2nd Infantry Division:
The Indian Head Division.

When the U.S. entered WW II, the 2nd Division was
on active duty assigned to the Regular Army with
Headquarters at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. After receiving
airborne training at Fort Sam Houston, the Division received
winter training at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin, and then participated
in Third Army maneuvers in Louisiana before departing for
the European Theater in October of 1943

The shoulder patch for the Second Division is based on a
WW I design approved by the AEF on November 6th, 1918.
According to a former officer in the Division Supply Train,
the 2nd Division patch came about based on a design used to
mark Division vehicles. A contest was held within the Second
Supply Train with a prize offered for the three best designs
(to be submitted in the form of rough sketches). The two best
designs selected were an Indian head and a five-pointed star.
The Colonel in charge of the Train placed the two sketches on
his desk in separate locations. After a few moments, he placed
the Indian head over the star and announced that this would be
the design used. The insignia was then used as a marker on all
motor and animal drawn vehicles and eventually became the
basic design for the Division shoulder patch.