If you would like to contribute additional names or information, or provide corrections, please click roster contact left menu and use the contact form to send a message to roster manager joe wilson, jr. After world war ii, the army redeployed the 12th armored group to camp gruber, oklahoma, where it was deactivated during october of 1945. Richard walter english was a decorated school teacher, administrator, and soldier who served in germany under the 761st tank battalion, an allblack combat unit during world war ii. The battalion trained at camp hood, texas, where they were rated superior by second army commander lt. Freeman will tell this story in a medium that appeals to generations of moviegoers.
See more ideas about world war ii, world war two and world war. This is a comprehensive record of the 761st tank battalion, the first african american armored unit to enter combat. After decades of racial tensions in the united states began to ease, the battalion was belatedly awarded the presidential unit citation by president jimmy carter on 24 january 1978 there exists a dramatic colorized picture of corporal carlton chapman in the hatch of his m4 sherman tank, taken on november 5, 1944 near nancy in france. But for the 761st itself, no presidential unit citation was forthcoming until 1978. The battalion trained at camp hood, texas, where they were rated superior. The tuskegee airmen are another famous example and as if that werent enough, there were famous tank battalions that were all black. Brothers in arms is the actual, heroic account of the 761st tank battalion, an africanamerican armored unit that fought in world war ii.
Tank battalion patches us army patches army unit patches and army regiment patches flying tigers surplus page 2. Pattons panthers broke new ground during wwii united. The battalion, one of the first american units to meet up. 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. Dec 02, 2015 the story of the 761st black panther tank battalion, the decorated all africanamerican unit who served with valor during world war ii. According to the presidential unit citation pre sented to the. The weather was also against the black panthers as snow began to fall and settle, making the dark outline of the tanks even more visible while hiding the german bazooka positions. Sep 29, 2014 the amistad research center is pleased to announce the opening of the richard w. The 761st tank battalion was the first african american tank battalion of the united states army, and cited as the most famous of the world war ii tank battalions. In 1978 the 761st was awarded the presidential unit citation, further more staff sergeant ruben rivers was posthumously awarded the medal of honor in 1997 for extraordinary heroism november 1519 1944. Bates, the white colonel who commanded the first black tank battalion to enter combat in world war ii, died tuesday at his home in dunedin, fla.
Presidential unit citation united states recipients. The 761st was attached to the xii corps 26th infantry division as part of general george s. Presidential unit citation, 761st tank battalion worthington memory. It recounts the events that in 197833 years after the end of world war iiled to the 761st tank battalions receiving a presidential unit citation, the highest honor a unit can receive. On ve day, tanks of the 761st lined up beside a small bridge along the enns river. The unit s presidential unit citation commended the men for extraordinary heroism during 183 days of world war ii combat in europe in 1944. Photo credit army photo army leaders hadnt chosen just any tank battalion when they assigned the 761st tank battalion to lead task force rhine with elements of the 103rd infantry division. Armys 761st tank battalion closed in on the french town of morvillelesvic on the morning of november 9, 1944. Mar 01, 1993 doubts mar pbs film of black army unit.
The army presidential unit citation puc is awarded to units who demonstrate exceptional heroism in action against an armed enemy. It was one of three tank battalions of its kind and one of only a handful of units which allowed black men to serve in an active combat role. If your guaranteed delivery item isnt on time, you can 1 return the item, for a refund of the full price and return shipping costs. The original black panthers fought in the 761st tank battalion. In the academy awardwinning film patton, the setting was all wrong when. Despite these undeniable accomplishments, the 761st tank battalion would not receive their due credit until april 20, 1978 when president carter issued the presidential unit citation to them. Nov 03, 2015 a tank from company a, 761st tank battalion, crosses the seille river in france on november 9, 1944, the units second of 183 days in combat. It took 52 years before staff sergeant ruben rivers would be awarded a posthumous congressional medal of honor january, 1997 in a ceremony presided. On june 9, 2009, a stretch of highway 9 running through pottawatomie county, oklahoma, where ruben rivers grew up, was named in his honor u. Tank battalion patches us army patches army unit patches and army regiment patches flying tigers surplus.
