U.S. 10th Cavalry Regiment

10th Cavalry Regiment
10th Cavalry coat of arms
Active	1866–1944, 1958–
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army
Type	Cavalry
Size	Regiment
Nickname(s)	"Buffalo Soldiers"
Motto(s)	Ready and Forward
Engagements	Indian Wars Spanish–American War Philippine–American War Mexican Expedition World War I era combat on US-Mexican border World War II Vietnam War Iraq War Afghan War
Decorations	Presidential Unit Citation (2) Valorous Unit Award (1st Squadron) Valorous Unit Award (1st BCT) Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm (2) Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class Army Superior Unit Award (selected units)
Commanders
Notable commanders	Benjamin H. Grierson Guy V. Henry Samuel Whitside George Grunert
Insignia
Distinctive unit insignia

The 10th Cavalry Regiment is a unit of the United States Army. Formed as a segregated African-American unit, the 10th Cavalry was one of the original "Buffalo Soldier" regiments in the post-Civil War Regular Army. It served in combat during the Indian Wars in the western United States, the Spanish–American War in Cuba and in the Philippine–American War. The regiment was trained as a combat unit but later relegated to non-combat duty and served in that capacity in World War II until its deactivation in 1944.

The 10th Cavalry was reactivated as an integrated combat unit in 1958. Portions of the regiment have served in conflicts ranging from the Vietnam War to Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The current structure is by squadron, but with the 1st and 7th Squadrons recently deactivated, the 4th Squadron is the only 10th Cavalry Regiment unit in active service. It is assigned to the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team of the U.S. 4th Infantry Division at Ft Carson, Colorado.

From the late 1860s on the Plain Indians called the black troopers of the US Army "buffalo soldiers". The reasons for that are not entirely clear, however a few year later in 1873 Francis Roe an army wife stated a reason in one of her letters. According to her the Indians used the term because the curly hair of the black soldiers reminded them of the fur on the top of a buffalo's head.

The 10th Cavalry Coat of arms was first confirmed on 11 February 1911 at Fort Ethan Allen in Vermont as "General Orders No. 1" by order of Colonel Thaddeus W. Jones. The 1911 description of the Arms is different from that used today, and has no functional difference except for symbolism. There was no symbolic explanations or reasons given for the basic symbols of the Regimental Arms in 1911 or when the arms were re-affirmed on 22 August 1991. The following is gathered from many heraldic and military sources.