The 2nd Cavalry Division was one of three divisions that were made up of African-American soldiers during World War II. The others were the US 92nd Infantry Division and the US 93rd Infantry Division.
The 2nd Cavalry Division was activated at Fort Riley, Kansas on 1 April 1941. It was deactivated on 15 July 1942. It was reactivated as a segregated unit on 25 February 1943 at Fort Clark, Texas.
The division was never engaged in combat and was instead assigned to construct airfields for the Tuskegee Airmen in north Africa and perform garrison and supply duties there. The division also provided replacement troops for the all-black 92nd and 93rd Divisions which were heavily engaged in combat in Italy and southern France. During the division's existence its soldiers experienced substandard housing, equipment, and mess facilities.
On 10 May 1944 the unit was deactivated and the soldiers dispersed to other units. The division has never been reactivated.
''see also: Buffalo Soldiers