Patches
The 1st Cavalry Division has had a vibrant history of its patches, especially its Shoulder Sleeve Insignia (SSI). The division's SSI was approved by the War Department on January 3rd, 1921, designed by Colonel Benjamin H. Dorcy and his wife Gladys. At the time of the patch's design, Col. Dorcy was serving as the commander of the 7th Cavalry Regiment, serving as their commanding officer until his death in 1926.
The couple, both regarded as experts in heraldry, were inspired by the First Team's home at El Paso and the very soul of Texas is embedded in their patch. The story goes that they were relaxing on their front porch watching the sunset. Mrs. Dorcy was cutting up one of the colonel's old dress-blue capes, the liner of which was cavalry yellow. As she was cutting, a cavalryman rode past on a handsome, blue-black thoroughbred. It didn't take them long after to design the first prototype. Mrs. Dorcy is now remembered as Mother Dorcy and was named the 'Mother of the First Team.'
Featured in the collection are examples of 1st Cavalry Division SSI and various pocket patches of constituent units of the division.
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Patches from the Units of the 1st Cavalry Division
Signed Patches from Members of Headquarters & Headquarters Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division
These patches were collected in June 2023 while I worked with the 1st Cavalry Division command staff on multiple historical projects. Each patch is signed by a member of the headquarters battalion.
Distinguished Unit Insignia
The Distinguished Unit Insignia (DI), otherwise known as unit crests or pins, is a piece of military heraldry that denotes the specific unit of a soldier. Whether it is a company, battalion, brigade, or regiment, the DI is the distinguisher of all soldiers. The 1st Cavalry Division has seen many units within its organization and has had the honor of having them serve under it, each with its own history.
From the horseshoe and saber of the 7th Cavalry Regiment to the shell flying over the Rio Grande for the 82nd Field Artillery, each of these pieces of insignia are unique in their own right.
Feautured in this section are examples of official and unofficial DIs of units of the 1st Cavalry Division.
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Patches from the Units of the 1st Cavalry Division
Collar Insignia
The United States Army utilizes a system of collar insignia to denote branch of service, rank, and more. The golden era of this was seen in the 1940s and 1950s, with theatre-made examples springing up often. Below you will find a selection of pieces in the collection that encapsulate the vibrant history of cavalry insignia utilized by the 1st Cavalry Division.
Click on the slideshow to look through the photos.
Patches from the Units of the 1st Cavalry Division