The 2nd Cavalry Division was a
cavalry
Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from "cheval" meaning "horse") are soldiers or warriors who fight mounted on horseback. Cavalry were the most mobile of the combat arms, operating as light cavalry ...
division
Division or divider may refer to:
Mathematics
*Division (mathematics), the inverse of multiplication
*Division algorithm, a method for computing the result of mathematical division
Military
*Division (military), a formation typically consisting ...
of the
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...
.
Heraldry
''Shoulder sleeve insignia
*''Description:'' On a yellow
Normans, Norman shield with a green border, a blue chevron below two eight-pointed blue stars.
*''Blazon:'' Or, a chevron azure, in chief 2 mullets of eight points of the second, a bordure vert.
*''Symbolism:'' The shield is yellow, the Cavalry color. The stars (representing spur rowells) are taken from the
coat of arms
A coat of arms is a heraldry, heraldic communication design, visual design on an escutcheon (heraldry), escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the latter two being outer garments). The coat of arms on an escutcheon forms the central ele ...
of the
2d Cavalry Regiment, which had initially been a part of the division.
*Worn from 20 August 1921 – 10 May 1944
Lineage
Organization (1921–42)
On 20 August 1921, as a result of lessons learned from
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
, the
US Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...
Adjutant General
An adjutant general is a military chief administrative officer.
France
In Revolutionary France, the was a senior staff officer, effectively an assistant to a general officer. It was a special position for lieutenant-colonels and colonels in staf ...
constituted the 1st and 2d
Cavalry
Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from "cheval" meaning "horse") are soldiers or warriors who fight mounted on horseback. Cavalry were the most mobile of the combat arms, operating as light cavalry ...
Division
Division or divider may refer to:
Mathematics
*Division (mathematics), the inverse of multiplication
*Division algorithm, a method for computing the result of mathematical division
Military
*Division (military), a formation typically consisting ...
s to meet future mobilization requirements. As organized, 2d Cavalry Division was to be an integrated division.
Units assigned to the 2nd Cavalry Division included:
*
3rd Cavalry Brigade : 15 October 1940 (Redesignated the
9th Armored Division Train on 15 July 1942.)
**
2nd Cavalry Regiment : 15 August 1927 (Transferred on 15 July 1942 to
9th Armored Division), reorganized as 2d Cavalry Group (Mechanized) in 1943).
**
14th Cavalry Regiment
The 14th Cavalry Regiment is a cavalry regiment of the United States Army. It has two squadrons that provide reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition for Stryker brigade combat teams. Constituted in 1901, it has served in conflicts ...
: 1 April 1941 (Transferred on 15 July 1942 to
9th Armored Division), reorganized as 14th Cavalry Group (Mechanized) in 1943).
**Weapons Troop
*
4th Cavalry Brigade (Cld) : 21 February 1941 (Inactivated on 23 March 1944)
**
9th Cavalry Regiment (Cld) : 10 October 1940
**
10th Cavalry Regiment (Cld) : 24 March 1923 (Transferred to
3rd Cavalry Division on 15 August 1927). Transferred to 2d Cavalry Division on 10 October 1940.
**Weapons Troop (Cld)
*Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, Division Artillery
**
![3 FA Rgt DUI](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9c/3_FA_Rgt_DUI.png)
3rd Field Artillery Battalion (75mm)
**
![16 FA Rgt DUI](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/25/16_FA_Rgt_DUI.jpg)
16th Field Artillery Battalion (75mm)
*HQ & HQ Troop, 2nd Cavalry Division
*
![9 Eng Bn DUI](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/9_Eng_Bn_DUI.jpg)
9th Engineer Squadron (Motorized)
*2d Medical Squadron
*17th Quartermaster Squadron
*92d Reconnaissance Squadron
*2d Antitank Troop
*2d Signal Troop
*24th Ordnance Medium Maintenance Company
Organization (1943–44)
Division headquarters reactivated on 25 February 1943 at
Fort Clark. Mobilized for deployment to North Africa 12 January 1944. Inactivated in Oran, Algeria on 9 March 1944. Components used to create service and labor units.
* Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 2nd Cavalry Division (Inactivated 10 May 1944)
*
4th Cavalry Brigade : Activated 21 February 1941. Inactivated 23 March 1944; assets converted into the 6495th Engineer Heavy Pontoon Battalion, Provisional (Colored); later converted into the 1553rd Engineer Heavy Pontoon Battalion (Colored).
