Having no previous experience with tanks, patton went through a twoweek crash course at the french light tank center and later visited the renault tank works. This book was about the hardships and mistreatments of the outstanding 761st african american tank battalion, the only black us tank battalion, in world war ii. Arrived in england in september 1944 and france on 10 october. Authentic wwii 761st black panther tank battalion patch. Many may lay claim to the black panthers name, but the 761st tank battalion of world war ii, were one of the first groups to use it. Feb 04, 2020 the 761st tank battalion was formed in the spring of 1942 and according to army historical records, had 30 black officers, six white officers, and 676 enlisted men. The 101st airborne division formed in 1942, and their pathfinders were among the first boots on the ground during the dday invasion in june 1944. The delivery date is not guaranteed until you have checked out using an instant payment method. The 101st airborne division, 506th parachute infantry regiment is an uncommon unit within the u. Originally constituted as the 72nd tank battalion medium on january 1941, it was redesignated on 12 may 1941 as the 752nd tank battalion medium. The nature of battalions like the 751stthat is, units who were never officially a part of a division, but rather were attached to numerous divisions throughout the warhas nearly rendered them to the dust bin of history. See more ideas about wwii, american soldiers and world war ii. But after sixty straight days on the front lines, cool stud, like more than half the tanks of charlie company, one of the five companies of the 761st tank battalion of george pattons third u. The 761st tank battalion was an american tank battalion, raised during world war ii, which was made up almost exclusively of africanamerican soldiers.
The africanamerican 761st tank battalion in world war ii at. Our unit had 6 officers and 58 enlisted men killed in action. A tank crew from the 761st sit in their m24 chaffee tank in a snowy field around. Throughout this period of combat, the courageous and. The 761st was up for grabs by anyone who needed tankers, becoming known overseas as the bastard outfit. 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. Pattons panthers the 761st tank battalion was an independent tank. 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 761st tank battalion was formed in the spring of 1942 and according to army historical records, had 30 black officers, six white officers, and 676 enlisted men. The epic story of the 761st tank battalion, wwii s forgotten heroes, agreed that although patton was a bigot like most, the fact remains that he did lend his name to the advancement of blacks in the military at the time, unlike most other military officers patton did.
During the 183 days pattons panthers, the 761st tank battalion, were in continuous combat, they participated in four major allied campaigns, including the battle of the bulge. The group was activated in 1942 and trained at camp hood, texas. Army faction and unlockable at the middle third ranks. Popular patch is your source for high quality embroidered military patches. 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.
Patton to assist with heavy fighting during the battle of the bulge in wwii. The soldiers of the 761st tank battalion fought for 183 consecutive days, in six countries, and with great success despite a fiftypercent casualty rate. Third army in france and germany following dday, the allied invasion of normandy in june 1944. According to a widely circulated story, patton personally asked for the black panther battalion, socalled because of the units shoulder patch. Though few of the new recruits appreciated pattons harsh discipline and hard. Brothers in arms is the actual, heroic account of the 761st tank battalion, an africanamerican armored unit that fought in world war ii. Thank you to sheila carter, a dedicated listener of the tom joyner morning show for this topic.
Freeman will tell this story in a medium that appeals to generations of moviegoers. General george patton who wanted only the best in his 3rd army requested the 761st. Referred to as the black panther tank battalion, the 761st was attached to the xii corps 26th infantry division, assigned to gen. 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. Armored history of the 761st battialion 23rdb 23rd brigade. 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. Pattons 3rd army broke through the german lines at bastogne to rescue the 101st airborne division, dug in and holding back the enemy onslaught at the battle of the bulge. Moving through deep snow against uncertain opposition, the unit helped check the german advance and cut resupply routes to the forces surrounding beleaguered bastogne they drove the enemy back, recapturing towns crucial to the final defeat of germany. They inflicted more than,000 casualties upon the enemy.
The 761st tank battalion in action on 9 june 1944, three days after the normandy invasion, the 761st became the first segregated tank unit to be alerted for overseas movement. 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. The 761st tank battalion was one of the most effective tank units to. November 11, 1885 december 21, 1945 was a general of the united states army who commanded the u. The 761st tank battalion was an american tank battalion, raised during world. Book critique pattons panthers the book that i decided to do a critique on was the book pattons panthers by charles w sasser. Pattons panthers broke new ground during wwii united. Road to tunis by british author david rame, is a book which contains a narrative type record of his travels with company c, 701st tank destroyer battalion, in north africa. Thank you again to publisher bruce franklin, westholme publishing, and his californiabase representatives, a. Later referred to as the black panther tank battalion, the 761st was attached to the xii corps 26th infantry division, assigned to gen. The original black panthers fought in the 761st tank battalion. The original black panthers fought in the 761st tank. They were known as the black panthers after their units distinctive insignia.
George patton in october of 1944 to an allblack tank battalion helped. Roster this list is a workinprogress collecting names of 761st tank battalion veterans showing their 1945 rank from various reliable sources. Tanks from the 761st tank battalion await orders to clean out. I took a walk around my office just now and counted the tank corps patches on named uniforms that i have displayed. Retired nba halloffamer kareem abduljabbar, author of brothers in arms. Known as the black panthers, the 761st saw action in world war ii as part of gen.
