1st Cavalry Division

The 1st Cavalry Division, known as the “First Team,” is one of the U.S. Army’s most storied and active divisions. With origins as a horse-mounted unit, the division became a pioneer in armored, airmobile, and air assault warfare, serving with distinction in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Airborne Apparel Company is proud to offer reproductions and unique designs that celebrate the legacy of the 1st Cavalry Division.

The 1st Cavalry Division was activated in 1921 at Fort Bliss, Texas, as a traditional horse-mounted cavalry formation. During World War II, the division transitioned into a dismounted infantry role, deploying to the Pacific. It spearheaded campaigns in the Admiralties, Leyte, and Luzon, ultimately being one of the first U.S. divisions to reach Tokyo during the occupation of Japan.

Korea & Cold War Service

The division fought from the early days of the Korean War, defending the Pusan Perimeter, breaking out at Inchon, and advancing north before being pushed back by Chinese intervention. The division earned a reputation for resilience and effectiveness in brutal conditions, sustaining heavy combat through the duration of the war. During the Cold War, the division adapted to modern mechanized warfare and became an integral component of the U.S. Army’s forward presence.

Vietnam & the Airmobile Revolution

The 1st Cavalry Division was reconfigured in the 1960s as the Army’s first airmobile division, pioneering the large-scale use of helicopters in combat. This transformation reached its proving ground during the Vietnam War, where the division conducted helicopter-borne assaults, fire support, and rapid maneuver across difficult terrain. The Battle of Ia Drang in 1965 marked the first major clash between U.S. forces and the North Vietnamese Army, demonstrating the division’s new capabilities and influencing U.S. Army doctrine for decades.

Operations Desert Storm, Iraq, & Afghanistan

The “First Team” deployed to Saudi Arabia in 1990 and took part in Operation Desert Storm, leading the armored thrust into Iraq. After 9/11, the division deployed multiple times to both Iraq and Afghanistan, conducting combat operations, stability missions, and advisory roles in Baghdad, Fallujah, Kandahar, and beyond. The division has played key roles in both counterinsurgency operations and conventional campaigns of the 21st century.

Modern Role

Today, the 1st Cavalry Division is an active heavy armored division headquartered at Fort Cavazos, Texas, with multiple armored brigade combat teams, an artillery brigade, sustainment brigade, and combat aviation brigade. The division continues to train for large-scale combat operations while maintaining readiness for rapid global deployment.

Identity & Honors

• Nickname: “First Team”

• Motto: “First Team” (informal, widely recognized)

• Symbol: Distinctive yellow cavalry patch with a diagonal stripe and silhouetted horse’s head.

• Decorations: Presidential Unit Citations, Valorous Unit Awards, foreign unit awards from WWII, Korea, and Vietnam.

• Notable Figures:

  • General Creighton Abrams (later Army Chief of Staff), who commanded during Vietnam.

  • Medal of Honor recipients across campaigns, including 1LT Walter J. Marm Jr. (Ia Drang, 1965).

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Airborne Apparel Company is proud to offer reproductions and unique designs that celebrate the legacy of the 1st Cavalry Division.