Change of Command Ceremony

Specifically, as these changes were applied on 15 October, in ceremonies held in Tonggu, Korea, the colors of the 24th Infantry Division were retired and the colors of the 1st Cavalry Division were passed to the Commanding General of the former 24th Infantry Division, Major General Ralph W. Zwicker. "The First Team" had returned, standing ready to defend Korea against Communist aggression. For the 1st Cavalry Division, this type of transformation was the "first" of three major reflagging ceremonies that will occur in its continuing history. Each of which will enable the Division to maintain its long heritage throughout its organizational life and at the same time, enhance its "warring" capabilities.

In parallel with the reflagging, the Division was reorganized with an authorized staff level of 13,748 personnel structured into five battle groups. Each battle group was a self-contained force trained to conduct independent operations when necessary. Specialized firepower support was provided by artillery and missile units armed with conventional ordnance and nuclear warheads.

Pentomic Division TOE

In the reflagging and organization of the 24th Infantry Division to the 1st Cavalry Division Pentomic under TO&E 7T, Reorganization of Combat Infantry Division (ROCID), the following subordinate units were activated, organized and assigned as organic elements of the Division. Open, activated, elements of the 1st Cavalry Division TO&E were filled by the transfer of equipment assets and specialized trained personnel resources from units of the 24th Infantry Division:

1st CAVALRY DIVISION UNIT	RESOURCES UTILIZED
Hq & Hq Co, 1st Cavalry Division	Hq & Hq Co, 1st Cavalry Division
2nd Battle Group, 4th Cavalry     Hq & Hq Co, 2nd Battle Group     Mortar Btry, 2nd Battle Group     "A", "B", "C" & "D" Cos, 4th Cavalry	Activated     "B" Trp, 4th Cavalry Regiment     Activated     Activated
1st Battle Group, 5th Cavalry     Hq & Hq Co, 1st Battle Group     Mortar Btry, 1st Battle Group     "A", "B", "C" & "D" Cos, 5th Cavalry	Activated     "A" Co, 5th Cavalry Regiment     Activated     Activated
1st Battle Group, 7th Cavalry     Hq & Hq Co, 1st Battle Group     Mortar Btry, 1st Battle Group     "A", "B", "C" & "D" Cos, 7th Cavalry	Activated     "A" Co, 7th Cavalry Regiment     Activated     Activated
1st Battle Group, 8th Cavalry     Hq & Hq Co, 1st Battle Group     Mortar Btry, 1st Battle Group     "A", "B", "C" & "D" Cos, 8th Cavalry	Activated     "A" Co, 8th Cavalry Regiment     Activated     Activated
2nd Battle Group, 12th Cavalry     Hq & Hq Co, 2nd Battle Group     Mortar Btry, 2nd Battle Group     "A", "B", "C" & "D" Cos, 12th Cavalry	Activated     "B" Co, 12th Cavalry Regiment     Activated     Activated
Division Artillery     Hq & Hq Btry, 1st Cavalry Division Artillery 2nd Bn, 19th Artillery (105 mm)     Hq & Hq Btry, 2nd Bn, 19th Artillery     "A", "B", "C", "D", "E" & Svc Btrys, 2nd Bn, 19th Arty 2nd Bn, 20th Artillery (Rkt/How)     Hq & Hq Btry, 2nd Bn, 20th Artillery     "A", "B", "C", "D" & Svc Btrys, 2nd Bn, 20th Arty	Hq & Hq Btry (Reorg) Activated     "B" Btry, 19th FA     Activated Activated     "B" Btry, 20th FA     Activated
Division Trains     Hq & Hq Det, Trains Division Band 15th Administrative Service Co 15th Aviation Company 15th Medical Battalion (Inf)     Hq & Hq Det     "A" Co (Ambulance)     "B" Co (Clearing) 15th Quartermaster Company (Inf) 23rd Transportation Battalion (Inf)     Hq & Hq Co     "A" Co (Truck)     "B" & "C" Cos (Armed Carrier) 27th Ordnance Battalion (Inf)     Hq & "B" Co (Main Spt)     "A" Co (Fwd Spt)	Hq & Hq Co (Reorg) Band, 1st Cavalry Division (Reorg) 15th Replacement Co Activated 15th Medical Bn (Reorg)     Hq & Hq Co (Reorg)     Ambulance Co (Reorg)     Clearing Co (Reorg) 15th Quartermaster Co (Reorg) Activated     Activated     Activated     Activated 27th Ordnance Bn     Hq & Hq Det & "B" Co (Reorg)     "A" Co (Reorg)
Separate Battalions & Companies Hq & Hq Co, 1st Cavalry Division 1st Recon Sqdn, 9th Cavalry     Hq & Hq Trp     "A", "B" & "C" Trps 3rd Medium Tank Bn, 40th Armor     Hq & Hq Co     "A", "B", "C", "D" & "E" Cos, 3rd Med Tank Bn 8th Engineer Battalion (Inf)     Hq & Hq Co     "A", "B", "C", "D" & "E" Cos 13th Signal Battalion (Inf)     Hq & Hq Co     "A" Co, Command Operations     "B" Co, Forward Communications DMZ Police Company (Provisional)	Hq & Hq Co, 1st Cavalry Division Activated     "A" Trp, 9th Cav & 16th Recon     Activated Activated     "C" Co, 40th Armored Rgt     Activated 8th Engineer Battalion (C)     HHSVC     "A", "B", "C", "D" Cos (Reorg) & "E" 13th Signal Battalion (C)     13th Signal Co (Reorg)     Activated     Activated Activated

