28th Cavalry Regiment facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 28th Cavalry Regiment (Horse) (Colored) |
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Distinctive unit insignia
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| Active | 1943–1944 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Cavalry |
| Size | Regiment |
| Garrison/HQ | Camp Lockett, California |
| Colors | Yellow |
The 28th Cavalry Regiment (Horse) (Colored) was a special unit in the United States Army. It was made up of African-American soldiers. This regiment was quite unique because it was the very last horse-mounted cavalry unit ever created by the U.S. Army. It was formed in 1943 as part of the 2nd Cavalry Division. However, it was stopped, or "inactivated," in North Africa in 1944. The regiment never actually fought in any battles.
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A New Cavalry Unit
The 28th Cavalry Regiment was officially created on November 10, 1942. It started its operations on February 25, 1943, at Camp Lockett, California. This new unit was part of the 4th Cavalry Brigade, which belonged to the 2nd Cavalry Division.
Horses and Training
The horses for the regiment came from Fort Bliss and Fort Robinson. The 28th Cavalry took over border patrol duties from another unit. Colonel Edwin M. Burnett was the commander of the regiment. They trained in southern California while also patrolling the border between Mexico and the United States.
Soldiers and Firefighting
All the regular soldiers in the 28th Cavalry were African-American. About 153 experienced non-commissioned officers came from the 10th Cavalry. The rest of the soldiers were new recruits who joined through the draft.
In the summer of 1943, the regiment helped fight wildfires. One of the biggest fires covered 16,000 acres. The supervisor of the Cleveland National Forest praised the soldiers for their great work. Even with this break, the regiment was ready for more combat training.
Moving to North Africa
In late 1943, the regiment was supposed to train in the desert. But the Army decided that training in Louisiana would be better for horse cavalry.
However, in December, the Department of War changed plans. They decided to send the entire 2nd Cavalry Division to North Africa. The Army needed service units more than cavalry units there. So, the division would be broken up.
Around January 12, 1944, the regiment was told to get ready to move. They gave up their horses. The soldiers traveled by train to Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia, between February 10 and 15. They also received 243 new soldiers from Fort Huachuca to make the unit full strength. On March 2, they moved to Newport News.
Arrival and Inactivation
The regiment left the United States on March 3, 1944. They sailed from Hampton Roads Port of Embarkation on a ship called the USS General William Mitchell. They arrived in Casablanca, North Africa, on March 12.
After a short stop near Casablanca, they traveled by train to Oran. Just over two weeks after arriving in Algeria, on March 31, the 2nd Cavalry Division and all its regiments, including the 28th Cavalry, were officially stopped. This happened at Hassi Ben Okba near Oran.
Soldiers from the 28th Cavalry had a choice. They could join other service units, or they could volunteer for combat. But if they volunteered for combat, they would lose their rank. Some soldiers from the 28th Cavalry helped create a new unit called the 6487th Engineer Battalion. The 28th Cavalry Regiment was formally closed down on December 12, 1951.