In 1998, the 761 st tank battalion deactivated received a presidential unit citation, the highest award that a unit can receive. The delivery date is not guaranteed until you have checked out using an instant payment method. In addition, a large number of individual members also. The units presidential unit citation commended the men for. Men of the overwhelmingly africanamerican 761st tank battalion check their equipment during training in england, prior to their blooding in normandy. The decoration streamer is embroidered european theater, demonstrating the extent of the battalions distinguished operations. Nicknamed the black panthers, the soldiers of the 761st tank battalion fought racial stereotypes of the time, but still went on earn the nations respect and an honored place in military and american history. The units presidential unit citation commended the men for extraordinary heroism during 183. The 761st tank battalion was the first all black combat tank. Three officers and 31 enlisted men had been killed in action, and 22 officers and 180 enlisted men had been wounded. The decoration streamer is embroidered european theater, demonstrating the extent of the battalion s distinguished operations. Thank you again to publisher bruce franklin, westholme publishing, and his californiabase representatives, a.
Black panthers of the 761st tank battalion in coburg, germany. In six months of fighting the 761st was awarded 4 campaign streamers, while the units soldiers received 11 silver stars and 69 bronze stars. The black panthers also belatedly received a presidential unit citation in 1978. The presidential unit citation puc, originally called the distinguished unit citation, is awarded to units of the uniformed services of the united states, and those of allied countries, for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy on or after 7 december 1941 the date of the attack on pearl harbor and the start of american involvement in world war ii. The 761st tank battalion was one of the most effective tank units. The battalion received a presidential unit citation for its actions.
In 1998, the 761st tank battalion received a much delayed presidential unit citation. Presidential unit citation united states wikipedia. Historical the 761st tank battalion project news read. 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. And, by the end of the war, the black panthers had fought their way further east than nearly every other unit from the united states. Historical the 761st tank battalion news war thunder. Armored history of the 761st battialion 23rdb 23rd brigade. And, by the end of the war, the black panthers had fought their way. The 12th armored group participated in the ardennesalsace, rhineland, and central europe campaigns and was awarded the presidential unit citation for actions during the battle of bastogne. Jan 23, 2015 in six months of fighting the 761st was awarded 4 campaign streamers, while the units soldiers received 11 silver stars and 69 bronze stars. The 761st tank battalion was the first african american tank battalion of the united states army, and cited as the most famous of the world war ii tank battalions organized using africanamerican personnel according to the u. This unit successfully completed the united states armys first doctrinal night deep attack against enemy formations. He was inspired to write brothers in arms after learning a family friend had been a member of the unit. A tank from company a, 761st tank battalion, crosses the seille river in france on november 9, 1944, the units second of 183 days in combat.
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 heavy casualties on the german army and capturing or. The 761st tank battalion was an independent tank battalion of the united states army during world war ii. 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. This black tank battalion earned 11 silver stars and the. 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. The black panthers the 761st tank battalion, the subject of the documentary. Although individuals in the 761st were awarded medals in 1945 10 silver stars and 38 bronze stars, it was three decades until this presidential unit citation was issued to the 761st tank battalion for extraordinary heroism by president jimmy carter. Armed forces were segregated until after world war ii, and the black panthers of the 761st were the first tank battalion to be comprised of africanamericans. The 761st was made up primarily of africanamerican soldiers, who by federal law were not permitted to serve alongside white troops. The unit received nearly 300 purple hearts, 11 silver stars, and 1 medal of honor. Tank commander harvey woodard of the 761st tank battalion assesses terrain near nancy, france, in november 1944. It had an elephants head showing its tusks and their motto, we pierce.
