106th Cavalry Group (United States)

106th Cavalry Group (United States)

The 106th Cavalry Group (later reorganized as a regiment) was a mechanized cavalry unit of the United States Army in World War II. The 106th Cavalry Group had previously been known as the 1st Regiment Illinois Volunteer Cavalry during the Spanish American War and World War I and was constituted in 1921 as part of the Illinois National Guard. It underwent a number of reorganizations before World War II. Like other guard units during the inter-war years, the 106th held monthly drills and yearly training. Readiness for war in 1940 led to the mechanization of the unit and induction into Federal Service at Camp Livingston, Louisiana on 25 November 1940.

After the Pearl Harbor attack, the 106th trained at Camp Hood, Texas until the spring of 1944 when they deployed to Europe. Upon arriving in England, the group was reorganized into the 106th and 121st Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadrons along with a Group Headquarters. After arriving in Europe, they were often in the lead of other units. Lightly armed, they scouted ahead to fix enemy locations. For the next year and a half, they fought through France, Luxembourg, Germany and Austria, earning five campaign streamers and the Croix de guerre from Charles de Gaulle, President of the Provisional French government. The Regiment lead the Allied advance across the Rhine, and were the first unit to attack a town south of the Siegfried Line or West Wall.

In late 2006, the 33rd Brigade Combat Team of the Illinois Army National Guard was formed and the 106th Cavalry Squadron was included in the reorganization.