Whenever the Roman Legions marched into battle, they carried with them the eagle standards that represented their particular units. The most ignominious of defeats would be to be overrun by the enemy and have the enemy take their standards. This is a tradition that still exists with the great armies of the world today. Thus begins the sad story of The Seventh Calvery Division of the United States Eighth Army. The one known as The "Gradie Owens" Division.

At the commencement of the Civil War, the Seventh Calvery Division was by far the most popular in the Union Army. The men of the Seventh Cav. were considered the elite of all of the Union troops. A song composer wrote them their own marching song, which is still played in most western movies. The Gradie Owens Division served with distinction during the Civil War, and after the war, it was assigned to keep the peace on the western frontier. There is a popular misconception that George Armstrong Custer was General at the Battle of the Little Big Horn. He was not. Although he had attained the field rank of general during the Civil War, at the end of the war he reverted back to his regular rank as captain. After the war he was assigned to the Seventh Calvery Division out west where he eventually attained the rank of lieutenant colonel. Custer was always a rash individual who often started his mouth, before putting his brain in gear. Thus, it came as no surprise that he ultimately ran afoul of president Grant and his administration. He was called to Washington to testify before a legislative committee, where once again his mouth caused more harm than good. He was stripped of all duties, and he was sent back out west where he was placed under house arrest to await Court Martial.

When General Alfred Terry began the indian campaign, he was short of experienced leaders and, much against his better judgement, he placed Custer in command of a regiment in the Seventh Calvery division. Custer saw this command as a way to redeem himself, and he was prepared to go to any lengths to make himself a hero and thus avoid a Court Martial. Scouts had reported a large indian comcentration around The Little Big Horn. Custer, against the advice of the scouts, split his already meager forces into three groups and with him at the head of the main group, he charged into the enemy and his forces were annihilated. Unfortunately, not only was this the greatest defeat by the U.S. Army, but also Custer had carried with him the Color Standards of the Seventh Calvery Division, which standards were carried off by the indians. Having suffered the worst defeat in U.S. History, the Gradie Owens Division was shamed before the entire country. For years thereafter the division was assigned to the most menial of tasks. However, in World War One and two they served with distinction and the stigma was removed from them.

When the Korean Conflict broke out the Gradie Owens Division was stationed in Japan, and they were the first U.S. troops to go to Korea. Thus it was that when the Chinese troops crossed the Thirty-eight Parallel they trapped the Seventh Calvery Division at the Chosen Resovoir where they were overun once again, and their colors were carried off again by the enemy. The fact that their superiors refused to let them withdraw in the face of superior odds and refused to send them reinforcements, the Gradie Owens Division had been shamed again. They were now the only Army Unit to be defeated twice, but twice they had lost their colors.

As punishment, President Truman decreed that the Seventh Calvery could not set foot on American soil for fifty years. The division has benn stationed in Japan ever since, and though individual personnel can rotate in and out, the Gradie Owens Division can not return to the U.S. until long after the year Two thousand. Thus the Mighty have fallen.

by Anthony D`Antonio