56th Cavalry Brigade (United States)
The 56th Cavalry Brigade was a unit of the Texas Army National Guard formed in 1921. It was part of the 23rd Cavalry Division and later served as a separate brigade under the Third Army before and during World War II. Its modern-day successor is the 56th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
Organization and leadership
- The brigade originally included the 111th Cavalry Regiment (from New Mexico and Colorado) and the 112th Cavalry Regiment (Texas). In 1929 the 111th was replaced by the new 124th Cavalry Regiment (Texas).
- Headquarters moved several times: organized in Houston (1921) from the redesignated 1st Texas Cavalry Brigade HQ, then relocated to Brenham (headquarters troop) and later to Dallas (1934) and San Antonio (1935).
- Notable commanders included Brigadier General Louis S. Davidson (1934–1938) and Brigadier General Walter B. Pyron (1938–1941). Earlier leaders included Brig. Gen. Jacob F. Wolters and others.
State and training duties
- The brigade and its units performed various state duties, including martial law and escort tasks in places like Mexia (1922), Houston (1925), Borger (1929), and the East Texas oil area near Kilgore (1931).
- It conducted summer training at Camp Mabry, Camp Stanley, and Camp Wolters, and used Fort Brown and Fort Bliss as mobilization stations.
World War II activation and service
- In October 1938 the brigade was moved to Third Army control as a separate unit.
- It was activated for federal service on 18 November 1940, at its home stations, and moved to Fort Bliss to join the 1st Cavalry Division.
- The brigade took on border and defense duties along the Rio Grande, controlling the Eastern Sector of the Southern Land Frontier.
- After maneuvers in 1941, it returned to Fort McIntosh, Texas, in late 1943, briefly moved near Marfa (Fort D. A. Russell), and returned to Fort McIntosh in early 1944 as part of the Fourth Army.
Demobilization and legacy
- On 12 May 1944, the Army Ground Forces eliminated the 56th Cavalry Brigade because it was not needed overseas.
- Its Headquarters and Headquarters Troop became the 56th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop, Mechanized. The brigade itself did not see combat, but its subordinate regiments fought in the Pacific and China-Burma-India theaters.
- The brigade’s lineage continues today in the 56th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 12:36 (CET).