SFOR - Task Force Eagle

After the historic bridging of the Sava River on 31 December 1995, the 1st Armored "Old Ironsides" Division, with supporting forces from V (US) Corps, was joined by armed forces of twelve other nations that included Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Poland, Denmark, Lithuania, Norway, Iceland, Sweden, Russia, Turkey and the United States. Together, these nations comprised MultiNational Division - North (MND-N), one of three MultiNational Divisions in NATO Stabilization FORce (SFOR). TFE represented the Unites States contribution to SFOR.

The 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, part of the body of first US Troops to move into the war torn country of Bosnia, was attached to the 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division (1st AD) during Operation Joint Endeavor, from October 1995 to October 1996. On 03 January, 1996, the squadron crossed the Sava River, and led the 2nd Brigade Combat Team into Bosnia. In October 1996, after a yearlong deployment, the squadron was replaced by other element of the 1st Infantry Division).

1st ID Secures 1st AD Savo River Withdraw

On 10 November, 1996, the 1st Armored Division transferred authority for command and control of Task Force Eagle to the 1st Infantry Division. The 1st Infantry Division deployed as a covering force to allow the safe return of the 1st Armored Division to Germany. On 22 October, 1997, the 1st ID "The Big Red One", in turn, handed back control of TFE to the returning 1st AD.

One of the most powerful UN formations ever fielded, MND-N, enforced the cease-fire, supervised the marking of boundaries, and monitored the zone of separation between the former warring factions, Entity Armed Forces (EAF) which consisted of the Bosnian-Croat Entity (the Federation) and the Bosnian Serb Entity (the Republika Srpska), enforced the withdrawal of the combatants and the movement of the heavy weapons to designated storage sites. TFE also supported the efforts of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to administer the country's first ever democratic national elections.

Task Force Eagle also supported the Organization for Security and Cooperation in the efforts of Europe to administer the country's first ever democratic national elections.

  ORGANIZATION FOR THE FUTURE  

The post Desert Storm drawdown did not leave the 4th Cavalry unscathed. The Army inactivated the 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized) in February 1996 along with the concurrent inactivation of the 2nd Squadron 4th Cavalry. And with the inactivation of the 197th Infantry Brigade earlier, "D" Troop, 4th Cavalry was also inactivated. "E" Troop, 4th Cavalry was inactivated on 05 June 1994 when the decision was made to remove combat units from the Army Reserve.

By 1996 the Army, recognizing the damage the many moves of deactivating, redesignation and reactivation had made on esprit-de-corps and began to reassigned many units back to their traditional parent organizations. Thus the 3rd Squadron, which had served with the 3rd Infantry Division since 1989 including a recent tour in Bosnia, was reassigned to the 25th Infantry Division on 16 February 1996 as the division reconnaissance squadron. The unit was based at Wheeler Army Airfield adjacent to Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. The maneuvering elements of the squadron were one motorized reconnaissance troop and two air cavalry troops. The 1st Squadron remained assigned to the 1st Infantry Division and was stationed at Conn Barracks, Schweinfurt, Germany. The maneuvering elements of the squadron were three armored cavalry troops and two air cavalry troops. Conn Barracks served as the regimental home of the 4th Cavalry Regiment as the regimental colors were located with the 1st Squadron.

On 16 January 1999, "E" Troop, 4th Cavalry was reactivated as the reconnaissance troop for the 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division stationed in Schweinfurt, Germany. "F" Troop, 4th Cavalry was also reactivated on 16 January 1999 as the reconnaissance troop for the 3rd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division in Vielseck, Germany. "D" Troop, 4th Cavalry was reactivated 25 February 2000 as the reconnaissance troop for the 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas.