In 1998, the 761 st tank battalion deactivated received a presidential unit citation, the highest award that a unit can receive. Patton told the 761st, i dont care what colour you are as long as you go up there and kill those. By 1945, the tankers were steely and battlehardened, but even before they landed on omaha beach in normandy, france, on october 10, 1944, they were some of the besttrained tankers in the army. The following section provides individual pages for each unit and provides a short history along. They were known as the black panthers after their units distinctive insignia. This majorityblack military unit was known by the nickname black panthers in reference to the the panther patches they wore on their uniforms. The 761st tank battalion, an allafrican american tank unit, participated in the liberation of gunskirchen, a subcamp of the mauthausen concentration camp, in may 1945. Details about 761st tank battalion patch african american unit. Learn more about the heroes who served with distinction during ww ii like the heavily decorated 761st tank battalion the black panthers, the red ball express, the 555th. 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 761st was made up primarily of african american soldiers, who by federal law were not permitted to serve alongside white troops. Nicknamed the black panthers, the soldiers of the 761st tank battalion fought racial stereotypes of the time, but still went on earn the nations.
Oct 08, 2017 this video is an educational informational video about the couragous and fearless 761 tank battalion world war ii black panthers. S37 2005 the 761st black panther tank battalion in world war ii. Jun 16, 2008 on the battlefields of world war ii, the men of the african american 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.
A medal of honor and a presidential unit citation came later. The african american 761st tank battalion in world war ii paperback 368 pages, kindle on the battlefields of wwii, the men of the african american 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. The following bibliography was compiled to guide readers to selected materials on blacks in the holocaust that are in the librarys collection. And, by the end of the war, the black panthers had fought their way. The 761st were known as the black panthers after their units distinctive insignia. This video is an educational informational video about the couragous and fearless 761 tank battalion world war ii black panthers. Dec 12, 2014 the 761st was an all african american world war ii tank battalion who named themselves the black panthers in pattons 3rd armored division. The 758th also had a unit crest set up at activation.
Men of the overwhelmingly africanamerican 761st tank battalion check their equipment during training in england, prior to their blooding in normandy. Check out the other related items we currently have in our ebay store free usps for domestic continental usa shipping and handling. 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. Mar 22, 2014 827th tank destroyer battalion besides the above listed units, were there any other african american armoured battalions in ww ii. Constituted 15 march 1942 in the army of the united states, the battalion was activated 1 april 1942 at camp claiborne, louisiana. Feb 20, 2015 learn more about the heroes who served with distinction during ww ii like the heavily decorated 761st tank battalion the black panthers, the red ball express, the 555th parachute infantry. Ww ii african american armoured battalions army and. The armys segregated tank battalions in world war ii. These battalions were temporarily attached to infantry, armored, or airborne divisions according to need, though at least one battalion 745th tank battalion spent the entire war in europe attached to one division. The africanamerican 761st tank battalion in world war ii by charles w. Ruben rivers and the negroes of the 761 st tank battalion, the first to go to war in armor, were.
By 1945, the tankers were steely and battlehardened, but even before they landed on omaha beach in. The 761st was made up primarily of africanamerican soldiers, who by federal law were not permitted to serve alongside white troops. The 761st was made up primarily of africanamerican soldiers, who by federal. See more ideas about black panther, world war ii and world war.
The soldiers in the 761st tank battalion were all african americans. 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 african american personnel according to the u. Tank destroyer units were broken into three groups, brigades, groups and battalions. Armored history of the 761st battialion 23rdb 23rd brigade. Nov 03, 2015 the 761st was the first african american tank unit to go into combat.
The 761st black panther tank battalion in world war ii. L france 1944 africanamerican gis wore all the standard. The soldiers in the battalion had to participate in two battles. Aug 01, 1999 this is a comprehensive record of the 761st tank battalion, the first african american armored unit to enter combat. The first, the 758th was set up with 758 embroidered into their armored shoulder patch at the factory. The 761st tank battalion was formed during world war ii and was among the three african american battalions. Two patches, one with a panther and text come out fighting, the other showing. The 761st, the second africanamerican tank battalion to be established had no such luck. 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. The original black panthers fought in the 761st tank. The african american 761st tank battalion under general patton fought the war much better than what many skepticism and racism people thought they would let alone any black soldier.
