The Fifth Army’s VI Corp commander, Lieutenant General Lucian Truscott, an old cavalryman, recognized the benefit of mounted Infantry units operating in the difficult, hilly terrain. He had in his possession a large number of captured German horses and suggested the Infantry Divisions under his command form mounted reconnaissance units with these animals. Scattered among the officers of the units
involved were a number of ex-cavalrymen who quickly searched the ranks for anyone who could ride. They found former jockeys, cowboys and others who had been assigned to the 2nd Cavalry Division, the last horse cavalry division in the US Army before it was mechanized and reflagged as the 9th Armored Division. Of the Infantry divisions tasked, the 88th was the first to answer General Truscott’s call and formed a mounted recon platoon of Infantry christened the Blue Devils Horse Platoon (BDHP). Their first commander was First Lieutenant John William Russell of Dauphin, Pennsylvania. Following the war, then Lieutenant Colonel Russell had the unique distinction of having ridden both on the last official US Army Olympic Team (London 1948) and the first ‘civilian’ US Equestrian Olympic Team (Helsinki 1952).The modern BDHP had the honor of meeting him and have him judge the North American International Horse Show. He is a retired Lieutenant Colonel and runs the Pentathlon program for the USOC and is a 2001 inductee in the Show Jumping Hall of Fame. Today the Blue Devils is a self-sustained organization made up of volunteer active, reserve and retired military riders from across the country who compete at all levels within the FEI disciplines. Platoon members participated in animal rescue efforts following hurricane Katrina, flew scientist with the Human Society US to affected areas in the Gulf to judge the impact on animal life during the DeepWater Horizon spill, support military family and survivor activities and performed ceremonies around the country. They bring their love of nation and deep respect and affection for horses to every event, The Blue Devils have, and continue to, participate in training, competitions and ceremonies, usually on horses they just met, with distinguished organizations such as the Garde Républicaine of France, the mounted unit of the Belgium National Police, the British Army’s Household Cavalry, the Royal Cavalry Escort of The Netherlands, the Polish Army’s Cavalry Escort, the German Military Police mounted unit and a number of other notable mounted units.
