Organization and Tactics
The 106th Cavalry originated as a National Guard unit based in Chicago, Illinois that had a proud service record extending back in history to
World War I and the Spanish-American conflict, when it was known as the 1st Illinois Volunteer Cavalry or the Black Horse Cavalry. At the
beginning of the war, most of the members of this elite unit were given the opportunity to
opt for officer school, but a core group of about 60 men chose to stay with the regiment. The
121st began as an ROTC unit at the University of Illinois at Urbana. The 106th
underwent a number of different reorganizations until September
1, 1940, when it was redesignated the 1st Squadron, 106th Cavalry. The
106th was inducted into federal service on November 25, 1940 in Chicago.
When the regiment arrived in England in the Spring of 1944, it was reorganized
into the 106th Cavalry Group on March 15th, which would henceforth consist of the
106th and 121st Cavalry Reconnaisance Squadrons along with a Group
Headquarters.
Like other Cavalry Groups organized by the U.S. Army at the time, the 106th Cavalry
Group was intended to act in the traditional role of light cavalry. That is,
they were to act as the eyes and ears of the army, scouting ahead of
slower, heavier-equipped armored and infantry units to seek out the enemy.
When hostile forces
were encountered, it was their job to engage them for the purpose of determining
how large and in what position the enemy was to be found, and report this
information back to the main command. If possible, they
would push on ahead as far as they could before enemy resistance proved too
strong and heavier columns were called up to finish off the enemy. These units might
also serve to fill gaps between the main Allied armies, maintaining vital contact
between cooridors that otherwise offered a vulnerable point for enemy penetration.
Finally, the 106th and other light cavalry could be assigned special missions that called for
rapid movement around and even behind static enemy lines.
The only way units like the 106th could accomplish these missions was to
be equipped as lightly as possible. The capability to move and deploy
rapidly both in and out of combat was essential.
This imperative is well illustrated by the organization and armament
given to the 106th. Each of its two squadrons consisted of three Reconnaisance
Troops, lettered A, B, and C. These troopers fought mounted in both Jeeps
(which were always referred to as Bantams in the cavalry) and M8 Armored Cars (Greyhounds).
The Bantams were equipped with a single .30 cal. machine gun mounted on
the dashboard of the vehicle that was operated by a soldier sitting in the
front passenger seat. Alternatively, a heavier .50 cal. machine gun or even a mortar
was mounted in rear of the Bantam, manned by two soldiers. Usually, a combination
of Bantams equipped with all three different weapons were grouped together
at the platoon level. Other than these armaments, the Bantams had no extra armor
in order to maximize speed and maneuverability. Click on the highlighted text to view some
period images of the
Bantams.
The six-wheeled M8 "Greyhound" armored cars were provided with a 37mm cannon that could
swing a full 360 degrees on a moveable turret. Mounted above was
a .30 cal. coaxial machine gun that could swing independently of the direction
of the turret. The M8 also had two powerful radios. Capable of speeds of
up to 50 mph, the M8 armored car was surpassed in speed only by the
more lightly equipped Bantams, which could exceed 70 miles per hour. Click on the highlighted text to view the
M8 Armored Car.
Each squadron also had two more heavily armed troops, designated as E Troop and
F Company. The latter unit was the light tank troop. They used M5A1 Light Tanks (called "Stuart Tanks" by the
British) that were armed with a 37mm cannon and 3 machine
guns. While praised for its speed and maneuverability, this tank had armor
plating that was found to be too thin for the heavy armaments that were used against
it by the Axis forces. Its cannon was also not a match for the more powerfully
eqipped German panzers. In February, 1945, these tanks were replaced with the M24 Light Tank.
This tank was more heavily armored and packed a stronger punch
thanks to the replacement of the 37mm with a 75mm cannon.
Troop E was an assault gun unit that was equipped with snub-nosed 75mm
howitzers mounted on a light tank carriage.
Click on the highlighted text to view some photos of the various
tanks used
by the 106th Cavalry.
Both squadrons also had a Headquarters & Service (H & S) Troop and their
own Medical Detachment. The entire unit was under the command of a
Group Headquaters outfit. Officers generally travelled with their men by
Bantam, while the support troops rode in a variety of vehicles that included Bantams, armored halftracks,
and military trucks. Click on the highlighted text to view some photos of the various
support vehicles used
by the 106th Cavalry.
In combat, these three elements-- the reconnaisance troops, assault guns and light
tanks-- all worked together as a team. The soldiers in armored cars and
jeeps could move in quickly and aggressively to feel out the enemy and determine their whereabouts.
Once they encountered resistance, they could call in the assault guns and tanks
on a moment's notice to provide more firepower when needed. Cooperation and spontaneity of effort
were vital in determining success under these circumstances. In more static
situations, the assault gun platoon would often function as a single battery.
