3D Armored Cavalry Regiment (United States) - Gulf War

Gulf War

On 7 August 1990, the Regiment was alerted to move overseas in defense of Saudi Arabia. In September 1990, the Regiment arrived in country as part of the XVIII Airborne Corps, and moved into defensive positions south of the Kuwaiti border in the area known as the Neutral Zone. On 22 January 1991, elements of I Troop led by the 63rd Colonel, Colonel Starr, engaged in the first ground combat of the XVIII Airborne Corps. The Regiment's attack was successful in destroying an Iraqi Army outpost. On 22 February, F Troop led the Regiment across the berm into Iraq. In 100 hours, the Regiment moved over 300 kilometers, and left remnants of three Iraqi Republican Guard Divisions in its wake. The Regiment was over task organized with over 7,000 Soldiers for Desert Storm. The Regimental Deputy Commander, 2007–2009 LTC Nathan E. Hines, was the Regimental Scout Platoon Leader during the assault into Iraq. He is currently one of only three Soldiers in the 5,000 Soldier regiment who served with them in Operation Desert Storm. As quickly as they deployed, the Regiment deployed back to the U.S. arriving 5 April 1991. The regiment continued to set the standard in training and fielded new combat systems and conducted the first National Training Center Rotation for a combat proven unit. The Regiment deployed to NTC 11–91 and defeated the OPFOR during Regimental Force on Force operations; the culmination battle for the rotation. Four years after the return from Operation Desert Storm in April 1996, the Regiment completed its move to its new home at Fort Carson, Colorado. During this historic period the regiment was led by COL(R) Douglas Starr, 63rd Colonel of the Regiment, LTG(R) Robert Ivany, 64th Colonel of the Regiment, COL(R)Robert Young, 65th Colonel of the Regiment (relieved of command after 18 months because of poor command climate), and LTG Robert Wilson, 66th Colonel of the Regiment, who recently retired as the commander, U.S. Army IMCOM.

In the fall of 1995, the 3rd ACR began its relocation to Fort Carson with the regiment fully standing up in the Spring of 1996.