The original black panthers fought in the 761st tank. This list is a workinprogress collecting names of 761st tank battalion veterans showing their 1945 rank from various reliable sources. Book recalls black world war ii tank battalion the new york. The 761st tank battalion, a black unit, fought with distinction and earned the. At the conclusion of the battle, the 21st tank battalion was awarded the presidential unit citation for their extraordinary heroism from december 17, to december 27, 1944 battle of the bulge. 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 black panthers, the segregated 761st tank battalion took. The 761 st tank battalion was activated on april 1, 1942, at camp claiborne in louisiana, and trained for two years at camp hood in texas.
The story of the 761st tank battalion aka the black panthers needs to be told and retold. In october of 1944, the 761st became the first african american tank battalion to see combat in world war ii. Despite an unclear enemy situation, less than ideal flight conditions, and a route of flight through an unexpected intense tank battle, the 4229th closed with and destroyed massed enemy armor columns and revetted vehicles. Black panther battalion, socalled because of the units shoulder patch. The explosion was massive, far larger than the men of the 761st tank battalion were expecting when they responded to a german attack in the rhineland town of silz, germany. Details about 761st tank battalion patch african american unit. In october of 1944, the 761st tank battalion became the first african american tank. Aug 01, 1999 this is a comprehensive record of the 761st tank battalion, the first african american armored unit to enter combat. The 761st was made up primarily of africanamerican soldiers, who by federal law were not permitted to serve alongside white troops as the u. Shoulder sleeve patch of the united states 761st tank battalion. Feb 04, 2020 in october of 1944, the 761st tank battalion became the first african american tank battalion to see combat in world war ii.
The 761st tank battalion s award became official on 10 april 1978 by the department of the army under general orders number 5. The black panthers, the segregated 761st tank battalion. Jackie robinson, who would later be the first africanamerican to play major league baseball, was a. They were deployed to europe on october 10, 1944, landing on omaha beach in france. 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. The black panthers the black experience in wwii the united. The armys segregated tank battalions in world war ii jstor. Arrived in england in september 1944 and france on 10 october. The presidential unit citation army for extraordinary heroism to the 761st tank battalion, united states army. Jun 21, 2017 in 1998, the 761st tank battalion received a much delayed presidential unit citation. The 758th also had a unit crest set up at activation. In 1978, president jimmy carter awarded the army presidential unit citation puc to the 761st tank battalion for service between 31 october 1944 and 6 may 1945.
In october of 1944, the 761st tank battalion became the first african american tank battalion to see combat in world war ii. Also described are the efforts that resulted, in 199753 years after giving his life on the battlefieldin the medal of honor being posthumously. The 761st tank battalions award became official on 10 april 1978 by the department of the army under general orders number 5. May 01, 2015 the tuskegee airmen are another famous example and as if that werent enough, there were famous tank battalions that were all black. Converted to medium tank battalion in september 1943. Throughout this period of combat, the courageous and. Blake, from worthington entered the service in 1943, serving in the 761st. This citation details the extraordinary gallantry, courage. The 761st served from normandy, through the battle of the bulge and on into germany as a frontline combat unit.
Doubts mar pbs film of black army unit the new york times. The 761st tank battalion was an american tank battalion, raised during world war ii, which was made up almost exclusively of africanamerican soldiers. Whether the name or the patchwhich sported the slogan come out. The 761st black panther tank battalion in world war ii. In 1978, the 761st received a presidential unit citation, which. The tank battalions mark in history slowly began to fade until its actions were summed up in a presidential unit citation awarded in 1978.
See more ideas about world war, wwii and world war ii. Notably, they moved into bastogne to help relieve the 101st airborne division. Book recalls black world war ii tank battalion the. The first, the 758th was set up with 758 embroidered into their armored shoulder patch at the factory.
1132 130 760 1379 1448 1209 1383 712 751 850 181 775 416 1316 888 381 704 1030 1025 877 1604 1295 124 515 1297 1047 457 1214 527 503 352 526 80