First Team at Work on the Edge of the Storm

This week is the 105th anniversary of the establishment of the 1st U.S. Cavalry Division. To celebrate, how about this great photo essay of American horse cavalry in the field, Fort Bliss, Texas, summer of 1939? The twilight of such an organization. Note the M1903s and M1917A1 “Kelly” helmets. All caught in time. (Photographer in all cases: J.J. Gregor, Ft. Bliss, Texas. From prints furnished by Mr. Sullivan, Remount Branch, Quartermaster Corps. 7/18/39. Signal Corps Collection via NARA) Machine gun detachment. Note the M1917 Bolo knives on their gun belts, used for clearing brush from fields of fire. 111-SC-113986 Hell for leather, baby! Could you imagine what that Kelly tin helmet with almost no padding felt like rattling on your head while galloping across that ground? 111-SC-113995 Another shot of the MG detachment. You can see the tripod mounts for their M1917 Brownings. 111-SC-113989 Another of the MG detachments with Bolos. 111-SC-113992 111-SC-113991 Machine gun detachment.…