The Last American Cavalry Charge
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- čas přidán 1. 06. 2021
- It may sound surprising that the last American cavalry charge occurred less than a hundred years ago, not in the pre-industrial years of the nineteenth century, but on the modern, tank-filled battlefields of WWII. The History Guy remembers the Charge of the 26th Calvalry.
This is original content based on research by The History Guy. Images in the Public Domain are carefully selected and provide illustration. As very few images of the actual event are available in the Public Domain, images of similar objects and events are used for illustration.
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Script by jcg
#history #thehistoryguy #WWII
About 40 years ago I was playing golf on a military golf course. I happened to pair up with an older man. As we walked and talked, I asked him about his military service, particularly World War II. He said, "You will never guess what I did in the military." He then proceeded to reach into his golf bag and pull out a large leather wallet. He opened the wallet and pulled out a short leather strap, torn from a longer strap. On the strap was a metallic button. I looked at it and I asked, "What is it?" He said, "That is from my horse. I was stationed with the US Calvary in the Philippines." He paused, "Not the armored cavalry, the cavalry." I was stunned, knowing only some of what he went through, but knowing enough to know that his was an amazing example of heroism. I asked a few more questions, but I didn't want to pry into memories that were best left untouched. He mentioned not eating his horse, then fell silent. I honored his silence. I played the rest of the round in a daze. Today I learned more and I am more impressed by what he did. Fortunately, I was to see him again and was able to help my unit honor him for the service that he never discussed with anyone.
Awesome story. I would have loved to meet that man.
What was his name?
I met an elderly couple while working on their new home in the late 70’s. The gentleman was a member of this outfit. He stated he was in the last calvery charge of the US Army. They were wonderful people, he was still proud of his outfit. Thanks for this information!
As an ex-cowboy in the American west during the 1960s, the story of the Last Cavalry Charge came up, time to time.
I think a good horse demands the best of a man, in both himself, and the courage with which he faces the world. This episode in recent history, perfectly illustrates that.
My Dad was in the Merchant Marines during the war. When we took back the Philippines, he said that his ship moved in among the wreckage of the harbor to be unloaded, and he was granted shore leave while they unloaded his boat. It was loaded with Artillery, Bombs, Grenades, and all the other ammo that the Army needed. Somewhere in our Family, there is a picture of him mounted on top of a Donkey as he surveyed the destroyed ruins of Manila.
I miss my Dad. We lost him eight years ago.
Did you know that on a percentage basis, the largest losses in all of the services was in the Merchant Marines?
My Dad was also a Merchant Marine in WW2. He was a senior in high school when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Their graduation was accelerated from June 42 to March 42. But my Dad had asthma and none of the services would take him, he tried to get waivers. By summer of 42 the US Merchant Marine was desperately short of men due to the draft and the fact so many ships were being sunk. But my Dad wanted to serve and the Merchant Marine wasn't picky. He told the recruiter he had asthma and would that be a problem. The recruiter said not as long as my Dad had a pulse. Dad spent the rest of the war on Liberty Ships and Tankers, he saw more action than many military did. During D-Day his Liberty Ship, the SS Lyman Hall was hit by German Artillery and heavily damaged. Dad got some shrapnel in his head which stayed there since it wasn't causing any problems. He also witnessed many ships in his convoys being sunk. And he never talked about any of this, I had to find out from my Uncle.
@@darrylr.4983 Yeah, my Dad had ships sunk from under him three times. He survived them all. He didn't willingly talk about it, we had to pull the information out of him. He even went on a convoy from New Orleans to Havana. The convoy started out with 11 ships, and only five or six of them made it. There were U-boats in the Gulf of Mexico. Not a lot of info on that, but it was true. He described a surfaced U-boat that they fired upon, and it exploded and broke in half, sailors and debris flying up in the air before the sub sank. He had tears in his eyes as he described it. War is inhuman. But it sometimes takes inhuman acts to stop inhuman evil.
@@darrylr.4983 My father was also Merchant Marine. Before, during and after the war. He was in the Pacific when Pearl Harbor happened.
