of the division was to defend the Island of Hokkaido and to maintain maximum combat readiness.

"DMZ - Freedom's Frontier"
The Korean War wound down to a negotiated halt when the long awaited armistice was signed at 10:00 on 27 July 1953. A DeMilitarized Zone (DMZ), a corridor - 4 kilometers wide and 249 kilometers long, was established dividing North and South Korea. The nominal line of the buffer zone is along the 38th parallel; however, the final negotiations of the adjacent geographical areas, gave the North Korean Government some 850 square miles south of the 38th parallel and the South Korean Government some 2,350 square miles north of it.

In September 1954, the Japanese assumed responsibility for defending Hokkaido and the First Team returned to the main Island of Honshu. For the next three years the division guarded the northern sections of Honshu until a treaty was signed by the governments of Japan and the United States in 1957. This accord signaled the removal of all U.S. ground forces from Japan's main islands.

On 20 August 1957, the First Cavalry Division, guarding the northern sections of Honshu, Japan was reduced to zero strength and transferred to Korea (minus equipment). With the advent of the Pentomic Organizational Structure, on 22 August 1957, the 15th Medical Battalion was assigned to the forerunner of the present Divisional Support Command, the Divisional Trains. Although the concept of "Trains" under a controlling headquarters was new to the infantry divisions, it had been utilized by the Armor during World War II. The lifeline through which the combined administrative and technical support is provided by the trains. The organic units, at the time of activation of the Trains on 22 August 1957, included the 15th Aviation Company, 15th Administrative Service Company, 15th Medical Battalion, 15th Quartermaster Company, 23rd Transportation Battalion and the 27th Ordnance Battalion.

In ceremonies held on 15 October, the colors of the 24th Division were retired and the colors of the 1st Cavalry Division were passed to the Commanding General of the old 24th Division, Major General Ralph W. Zwicker. "The First Team" had returned to Korea, standing ready to defend the country against Communist aggression.

On 01 November 1957, the Trains were activated in Korea. The redesignated and reorganized First Cavalry was assigned the mission of patrolling the "Freedom's Frontier" (DMZ). In addition to their assigned duties of patrol along the southern border of the DMZ, training remained a number one priority for the troopers and unit commanders. In January 1958, the largest training exercise in Korea since the end of hostilities, Operation Snowflake, was conducted. This exercise was followed by Operation Saber in May and Operation Horsefly in August. In June 1965 the 15th Medical Battalion began rotation back to the United States along with other units of the 1st Cavalry Division.

Vietnam War

"Air Cavalry Unit"
The 1st Cavalry Division went home, but only long enough to be reorganized and be prepared for a new mission. On 03 July 1965, in Doughboy Stadium at Fort Benning, Georgia the colors of the 11th Air Assault Division (Test) were cased and retired. As the band played the rousing strains of GarryOwen, the colors of the 1st Cavalry Division were moved onto the field. As part of the reorganization, the 11th Medical Battalion, 11th Air Assault Division Support Command was redesignated as 15th Medical Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division Support Command,

In 1965, the 15th Medical Battalion accompanied the Division Support Command when it was deployed to Vietnam, arriving on 12 September. As Cavalrymen underwent their baptism of fire, the advantages of an aero-medical evacuation became more and more edivent. The organization participated in all major campaigns and distinguished itself in battle, writing new chapters in its history.

"Medic lowers the Jungle Penetrator"
The 15th Medical Battalion saw action at Happy Valley, Binh Dinh, Ia Drang Valley, Pleiku, Kontum, Bong Song, An Loc Valley, Plei Mai, Yut Hoa, A Shaw Valley, Hue, Khe Sanh, Quang Tri, Tai Ninh, Quan Loi, Song Be, Bien Hoa, Lee Ninh and Phuoe Vinh. In every area of operation, the dedication of the assigned personnel remained focused on their foremost task of rescue, giving aid in the field, evacuation and providing appropriate medical services in the field and base hospitals.

The move south to III Corps in 1968 brought many changes in methods of operation for many skytroopers, but not for the medical battalion personnel. Their job remained the same; help those in need and help they did. The Headquarters Service Company located in Phuoc Vinh, conducted daily sick call, ran a dental clinic and administered to local nationals. Companies of the battalion were colocated at the three brigade headquarters of the division so that forward area personnel could get routine medical aid.

