At a little after noon on july 3, 1944, the five medium tanks in the first platoon of a company of the 712 th tank battalion were heading toward their first combat assignment, outside the village of pretot. As they waited in that hot louisiana field, leonard smith and his fellow recruits were on their way to becoming part of the first african american unit in the history of the united states army to fight in tanks. Taggert, reprinted by the battery press, nashville, 1987. The 756th tank battalion maintained an active association for over 20 years. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. The battalion trained with the division at camp polk and participated in third army maneuvers in. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn about the hardships endured by those men who had to endure the double problems of discrimination by their countrymen and the fighting of a determined enemy.
The book chronicles the lives of young black men from all over the united states who registered for the draft or volunteered in the united states army in 1942. After action report, 716th tank battalion, 9 jan 45 thru 8. Army ground forces from battalion through division, 19391946. I am looking for any personnel who may have primary source documentation, diaries, photographs, orders, etc. Welcome to the official 1st tank battalion facebook page. The 761st tank battalion was an independent tank battalion of the united states army during world war ii. The following description of the book is from the website of the publisher.
Abmc headquarters 2300 clarendon blvd, suite 500 arlington, va 22201 phone. My family is not sure that he made very many copies, if any, of this book and would like to see if he and or his family needs or wants a copy. The battalion was operating under the light tank battalion table of or ganization and consisted of three tank companies. The 756th tank battalion in the battle of cassino, 1944 by nancy tsuchiya author 4. The 740 th tank battalion in the battle of the bulge cecil taylor was a tank commander and a member of the 740 th tank battalion, a specialized unit that was assigned to different infantry divisions whenever extra armored support was needed. Fowler, 191st tk bn who was awarded the moh for actions at carano, italy on 23 may 44. It is an interlocked ornament, found in nordic monuments, composed of three torques. Because the 15th was known as the wolf pack, it had a wolfs head over an armored triangle as the battalion insignia. The 761st were known as the black panthers after their units distinctive insignia. The epic tale of the 761st tank battalion, 19421945, was published in 1945.
The 6th armored division had three tank battalions. Tank battalion is entertaining and difficult at the same time. Those with a link will take you to a battalionpublished history. World war ii oral history, books about world war ii, world. The tank battalion was the main offensive striking force of an armored division. The 192nd tank battalion of the united states army was a federalized army national guard unit activated in november 1940. The tank battalion s mark in history slowly began to fade until its actions were summed up in a presidential unit citation awarded in 1978. The tank corps was formed from the heavy branch mgc on 27 july 1917 and the battalions adopted numbering rather than letter designations although tank names followed the same lettering. The original black panthers fought in the 761st tank. Digitized by the combined arms research library carl digital library, us army combined arms center. Kareem abduljabber has done a fabulous job of documenting the 761st tank battalions service during world war ii.
Marines with 1st tank battalion, move to their combat operation center, during exercise steel knight sk 2019 at marine corps air ground combat center, twentynine palms, california, dec. This book also served as a source for kareem abdul jabbars brothers in arms the story of the 761st tank battalion. For military officers or others who want to understand how far we have come and how far we have to go in treating all soldiers equally, this is an important book. In some black and white photos the marking appears as a wolf head on a simple white square. Home world war ii operational documents after action report, 736th tank battalion, 1 may31 may, 45. Sk is an annual exercise used to enhance the marines and sailors skills, tactics, and combat readiness by performing in various dynamic. In october of 1944, the 761st tank battalion became the first african american tank battalion to see combat in world war ii. Comanche run consists of mobilization and embarkation. My grandfather was the commander of the 740th tank battallion that saved the country of belgium from the german forces. John buford recognized the value of such ground from the defensive side, deploying his cavalry and cannon to slow the confederate advance on the first day, west of gettysburg. Each tank battalion had a complement of 32 officers amd 374 men. Former nba star kareem abduljabbar tells the story of a littleknown black tank battalion in world war ii. Belgium holds a ceremony and a remembrance for the soldiers of his battallion every several years and the family members get the opportunity to experience the trip these soldiers made in germany and belgium.
This incident, reported in the 709th tank battalion book 335 days in combat, is not the same as i witnessed. I am working on a book about the seven texas aggies awarded the medal of honor in world war ii. You agree to the cookies policy by exploring this site. Company e, 68th infantry was originally organized as company a of the 328th tank battalion in 1918. This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best user experience. Kareen abduljabbar talks about the book he coauthored, brothers in arms. Brothers in arms is the actual, heroic account of the 761st tank battalion, an africanamerican armored unit that fought in world war ii. Home world war ii operational documents after action report, 716th tank battalion, 9 jan 45 thru 8 feb 45, 18 mar 45 thru 8 feb 45. Kareem abduljabber has done a fabulous job of documenting the 761st tank battalion s service during world war ii. Because the 740 th was not permanently attached to a division, it was known as a bastard battalion.
Seek strike destroy, the story of the 774th tank destroyer battalion book published by zimmermann in nurnberg, germany, 1945. Covers training in the united states and combat action in france and germany. Pfeifer discusses not only the history of the units battle record, marginalized by racism, but also the experiences of individual men who suffered many. Tank commander harvey woodard of the 761st tank battalion assesses terrain near nancy, france, in november 1944. This is a comprehensive record of the 761st tank battalion, the first african american armored unit to enter combat. Very soon after the redesignation the battalion moved from camp gordon to ft. Camp campbell was also the home of the 12th and the 20th armored. Deployed to the philippines, the battalion was engaged in combat during the japanese invasion and the us retreat to the bataan peninsula. Kathryn browne pfeifer explores the black panthers, the first africanamerican tank battalion to see combat in world war ii. In 2010, the association turned in their book and photo collection and retired the battalion colors at the patton museum at fort knox, kentucky.