He saw a whole lot more combat than a lot of people who were in the services.
Finally in the late 1980's they got the recognition they deserved and veteran's status.
@@evinchester7820 My Dad did the same after the war. He went to the Merchant Marine Academy and eventually got his Chief Mate's ticket then retired in the 1970's. I remember when they finally got veterans status. By that time my Dad had started having strokes and never pursued the status.
^^^ Retired Engineer, US Merchant Marine. I first went to sea in 1969 and sailed with many WW2 veterans. Huge respect for that generation.
My union hall in San Francisco had a big brass plaque with all the names of engineers that had been killed from SF during WW2.
Next month, I will have the honor of being present at the internment of a Bataan Death March Survivor. He survived the march and the camp only to pass from dysentery the day after the camp was liberated. He and 100 others were buried in a mass grave recently rediscovered. Positive identification through DNA is allowing for a family to have closure 79 years later.
My grandfather was in the 2nd Cavalry Division stationed at Fort Riley in Kansas. When we was enlisting in early 1942, the enlistment form asked if the future solder had any special skills. My grandfather joking listed that he was an expert horseback rider having ridden since a young boy thinking that horse mounted cavalry was obsolete. To his shock he was sent to Fort Riley and began cavalry training. He scored expert with a Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR), M1-Garand and with a 1911 Pistol--All on horse back. They shipped out to the Port of New Orleans after extensive training of war games across the South including the States of Arkansas, Missouri and Mississippi. Then they reached the Port of New Orleans to be sent to Italy. They were then called back for some unknown reason. I have watched several US Cavalry WWII training videos and my grandfather appears in at least two here on CZcams. He was very proud of his service even after being sent back to Fort Riley.
“Ramsey’s War”. His personal account of his exploits and that charge. An excellent read.
I was gonna say exactly that
THESE ARE THE SOLDIER'S THAT ARE MY HEROS , FROM THE TIME I WAS A SMALL CHILD . IAM 76 NOW AND NOTHINGS CHANGED. IAM A RETIRED NAM VET AND DAMN PROUD . WE STAND ON THE SHOLDERS OF GIANTS . THANK GOD ALMIGHTY FOR OUR SALVATION IN JESUS NAME AMEN.
Nice - thanks for the recommendation
I first heard of Ramsey (as a fictional character) in a W.E.B. Griffin book, Behind the Lines. He did a series on the Marines in the Pacific, and this one is book 7.
Thank you
It was great to hear you repeatedly say caVALry, rather that the calVERy so often used, even by military personnel. The first has to do with horses, the second with crosses.
I just now, this very MOMENT, realized these are not the same word. Aaaaand now I feel really bad for teasing all those Luthern kids back home. I just thought they were mispronouncing Cavalry. Oooops.
Everyone says this word wrong. It drives me crazy. Ca-val-ry. Cal-va-ry. There is a difference people. 😤
Of course, horses can't compare to Jesus, but they're less of a step down than most other things.
This really deserves to be remembered ....as this was rarely told. I usually read that wainwright who commanded the north Luzon where the 26th cavalry was assigned as we know that wainwright was a cavalry man ....when the troops in Bataan was in dire need of food the horses of the 26th cavalry were sacrificed together with his own horse ...he cried and bawled like a baby ...a sad prize for the horses who served their riders very well.
Glad to see you did this history story. I met Ed Ramsey when we were invited to ride with him and William D. Raftery in the 1994 Rose Bowl Parade. Raftery was also horse cavalry before WWII and signed up for the 2nd Rangers. I have his book 'Lt.Ramsey's War' signed to Bill Raftery "from one horse soldier to another." So glad I got to meet, know, and ride with them.
I am envious that you had the pleasure to ride with these great men. That is an experience to remember.
Great story! My father wanted to join the cavalry. Since he was too young early in WW II, he instead was a cowboy in Wyoming, taking the place of others who had been drafted or volunteered for service. He joined the army Air Force later in the war. My great-great grandfather actually was a horse soldier, serving in the 2nd Massachusetts Volunteer Cavalry Regiment under Phil Sheridan in the Valley Campaign.
