The 2nd Armored Division was activated on July 15, 1940 at Fort Benning Georgia. During 1941 and 1942, the Division conducted training operations in various states in preparation for embarkation at New York.

On July 10, 1943, Combat Command A of the 2nd Armored Division landed at Licata during the Sicily campaign. Their primary mission was to reinforce the 3rd Infantry Division and protect the left flank of the American beachhead. The remainder of the division were held in reserve along with the 9th Infantry Division, the 82nd Airborne Division, and a battalion of French Morrocans.

After some fierce fighting with both the defending enemy and the treacherous weather, the invading forces established their beachhead at a cost of only 58 killed, 199 wounded, and 700 missing. After pushing their way inland, the US forces met little resistance in Western Sicily, meeting mainly Italian forces who were not motivated to put up a strong defense. The American commander, George Patton, organized the 2nd Armored Division, along with the 3rd Infantry Division and the 82nd Airborne Division into a provisional Corps under MG Geoffrey Keyes. Their objective was to capture the Sicilian capital of Palermo. The Corps began a 100 mile dash to the city. After 72 hours of occasional fierce fighting, Palermo fell to the Americans. By July 24, 1943, just 2 weeks after the invasion, the Allied forces controlled the entire western half of Sicily. On August 17, 1943, Allied forces captured the city of Messina and the final Axis forces had evacuated the island of Sicily.

After the success of the Sicily campaign, the men and tanks of the 2nd Armored Division, embarked for the journey to England for some R&R and much needed replacements. Over the next several months, the 2nd Armored Division prepared for their next big invasion. Normandy.

On June 9, 1944 (D+3) the 2nd Armored Division rolled ashore at Omaha beach. On June 11, 1944, Combat Command A of the 2nd Armored Division was sent to support elements of the 101st Airborne Division and the 29th Reconnaissance company who had secured a bridge head over the Vire river at Auville-sur-la-Vey. That bridgehead helped secure the beachhead for V Corps. As V Corps began its next phase of operations, the capture of Caumont, the 2nd Armored Division moved into the Ready Reserve for the assault. Over the next few days, elements of the 2nd Armored Division were dispatched to support various Infantry units as the Allied forces met stiff resistance. Combat Command A was again assigned to suuport the 101st Airborne Division this time in the attack on Carentan. On June 13, 1944 the coordinated attack had not only secured the town of Carentan, but had driven the defenders over 2 miles from the town. Their attack prevented an enemy counter-attack which might have split the link between the invading Corps. Now that Carentan was secured, the allied forces were able to enlarge the corridor of communications between Isigny and Carentan.

Over the course of the next year, the 2nd Armored Division continued to support the advancing Infantry Divisions. The 2nd Armored Division is credited with ensuring success in Northern France, the Ardennes Forest, and helped close the northernt pincer in the Ruhr pocket. When the war ended in 1945, the 2nd Armored Division stood on the banks of the Elbe river at Madgeburg, ready to cross. After V-E day, the 2nd Armored Division reported to Drutte for occupation duty. They were relieved and returned home to Fort Hood Texas in January of 1946.

The 2nd Armored Division was next called to action for Operation Desert Shield/Storm. As coalition forces, the 1st (Tiger) Brigade of the 2nd Armored Division was attached to the I Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) under Marine LtG Walter Boomer along with the 1st and 2nd Marine Divisions. Their objective was Kuwait City. At 0400 on February 24, 1991 the troops of the I MEF started their advance. Kuwait City lay just 35 mile to the northeast of their line of departure.

The first opposition from Iraqi forces came as the advancing units reached a berm and 2 mine belts. The bulldozer blades attached to the Marine tanks quickly cut lanes in the berm while engineers cleared lanes in the minefields. By mid-afternoon the Tiger Brigade and the 2nd Marine Division had cleared the mine belts and repositioned themselves to continue the advance. By the end of the first day, the advancing 1st MEF had captured 10,000 Iraqi soldiers, detroyed over 20 tanks and captured intact the entire 9th Tank Battalion with all of its 35 T-55 tanks.

The next morning, the Iraqis launched their "reveille" counter-attack. While the Marine infantry units fought the advancing Iraqis, the Tiger Brigade raced north on the left flank. Over the next several hours, the Tiger Brigade had cleared 2 bunker complexes, destroyed several artillery pieces and armored personnel carriers, capture 1,100 enemy soldiers, and also captured the Iraqi commander of the 116th Brigade and put and end to the Iraqi counter-attack.

On the 26th, the Tiger Brigade and the 2nd Marine Division continued their advance north for Kuwait City. The next objective was Mutla Ridge. This was located next to the junction of 2 major highways in Al Jahrah. With the 3rd BN, 67th Armored in the lead, the Tiger Brigade encountered enemy bunker complexes and dug-in armored units. After 3 hours of combat, the Tiger Brigade all of the enemy tanks where they lay, cleared the Mutla police post, and captured an additional 1,600 prisoners from the bunker complexes. As the brigade moved up and over Mutla Ridge, they encountered and destroyed numerous Iraqi Air Defense positions.

Once the brigade consolidated its positions, they controlled the highest point for hundreds of miles in any direction. Their position also overlooked the "Highway of Death" that was clogged with retreating Iraqi forces. These units were being destroyed en masse by attacking Navy and Air Force aircraft. The Tiger Brigade added the deadly accuracy of their M1A1 tanks to the melee. Shortly after that, the Iraqis were driven from Kuwait and the coalition forces had won the war in 100 hours. For their efforts, the 1st Tiger Brigade was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation Award.

Shortly after Kuwait was liberated, the 1st Tiger Brigade returned to their home at Fort Hood Texas. Today the units that comprised the 2nd Armored Division have been assigned to other units and the division disbanded. Units like the 1st Tiger Brigade, now assigned to the 4th Infantry Division, stand ready to be the strong arm of the Army. They are the tip of the spear.