Concurrent with the reorganization and reflagging of the 1st Cavalry Division to the pentomic concept, the 545th MP Company, the 61st, 77th, 82nd, and 99th Field Artillery Battalions, the 26th and 29th AAA Battalions and the 70th Tank Battalion, which had served so nobly in Korea and Japan, were inactivated and relieved from assignment to the 1st Cavalry Division.

The redesignated and reorganized 1st Cavalry Division was assigned the mission of patrolling the "Freedom's Frontier" Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The Order of Battle under the Pentomic System consisted of five Battle Groups per division and four rifle companies per group. Because of its extended area of operation, the 1st Cavalry Division was allowed the implementation of five Battle Groups, the 4th, 5th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 12th Cavalry and the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron, 9th Cavalry. Each group operated as a self-contained independent force, the isolation of each much like the cavalry forts during the early Indian Wars.

As Close As It Gets On The DMZ !!

At that time, the 1st Cavalry Division was the only US division in direct contact with the enemy. If attacked by North Korea, there was a last line of defense plan in place that specified the amount of time (4 hours) each element had to hold its position and fight in place before being relieved. The objective was that the 1st Cavalry Division had to hold its position for 24 hours while the 7th Infantry Division (located south of the DMZ) could be moved up for support. Additionally airborne and US Marine units from Okinawa, the 24th and 25th Infantry Divisions from Hawaii along with the 4th Infantry Division at Ft. Lewis, WA would be deployed immediately should the situation warrant.

The 1st Cavalry Division spent the majority of its time in field operations patrolling along the southern border of the DMZ itself and adjacent areas in observation and listening posts which were manned 24 hours a day. During a typical thirteen month tour, troopers spent 193 days in the field, Two weeks of day time patrol was followed by two weeks of night time patrol. In addition, combat patrols searched the surrounding areas at night. Other assignments included the building and maintenance of defense positions (trenches and bunkers) and training exercises. 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. US troops, combined with the Republic of Korea, Turkish and other UN units participated in maneuvers in deep snow and sub-zero weather. In May, this exercise was followed by Operation SABER which was designed to test the tactical, logistic and administrative condition of the Division. In August, Operation HORSEFLY utilized long range troop airlifts and a combined infantry/tank force in an attack on an "enemy" airfield.

Orientation Before Entering DMZ

One of the most unique, and certainly most outstanding unit of the 1st Cavalry Division, was the Demilitarized Zone Police Company (Provisional). The 150 officers and troopers of the company had the important mission of maintaining law and order in the United Nations Command section of the demilitarized zone forward of the Division sector. In addition, the unit had responsibility for civil control of Tae Song Dong, a small village located in the DMZ, which was under control of the United Nations.

An all-volunteer outfit, the company, composed of a headquarters platoon and three line platoons, performed its mission 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by manning observation posts and patrolling in and along the demilitarized zone. One platoon would cover the zone in the daytime and two were assigned to night operations. A patrol consisted of three men, carrying the equipment that they needed for their specific mission. They always reported in every thirty minutes. Diligent performance was achieved by screening applicants for ability, experience and intelligence. Duty was rugged, but high spirits were maintained by the keen sense of mission importance shared by members of the unit.

Unlike most of the other subordinate units of the Division, The DMZ Police Company had never been in combat nor did it have a long history. However, in its short life span, it constantly performed one of the most important and toughest duties of the Free World defense. On 01 April 1960. the DMZ Police Company was inactivated and its security mission, along with assigned personnel, was transferred to the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron, 9th Cavalry.