Imagine running up to a tank coming towards you and yelling at it, asking what they are doing and the hatch opens up and it’s the enemy? Haha
We call that a 'meeting engagement".
Reminds me of tank crews both allied and Nazi that parked the tank out of the way and slept. They were exhausted after the fighting after D day and were mostly not disturbed. I heard soldiers from both sides had encountered these but either let them sleep or just decided to consider them as dead...
I was privileged to know Ed Ramsey in the later years of his life through the U. S. Cavalry Association. He was a kind and soft-spoken man with a love for horses, the cavalry, and the Filipino people. He spent most of his life after the war fighting to have the men and women who fought for the United States against the Japanese recognized as U. S. veterans. It's worth noting that the Philippine Scouts were not a local or territorial unit but a part of the regular U. S. Army. They were considered an elite unit which is why they were one of the first to be issued the M1 rifle and the first to use it in combat. The story of the Philippine units of the U. S. Army is a part of our history that is often forgotten. In recognition of their former status as a territory of the U. S., the Philippines was the only foreign country from which citizens could enlist in the United States armed forces without first emigrating to the U. S. until 1990 when the agreement expired. I think it's sad that Americans aren't taught more about the history and culture of the Philippines; after all, they used to be us.
When I was in the army we had a platoon sgt who was formerly a Captain in the Philippine army.
I think in the US Navy Filipinos could still enlist even though their not US citizens
@@my_other_side473 I could be wrong but I believe that program has been discontinued.
The 2nd Boer war taught the British to use cavalry as mounted infantry. At Cambrai, the exploitation forces were cavalry divisions.
Also the British invention of the concentration camp during that war.
Cavalry did serve through all of WW1. My great uncle served with the Anzac Mounted Division which was formed in February 1917 consisting of the 1st and 2nd Australian Light Horse Brigades, the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade, and the British 22nd Mounted Brigade. They campaigned (very effectively) through Sinai and Palestine on their horses right up to the end of WW1.
In the 70's, when I was in the USAF, we still used horses to patrol Clark, AFB. The only reason I wanted to go there!
Wow! I've studied Philippines WWII history extensively, but I've never seen so much clearly organized and easily understandable information about the Philippines' role in the war. You are my hero!
The History Guy does Excellent videos and worth every second to watch. Every video THG puts out sure does earn a thumbs up!
Loo
Philippines was a Colony of the Philippines.
That said Japanese attack Philippines because USA 🇺🇸 was there.
@@suskagusip1036 you sound like you came from 50 Cents Army a.k.a. Wumao.
You just mentioned my wife's grand father! Gen Wainwright, named his son Jonathon, who named his only daughter Johnnie. Thanks for the smile! Unfortunately we've never know that side of her family. Any episodes you do on Gen Wainwright are appreciated.
Gen Wainwright came from a long lineage of officers. There is a Wikipedia article about it. After the war, spending time as a POW, he was later featured on the cover of Time Magazine.
I participated in the Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands, New Mexico. The day before the event, we had the opportunity to meet and talk with some of the survivors of the Bataan Death March. They had nothing good to say about Dugout Doug MacArthur.
Thanks for providing additional context to the fall of the Philippines.
As a follow-up, maybe a story on the 'Bataan Air Force'? My high school math teacher, John Posten, served with the 21st Pursuit Squadron under Ed Dyess (whose own exploits during the Bataan Death March and subsequent escape deserve its own episode) during the last days of any air resistance in the Philippines. He blessed me with one of the most memorable high school experiences anyone could have imagined - too long to tell here - but suffice to say that any teacher that served spent the next week lecturing their students on the hell of war and their personal experiences, to include removing shirts to show wounds incurred during the Normandy invasion - stories that most just would not tell back in the '60s.
Fantastic. Someone was cutting onions in my living room there at the end.
