40th Cavalry Regiment (United States)
The 40th Armor Regiment was an armored regiment of the United States Army until the inactivation of its last element, its 1st Battalion, in 1996. It was redesignated and reactivated in 2005 as the 40th Cavalry Regiment and assigned to the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division. World War II. Constituted as the 4th Armored Regiment on 13 January 1941, the unit was retitled the 40th Armored Regiment on 8 May 1941 and then inactivated on 1 January 1942. The 40th Armored Regiment was reactivated on 2 March 1942 at Camp Polk, Louisiana  and assigned to the 7th Armored Division. The regiment moved to Fort Benning on 20 September 1943, and was divided into two tank battalions, the 40th and the 709th Tank Battalions, equipped with M4 Medium and M5 Light tanks. The 40th Tank Battalion entered combat on 15 August 1944 fighting across northern France into Belgium, where it made a significant contribution to the defeat of German forces at St. Vith during the Battle of the Bulge. The 40th then drove into Germany linking up with the Russians on the Baltic coast. The 40th Tank Battalion received participation credit for four  European campaigns from Northern France to Central Europe and was awarded the Belgian Fourragere. The 709th Tank Battalion, which served as a separate tank battalion, entered combat in France on 11 July 1944. The battalion participated in five European campaigns from Normandy to Central Europe. The 709th was inactivated on 10 April 1946 at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey. The 709th was reactivated as the 86th Tank Battalion on 30 July 1948 joining the 3d Armored Division at Fort Knox, Kentucky. In 1953, it was redesignated as the 709th and then inactivated in Germany on 1 October 1957. Postwar. On 15  October 1957, the 40th and 709th Tank Battalions, as well as Troop E, 87th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, were combined to form the 40th Armor under the Combat Arms Regimental System. Thereafter, elements of the regiment served dispersed among various army commands worldwide. Transformation of the Army. In 2005, the 40th Armor was redesignated as the 40th Cavalry. The former Company A, 40th Armor was reorganized and redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron (Airborne), 40th Cavalry Regiment (organic elements constituted). The 1st Squadron was assigned to the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division and activated on 16  October 2005 at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. In October 2006, 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment (Airborne) conducted its first deployment as part of the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 1-40 Cavalry Regiment conducted 14 months of counterinsurgency operation throughout Southern Baghdad including leading a decisive effort during the 2007 Iraqi Surge Campaign. For extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment was awarded the Valorous Unit Award. In December 2007, the unit redeployed back to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. In February 2009, 1st Squadron deployed to  Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom conducting counterinsurgency operations across Paktia Province in partnership with Afghan Security Forces. In November 2009, the unit deployed to Western Khost partnering with 1st Brigade, 203rd Corps of the Afghan Army bringing increased stability to the Western districts and setting a path for a successful future. The squadron was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation. In February 2010, 1-40 Cavalry Regiment redeployed back to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. In December 2011, 1st Squadron (Airborne), 40th Cavalry Regiment deployed back Paktya and Khost Provinces in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. After a  successful mission, partnering with the Afghan National Army, the Squadron increased stability in the region for a successful future. For exceptionally Meritorious Service, 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation. In October 2012, the unit redeployed back to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.