Cavarlymen could also dismount from their light vehicles and dig in as well to
create a stronger defensive line. Patrols were undertaken both on foot or mounted
as the circumstances dictated. In this capacity, the cavalrymen would go into combat
with M1 rifles and carbines, hand grenades, Thompson machine guns, and bazookas.
It is true that the firepower of the lightly armed vehicles of the 106th Cavalry
Group were often no match for the heaviest German tanks deployed in the latter stages of
the war. Powerful artillery (particularly the 88mm guns) and
heavily fortified enemy infantry positions generally also provided much too
stiff resistance for these units. In recognition of this, the 106th at times
was accompanied into battle with supports from other units, usually in the form of a
small number of Tank Destroyers. It must be remembered, however, that the mission of
the 106th and other reconnaisance units was not to overcome such heavy opposition. Rather,
they were to seek out the enemy and determine his strength. Slower moving
but heavier equipped infantry and armored columns were best suited to punching
through this kind of enemy line.
Combat History
The 106th Cavalry Group embarked for the coast of France on June 29, 1944.
Much of the 106th and 121st Squadrons were landed at Utah Beach, just three weeks after
the epic invasion had begun and were moved to an assembly point some 38 miles
into the interior of Normandy. Unfortunately, the transport ship carrying
A Troop of the 121st Squadron hit a mine in the English Channel soon after their departure.
Remarkably, no lives were lost in the unit, and the men were safely evacuated
by a Red Cross LST that came alongside. These men would not join the rest of the 106th
until July 18.
The 106th Cavarly first entered combat under VIII Corps on July 4,
1944. Its baptism of fire came in Normandy as part of a mission engaged in
mopping up enemy forces that had been cut off during the drive of the VIII
Corps down the Normandy Peninsula. This was a tough first mission, as the
106th was not well-equipped to fight in the dense hedge rows with their lightly
armored vehicles. Their next mission was an offensive
operation which led out of Normandy eastward toward Rennes. The VIII Corps shifted
west at this point and headed for Brest. In terrain that was far better suited for
light cavalry operations, the 106th then joined the XV Corps and
moved to Le Mans as part of another offensive. Placed in front of the
advancing American army, they helped to screen the flanks of the XV
Corps as it turned
north to close the Falaise pocket. This mission succeeded in protecting the
flank of the corps against enemy forces trying desperately to escape the
giant pincer movement of the Allied armies.
When the Falaise pocket was closed, the 106th was sent out to
lead the XV Corps on toward Paris. During this time, it passed through Alencon, Sarthe, Nogent,
Dreux, and Mantes Gassiscourt. In one of the swiftest advances of the war,
another extensive screening mission took them to the right flank of
Third Army along a 90-mile front which stretched from Auxerre to
Gondricourt, France.
After the capture of Paris, the Allies were regrouping their forces for the
next campaign. The 106th was again sent out ahead of the XV Corps in a lightning thrust
toward Joinville on the Marne, and then on to Charmes on the Moselle. In this operation
the 106th located and managed to contain the German 16th Infantry Division while
infantry elements of the XV Corps were brought in quickly.
The next assignment involved a reconnaisance in advance of the XV Corps
east from the Moselle in the Baccarat-Luneville region. Detecting a German
effort to outflank the American forces, the 106th led the corps in
an attack on the flank of this force that helped to turn back this movement.
Afterwards, the 106th sidestepped to the north of
Luneville and went into the Forret de Parroy. This turned out to be one of
its toughest campaigns of war. Here, for 2 months in
disagreeable weather and extensive minefields the 106th dismounted and
fought alongside the 79th and 44th Infantry Divisions that were located on the left flank
of the XV Corps. The mission of maintaining contact with Third Army
on the north was a difficult one because of the thinly scattered forces. On
several occasions, the 106th helped break up armored attacks launched by the enemy
that were seeking to come around the northern flank of the corps.
In spite of unfavorable weather, the 15th Corps began advancing again in
November, 1944. It launched an attack aimed at Strassbourg on the Rhine through
Saarburg and the Saverne Gap. When the infantry succeeded in breaking
the enemy line, the 106th slipped through the newly opened gap to take up a
position screening the left flank of the corps. They then moved ahead
northwest of Saarburg as the corps turned east through the Vosges Mountains
with the objective of capturing Strassbourg.
On Thanksgiving night, 1944, the 106th executed a delaying
action against the 130th Panzer Division. This unit was engaged
in a coordinated attack aimed at cutting the main supply lines of the
Allied troops east of Vosges. They hoped to recapture Savern, which could
seal off Allied forces east of the mountains in the Strassbourg area. This successful action by the 106th Cavalry
gave the corps commander time to shift his forces to meet this armored
threat to his flank, and the German attack was turned back.
