Squadron History
[p 37-38]
Words atone cannot define the
Squadron, it's activities, or
characterize it's
personalities. Within the next few pages is a
Summarization of interest,
of the 85th Cavalry Reconnaissance
Squadron Mechanized. It is
the combined efforts of each little section
Which helped to bring on a
VE Day.
It is impossible for the
Squadron Commander to care for every
detail in order that the
Squadron will operate smoothly and
effectively; consequently,
he must have cooperation of a Special
Staff consisting of
Executive Officer, S-1, S-2, S-3, and S-4,
Communication Officer,
Maintenance Officer, Liaison Officer,
Personnel Officer, Special
Service Officer, Medics and Chaplain.
Primarily, the principal
duties of the Executive Officer is to coordinate
all activities; also in the
absence of the Squadron Commander
he is given to make
decisions in his name.
S-I, The Adjutant, is
responsible for all administration pertaining
to the Squadron. Interviews
and assigns all reinforcements
making certain they are
properly assigned to the duties in which
they are of most beneficial
to the army.
Recommendations for
decorations, promotions, discharges
and transfers a processed by
the S-1; also, leaves of all nature.
Appointment of both summary
and special courts martial are S-
1 matters.
Add to this the new
redeployment regulations and point system
and the formulation of
policies concerning them and you have an
idea of the S-1's
responsibilities.
During combat he is also the
burial officer.
S--2. Intelligence Officer,
is responsible for the collection, evaluation,
and dissemination of all
pertinent information about the enemy
and terrain. He must gather
and weigh all reports from all
sources to form a picture of
the enemys strength, his position and
capabilities.
During combat S-2 depends on
all personnel of the Squadron
to obtain necessary
information regarding the enemy, once received,
is plotted on the situation
map and proper action taken by
squadron if feasible.
Screening of all suspicious
civilians in captured towns, and
Interrogation of all PW's is
also handled by the S~2 Section.
Counter-intelligence, also,
is the S-2's responsibility; must be
extremely cautious at all
times that proper measures are taken to
limit the enemy's
information of our troops and of our intentions.
Since VE Day, the duty and
responsibility of S-2 requires the
establishing and maintaining
of security posts of all types.
S-3, Operations, Plans and
Training, it is the responsibility of
S-3 during combat to plan
and coordinate the operations of the
squadron in accordance with
the desires of the Squadron
Commander and orders from
higher headquarters.
S-3 section plots all
friendly information on the situation map,
kept current by information gained
from all troops, combat
Commands and friendly units.
A constant check on the progress of
The operations is made by
members of the staff, making changes as
dictated by the
situation.
It is also his duty to
select all routes to the objective during
combat, tactics to be used,
fire power necessary for success,
Supplies needed, and
adequate number of personnel needed to gain
victory.
In time of training periods
S-3 organizes and coordinates the
training of the squadron;
arranging for training areas, training
aids, schools, ranges and
equipment with one aim in mind, that is,
to build the squadron
personnel into a fighting team.
* We will always remember
our gallant leaders: Lt. Col. Kent
Fay, Major John P. Gerald,
and also our leading noncommissioned
officer, Sgt/Major John E.
Sealy, who gave their
lives leading their men into
combat . . .