Page 4
The Battalion
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» « the rising sun signals the
beginning of a new day,
the sound of restless
horses and the sight of the
Parsons Mounted Cavalry conjure
up images of the Old West.
It was a time when long hours
and hard work were prerequisites
for survival, when man and na
ture were considered equals. To
day, the Cavalry consists of 52 ca
dets who display that same rugged
spirit.
Each must put forth the tre
mendous energy and dedication
needed to care for their horses.
However, the chance to ride dur
ing march-ins representing Texas
A&M University and the Corps of
Cadets makes all the hard work
worthwhile.
Formed in 1919 as part of a pro
gram to commission Reserve offi
cers into the cavalry branch of the
U.S. Army, the cavalry at Texas
A&M was disbanded in 1943 as
the need for horse-mounted sol
diers decreased with the advent of
new technology.
But in 1973, a group of cadets
reorganized the cavalry and
named it after then-Corps of Ca
dets commandant Thomas R. Par
sons, Class of ’49.
The new cavalry was given the
tasks of keeping alive the mem
ories of an armed force that trav
eled and fought on horseback, and
promoting the spirit and tradi
tions of Aggieland.
Positions in the Parsons
Mounted Cavalry are open to all
Corps members, but only after at
least completing their freshman
year.
As sophomores, prospective
members must take two required
animal science courses that teach
the cadets horse care. Afterward,
members of the cavalry must take
a riding course every semester.
In addition to the coursework,
cadets must clean stalls and take
care of the horses. The sopho
mores also maintain 57 acres of
land, called the Fiddler’s Green,
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LEFT: Senior members ofthe
Parsons Mounted Cavalry
watch the March to the Bra
zos events from atop a ridge.
BELOW: Lt. Col. Dunham,
the adviser to the cavalry,
leads the seniors down Tur
key Creek Road Saturday
morning.
BOTTOM: Senior Kevin
Franks brushes his horse be
fore heading out to the Bra
zos River.
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where the bam and horses are broke a few horses,” Moore said,
kept. Moore wanted to be in the cav-
The cavalry is made up of peo- airy ever since he and his father,
pie from a variety of backgrounds. Class of ’68, visited A&M when he
Some are from the country, but was 12. After seeing a cavalry
just as many members are from member on a horse, Moore then
Here’s to us, and those like us. There’s damn few
of us left.”
— Col. Westervelt,
former adviser
Parsons Mounted Cavalry
big cities such as Dallas or Hous- decided he wanted to join the cav-
ton. airy.
James Moore, commander of This year’s group of cadets also
the cavalry, learned how to ride consists of one woman, Sonja
horses as a child on his family’s Henrikson. The senior from Red-
ranch in New Mexico. “I even lands, Calif, wanted to try out for
cavalry ever since she joined the
Corps. She owned a horse while
living in South Dakota and simply
wanted the chance to ride again.
Although she is only the second
woman ever to he accepted into
the cavalry, Henrikson said she
has felt no pressure to be an ex
ample for other women with simi
lar aspirations.
However, she does encourage
all cadets who want to be mem
bers of the cavalry to give it their
best shot.
Henrikson said she gains great
satisfaction from being in the cav
alry. “Hearing a little kid at a foot
ball game say that they want to be
just like me and be in the cavalry
is the greatest feeling in the
world,” she said.