About 1st Squadron, 112th Cavalry Regiment1st Squadron, 112th Cavalry Regiment
The 112th Cavalry was first organized in 1918 as the 5th Texas Cavalry Regiment. Known as the "Little Giant of the Pacific," the 112th Cavalry Regiment, part of the 56th Cavalry Brigade, Texas National Guard, was mobilized for active duty on 18 November 1940. The regiment was stationed at Fort Bliss, El Paso, and in February 1941 was sent to Fort Clark at Bracketville, to relieve the 5th United States Cavalry. The regiment participated in the Louisiana Maneuvers and patrolled the border with Mexico until shipped overseas on 8 July 1942. The regiment disembarked at Noumea, New Caledonia, on 11 August 1942, where it was attached to the Americal Division. The Regiment, after turning in its horses, landed on Woodlark Island without opposition and provided security for Navy Seabees while the Seabees built an airstrip.
In November 1943 the regiment plus the 148th Field Artillery Battalion was designated Director Task Force under Brigadier General Julian W. Cunningham. The 2nd Battalion of the 158th Infantry Regiment as reinforcing element for the task force was dropped in late December. The first action of the regiment was the landing at Arawe, New Britain. After linking up with the 1st Marine Division, the Regiment was sent to Aitape, New Guinea, and attached to the 32nd Infantry Division, where it fought in many battles along the Driniumor River. The new activated (1 October 1944) 112th RCT consisting of the 112th Cavalry Regiment (Special) and the 148th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer) departed Aitape for Leyte, Philippine Islands on 31 October 1944 and immediately attached to the 1st Cavalry Division. On 16 January 1945, the 112th RCT moved from Leyte to Luzon in the Philippines, where it fought until the end of the war.
Probably no unit of the guard has seen as extensive martial law duty as has the 112th Cavalry, which participated in the following duties: Longview riot, July, 1918; Galveston strike duty, June 5 to October 10, 1920; Borger martial law, September 28 to October 29, 1928; Sherman riot, May 9-24, 1930; East Texas oil field martial law, August 17, 1931, to July, 1932; New London school disaster, March 18-22, 1938, and Mexia oil field martial law.
The 112th Cavalry Regiment saw occupation duty in Japan beginning on 3 September 1945, and then was deactivated on 17 January 1946 at Tateyama, Japan. The Regiment was reactivated in the Texas National Guard on 2 July 1946.
In 2008, the 4th Battalion, 112th Armor was renamed 1st Squadron, 112th Cavalry. The unit carries the colors and lineage of the original 112th Cavalry Regiment. In early 2015, 1-112 Cavalry deployed to the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt as multinational force and observers (MFO), tasked with ensuring peace between Israel and Egypt in accordance with the 1979 treaty between the two nations.
In 2020, 1-112 Cavalry again deployed to the Sinai Peninsula and assumed MFO duties on March 8, 2020, relieving 1st Battalion, 294th Infantry Regiment of the Guam Army National Guard. On November 24, 2020, 1-112 Cavalry was relieved by 1st Battalion, 133rd Field Artillery Regiment, also of the Texas Army National Guard.
Distinctive Unit Insignia: Coat of Arms:
Official blazon
Shield: Or, a horse rampant issuing out of sinister base point Sable, langued Gules.
Crest: That for the regiments and separate battalions of the Texas Army National Guard: From a wreath Or and Sable a mullet Argent encircled by a garland of live oak and olive Proper.
Motto: RARIN' TO GO.
Distinctive Unit Insignia. Description: A gold color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches in height (2.86 cm) consisting of the shield, crest and motto of the coat of arms.
Origin/meaning
The shield is yellow (gold) for Cavalry. The horse rampant issuing out of sinister base point is symbolic of the impatience of the regiment to be away on its business.