1st Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment (Airborne)

Origins & Armored Lineage (1941-1980s)

The 1st Squadron traced its roots far beyond the modern airborne cavalry paradigm, beginning as a heavy armor asset designed to break through heavily fortified enemy lines.

• World War II: Activated in June 1941 as the 756th Tank Battalion. The unit saw near-continuous combat for 26 months overseas, fighting in North Africa, Italy, France, Germany, and Austria.
• The Korean War: Redesignated as the 73rd Heavy Tank Battalion in 1950, the unit was assigned to the 7th Infantry Division, fighting in every major campaign on the Korean Peninsula over three years of brutal combat.
• Cold War Era: The battalion experienced several deactivations and reactivations throughout the late 20th century, eventually serving as the 1st Battalion, 73rd Armor, before being deactivated following the Vietnam War and briefly reactivated at Fort Irwin, California, in the 1980s.

Airborne Cavalry & The Global War on Terror (2005-2020)

As the U.S. Army shifted toward self-sustaining, modular Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs) to fight the Global War on Terror, the 73rd was resurrected to serve as the "eyes and ears" of the 82nd Airborne Division.

• Reactivation & Task Force Falcon (2006): In 2005, the unit was redesignated as the 1st Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment and officially assigned to the 2nd BCT. They immediately deployed to Iraq for 15 months, conducting critical counter-insurgency operations and special operations support as Task Force Falcon.
• Haiti Earthquake Response (2010): Proving their flexibility as part of America's Global Response Force, the squadron executed a no-notice rapid deployment to Haiti to provide security and humanitarian relief following a devastating earthquake.
• Operation New Hope (2011): The unit deployed to Iraq's Anbar Province from May to December 2011, providing security and stability during the U.S. drawdown.
• Operation Inherent Resolve (2016 & 2020): Falcon Recon shifted its operational focus to the fight against ISIS. In 2016, they deployed to Kuwait to enable Iraqi forces in the Ninewah province. In 2020, they deployed to Syria, securing critical areas and providing freedom of maneuver for U.S. special operations forces.

Final Mission & 2024 Deactivation

Prior to its deactivation, 1-73 CAV served as the Brigade Reconnaissance Squadron (BRS) for the 2nd Brigade Combat Team. As part of the Immediate Response Force (IRF), their paratroopers were tasked with jumping ahead of the main brigade to secure drop zones, conduct stealthy surveillance, and identify high-value targets before the enemy knew the division had arrived.

On July 31, 2024, at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, the 1st Squadron officially held its inactivation ceremony [2]. This deactivation aligned with the Army's broader modernization strategy, which systematically removed cavalry squadrons from all Infantry Brigade Combat Teams to prepare for the future fight. The following table reflects the squadron's operational structure at the time its colors were cased: