61st Cavalry Division (United States)

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61st Cavalry Division
Shoulder Sleeve Insignia of the 61st Cavalry Division
Active	1921–1942
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army
Type	Cavalry
Garrison/HQ	New York City (1922–1941)
Nickname(s)	"The Foragers"
Commanders
Notable commanders	George B. Duncan

The 61st Cavalry Division was an Organized Reserve cavalry unit of the United States Army.

It was created in 1921 from the perceived need for additional cavalry units after World War I, and was numbered in succession of the Regular Army Divisions, which were not all active at its creation. The 61st was officially disbanded on 30 January 1942, although most of its personnel had been reassigned in 1941. The unit was nicknamed "The Foragers".

The Division was composed of personnel from New York and New Jersey. The Division Headquarters was initially located in Rochester, New York, but moved to New York City in 1922.

Organization[]

In early 1940, the division included the following units:^[1]

• Headquarters (Manhattan)
• Headquarters, Special Troops (Rochester)
• Headquarters Troop (Manhattan)
  • 61st Signal Troop (Buffalo)
  • 581st Ordnance Company (Medium) (Buffalo)
  • 461st Tank Company (Light) (Manhattan)
• 151st Cavalry Brigade (Rochester)
  • 301st Cavalry Regiment (Rochester)
  • 302nd Cavalry Regiment (Newark)
• 152nd Cavalry Brigade (Manhattan)
  • 303rd Cavalry Regiment (Manhattan)
  • 304th Cavalry Regiment (Manhattan)
• 861st Field Artillery Regiment (New York City)
• 461st Reconnaissance Squadron (reorganized from the 151st Machine Gun Squadron in 1929) (Albany)
• 401st Engineer Squadron (New York City)
• 361st Medical Squadron (Albany)
• 461st Quartermaster Squadron (Rochester)

Standard organization chart for a Cavalry Division in November 1940

Notable personnel[]

• William J. Donovan was the first commanding officer of the 301st Cavalry Regiment.
• Terry de la Mesa Allen served as the executive officer of the 303rd Cavalry Regiment.
• Brice Pursell Disque commanded the 151st Cavalry Brigade from 6 June 1922, to 14 April 1937. From 15 April 1937, to June 1939, he commanded the 152nd Cavalry Brigade.

See also[]

• United States Army branch insignia
• List of armored and cavalry regiments of the United States Army

References[]

Citations[]

Bibliography[]

• Clay, Steven E. (2010a). US Army Order of Battle 1919–1941 (PDF). Vol. 2. Fort Leavenworth, Kansas: Combat Studies Institute Press. ISBN 9781780399171. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 April 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
• Clay, Steven E. (2010b). US Army Order of Battle 1919–1941 (PDF). Vol. 4. Fort Leavenworth, Kansas: Combat Studies Institute Press. ISBN 9780984190140.
• Wilson, John B. (1998). Maneuver and Firepower: The Evolution of Divisions and Separate Brigades (PDF). CMH Pub 60–14–1. Washington, D.C.: Center of Military History.
• Sawicki, James A. (1985). Cavalry regiments of the US Army. Dumfries, Virginia: Wyvern Publications. ISBN 9780960240463.
• ”[1], The Trading Post, Journal of the American Society of Military Insignia Collectors, April- June 2009, page 21

External links[]

• Formations of the United States Army

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