101st Cavalry Regiment

The 101st Cavalry Regiment is a unit of the New York National Guard that has existed since 1921 and which saw service in World War II.

The regiment was constituted on 30 December 1920 from the 1st and 2nd New York Cavalry Regiments and had its headquarters in Brooklyn. The regiment was initially assigned to the 21st Cavalry Division. The regiment was inducted into federal service in January 1941 and reorganized. The 1st Squadron was retitled the 101st Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (Mechanized) while the 2nd Squadron became the 116th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (Mechanized). The regimental headquarters troop became the headquarters of the 101st Cavalry Group (Mechanized). With this organization, the group saw combat in northwest Europe during World War II with the XV and the XXI Corps. Among other exploits, troops of the 101st Cavalry captured German field marshal Albert Kesselring as well as the Japanese ambassador to Germany in May 1945. Following the war, the 101st Group was inactivated on 25 October 1945 at Camp Myles Standish, Massachusetts.

The regiment was reformed as the 101st Armored Cavalry Regiment on 1 January 1950 with headquarters again at Brooklyn. On 16 March 1959, the unit was retitled the 101st Armored Regiment, an appellation that endured until 15 April 1963 when the unit was renamed the 101st Cavalry, reduced in strength to one squadron, and subordinated to the 42nd Infantry Division. Headquarters for the 101st Cavalry is currently at Staten Island.