Seriously, just when you think you’ve heard it all. A horse mounted calvary charge in a WWII theater of battle. What brave men they were.
It happened on the Eastern front many times. Cavalry units were particularly effective in the Pripyat marshes where tanks could not go.
Excellent telling of a previously unheard tale.
Unheard of, for you.
Everyone has different exposures to different subjects.
I'd heard about it. But not in the detail here. I knew they eventually has to kill the animals and eat them.
Another excellent video. I had heard about this incident but not very much. Love the tribute to the horse soldiers. As a current serving Armored Cavalry officer, I really appreciate the nod to the modern units, and our proud lineage to the horse soldiers who came before. Scouts Out!
This action was so unusual and successful that the Avalon Hill Game Company included it as a scenario in the Advanced Squad Leader module Code of Bushido before Monarch sold the brand to Hasbro. I enjoyed the action of US cavalry charging into Japanese infantry at a river crossing, the classic river defense by cavalry. I learned so much about military history from the games produced by Avalon Hill before its being consumed by Hasbro that I think the history of the genre would be fascinating to watch.
Heck yeah! I would watch a story of Avalon Hill for sure. One of, if not THE best wargame makers in HISTORY, GUY. ;-)
@@billd.iniowa2263 Not to mention the educational benefit of playing games that simulate historic battles.
A piece on the history of wargaming would be cool.
I still have my Avalon Hill and SPI games. No history of wargames would be complete without mentioning SPI.
@@jacquesstrapp3219 I have owned dozens in my time. I still own ten.
Often times the lost cause is the best cause, to be remembered.
Note that Wainright did not surrender on Bataan. He was at Corregidor and surrendered there in May 1942.
The mention of the denial of M1 Garands to the Filipino military for reasons of scarcity gives you a good indication of the sorry state of the U.S. military prior to December 1941.
To be honest, production of the Garand was slow. Neither the Marine Corps or USN were equipped with them pre-war.
@@WALTERBROADDUS That's my point in a way...we let our guard down after World War I. There was zero excuse for all our branches of service not having modern firearms, and the capability to ramp up production quickly in just this scenario.
The Springfield M-1903 was a fine infantry weapon.
@@hhale I don't disagree. However you have to look at it in context of the period. That was supposed to be the war that end all wars. The next 20 years were spent on folks pushing neutrality and reduce defense spending. Not to mention the Great Depression.
Heck, there were times when US soldiers didn't even get any rifles for training. The Army was so used to tiny budgets they didn't even request as many parachutes from a contractor as FDR had indicated he wanted.
Japan: how can cavalry stop a tank?
USA: we knock on the hatch and shoot the driver
It’s either pronounced “garand” to rhyme with “hand,” or “gare’ end,” which is how the man said his own name. I’ve never heard anyone say it like it rhymes with “pond.”
This is *the* History Guy you're talking to. He was born in history, you merely adopted it.
@@leviwarren6222 Huh? He’s not that way, he’s a very nice man. He’s simply in error on pronunciation.
@@SkylersRants Same, I think The History Guy assumed there was a frenchified pronunciation somewhere that got morphed by the usual way Americans butcher French words (like the way Argonne got pronounced Argon) and mistakenly "corrected" it.
One is the Man, one is the rifle.
@@fbksfrank4 And the third is the History Guy!
Reminds me of some of the history I learned while we lived in the Philippines. Dad was a Navy chaplain, I was 11 when we moved there, and we had a 3 year tour. You brought back a lot of memories.
STORY IDEA FOR YOU: Most people think the Moro Guerillas in the Philippines generated the requirement for the M1911, .45 ACP pistol. In fact, the US Army Cavalry demanded a pistol capable of dropping opposing cavalry horses with a single shot. Enemy cavalry was the Army Cavalry's primary opponent, horses are bigger, more vulnerable targets than human riders, and the pistol was the cavalry trooper's primary weapon. At the time, the Cavalry was the US Army's elite branch, akin to the status of Special Operations today. Most generals came from the Cavalry.