**
10th Cavalry Regiment
The 10th Cavalry Regiment is a unit of the United States Army. Formed as a segregated African-American unit, the 10th Cavalry was one of the original "Buffalo Soldier" regiments in the post–Civil War Regular Army. It served in combat during t ...
: 24 March 1923 (Transferred to
3d Cavalry Division on 15 August 1927. Returned to 2d Cavalry Division on 10 October 1940. Inactivated 10 March 1944; assets converted into the 6486th Engineer Construction Battalion, Provisional (Colored) on 20 March 1944; later converted into the 1334th Engineer Construction Battalion (Colored) on 29 March 1944.
**
28th Cavalry : Activated at Fort Lockett on 25 February 1943. Inactivated 31 March 1944; assets converted into the 6487th Engineer Construction Battalion, Provisional (Colored) on 31 March 1944; later converted into the 134th Quartermaster Battalion (Mobile)(Colored).
*5th Cavalry Brigade : Activated 25 February 1943. Inactivated 12 June 1944; assets converted into the 6400th Ordnance Ammunition Battalion (Provisional) on 12 June 1944.
**
9th Cavalry Regiment
The 9th Cavalry Regiment is a parent cavalry regiment of the United States Army. It is not related to the 9th Kansas Cavalry Regiment of the Union Army. Historically, it was one of the Army's four segregated African-American regiments and was p ...
: Assigned 10 October 1940. Broken up and personnel reassigned to various service units on 7 March 1944.
**
27th Cavalry Regiment : Activated 25 February 1943. Inactivated 27 March 1944; assets converted into the 6404th Port Battalion on 31 March 1944.
* 2nd Cavalry Division Artillery (Colored) Inactivated 10 March 1944.
**
77th Field Artillery Battalion (Colored)(75mm) Inactivated 26 February 1944.
**
78th Field Artillery Battalion (Colored)(75mm) Inactivated 10 March 1944.
** 159th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm)(Colored): Did not deploy to North Africa.
* 35th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (Mechanized) (Colored) (Inactivated 25 March 1944)
* 162nd Engineer Squadron (Colored) (Inactivated 22 March 1944)
* 3rd Medical Squadron (Colored) (Inactivated 24 May 1944)
* 2nd Cavalry Division Military Police Platoon (Colored) (Inactivated 1 June 1944)
* 20th Cavalry Quartermaster Squadron (Colored) (Inactivated 23 March 1944)
* 114th Ordnance Medium Maintenance Company (Colored) (Inactivated 7 March 1944)
[''Order of Battle: U.S. Army World War II'' by Shelby L. Stanton]
World War II
Constituted in 1921, the 2nd Cavalry Division was not activated until April 1941. As part of the Protective Mobilization Plan, the division was reserved for activation at
Fort Riley
Fort Riley is a United States Army installation located in North Central Kansas, on the Kansas River, also known as the Kaw, between Junction City and Manhattan. The Fort Riley Military Reservation covers 101,733 acres (41,170 ha) in Gear ...
, Kansas, but due to manpower constraints it never reached full strength. The 2nd received the appropriate number of cavalry regiments, but units providing the organic support and service troops remained unfilled. The first divisional activations came in October 1940, with the organization of the
3rd Cavalry Brigade and the assignment of the
2nd Cavalry Regiment and
14th Cavalry Regiment
The 14th Cavalry Regiment is a cavalry regiment of the United States Army. It has two squadrons that provide reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition for Stryker brigade combat teams. Constituted in 1901, it has served in conflicts ...
. The
4th Cavalry Brigade activated during February 1941 with the
9th Cavalry Regiment
The 9th Cavalry Regiment is a parent cavalry regiment of the United States Army. It is not related to the 9th Kansas Cavalry Regiment of the Union Army. Historically, it was one of the Army's four segregated African-American regiments and was p ...
and
10th Cavalry Regiment
The 10th Cavalry Regiment is a unit of the United States Army. Formed as a segregated African-American unit, the 10th Cavalry was one of the original "Buffalo Soldier" regiments in the post–Civil War Regular Army. It served in combat during t ...
as its cavalry regiments. These last two regiments, the only two available for assignment, were black units. The division, therefore, was unique to Army structure at that time, a racially mixed unit.
Split between
Fort Riley
Fort Riley is a United States Army installation located in North Central Kansas, on the Kansas River, also known as the Kaw, between Junction City and Manhattan. The Fort Riley Military Reservation covers 101,733 acres (41,170 ha) in Gear ...
and
Camp Funston
Camp Funston is a U.S. Army training camp located on Fort Riley, southwest of Manhattan, Kansas. The camp was named for Brigadier General Frederick Funston (1865–1917). It is one of sixteen such camps established at the outbreak of World War ...