This thesis evaluates leadership in the 761st tank battalion and the 92d division, two black. The advance party sailed from new york harbor on 7 august, followed by the rest of the battalion three weeks later. Sasser is a solid contribution to this growing literature that anyone interested in. The unit earned four campaign medals, 11 silver stars, 69 bronze stars and about 300 purple hearts. This is a comprehensive record of the 761st tank battalion, the first african american armored unit to enter combat. 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. The battalion spent three weeks in england drawing. The 761st tank battalion was an independent tank battalion of the united states army during world war ii. And, by the end of the war, the black panthers had. The men of the 761st tank battalion, while serving as a separate battalion with the 26th, 71st, 79th, 87th, 95th, and 103d infantry divisions, the 17th airborne division, and 3d, 7th, and 9th armies in 183 continuous days in battle, fought major engagements in six european countries, participated in four major allied campaigns and on 6 may 1945. Men of the overwhelmingly african american 761st tank battalion check their equipment during training in england, prior to their blooding in normandy.
Pattons panthers broke new ground during wwii united. The 761st was an all africanamerican world war ii tank battalion who named themselves the black panthers in pattons 3rd armored division. 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. The men of the 761st tank battalion, while serving as a separate battalion with the 26th, 71st, 79th, 87th, 95th, and 103d infantry divisions, the 17th airborne division, and 3d, 7th, and 9th. 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.
By that march, the tankers were steely and battlehardened, but even before they had landed on omaha. Collectible military patch reproduction, brand new, never used or worn. On the battlefields of world war ii, the men of the african american 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. I know the 758th tank battalion and the 761st tank battalion had wartime dis, and the 679th tank destroyer battalion wore an italian made tab above their td shoulder patches. The story of the 761st black panther tank battalion, the decorated all africanamerican unit who served with valor during world war ii. It was, however, the first african american tank battalions to go to combat.
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. 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 african american 761st tank battalion, better known as the. Robinson served in the black panthers 761st tank battalion during world war ii. First published in 1945, it gives an account of experiences of the 761st tank battalion in. The first black armored unit to see action in ww ii was active in 1942 at camp claiborne, louisiana. 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 african. The 761st tank battalion, a black unit, fought with distinction and. The epic tale of the 761st tank battalion 19421945. It was, however, the first african american tank battalions to go to. The first, the 758th was set up with 758 embroidered into their. 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 was the first of its kind, the first africanamerican tank unit to go into combat. When they joined his 3rd army the essentially racist gen george s.
In october of 1944, the 761st tank battalion became the first african american tank battalion to see combat in world war ii. A tank crew from the 761st sit in their m24 chaffee tank in a snowy field. The original black panthers fought in the 761st tank battalion. The 761st tank battalion was one of the most effective tank units.
They were given an armored patch with nothing embroidered into it. Some of the most notable african american army units which served in world war ii were. Blake, from worthington entered the service in 1943, serving in the 761st. The 761st was the first of its kind, the first african american tank unit to go into combat. They fought two enemies, one being the germans the. The battalion trained at camp hood, texas, where they were rated superior by second army commander lt.
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. Ww ii african american armoured battalions army and usaaf. The battalion received a presidential unit citation for its actio. The soldiers in the 761st tank battalion were all africanamericans. The african american 761st tank battalion in world war ii by charles w. Amazingly well made collector vet group copy of this units insignia. Assigned at various times to the third, seventh and. The 761st was the first africanamerican tank unit to go into combat. The 761st served from normandy, through the battle of the bulge and on into germany as a frontline combat unit. See more ideas about world war, wwii and world war ii. Separate tank battalions were military formations used by the united states army during world war ii, especially in the european theater of operations. 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. Many of the men, the ones who were gungho, went to their local px and had the 761 embroidered into it. It had an elephants head showing its tusks and their motto, we pierce.
Preserving legacy of africanamerican soldiers article. Pattons panthers the africanamerican 761st tank battalion. The first battle was against racism and discrimination that was prevalent in the united states. The 761st tank battalion was formed during world war ii and was among the three africanamerican battalions.