Parade Ground Lake, 1957

The 1st Cavalry Division had taken over the facilities of the former 24th Infantry Headquarters Compound located in the western defense corridor at Bong il Chong in the Paju City area. Previous tenants, the 1st Marine Division, had relocated the summer villa and converted the rice patties at the entrance to the valley into an attractive lake. By the time the 1st Cavalry Division arrived, they were able to be billeted in permanent Quonset huts which had been constructed during a major program to improve the living conditions of the troops.

In 1959, the 1st Cavalry Division made several modifications to its headquarters installation and filled in the lake at the entrance to create a parade ground. It was named "Brown Field" in honor of PFC Melvin L. Brown, "D" Company, 8th Engineers, 1st Cavalry Division, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for heroic actions on 04 September 1950. Along with the parade ground, the camp landscape was further altered by the construction of a gymnasium and theater. After being designated a headquarters compound for many years, the installation was redesignated "Camp Howze" on 25 March, 1960 in honor of Major General Robert L. Howze, Medal of Honor recipient and the 1st commander of the 1st Cavalry Division from 1921 to 1925.

H-37 Heavy Lift Helicopters

In 1962 the 1st Cavalry Division was the first division to be totally equipped with M14 rifles, M60 machine guns, M79 grenade launchers, Claymore mines, and Huey helicopters for "dust off" medical evacuations. In the spring of 1963, units received H-19, H-21 and H-37 helicopters. The Division conducted extensive air assault familiarization and training. In order to recruit potential helicopter pilots, personnel records were screened to determine individual results of initial induction testing. All troopers who had scored well were asked to volunteer for helicopter training. After passing a flight physical, all who volunteered (regardless of time remaining on their tour of duty) were transferred to Ft. Rucker, AL for pilot training.

Duty on the DMZ was hazardous duty and "alerts" were continuous. On 23 November 1962, "A' Troop, 9th Cavalry, manning Outpost Susan, was attacked by a barrage of grenades, that killed one trooper and wounded another. On several occasions in 1962 and 1963, troopers were attacked by marauding North Korean soldiers. Less than a year later, on 29 July 1963, a jeep patrol of the 9th Cavalry was ambushed, killing two of the unit. In the resulting pursuit of the raiders, another trooper was killed.

The 1st Cavalry Division remained headquartered at Camp Howze until 01 July 1965 when it was reorganized as the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), officially activated at Ft. Benning, Georgia and prepared for a new mission. It was made up of personnel and equipment resources of the 11th Air Assault Division (Test) and brought to full strength by transfer of specialized elements of the 2nd Infantry Division. One month later, the 1st Cavalry was enroute to Vietnam to prove the effectiveness of airmobile operations. The personnel and equipment of the former 1st Cavalry Division, which remained in Korea, were reorganized and redesignated as the 2nd Infantry Division. They assumed the continuing mission of protecting the DMZ, where they remain on duty today.

DMZ Treaty Village, Today (NK Side)

NOTE - In July 1953 fighting was stopped by the armed truce. However, North and South Korea have remained officially in a state of war for forty-five years, signified by the fact that over 1,000 UN personnel have been killed in duty at the DMZ. As of today, because of communist obstructionist tactics, years have gone by and no peace treaty has ever been agreed to and signed. An ever present "alert" status is in effect, because of the presence of a North Korean military force of 1.1 million troops stationed within miles of the Demilitarized Zone. Across the DMZ, a South Korean force of 660,000 troops supported by 40,000 American soldiers stationed in the area confront the North Koreans.

On 15 June 2000 the first major breakthrough leading to more stable, peaceful conditions in the Korean Peninsula came about by the signing of a landmark agreement committing the Koreans to work toward reunification, to allow the reunions of families separated during the Korean War, and to improve economic cooperation between the two nations. While the joint communication was short of specifics, it signaled that the leaders, South Korean President, Kim Dae-jung and North Korean leader, Kim Jong Il hoped to put relations on the Korean Peninsula on an even footing and raised hopes for the eventual reunification of the nations. Later, South Korean officials outlined plans for implementing the historic agreement -- including the creation of a military hotline and building a railway crossing at the nations' heavily patrolled border.

However, Kim Jong Il and Kim Dae-jung did not reach a consensus on two other major issues: 1) The status of nearly 40,000 American soldiers stationed in South Korea, and 2) the long range and nuclear missile programs of North Korea that are still going on today.