, Kansas, neither post having adequate facilities for the division's horse cavalry, personnel shortages continued, and divisional elements were activated using provisional assets.
General Millikin, the 2nd Cavalry Division commander in June 1941, envisioned a combined use of mechanized and horse cavalry within the division. During July, Troop A, 2n Reconnaissance Squadron, was formed provisionally as a mechanized divisional element. The division, now organized with horses, scout cars, jeeps and motorcycles, spent most of the rest of the summer training with its new equipment.
The 2nd Cavalry Division participated in the Second Army Maneuvers of late August as a component of the Red Forces facing the
VII Corps 7th Corps, Seventh Corps, or VII Corps may refer to:
* VII Corps (Grande Armée), a corps of the Imperial French army during the Napoleonic Wars
* VII Corps (German Empire), a unit of the Imperial German Army prior to and during World War I
* VII ...
' Blue Army. Given the task of capturing
Arkansas
Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the South Central United States. It is bordered by Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, and Texas and Oklahoma to the west. Its name is from the Osage ...
and
Louisiana
Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It is the 20th-smallest by area and the 25th most populous of the 50 U.S. states. Louisiana is borde ...
, the 2nd's mission ended on 9 September with divisional elements at
Chatham
Chatham may refer to:
Places and jurisdictions Canada
* Chatham Islands (British Columbia)
* Chatham Sound, British Columbia
* Chatham, New Brunswick, a former town, now a neighbourhood of Miramichi
* Chatham (electoral district), New Brunswic ...
, Louisiana. During the next week the division became part of a second training operation. This time the division served with the Second Army's Red Force, now challenging the Third Army's Blue Force. Second Army's first goal was to defeat and remove the Blue Forces from southern Louisiana, and then to keep the enemy from capturing Shreveport. At the close of these maneuvers the 2nd Cavalry Division returned to Kansas, having prevailed with Blue Forces still forty miles from the city.
By 2 November the division possessed a number of its organic support troops, although most were still functioning in a provisional status. The end of the month found the division involved in another set of training maneuvers. The operation, "PRACTICE BLITZKRIEG," was based in Kansas and finished with the 2nd Cavalry Division's capture of Topeka. The exercise ended when the divisional military police unit seized the governor who feigned a surrender of the state.
The surprise attack on
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor is an American lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. It was often visited by the Naval fleet of the United States, before it was acquired from the Hawaiian Kingdom by the U.S. with the signing of the Re ...
triggered fears of assaults on the west coast and invasion threats from south of the border. A new emphasis was placed on the continent's western defenses and the division deployed its 3rd Brigade to
Arizona
Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...
. General Coulter, the brigade commander, was also given command of the Southern Land Frontier Sector of the Western Defense Command. Under him the 2nd Cavalry, stationed at Phoenix, and the 14th Cavalry, at Tucson, patrolled the Mexican Border for the next seven months. Meanwhile, the 4th Cavalry Brigade, still at Camp Funston, continuing an endless cycle of training. Constantly called on to provide cadres for new units, the 9th and 10th Cavalry routinely lost veteran personnel and received untrained recruits.
During the spring of 1942 a
War Department War Department may refer to:
* War Department (United Kingdom)
* United States Department of War (1789–1947)
See also
* War Office, a former department of the British Government
* Ministry of defence
* Ministry of War
* Ministry of Defence
* Dep ...
decision to increase the number of armored divisions within the United States Army resulted in the planned conversion of the 2nd Cavalry Division. White troops in the 3d Brigade were used in the formation of the
9th Armored Division. The 2nd and 14th Cavalry were inactivated and their personnel transferred into the newly formed 2nd and 14th Armored Regiments, both elements of the new armored division. On 15 July 1942 the 2nd Cavalry Division was inactivated. The 4th Cavalry Brigade with its black regiments, however, remained active.
The activation of the 9th Armored Division created logistical problems at Fort Riley and Camp Funston. The installations that had accommodated a single division were now home to a division and an additional cavalry brigade. Consequently, the 4th Cavalry Brigade Headquarters and the 10th Cavalry relocated to
Camp Lockett
Camp Lockett was a United States Army military post located in Campo, California, east of San Diego, and north of the Mexican border. Camp Lockett has historical connections to the Buffalo Soldiers due to the 10th and 28th Cavalry Regiments h ...
, California. The 9th Cavalry, although still assigned to the brigade, moved to
Fort Clark, Texas.
