In North Africa, the battalion participated in the battles of Ousseltia Valley, Sbeitla, Kasserine Pass, Mateur, and El Guettar, for which it was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for destroying 37 tanks in 24 hours.

In intense fighting outside of Colmar, Second Lieutenant Audie Murphy earned the Medal of Honor by single-handedly defeating a German attack atop a damaged and burning 601st M10 tank destroyer.

On 16 August 2004, 1st Squadron 61st, Cavalry Regiment was activated as part of the 4th BCT, 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

The squadron was assigned an area of responsibility in southeast Baghdad that consisted of over 1,500 square kilometers and over 1 million people.

[3] A Gold color metal and enamel device 1+1⁄8 inches (2.9 cm) in diameter overall blazoned as follows: Per pale Gules and Argent, a pall Sable charged with ten mullets Or, three, three and four in pale at base, overall a rifle and a saber grips to base, saltirewise of the like and in chief a dagger point up of the last.

The crossed rifle and saber suggest the combined arms and the lineage of the major elements used to create the 61st Cavalry Regiment.

The coat of arms was approved on 14 December 2005 This article incorporates public domain material from 61st Cavalry Regiment.