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tests were unnecessary to make the crucial decision as to whether to keep such an organization as the air assault division in being. Strike Command was unsatisfied with the unresolved joint operational problems associated with these new units, but no funds had been programmed for major tests during calendar year 1965. As thousands of pilots, mechanics and technicians returned to their home stations from temporary duty, the remainder of the test personnel finished writing annexes to the final test report, completing documentation of side tests of new equipment, and pulling long over-due maintenance on their tired aircraft.

On balance, it must be said that the continuation of active service of the 11th Air Assault hinged not only on the test results per se, but also the events in Vietnam which made the deployment of such a division extremely attractive. In the spring of 1965 many planners in the Pentagon were considering the deployment of this division as one of the possible options to counter a worsening situation—one in which the Viet Cong seemed likely to cut South Vietnam in half through the II Corps Tactical Zone.

In March 1965 the tentative decision was made to convert the 11th Air Assault Division (Test) to a full-fledged member of the force structure. General Creighton W. Abrams, who was then the Vice Chief of Staff, said after the decision briefing, "Is it not fortuitous that we happen to have this organization in existence at this point in time?" Those who had been fighting for such an organization for over a decade could not help but sense the irony of this remark. It was decided that the new division would carry the colors of the 1st Cavalry Division which was then deployed in Kora. This decision was made for a variety of reasons, some of them emotional and some pragmatic.

On 1 July 1965 the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) was officially activated pursuant to General Order 185, Headquarters Third U.S. Army, and was made up of the resources of the 11th Air Assault Division (Test) and the 2d Infantry Division. Despite a crippling loss of personnel by reassignment throughout the division, its personnel were able to retrain, re-equip, and deploy this major force to combat in ninety days. This effort is a major story in itself. Almost 50 percent of the original personnel were ineligible for overseas deployment. Replacement pilots had to be trained on new aircraft and new standing operating procedures, and the original structure itself received major modification. For example, the