26 March 1971, officially marked the end of duties in Vietnam for the majority of the 1st Cavalry Division. On 29 April, the Support Command along with the 15th Medical Battalion departed Vietnam for Fort Hood, Texas.

On 21 September 1975, the 15th Medical Battalion was reorganized into a Headquarters and "A" Company and three identical medical companies, "B", "C" and "D", in support of an armored division. On 22 June 1976, the battalion motto was changed to "Service above Self". Headquarters and "A" Company was redesignated Headquarters and Service Company. On 16 September 1980, "D" Company was deactivated.

On 16 May 1984 Headquarters and Service Company was reorganized into Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment and "A", "B" and "D" Companies to support an armored Cavalry Division. On 01 October 1984, the entire structure of the Division Support Command which included the 15th Medical Battalion, underwent a dynamic change in order to best support the logistic requirements of the division by the activation of the 2nd Forward Support Battalion which incorporated elements of the 15th Medical Battalion.

Following the evolution of the 2nd Forward Support Battalion into a full time Forward Support Battalion which supported the 2nd Brigade, the 15th Medical Battalion was inactivated at Fort Hood, Texas on 15 September 1985. Under the initial support concept, the 2nd Forward Support Battalion had no history or lineage, only generic colors. The problem of no identity was corrected by realignment of all support battalions by the Army and the Institute of Heraldry. On 01 May 1987, the 2nd Forward Support Battalion was given the full lineage, honors and colors of the 15th Medical Battalion, and redesignated as the 15th Support Battalion (FWD).

With the activation of the 15th Support Battalion (FWD), the "fuel, arm and fix forward" combat service doctrine was inaugurated. This concept is the linchpin that keeps combat units operating continuously on the Air-Land Battlefield. The battalion is organized with a multifunctional staff, a Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment and three diversified company-sized units. As an aggregate, the battalion provides responsive fuel, ammunition, rations, medical support and direct support maintenance the requirements of a combined arms maneuver brigade in combat or in garrison.

Persian Gulf War, Southwest Asia

In August 1990, the 1st Cavalry Division was alerted for deployment to Southwest Asia as part of the joint forces participating in Operation Desert Shield. The focus at that time was the defense of Saudi Arabia against potential Iraqi attack. In October 1990, the 15th Support Battalion deployed in support of Desert Shield and provide critical logistical support to the soldiers of the 2nd "Blackjack" Brigade. In January and February 1991, the efforts of the Division Support Command were key in carrying out the fast moving ground war.

"Operation Knight Strike"
Desert Storm's "First" major ground encounter was on 19/20 February 1991 when the 2nd (Blackjack) Brigade attacked 10 miles into Iraq, confirming and destroying enemy positions. Prior to the launch of the ground war, DISCOM established Refuel on the Move (ROM) sites south of the breach crossings. On the opening of the ground war, the Blackjack Brigade, supported by the Aviation Brigade Apache helicopters, moved into Iraq on a "reconnaissance in force". The Brigade broke contact after penetrating enemy obstacles, taking fire and causing the enemy to light oil fire trenches.

This operation was an unqualified success. The enemy reacted as anticipated. Iraqi divisions focused on the coalition threat in the Wadi, and the First Team froze them. The deception worked, in that it tied down four Iraqi divisions, leaving their flanks thinned and allowed the VII Corps to attack virtually unopposed, conducting a successful envelopment of Iraqi forces to the west. The 2nd Brigade withdrew south to join the division for the subsequent series of final attacks.

The 15th's action of providing resupply of fuel and ammunition was critical to the 2nd Brigade's successful 300 kilometer advance in 24 hours into Southern Iraq to cut off and stop the Republican Guard. In March, the 15th Support Battalion (FWD) along with the balance of the DISCOM Units, joined the assembled division on the plain of the Wadi al Batin. Desert Storm was over. In April 1991, the division brought all its soldiers safely home to Fort Hood, Texas.

Today's Cavalry

Since redeployment from Saudi Arabia, the 15th Support Battalion (FWD) has been involved in numerous field exercises, including multiple highly successful deployments to the National Training Center with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, annual deployments in support of the Mississippi National Guard Annual Training and a no-notice deployment to Kuwait for Intrinsic Action 95-03.

The 15th Support Battalion's (FWD) long and valorous history demonstrates that they truly "Live the Legend".