The original 1911 .45ACP Colt semi automatic pistol was introduced into US Army service well after the Moro resistance began pre 20th century. Records show that the American troops in Philippines issued with the issued .38 cal Revolvers were writing home to get .45 cal Colts and S&W's even before the Filipino American War (post Span-Am war) was over.
@@ardshielcomplex8917 That's indeed the story most people learned and believe. I did too before I learned the rest of the story. Thank you for your response.
Hello Roscoe. This is very interesting information, Do you know what the time frame was when the US Cavalry requested the .45? Was it actually 1911 or before the Spanish American War? Thank you.
U did realize a .45 ACP is a very slow moving bullet meant for human targets... a 230gr FMJ bullet would have a tough time going through horse flesh compared to a human skin (45ACP at most is 830 FPS) Nice story but a 45LC (1000 FPS) would be better at dropping a horse with terminal ballistics similar to a 44 light magnum load... (1000FPS for light to 1200 to 1325FPS full magnum loads depending on the grain of the bullet)
The .45LC was issued until the US Army adopted the .38 Colt and Special until they encountered the Moros in southern Mindanao.
GEN. Geo S. Patton's carried a .357 magnum or a Colt single action Army in 45LC or both.
My father's first cousin was a member of the 26th. He survived the war but never talked about it.
Never ask a veteran of their experiences, but if they are willing to talk....listen!
Thanks History Guy!
When I was a little kid one of my great uncles who served in the Pacific would talk about the fighting in the Philippines. There was never a more World War 2 guy than my great uncle. He even lost part of his hand while drunkenly fighting a Koala in the months after the war while in Australia, which to me seems like the most WW2 guy thing to ever happen.
Awesome! I remember reading Ramsey's account of this event. Whenever I hear about people talking about the last cavalry charge in history, I point this one out - no one even knows what I'm talking about.
I think what's amazing is that horses are still used by troops in rugged terrain like Afghanistan to this day.
I'd heard of the 26th and the Phillipine Scouts, but you filled me in on some previously unencountered info. Thanks!
Outstanding bravery, this is definitely some history to be remembered. Compare the picture of Wainwright in this piece with the picture of him after he was rescued and you will be shocked.
Big Trousers MacArthur wasnt the brightest of lights as Commander in the Philippines, his linear defence and insistence on his limited number of poorly equipped and ill trained Troops defending Beaches to the last man was doomed before the first shots were fired. Being ILL TRAINED is the Commanders responsibility, there's no excuse for such incompetence and indifference.
@@ardshielcomplex8917 It gets worse. Since the troops were moved up to the beaches from their prepared defensive positions they had to move their supply dumps as well.
Once they were forced to retreat to their bases and the old defensive positions the Japanese then had access to abandoned American supplies while the Americans had less reserves.
The thing about the Japanese military is that their supply train was appallingly bad, at least 40 years behind western development and their attacking troops only carried the minimum of supplies, if they didnt win they starved which is how the allies started to beat them later, hold your supply bases for a siege, let the japanese attackers starve and run short on ammunition then counter-attack.
If McArthur had held onto his well supplied initial positions he could have held out for months. Its unlikely they could have won until Japanese sea power was broken but they could have diverted Japanese navy and army assets away from other fronts.
@@ardshielcomplex8917 He had absolutely no concept of composite warfare. His aircraft lay on the airfields ready for slaughter, even after the raid at Pearl was known. How this man attained a position in history is a grand mystery.
Thank you for telling this story and thank you for - pronouncing cavalry correctly!
I have watched entire "history" videos where the narrator pronounced the word cavalry as
"cal - vary" (a hill outside Jerusalem).
Kind of puts their cred as "historians" in question.
My sentiment EGG-ZACK-LEE!
Ramsey fought the good fight with what he had. Bravery and guts of the American and Filipino fighters was never in short supply.
In my view, Ramsey should have gotten more than a DSC.