On the battlefields of world war ii, the men of the africanamerican 761st tank battalion under general patton broke through enemy lines with the same courage with which they broke down the racist limitations set upon them by others proving themselves as tough, reliable, and determined to fight as any tank unit in combat. The armys segregated tank battalions in world war ii jstor. The 752nd tank battalion was among the first of 121 tank battalions to be organized during the world war ii era. Collectible military patch reproduction, brand new, never used or worn. Oct 18, 20 at times the battalion was badly mauled by some of the best soldiers in the german army. Sep 29, 2014 the amistad research center is pleased to announce the opening of the richard w. They were eager to go to war and prove that black people could fight. Due to corona virus covid19 concerns, we will be open for curbside pickup. Among white people, the bitter resentment that were not supposed to admit flared with that word were not supposed to say. Upon arriving in normandy, france in late 1944, the 761st was assigned to pattons third army. Army as the first black armed tank unit to enter combat during world war ii. The 761st tank battalion members pattons speech to the men of the 761st prior to deployment.
As a result of their great fighting abilities they spearheaded a number of patton. The 761st fought sidebyside with pattons third army. The purpose of this website is to honor the men of the 751st tank battalion who participated in the north african and italian campaigns of world war ii. Although patton was forced into a rethink during the battle of the bulge, when he. The 761st tank battalion and general pattons drive on germany, tells the full and unvarnished history of this important american fighting force. The 761st were known as the black panthers after their units distinctive insignia. It relies on extensive archival research, including documents not. It was the day after christmas 1944 when the 704th tank battalion, 4th armored division of gen.
At times the battalion was badly mauled by some of the best soldiers in the german army. The 761st tank battalion in world war ii, tells the full and unvarnished history of this important american fighting force. Beginning in november 1944, they engaged the enemy for 183 straight. The africanamerican 761st tank battalion in world war ii paperback 368 pages, kindle on the battlefields of wwii, the men of the africanamerican 761st tank battalion under general patton broke through enemy lines with the same courage with which they broke down the racist limitations set upon them by others. George pattons tanks smashed through german lines in. The 761st was made up primarily of africanamerican soldiers, who by federal law were not permitted to serve alongside white troops. Patton 18851945 was born on his family s 2,000acre vineyard in what is now pasadena, calif.
The battalion got its nickname of the black panthers because of their insignia. What the tuskegee airmen were to the skies, the 761st was to land, as they were requested by general george s. The 761st tank battalion in world war ii by gina m. In 1944, the 761st was assigned to general george s. Please phone in your order so we can confirm stock availability and schedule a pickup time. The 761st tank battalion landed at omaha beach, normandy october 10, 1944. Tank battalion patches us army patches army unit patches and army regiment patches flying tigers surplus page 2. The advance party sailed from new york harbor on 7 august, followed by the rest of the battalion three weeks later. 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. The story of the black wwii tank unit that crushed nazi forces.
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. Jun 16, 2008 on the battlefields of world war ii, the men of the africanamerican 761st tank battalion under general patton broke through enemy lines with the same courage with which they broke down the racist limitations set upon them by others proving themselves as tough, reliable, and determined to fight as any tank unit in combat. Details about 761st tank battalion patch african american unit. 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. In recognition of black history month, we remember the members of the 761st tank battalion, who hold a special place in american military history as the first black soldiers to go to war as part of an american armored unit. Known as the first african american armored unit to see combat in world war ii and as future baseball star jackie robinsons onetime outfit, the 761st tank battalion. The armys segregated tank battalions in world war ii. Converted to medium tank battalion in september 1943.
The 761st tank battalion was formed in the spring of 1942 and. Men, youre the first negro tankers to ever fight in the american army. The african american 761st tank battalion, better known as the black panthers. 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.
Pattons panthers was one of the most effective tank battalions in world war ii. The battalion, one of the first american units to meet up. The epic story of the 761st tank battalion, wwiis forgotten heroes, agreed that although patton was a bigot like most, the fact remains that he did lend his name to the advancement of blacks in the military at the time, unlike most other military officers patton did. 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 tank battalions mark in history slowly began to fade until its actions were summed up in a presidential unit citation awarded in 1978. Patton 18851945 was born on his familys 2,000acre vineyard in what is now pasadena, calif. John long, the black patton, company b, 761st tank battalion it was the 1970s in alabama, and everything revolved around one issue. Seventh army in the mediterranean theater of world war ii, and the u.
Constituted 15 march 1942 in the army of the united states, the battalion was activated 1 april 1942 at camp claiborne, louisiana. 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. The 761st was attached to the xii corps 26th infantry division as part of general george s. May 01, 2015 the 761st tank battalion members pattons speech to the men of the 761st prior to deployment. The 761st battalion also known as the black panther tank battalion was an allblack louisianabased military unit. They were deployed to europe on october 10, 1944, landing on omaha beach in france. This black tank battalion earned 11 silver stars and the. Pattons panthers the africanamerican 761st tank battalion. 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. Jan 23, 2018 the original black panthers who fought in wwii with tanks see more ideas about wwii, black panther and world war ii. May 01, 2015 the 761st tank battalion was the first all black combat tank battalion to see action.
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