5th Cavalry Regiment, US Army

5TH CAVALRY REGIMENT, US ARMY

History : Constituted 3 March 1855 as 2nd Cavalry. Organized 28 May 1855 at Louisville, KY. Redesignated 3 August 1861 as 5th Cavalry. Dismounted in February 1943.

(Coat of Arms)

(Distinctive Unit Insignia)

Official blazon

Shield : Or a cross moline sable, on a chief embattled of the last a maltese cross argent.
Crest : On a wreath of the colors (or and sable) a bundle of five arrows sable armed and flitted gules, tied with
a rattlesnake skin having five rattles proper.
Motto : Loyalty and Courage.

Origin/meaning

The Field is Cavalry Yellow. The Cross Moline symbolizes the Charge at Gaines Mills in 1862, which saved the Union's Artillery. The Chief represent the Puerto Rican Expedition in 1898, The Island was originaly named San Juan after the Knights of St John. The Indian Campaigns of the Regiment is symbolized by the Crest.

Literature: Armor-Cavalry Historical Services Division Office of the Chief of Military History, Department of the Army.