United States Cavalry Horse. Last horse in the United States Cavalry, he achieved notoriety due only to the fact his death marked the end of the obsolete United States Army's cavalry program. Chief entered military service in 1940 at Fort Robinson, Nebraska and was assigned to Fort Riley to join the Tenth Cavalry. In 1950, the Army began disbanding the horse service and sold off its horses sixteen years or younger, while older mounts were put out to pasture on the post. By the time Chief died in 1968 at the age of 36, he was the very last cavalry mount on the rolls of the United States Army. His death marked the end of an era: whereby the army which once boasted thousands of mounts, now there were none. Officials at Fort Riley buried him "standing up" with full military honors including a color guard ceremony, remarks by the commanding general, and a band which played through out. His grave located near the Cavalry Museum lies beneath a statue of a mounted rider based on a painting by Frederick Remington in 1898 entitled, "The Cavalryman".
United States Cavalry Horse. Last horse in the United States Cavalry, he achieved notoriety due only to the fact his death marked the end of the obsolete United States Army's cavalry program. Chief entered military service in 1940 at Fort Robinson, Nebraska and was assigned to Fort Riley to join the Tenth Cavalry. In 1950, the Army began disbanding the horse service and sold off its horses sixteen years or younger, while older mounts were put out to pasture on the post. By the time Chief died in 1968 at the age of 36, he was the very last cavalry mount on the rolls of the United States Army. His death marked the end of an era: whereby the army which once boasted thousands of mounts, now there were none. Officials at Fort Riley buried him "standing up" with full military honors including a color guard ceremony, remarks by the commanding general, and a band which played through out. His grave located near the Cavalry Museum lies beneath a statue of a mounted rider based on a painting by Frederick Remington in 1898 entitled, "The Cavalryman".
Bio by: Donald Greyfield
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