75th Cavalry Regiment (United States)

The 75th Cavalry Regiment is a United States Army cavalry regiment established in 1941. Currently, only 1st Squadron (1-75 CAV), assigned to the 101st Airborne Division, is active.

Training and Activation
1st Squadron, 75th Cavalry (Widowmakers), a Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition Squadron (RSTA), was formed under the U.S. Army's transformation in September 2004. The squadron was formed under 2BCT, 101st Airborne Division (AASLT) in place of 3-502nd Infantry. The first commander of the squadron was LTC Alfonso J. Ahuja with CSM Scott C. Schroeder. The lineage of the Squadron dates back to World War II, as the 705th Tank Destroyer Battalion which was attached to the 502nd Infantry Regiment. The motto of 1-75 CAV (Widowmakers) is STRIKE CAV!

Deployment
The 1-75 Cavalry deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in autumn of 2005. The squadron remained with 2BCT, 101st Airborne Division based out of Camp Striker. The squadron, along with the rest of 2BCT, patrolled Southwest Baghdad in an area known as the "triangle of death". 1-75 CAV is noted for locating and destroying multiple weapons caches as well as detaining several ranking members of Al-Qaeda in Iraq. In January 2006 the Squadron was moved to protect a deadly Main Supply Route (MSR) leading into Baghdad.

While controlling this supply route, the squadron successfully decreased improvised explosive device and small arms attacks by over 80%, thus enabling safe transport of supplies and materials into central and northern Iraq. During the time spent on MSR security, the squadron suffered two casualties.

1-75 Cavalry returned to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in October 2007. 1-75 Cavalry returned from Iraq in late November 2008.

1-75 Cavalry deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in June 2010 and returned in April 2011.

Current status

 * 1st Squadron is the Cavalry Squadron of the 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.