Just as an fyi, there's a small 'society,' I want to call them, made up of historians and living descendants of the men of the 26th who made that last mounted charge. They commissioned a limited edition fine art print by a well known artist (who's name completely escapes me). I made the prints about 10 years ago. Apparently, going by what I remember from the painting, at least some of them charged with sabers drawn. You might try to track it down. As always, thank you for producing some of the best history content available anywhere.
I really appreciated seeing this, and for a strange reason. Many years ago, iI was a Navy Recruiting Officer in Kansas City. One of my duties was to attend various functions. One such function was breakfast with the Marine Corps League. Our speaker walked up to the lectern, cleared his throat and said "I am the reason the U.S doesn't have horse cavalry". That got everyone's attention. He went on to say that he had eaten the last horse of the 26th Cavalry. That was more than 20 years ago so I assume he is long dead. But I still remember him saying that.
Drafted into the Army towards the end of 1965 I found myself at Ft Riley, Kansas The last U.S.Calvary horse was maintained there, properly attended to live out his last days. Being an urban person thus not knowing much about horses he looked to be in fine fettle to me. He was still thriving there when I was shipped overseas almost a year later.
Excellent. My grandfather was drafted in the First World War at age 30 and being a farmer was designated an Equine Specialist. He was discharged a few months later at the end of the war never deploying. Good vid. Keep at it!
In Panama and the Philippines, the USAF Security Police used horses to patrol the air base perimeters and conduct security operations up into the 90's. I think that might be the last tactical operational use of horses in the US military.
Had an Uncle killed in the retreat to Bataan. My family blames FDR for abandoning our troops.
We all should blame FDR for that and a whole lot more.
F D R didn't abandone the troops in the Philippines. There was a incident in Pearl Harbor that set the Navy back for a small amount of time. And there were decisions that had to be made. The Navy suffered a devastating lost at Pearl Harbor on December 7th. And in the confusion and fog of war. There was a threat to the west Coast of America that real or imagined had to be considered. And the attack on Pearl was truly a devastating blow to the Pacific fleet. And with the Germans declaring war on the U.S. a weakened U.S. Navy gound itself in a war with not enough ships to keep the supply lines to England open. And could have MacArthur held out until help could arrived. He had advanced warning and he knew the Fleet at Pearl Harbor had suffered a devastating blow. But he kept the few naval ships in port and grouped his aircraft in a way similar to those at Pearl Harbor that guaranteed their detruction. And most. Of the naval ships were tied up at their base. And this on the eighth of December which was on the seventh in Hawaii. But MacArthur had a 8 hour warning and did nothing. And he's considered a hero for loseing his command. And instead of joining general Short and Admiral Kimmel in front of Senate hearing. MacArthur beat feet for Australia. And took up the space for the nurses that they wanted shipped out with him. He used the space for them for his personal items. I'm not and never been a big fan of him. And I remember going to his grand Memorial as a kid and looking at some of the stuff he sacrificed those nurses for. And I can remember thinking then what a pompous ass. And my opinion has only gone down from then. And in case anyone missed the point. I'm not a big fan of him. And as a kid I met some vets who served unfr him in Korea. And they hated him with a passion. Was he incompetent? No I don't think so. I think he failed to heed any advice from anyone, because he was Douglas MacArthur and he didn't need to listen to anyone. And he was caught flat-footed just as Kimmel and Short.
Thanks for his service. Was his body recovered and buried in Manila, or is his name among the fallen and missing?
@@jdude7650 Blame Macarthur not the man who saved the nation from it's isolationist folly.
Awesome story that I have often wondered about. One small thing... It is either "Gair-end" as he pronounced it or "guh-RAND" as most others (including his son I have heard) say.
Love the bow tie.
He's a delightful eccentric who would grace any company, I've always found intelligent eccentric people to be the best of individuals, as they're original and authentic.
THG a CZcams channel that's always worth watching.
LOVE the black suit and red bowtie. Looking good!
One of your best videos. The inclusion of maps is a great addition. This is indeed history that deserves to be remembered.
Everyone should look up the song Horse Solder - Corb Lund
Good song, relevant to the subject at hand.