Jun 27, 2012 the 740 th tank battalion in the battle of the bulge cecil taylor was a tank commander and a member of the 740 th tank battalion, a specialized unit that was assigned to different infantry divisions whenever extra armored support was needed. It was redesignated the third tank company in 1920, and. Like the 11th, the 22nd battalion consisted of a headquarters and headquarters company, three medium tank companies, a light tank company and a service company. In the end, the men of the 761st tank battalion were awarded a medal of honor, 11 silver stars, and about 300 purple hearts despite facing racism as the first black armored unit in combat and the second in u. This barcode number lets you verify that youre getting exactly the right version or edition of a book.
After action report, 736th tank battalion, 1 may31 may. A brief history of the 756th tank battalion the following is from the book the history of the third infantry division in world war ii edited by donald g. Unit history of the 68th tank battalion this will be the record of the 68th tank battalions participation in successive campaigns from the historic breakthrough in normandy to ve day in the heart of germany. Ellis tank slid into a bomb crater with four feet of water and flipped over. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Redesignated 70th light tank battalion 7 october 1941.
The tank battalions mark in history slowly began to fade until its actions were summed up in a presidential unit citation awarded in 1978. The epic story of the 761st tank battalion, wwiis forgotten heroes, sheds light on. A detailed and informative history is told in the book entitled the 761st black panther tank battalion in world war ii an illustrated history of the first african american armored unit to see combat, by joe wilson, jr. Sometimes the painting wasnt even finished before the vehicle. Home world war ii operational documents after action report, 712th tank battalion. Home world war ii operational documents 753rd tank battalion.
July 3, 1944 712th tank battalion world war ii oral. It is a wonder now what seemed so desirable about such a status but when on 20 sept. The men of the 795th ost battalion georgian were posted on hill 20, south of ste. The 761st was made up primarily of africanamerican soldiers, who by federal law were not permitted to serve alongside white troops.
I am the battalion historian for 1st tank 72nd armored battalion, which was a company 72nd tank battalion during the korean war. I would be very interested in the may 44 and jun 44 after action reports for the 191st tank battalion. Introduction includes memorium and staff officer pages pages early history to oct. Throughout this period of combat, the courageous and. Apr 26, 2017 in the end, the men of the 761st tank battalion were awarded a medal of honor, 11 silver stars, and about 300 purple hearts despite facing racism as the first black armored unit in combat and the second in u. The 740th tank battalion in the battle of the bulge. The last reunion was held september 10, 2009 in the cincinnati, ohio area. Assigned at various times to the third, seventh and ninth armies, the black panthers fought major engagements in six european countries and participated in four major allied campaigns, inflicting,000 casualties on the german army and capturing or destroying thousands of. Unit history of the 68th tank battalion this will be the record of the 68th tank battalion s participation in successive campaigns from the historic breakthrough in normandy to ve day in the heart of germany. Somebody that wasnt there, he would think that youre making that story up.
The mixture of insignia and distinctive colors of several arms incorporated in the armored force symbolize integrity and esprit. Abduljabbar, who authored the book brothers in arms. My family is not sure that he made very many copies, if any, of this book and would like to. Army infantry division, 99th, world war ii, world war, 19391945, united states. Normal complement called for approximately 700 men and 40 officers. The coat of arms of the 1st tank battalion is a jousting shield of blue with a scarlet border and a large numeral 1 in the 1st marine division font in scarlet behind an m2a4 tank painted as used at guadalcanal during world war ii all behind a diagonal lightning bolt striking from the shields upper left to the shields lower right. The history of the black soldiers of the 761st tank battalion, which served with distinction during world war ii, is well presented in this entry in the africanamerican soldiers series. Us army units book 2 boxes 127489 33rd armored regiment. The epic story of the 761st tank battalion, wwiis forgotten heroes kindle edition by abduljabbar, kareem, walton, anthony. Constituted 15 march 1942 in the army of the united states, the battalion was activated 1 april 1942 at camp claiborne, louisiana. And, by the end of the war, the black panthers had fought their way.
Assigned at various times to the third, seventh and ninth armies, the black panthers fought major engagements in six european countries and participated in four major allied campaigns, inflicting,000 casualties on the german army and capturing or destroying thousands. The 68th tank battalion in combat bangor public library. Formed from 67th infantry medium tanks at fort meade, maryland, on 15 june 1940 under lt. The 761st tank battalion was activated on april 1, 1942, at camp claiborne, louisiana, and deployed to europe, landing at omaha beach in france on october 10, 1944. Those with a link will take you to a battalion published history. The units official designation was the 761st tank battalion colored.
To link to this object, paste this link in email, im or document to embed this object, paste this html in website. The 761st black panther tank battalion in world war ii. The symbols represent the characteristics of armored divisions. The battalion trained at camp hood, texas, where they were rated superior by second army commander lt. Rocky had been in the 73rd tank battalion in korea and had written a personal book, which he named see you in hell. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading brothers in arms. After action report, 736th tank battalion, 1 may31 may, 45. The following sections were scanned from a copy of the book graciously provided by art pelkey. Oct 12, 2012 1st platoon, alpha company, 3d tank battalion at con thien 10 september 67 14 october 67. This black tank battalion earned 11 silver stars and the. The speaker is david williams, reflecting on his world war ii experience as a captain with the 761st tank battalion.
The reason they dont talk is they couldnt get the picture over to somebody that wasnt there. The fourth tank was commanded by jule braatz, a recently married 26. Before beginning this narrative, however, there are some remarks we must make. The book told about being behind enemy lines, being captured, etc. A preliminary copy was published in the units hellcat newsletter while they were on occupational duty in nurnberg, germany.
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