Squadron A: an Informal History of Its Second Half-century of Service: a Sequel to the History of Its First Fifty Years

This is the story of the second fifty years of Squadron A. The history of the National Guard cavalry unit has paralleled that of the city of New York for a colorful and exciting century of service to that city, the state of New York and the nation. In the latter part of the nineteenth century most well-born young men in America rode pleasure horses. In spite of their urban background, New York City's "swells" were no exception. In 1884 a group of youthful men-about-Manhattan formed themselves into a mounted social club to engage in the political rallies and parades that were a part of the Blaine-Cleveland presidential campaign of that year. The club backed Blaine. He lost, but some eighteen of the club's members stuck together and carried on with their mounted organization. It was the beginning of a remarkable National Guard cavalry regiment that became the center of equestrian activities in New York City and remained that way for more than half a century. Even today its traditions are kept alive by a National Guard tank unit called the 101st Cavalry and by a social organization with military and equestrian interests still known as Squadron A. This enjoyable and inspiring history of Squadron A highlights its contributions to our nation's security, from the horseback service in the early years, through overseas duty in World War Two, to the coolheaded response of its active men to the crisis on September 11, 2001 and deployment to Iraq in 2004.