This page is to honor the memory and service of the men of B-Troop, 1st Squadron-32nd Cavalry, 1BCT, 101st ABN. The men of this unit are some of the finest people I’ve ever come into contact with, and my time among these giants has had a profound effect on my life. Regardless of the obstacle or the enemy placed in front of them, these men always locked into a phalanx and obliterated whatever stood in their way. These men were the true epitome of the Warrior Class, and I continue to try and live to honor them. “Mac” – Blackhorse Rifle Company Founder
Here is their history
1st Battalion,32nd Armored Regiment, 3d Armor Division
“Victory or Death”
The motto of the 32nd Armored Regiment, served as an inspirational order to this first of the 3rd Armored Division’s two great battering rams. Commanded by Colonel Leander L. Doan, the 32nd contributed much to the powerhouse drive of the “Spearhead” Division through Europe. The “Bandits” played key roles in Operation Overlord, Battle of the Bulge, and assisted in the liberation of France and Belgium.
Following WWII and during the Cold War the unit was stood down and back up again on a few occasions, but does have the fame of being the assigned unit of Elvis Presley, during which time he served in Delta Troop 1st Battalion 32nd Armor. After years of being in Germany the “Bandits” eventually landed in Fort Hood, TX just in time to play a key role in Operation Desert Storm. Post Desert Strom 1-32 Armor was again relocated for a brief stint to Ft. Lewis, Washington and was deactivated 15 September 2000.
1st Squadron, 32nd Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team 101st Airborne Division
“No History but a Rendezvous with Destiny”
In 2005 following the U.S. Army wide Brigade Combat Team re-alignments when one Infantry Battalion was replaced with a Cavalry Regiment in each respective Infantry Brigade. 1-32 was again brought back to life and re-flagged 1st Squadron 32nd Cavalry Regiment, they would be replacing, 3-327 Infantry, of the esteemed 101st Airborne Division.
Blackhorse troopers deployed to Diyala Province, Iraq on September 15, 2005 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. During this deployment Blackhorse assisted in the validation of 2 Iraqi Brigades and conducted multiple operations against Al-Qaeda and Ansar Al-Sunna safe areas within the isolated terrain along the Diyala River of the Muqdadiyah Qa’da. These operations denied the enemy sanctuary, rescued over twenty kidnapped civilians, eliminated strategic caches, destroyed vehicle-borne improvised explosive factories and disrupted senior Al-Qaeda and Ansar Al-Sunna leadership and planning. On 2 February 2006 PFC Scott Messer was killed, when his 1151 rolled over while on combat operations. PFC Messer would be the only Blackhorse Trooper to have lost his life during the next 3 combat deployments, and is forever remembered in the PFC Scott Messer Room located in the Headquarters of Blackhorse Troop.
When 1-32 was placed in the charge of a “Mustang” Lieutenant Colonel… A young but battle hardened Captain was placed in command of Blackhorse Troop, and went about changing the culture of the new unit. Being a student of history; he used the Warrior culture of the Spartans of Lacedaemon as his model. they quickly became one of the most respected units not only in the Brigade but in the whole division, so much so in fact they we’re featured on the Division poster following their next deployment. On 21 September 2007, Blackhorse once again departed Fort Campbell, again bound for eastern Diyala Province, Iraq for a 15-month tour as a part of the Iraqi Surge. After initially operating out Diyala Province, Blackhorse made the move to FOB Paliwoda located in Salah ad Din Province. Blackhorse was not only responsible for it’s own Area of Operations but was also tasked with being the Squadron’s primary Time Sensitive Target engagement element. Over the next year Blackhorse would execute numerous Air Assault missions, and inflict major damage to AQI and Jaysh al-Mahdi the two major groups of insurgents fighting in the “TF Bandit” AO. During this long deployment Blackhorse was also able to facilitate the building of 3 schools and 2 water treatment facilities for the civilians of Salah Ad Din province. The troopers of Blackhorse would return to Ft. Campbell just before Thanksgiving in 2008, to begin preparations for what would be their most difficult deployment to date.
Following a 18 months of training Blackhorse deployed to Kunar Province, Afghanistan, located in the North Eastern region of the country along the Pakistani border. Assigned to control a portion of the Kunar River Valley, and surrounded by high ground, the soldiers of Blackhorse would be split between two of the most remote outposts in Afghanistan. Over the next year Blackhorse would be engaged in some of the heaviest fighting in the entire Afghan theatre, while working to stabilize the local population, with the building of an Afghan National Police Headquarters, and one school. Blackhorse was also responsible for providing route reconnaissance and security for the re-supply convoys traveling along the only MSR in the province, as well as disrupting the movements of fighters to and from Pakistan, and destroying an IED manufacturing operation. While the numbers are hard to pin down for each respective troop, during OEF 10-11 TF Bandit took part in 327 enemy engagements, completed 661 indirect fire missions involving 5,024 projectiles and was awarded 32 Purple Hearts, 13 valor awards and 205 combat badges.
In November 2012, the 1st Squadron, 32nd Cavalry Regiment deployed for a year long rotation in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as Security Force Advise and Assist Teams, SFAAT….
Below we honor the “Bandits” that paid the ultimate sacrifice since being re-flagged to 1-32CAV in 2005.
02-02-06 PFC Scott A. Messer B, 1-32CAV Ashraf, Iraq
07-14-06 SGT Thomas B. Turner Jr. A, 1-32CAV Landstuhl, Germany
11-09-07 SPC Jermaine L. Franklin A, 1-32CAV Jisr Naft, Iraq
11-22-07 SSG Jonathan L. Martin A, 1-32CAV Jisr Naft, Iraq
01-16-08 PFC Danny L. Kimme C, 1-32CAV Balad, Iraq
01-16-08 PFC David H. Sharrett C, 1-32CAV Balad, Iraq
01-16-08 SPC John P. Sigsbee C, 1-32CAV Balad, Iraq
04-23-08 PFC John T. Bishop C, 1-32CAV Balad, Iraq
04-23-08 1LT Timothy W. Cunningham C-1-32CAV Balad, Iraq
01-12-11 PFC Zachary Salmon A, 1-32CAV Naray, Afghanistan