Second United States Cavalry - A History - The Ghosts of Patton's Third Army

Published by the 2d Cavalry Association Historical Section after WW II to preserve the unit history of the 2d Cavalry Group in the European theater of action during WW II as well as the early occupation period following the war, the formation and early portion of the 2d Constabulary Regiment era, and the beginning of the 2d Cavalry's Cold War border period in Germany as the first line of defense along the Czechoslovakian and Southern East German borders with West Germany, a mission that would last until 1991 and end with the collapse of the Soviet Union. A brief history of the 2d Cavalry Regiment precedes the WW II story. First constituted as the 2d Regiment of Dragoons in 1836 to fight the Seminole Indians of Florida's everglades, the 2d Regiment has fought in the Mexican War, Indian Wars, Civil War, Spanish-American War, Philippine War, WW I (only US Cavalry to fight on horseback) and WW II up to the writing of this book in 1946. From 1942 at Ft Jackson, SC, to England in 1944, then on to France shortly following the D-Day invasion. Attached to Patton's Third Army, the 2d Cavalry Group soon became the tip of Patton's spear and the eyes and ears of his Army. Racing across France, the Third Army was diverted north into the Battle of the Bulge when it erupted, then in 1945 drove across Germany into Czechoslovakia, the 2d Cavalry Group penetrating farther into that country by wars end than any other unit. This book details it all and more with personal stories of day to day life in combat with a mechanized cavalry reconnaissance unit during WW II. Numerous sketches, photographs, and maps throughout detailing the actions of the 2d Cavalry Group and attached units. Also contains troop rosters in the rear of the book, as well as KIA/MIA lists. Today the 2d Stryker Cavalry Regiment is the oldest continuously serving regiment in the US Army. The 2d Cavalry Association was the first, and is the oldest, unit specific veterans organization in the US, established in 1899 by the Regiment's Spanish-American War veterans.