Through the winter months of December and January, the 106th was engaged in
sporadic encounters with the enemy along the Rhine. It was not really until the
new campaign in March that the 106th again was given an offensive mission. This
time, they were sent out in advance of XV Corps through the Siegfried Line near
Saarbrucken. The 106th spearheaded
the advance across the Rhine, and moved through rapidly
Ashaffenburg (on the Main river), Bad-Orb, Bamburg, Nurnburg, and then across the
Danube and on to the autobahn to Munich. Here the 106th accepted the surrender of the 9th
Hungarian Division, whichg comprised some 8,800 men. Their advance continued
into Austria and on to Salzburg in May, where the local German garrison surrendered to the
commander of the 106th. One notable mission during this time involved
a rapid advance into the Alps to re-capture King Leopold of Belgium from
his Axis captors. Members of the 106th also were among the first
Allied soldiers to enter Hitler's resort compound at Berchesgarten.
After the Axis surrender, the 106th was retained in Austria as part of the
Allied occupying forces. Although duty was comparatively light during the Spring
and Summer of 1945, the 106th did contribute soldiers to the multi-national
military police forces assigned to patrol the streets of Salzburg after the war.
By all measures, the 106th Cavalry Group did all that was asked of it,
and more. From their first arrival on the beaches of Normandy in early
July, 1944, across the Rhine River into Germany and through to the surrender of
Axis forces in May, 1945, the 106th proved that light cavalry still had a vital role to play in the era
of modern warfare. Its officers and enlisted men were decorated with honors from the
United States Army commanders they served under, General Charles de Gaulle of France, and King Leopold of
Belgium for their tenacity and vigor in pursuing their unique
mission. Its commander, Colonel Vennard Wilson, a career Army officer, was awarded the Legion of Merit,
Legion of Honor, and Croix de Guerre for his outstanding leadership of this unit. The Distinguished Service Cross
was awarded posthumously to Lieutenant Benjamin S. Hill of the 121st Squadron.
Altogether, fifteen other men received the Croix de Guerre, while 58
men earned Silver Stars, and 519 received Bronze Stars in recognition for their gallantry
in battle. Perhaps the fighting spirit of the regiment is best expressed
in the words of Maj. Gen. W.H. Haislip, XV Corps commander,
who issued a commendation in August, 1945 as follows. "The 106th Cavalry Group was more
than once worth a division to the XV Corps. You always were assigned
extremely important missions and accomplished them against great odds."
Their success did not come without a price. From the first engagement
under fire in France on July 4, 1944 until the last firefight on May 2,
1945 in Germany, the 106th Cavalry Group suffered over 700 casualties.
This number includes 197 killed in action and 4 missing in action. The names
of these men are listed in the
106th Cavalry Roll of Honor. Colonel Vennard Wilson, the commander of the
106th Cavalry Group throughout its service in Europe, paid tribute
to these men in a Memorial Day address
that was delivered to the troopers at the end of the war in 1945.
Related Webpages: 106th Cavalry Group
- Fifty Years Later: French town of Ahuille honors 106th Cavalry dead
- Tribute to T5 Myron Ricketts, B Troop, 121st Squadron
- Tribute to 2nd Lt. Theodore Rowman, C Troop, 106th Squadron
- Memorial Day message from Raymond Teske Jr., son of Sgt. Ray Teske, B Troop, 121st Squadron
- Tribute to Sgt. Robert P. Kahn, B Troop, 106th Squadron
- Tribute to Pvt. Emmett W. Ross, B Troop, 121st Squadron
- U.S. Post-War Occupation of Austria
- "Through My Sights" videotape documentary based on photos and reminiscences of
121st Trooper Glenn Kappelman. Available for purchase from KTWU Promotions.
- Tribute to a Jeep driven by Troop A, 106th Squadron, restored by Norm Dauerer
Want to Learn More?
To get in touch with the 106th Cavalry veterans' organization, contact
secretary Larri Gerhart. Her mailing address is 717 S. Broadway Avenue, #1, Urbana, IL 61801-4295.
Phone number is (217) 344-9199, or via email at larri@soltec.net.
The late Glenn L. Kappelman served in Troop B of the 121st Squadron, taking over 750 photos
while serving in Europe in the waning days of the war. He and fellow trooper Art Barkis were recorded on
videotape in a 1999 documentary titled "Through My Sights" that exhibits many of
these photos along with an accompanying narrative. In 2003, a book titled Through My Sights: A Gunner's
View of WWII was published that contains a large selection of the photos along with his
diary entries. The book and videotape can be ordered through the publisher.
For more information about these projects, contact Linda "Sam" Haskins, who assisted
Glenn in its production.
To get in contact with a modern reenactment group that portrays
Troop A of the 121st Cavalry, visit the 121st
Squadron Troop A Living History website.
To learn more about mechanized cavalry in World War II, including other
cavalry groups like the 106th, a visit to the
Mechanized Cavalry Web Site is highly recommended. Many thanks to
Lou
DiMarco for assembling this outstanding resource.
If you are interested in contacting other descendants of the 106th Cavalry,
I have provided an email list
that has email links to over two dozen people.
If you are researching a family member who served in this or some other WWII unit, you should
visit Wesley Johnston's Dad's Warsite, which has links to a variety of helpful
resources.
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