71st Cavalry Regiment ( United States ) The 71st Cavalry was originally constituted on 3 December 1941 in the Army of the United States as the 701st Tank Destroyer Battalion . History . The unit was activated on 15 December 1941 at Fort Knox , Kentucky . The unit saw action throughout World War II and earned campaign participation in Algeria - French Morocco , Tunisia , Naples - Foggia , Anzio , Rome - Arno , North Apennines , and the Po Valley . The 701st was inactivated on 29 October 1945 at Fort Leonard Wood , Missouri . The unit was converted and redesignated on 27 August 1947 as the 327th Mechanized Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron , and allotted to the Organized Reserves . It was again converted and redesignated on 22 March 1949 as the 327th Heavy Tank Battalion . On 17 November 1950 , it was inactivated at Ottumwa , Iowa only to be converted and redesignated on 27 February 1951 as the 701st Armored Infantry Battalion ; concurrently , withdrawn from the Organized Reserve Corps , allotted to the Regular Army , and assigned to the 1st Armored Division . On 7 March 1951 , the 701st AIB moved to Fort Hood , Texas for a period of six years until it was inactivated on 15 February 1957 at Fort Polk , Louisiana , and relieved from assignment to the 1st Armored Division . In September 2004 , the 71st Cavalry was activated from newly assigned Soldiers as well as existing units from the Division . 11 months after activation , 1 - 71 CAV deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom IV . The squadron began combat operation throughout AO Cobra in Western Baghdad , with a primary mission as the Military Transition Team ( MiTT ) , partnered up with 1st Brigade , 6th Division of the Iraqi Army . In late February and through much of May , the squadron surged in response to an attack on the Samara Mosque . Intense 24 hour patrols throughout AO Cobra saturated the area , showing support for the Iraqi people and the Iraqi Security Forces . Throughout this time , the squadron ’ s efforts assisted in easing sectarian tensions during a tenuous time . By the first of April , the squadron was released from the MiTT mission and tasked with a new AO on the Western outskirts of Baghdad . AO Ghost included the strategic target Abu Ghraib compound and 18 kilometers of Corps MSR . Throughout this period , the squadron once again was forced into a non - contiguous battlefield with a command and control node at Abu Ghraib . The rural environment of AO Ghost is the antithesis to that of the urban AO Cobra , enlisting the Soldiers of 1 - 71 CAV to adjust lessons learned over the course of six months into new , wide - open surroundings . 1 - 71 CAV redeployed with 1BCT , 10th Mountain Division in July 2006 . The unit recovered and prepared for another tour in Iraq . The Squadron is currently deployed conducting operations as part of Operation Enduring Freedom . Distinctive Unit Insignia . Description A Silver color metal and enamel device in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned : Argent , a bar Sable , overall a lion rampant Azure holding in dexter paw a fleur - de - lis Or . Attached below and to the sides of the shield a Silver scroll inscribed “ GALLANTLY FORWARD ” in Blue letters . Symbolism The colors blue and white are for Infantry , the previous unit designation . Black and golden orange were the colors used for Tank Destroyer organizations , indicating the unit ’ s origin . The raging lion symbolizes aggressive and warlike qualities . The fleur - de - lis is gold ( for golden orange ) to indicate the battle honors were awarded to the organization as a Tank Destroyer unit in World War II . Background The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 701st Armored Infantry Battalion on 28 April 1952 . It was redesignated with the description and symbolism updated for the 71st Cavalry Regiment on 10 August 2004 . Coat Of Arms Blazon . Shield Argent , a bar Sable , overall a lion rampant Azure holding in dexter paw a fleur - de - lis Or . " ' Crest " From a wreath Argent and Sable below an arc of seven mullets Azure an olive tree fructed Proper charged with a pheon Or , in base two cavalry swords points down saltirewise Proper . Motto Gallantly Forward . Shield Symbolism The colors blue and white are for Infantry , the previous unit designation . Black and golden orange were the colors used for Tank Destroyer organizations , indicating the unit ’ s origin . The raging lion symbolizes aggressive and warlike qualities . The fleur - de - lis is gold ( for golden orange ) to indicate the battle honors were awarded to the organization as a Tank Destroyer unit in World War II . Crest The stars commemorate the seven campaign participation credits the unit earned in World War II . Blue and white underscore Infantry history . The olive tree , native to the Mediterranean Sea region , recalls the area of operation of their World War II service . The cavalry swords recall the unit ’ s history and symbolize the armored cavalry mission . The spear point ( pheon ) gives emphasis to military action and going forward in battle . Background The coat of arms was originally approved for the 701st Armored Infantry Battalion on 28 April 1952 . It was redesignated for the 71st Cavalry Regiment and amended to add a crest on 27 August 2004 . References . http : / / www . drum . army . mil / 1stBCT / Pages / 1 _ 71 _ UnitHistory _ lvl3 . aspx