History of The 1st CAVALRY DIVISION PATCH

This is the story as reported in the Cavalry Times some years ago: "When,in September of 1921.a new unit designed "The 1st Cavalry Division" was authorized, the question of an identifying insignia immediately arose. The prvelant regulations dictated the insignia would have three principles:1.Blind men together in a gemon devotion, 2.To be an easily recognizable sign around which men could reassemble after battle,and 3.Be a word picture which would bring inspiration to the hearts and minds of the men of the division. Dut to economic restrictioins, the patch should be geposed of noly two colors.
The unit was stationed at Fort Bliss,Texas,where the sand and dust nevers settles,and where also was stationed COL and Mrs.Ben Dorcy. It seems that they were well known for their knowledge of heraldry and decided to design an insignia for the new division. They agreed that the the traditional cavalry colors of blue and gold would be a good color for the background of the new insignia. It so happende at that time that Mrs.Dorcy was cutting up an old dress blue cape of her husband's whick had a bright yellow lining. This bacame the cloth upon which the first patch was drawn.Seeing a trooper ride by mounted on a beautiful black thoroughbred horse. It was immediately decided to use the horse's head in the design.
They then chose the shape of a Norman knight's shield for the outline of the patch. It was customary in medieval times for knights to have their family coat of arms painted on their shiels. Since few people could read,troops could rally around the knight's emblem during battle. It therfore bacame a noble and symbolic choice for the new patch design. The bend(stripe) across the patch also came from heraldry. It is to represent the scaling ladders used in ancient battles to breach the walls of a castle. It occupies a place of honor equal to the horse because both were necessory to meet and defeat the ememy.
COL Dorcy the finished sketching the design on the yellow cape lining,Mrs.Dorcy sewed on the bend and the design was accepted ad the "First Team's" symbol. It was the largest patch in the army and it's size was justified by being at Fort Bliss where the swirling dust often obscured smaller designs.
It is designed so that, when worn on the left shoulder, the horse faces the enemy. And when worn on the right shoulder, the horse is facing to the rear remembering service and acgeplishments in the past. Today, the original patch resides in the library of the US Army War College in Carlisle Barracks,PA.