As the number of black personnel entering the Army rose, the need for segregated units for these soldiers to join also increased. In November 1942 the War Department directed that the 2nd Cavalry Division would be reactivated, and that two new black regiments would be assigned. It was also announced that the 2nd, now the Army's third black division, would remain divided between Texas and California. Construction was started at both posts since neither had the facilities to support an entire division. The work completed, the 2nd Cavalry Division activated on 25 February 1943 with headquarters at Fort Clark. The 9th and 27th Cavalry, active at the Texas post, were the assigned troops of the 5th Cavalry Brigade. The 10th Cavalry and the 28th Cavalry, located at Camp Lockett, made up the 4th Cavalry Brigade.
Filled using recruits straight from the induction centers, the 2nd Division spent most of the spring and summer of 1943 training its soldiers. The division provided these men with their basic training as well as instruction in cavalry operations. The divisional training as a whole, however, would not be tested. Stating that there was no intrinsic need for a second cavalry division, the War Department had devised a plan to use the 2nd Cavalry Division personnel to form needed service units. Black community leaders, reacting against the criticism of the performance of African Americans in combat units, protested the possible conversion of the division. The debate over the capabilities of black units continued but the decision concerning the status of the 2nd Cavalry Division was already made. The War Department ordered the division to be shipped overseas where the conversion would take place. During January 1944 the 2nd Cavalry Division was dismounted and shipped back east for deployment abroad. Arriving at
Oran
Oran ( ar, وَهران, Wahrān) is a major coastal city located in the north-west of Algeria. It is considered the second most important city of Algeria after the capital Algiers, due to its population and commercial, industrial, and cultural ...
, North Africa, on 9 March 1944, elements of the division were gradually inactivated until the 2nd Cavalry Division itself ceased to exist on 10 May 1944.
The division was never engaged in combat, and was instead assigned to construct airfields for the
Tuskegee Airmen
The Tuskegee Airmen were a group of primarily African American military pilots (fighter and bomber) and airmen who fought in World War II. They formed the 332d Fighter Group and the 477th Fighter Group, 477th Bombardment Group (Medium) of the ...
in North Africa and perform garrison and supply duties there. The division also provided replacement troops for the all-black
92nd Infantry Division which was heavily engaged in combat in Italy.
Commanders
*
Brigadier General
Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...
Terry de la Mesa Allen Sr.
Major general (United States), Major General Terry de la Mesa Allen Sr. (April 1, 1888 – September 12, 1969) was a senior United States Army Officer (armed forces), officer who fought in both World War I and World War II. Allen was a decorated W ...
: 1 April 1941 – May 1941
*Brigadier General
John Millikin
Major General John Millikin (January 7, 1888 – November 6, 1970) was a senior United States Army officer who served in both World War I and World War II. During the latter, Millikin commanded III Corps in General George S. Patton's U.S. Third ...
: June 1941 – April 1942
*Brigadier General
John B. Coulter
Lieutenant General John Breitling Coulter (April 27, 1891 – March 6, 1983) was a senior United States Army officer. Enjoying a distinguished 40-year military career, Coulter served during World War I, World War II and the Korean War.
Early li ...
: May 1942 – 15 July 1942
*
Major General
Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...
Harry H. Johnson
Harry Hubbard Johnson (April 11, 1895 – August 6, 1986) was a United States army officer with the rank of Major general (United States), major general, who commanded 2nd Cavalry Division (United States), 2nd Cavalry Division and 93rd Infantry ...
: 25 February 1943 – 10 May 1944.
See also
*
Buffalo Soldier
Buffalo Soldiers originally were members of the 10th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army, formed on September 21, 1866, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. This nickname was given to the Black Cavalry by Native American tribes who fought in th ...
*
*
United States Army branch insignia
In the United States Army, soldiers may wear insignia to denote membership in a particular area of military specialism and series of List of United States Army careers, functional areas. Army branch insignia is similar to the line officer and Unit ...
References
*
U.S. Army Order of Battle 1919–1941, Volume 2. The Arms: Cavalry, Field Artillery, and Coast Artillery, 1919–41' by Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Steven E. Clay, Combat Studies Institute Press, Fort Leavenworth, KS, 2011
The Evolution of Divisions and Separate Brigades, by John B. Wilson, Center of Military History, Washington D.C., 1998
*
Cavalry Regiments of the U S Army' by James A. Sawicki Wyvern Pubns; June 1985
External links
African Americans in the U.S. Army – ARMY.MIL
{{DEFAULTSORT:002
African-American history of the United States military
Cavalry Division, 02
02
Military units and formations established in 1921
Military units and formations disestablished in 1944