I just dug out that album before reading comments. Gonna have to play it later.
I wanna be in the Calvary if they send me off to war. I want a good stead under me like my forefathers before!
Wow! History Guy is looking super sharp today. Yikes, jumping that horse between the upside down guy's legs :O
I wonder if that was some sort of punishment...
@@TheHistoryGuyChannel It certainly looks to be Cruel and Unusual.
MacArthur was both a U.S. Army general and the field marshal of the Philippine army, which gave his his unique hat.
General of the Army, 5 star rank, is the equivalent to a Field Marshal. Why are there no American Field Marshals? Because the first man to hold the rank, George Marshall, did not want to be called Field Marshal Marshall.
@@tygrkhat4087 He was a Four Star until December 1944.
@@threecedarshomestead1330 Marshall got his fifth star on Dec 16, MacArthur on Dec 18, Eisenhower on Dec 20 and Hap Arnold on Dec 21. Omar Bradley didn't get his fifth star until 1950.
"Lost Battle of the Civil War" . . . Charge of the 4th Iowa Volunteer Cavalry, Mine Creek KS, October 25th, 1864.
And Col Benjamin Grierson who's exploits during the Civil War were loosely portrayed in The Horse Soldiers. All of my school years I remember trying to find any information on what promotional trailers claimed was a movie based upon a true story Never any mention at any library or of Grierson in any 'history' books. Even more incredible was his post war activities with the 10th Cavalry Regiment (Buffalo Soldiers) and in the burgeoning west - alone worth an episode.
@@ajg617 Grierson picked out the spot where Fort Sill in Oklahoma was built.
My Uncle's father in law was a longtime dairy foreman in Central Ca commercial dairy. He was retired US Army Philippine Scout cavalryman. He was a trooper in the 26th Regt. He immigrated to the US after WWIi to Hanford, Ca to work. Not until his death in 1998 did we know he was a decorated cavalryman. Bronze star and purple heart. Japanese American WWII veterans and the local Hanford American Legion and VFW travelled to Riverside Ca Veteran's cemetery to pay their respects. When we attended the funeral we had no idea he served with honor (our uncle and his family kept his humble secret).
I LOVE THIS HISTORY.
RAMSEY WAS A REMARKABLE LEADER.
My day doesn’t start until I have watched THG
What a wonderfully entertaining and superbly presented bit if history of courageous men and horses. Worth a second watch. Thank You Mr History guy!
One of your better ones. Was in The Merchant Marine, mid-1980s, Philippine Islands, Subic Bay. Thank you for this one.
I always thought the battle for the Philippines was under-rated in school. There were months of tremendous fighting on the part of the Americans and years of hardship afterwards by those who survived.
Thanks for another great episode!
Cavalry! Outstanding! Thanks History Guy!
IF you ain't CAV!!!
@@schlirf you ain’t shit!!!! 3/11 ACR-Bad Hersfeld!!! Spur holder!!!!
@@williamharris9525 C troop, Fulda. Shammer extraordinar! 😉
One of the lesser known, but incredible story that NEEDS the History Guy treatment. This is a story that sounds like an improbable Hollywood movie from the late fifties/early sixties.
Of all the heroic stories to come out of World War II, few are so extraordinary as that of Major Rocky Gause, who was captured by the Japanese, escaped from the infamous Bataan Death March, and, with a fellow soldier, endured a harrowing voyage across the enemy-held Pacific in a leaky, hand-crafted boat. In the battered notebook he kept throughout his journey
An incredible and inspiring story. Thanks for sharing it and keeping it alive.
1:54 really took the starch out of my favorite song "Horse Solider, Horse Solider!!!"
Frivolous comment I know but one of my favourite films is John Wayne's Back To Bataan. Actual American POWs rescued from the Cabanatuan prison camp are shown and named at the end. One cannot but wonder what became of them all. Old people such as I do tend to muse about such things I think.
ALLONS!
As always! An enlightening recollection of History!
