Reactivation
David.Gettman March 27th, 2008
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The War Department reached the decision on December 18, 1942 to reactivate two regiments of cavalry, the Second and Twenty-Ninth, as mechanized units. A TWX from War Department through Army Ground Forces, Birmingham, Alabama, reached (then Lt. Col.) Charles H. Reed at the 42d Armored Regiment of the 11th Armored Division where he was assigned as Executive Officer. It designated him as Regimental Commander of the 2d Cavalry Regiment, Mechanized, being reactivated at Fort Jackson, S.C.
At the same time orders were received at Headquarters Fort Riley, Kansas, directing that Headquarters furnish the regimental staff.
The original staff as selected by Headquarters Fort Riley carried Major S.W. Benkosky, as Regimental Executive and included Capt. T.B. Hargis, Jr., formerly of the 15th Cavalry Regiment, as Regimental Adjutant, Capt. Shelby Greene, formerly of the 4th Cavalry Regiment, as Intelligence Officer, Major Benjamin Stahl, of the Fort Riley Motors Department, as Operations Officer, Capt. James H. Pitman, formerly of the 15th Cavalry Regiment as Supply Officer, and Capt. Allan C. Peck, of the Fort Riley Motors Department as Regimental Motors Officer. 1st Lt. John S. Higgins was appointed Communications Officer, and Capt. Lowry as Regimental Surgeon. Major W.J. Easton and Major W.A. Hill, from the CRTC were later designated as Squadron Commanders.
Major Benkosky was the first arrival at Fort Jackson, S.C., the new station of the Second Cavalry, reporting there on 2 January 1943. Lt. Col. Reed arrived on the following day, and arrangements were made with the Station Commander for the assignment of a portion of North Camp, in the area with temporary wood barracks, for the housing of the regiment.
Regimental headquarters were set up temporarily in one of the barracks for the reception of the incoming staff officers, and arrangements for mess were made with a nearby unit of the station complement, since the cooks were in the enlisted cadre which had not yet reported for duty. Continue Reading »
