The 5th Battalion 7th Cavalry Rides Again

On 21 July the colors of the 5th Battalion, 7th U. S. Cavalry were unfurled for the first time since 1978 at Ft. Stewart, Georgia. Association President, LTC. (Rt)John Long, had the honor of passing the colors from the Brigade Commander to the Battalion Commander, LTC. Jody Petery. Along with remarks by the Brigade Commander and LTC. Petery, General Jim Vaught, who commanded the battalion at Hue, Khe Sahn and the A Shau Valley in 1968, gave another of his legendary talks to the troops on parade.


5/7 Cav is an integral part of the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division. As part of the army’s reorganizing around the brigades being total force units, our guys are the scout battalion for the brigade. They are an armored cavalry unit by MOS. The 1st Brigade consists of an armored battalion, a mechanized infantry battalion, a scout battalion and an artillery battalion. The Brigade Commander now has his own recon, armor, infantry and artillery. An idea that is long over due. Reminds me of Operation Wallowa in the Que Son Valley in the Fall of 1968, when 3rd Brigade operated as a separate brigade with B Troop, 1/9th Cav and the 1/21st Arty Bn attached.


5/7 Cav now has four line troops. A, B & C Troops each have four platoons. Three of the platoons are built around Bradley Fighting Vehicles, organized in sections of two vehicles each. Each Bradley has a driver, two men in the cupola, and a scout in the back. Two men in each vehicle are designated as “dismounts” who can move out on foot to secure the vehicle or to scout ahead. The fourth platoon has up-armored Humvees. These three troops are led by:

 
A Troop:  Captain Joel Jackson

1SG Bobby Neil

B Troop:  Captain Ralph Elder

1SG Perry McNeil

C Troop:  Captain Phillip Poteet

1SG Steven Jones

Delta Troop consists of three platoons mounted in up-armored Humvees. Delta is led by Captain Eric Prost and 1SG Terry James.

HQs Troop has a commo platoon, medic platoon, mortar platoon, fister platoon, maintenance platoon, a platoon for the fuelers, NBC people and clerks, and a platoon for the Staff Sections and drivers. Hqs Troop is led by Captain Chris Fairley and 1SG Gregory Boone.

 
The battalion has completed its training at the national Training Center in Camp Irwin, CA, and is now engaged in intensive training at Ft. Stewart. I had the pleasure of riding with Cpt. Phil Poteet in his Bradley fighting vehicle during a night live fire exercise on Red Cloud Range at Ft. Stewart. Two of his platoons went through the course, using their thermal night scopes to see and destroy targets. The range and training facility is very high tech; nothing like we experienced in our day. The troopers of 5/7 Cav are gaining the Garry Owen spirit every day at Ft. Stewart. Flying outside the Hqs Building is the biggest red and white guidon in the history of guidons.

 
I also attended the Family Readiness Group (FRG) which is geared to providing support to the families, particularly when the battalion is deployed to the combat zone. Clarissa Petery has taken firm hold on the overall FRG, to the great fortune of 5/7 Cav. Each company has a FRG Leader, and they are an outstanding group. The company FRG leaders are those spouses in each company with the most leadership ability, regardless of their husband’s rank. Becoming a resource for the FRG is where association members can make a difference to this unit.  There will be  more on this subject will be forthcoming in the next newsletter.


In the meantime, do not hesitate to establish contact with your old company by mail. To send mail to any of the companies of 5/7th Cav, the Address is:

______ Troop

Battalion, 7th Cavalry

1810 William H. Wilson Ave., Suite 100

Ft. Stewart, GA 31314

 
On the 8th & 9th of November, the Battalion will conduct the “Run for the Spurs” at Ft. Stewart. Those troopers who are eligible by virtue of firing sharpshooter and meeting other standards will compete to win their spurs. It is not unlike the EIB Test. The troopers will complete this test with a 12 mile march in from the field. Any Association

Members who can make it to Ft. Stewart for the 9th of November are welcome to march in for all or part of the miles.

 
The battalion is scheduled for block leave for a two week period beginning November 22nd. Indications are that the 3rd ID may be returning to Iraq some time after that, and our prayers and support need to be with them at this time.


Charlie Baker
Liaison Officer