Fantastic retelling of an already great story. Please follow up with a story of General Ralph Royce and the "Royce Raid" which did far more damage than the "Doolittle Raid" but saw far less press coverage.
Thank you as always History Guy! Wonderful episode. There seems to be a truly endless wealth of undiscovered (by me) history of WW2.
Your enthusiasm is contagious! So glad I found this channel.
Can you do a video on the Filipino army? They are known for having elite units, comparable to the Gurkhas some might say. Considering they have been invaded or under some form of rule how has that affected their military and the traditions they hold?
I absolutely love this channel. As a history buff, I enjoy the format and you do an excellent job.
Thanks, very informative as usual. As a side note, Clark AFB,(USAF Security Police) had a " mounted" unit for several years! I believe it to have been one of kind!!
You should do a show on the army camel. Corps. 1856 To. 1866. I think!!! Thank you Frank from montana..
Perhaps have a look at the Australian Light Horse whose main service was in the Middle East during WW1 under the command of General Harry Chauvel. Also looking at the Light Horse charge at Beersheba that was considered to be the last great Cavalry charge by the 4th Light Horse Brigade. Some of the units that took part in the charge are still active in the Australian Army mostly as reserve armoured units. One of the units was 10th Light Horse in Western Australia and they are based in Perth. Served with them in the 1970s and 80s using M113s,
Mounted infantr, were traditionally called Dragoons.
If memory serves me right, the US Army has had both Dragoon and Cavalry, serving during the Mexican-American War. Union forces started the Civil War with 2 reg't of Dragoons, 1 reg't of "Mounted Rifles" and 2 reg't of Cavalry. It all depends on who is organizing them.
Knew of the Polish cavalry in WW2 but not this. Greatly enjoy your channel.
As usual... you knocked it out of the park!
I remembered reading about this charge, years ago, but not with any of the greater detail given here. As for another idea, the bayonet charge done by the scots in Iraq, back in 2004 would be great if there's enough details avaiable.
Yet another wonderful episode. Thanks History Guy!
Having never heard of this group before I'm now surprised at having heard of them twice. This one today and, strangely enough, in the John Grisham book The Reckoning. The book is not much in terms of entertainment value beyond the introduction to this wonderful bit of history, fleshed out so well by THG.
Outstanding report! Thank you HG
Amazing story. That charge must've been a very strange experience for everyone involved.
Excellent and timely video!
Excellent presentation, Sir.
Thanks for sharing this, I can guarantee that the Charge of the 26th is well remembered by the US Cavalry. The mission of Cavalry never changes, only the mounts do. ;)
Amazing story of service. Keep up the good work!
Another incredible story. Thank You yet again.
Excellent. Thanks for posting!
Whoever did your archival research did a FANTASTIC job ! The photos and footage actually match the topic being covered, that is spot-on good research. Unlike typical history programs who may talk about events in 1941, but show photos or footage from 1945 or worse, 1953. And yes, those details make a HUGE difference in the quality of a program. THANK YOU !!!
What a great video. And lots of neat history.
Thank you for always bringing history to life for us.
Thank you for the great video!
Just when I think you have plateaued, excellence in content shines through. Another outstanding episode.
Always brilliant! Thank you.
Every time I listen to this it is awesome I think you once again I will never stop listening to what you have to say you come up with some very powerful things history to remember I share it with my family I enjoy it very much thank you once again every one of your staff you whoever helps to bring this together thank you for my heart and soul it is uplifting very much good or bad it's uplifting it makes us realize how powerful how wonderful people really are thank you!!! Edward Schrlau and family ❤️
I really love learning about in individual units like the 26 Cav.. I've heard, read some about it over the years but nothing like this video. I really liked this vid.. Good Job, thanks
Excellent story. Thanks Lance..
Excellent program History Guy.
The charge of the Australian lighthorse in WWI at Beersheba. Honestly what they did and all the circumstances around it simply beggars belief with what was at stake. The long run in on sand. The horses having to run fast to get under the fire of the artillery. Truly an amazing piece of history.