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761st Tank Battalion (United States)

Updated: Wikipedia source

761st Tank Battalion (United States)

The 761st Tank Battalion was an independent tank battalion of the United States Army during World War II. Its ranks primarily consisted of African American soldiers, who by War Department policy were not permitted to serve in the same units as white troops; the United States Armed Forces did not officially desegregate until after World War II. The 761st were known as the Black Panthers after their distinctive unit insignia, which featured a black panther's head, and the unit's motto was "Come out fighting". Decades after the war, the unit received a Presidential Unit Citation for its actions. In addition, a large number of individual members also received medals, including one Medal of Honor, eleven Silver Stars and approximately 300 Purple Hearts.

Infobox

Active
1942–1946 (segregated unit) 1947–1955 (integrated unit)
Allegiance
United States
Branch
U . Army
Type
Separate tank battalion
Role
Armored warfare
Size
Battalion
Nickname
Black Panthers
Motto
Come Out Fighting
Colors
Blue, red, yellow
Mascot
Black panther
Engagements
World War II Guebling Moyenvic Vic-sur-Seille Morville Battle of the Bulge Central Europe
Decorations
Presidential Unit Citation
Notable commanders
Lt. Col. Paul L. Bates

Tables

Commanding Officers · Attachments
Lt Col Edward E. Cruise
Lt Col Edward E. Cruise
(1 April 1942 – 1 June 1946)
Lt Col Edward E. Cruise
(1 April 1942 – 1 June 1946)
1 April 1942 – 21 November 1942
Maj John R. Wright Jr.
Maj John R. Wright Jr.
(1 April 1942 – 1 June 1946)
Maj John R. Wright Jr.
(1 April 1942 – 1 June 1946)
22 November 1942 – 3 July 1943
Lt Col Paul L. Bates
Lt Col Paul L. Bates
(1 April 1942 – 1 June 1946)
Lt Col Paul L. Bates
(1 April 1942 – 1 June 1946)
4 July 1943 – 8 November 1944
Lt Col Hollis E. Hunt
Lt Col Hollis E. Hunt
(1 April 1942 – 1 June 1946)
Lt Col Hollis E. Hunt
(1 April 1942 – 1 June 1946)
9 November 1944 – 23 February 1945
Lt Col Paul L. Bates
Lt Col Paul L. Bates
(1 April 1942 – 1 June 1946)
Lt Col Paul L. Bates
(1 April 1942 – 1 June 1946)
24 February 1945 – 1 June 1946
(1 April 1942 – 1 June 1946)
Lt Col Edward E. Cruise
1 April 1942 – 21 November 1942
Maj John R. Wright Jr.
22 November 1942 – 3 July 1943
Lt Col Paul L. Bates
4 July 1943 – 8 November 1944
Lt Col Hollis E. Hunt
9 November 1944 – 23 February 1945
Lt Col Paul L. Bates
24 February 1945 – 1 June 1946

References

  1. Business Insider
    http://www.businessinsider.com/story-black-wwii-tank-unit-that-crushed-nazi-forces-2017-4
  2. Integration of the Armed Forces, 1940–65
    https://web.archive.org/web/20100727161209/http://www.history.army.mil/books/integration/IAF-02.htm
  3. Life Magazine
    https://books.google.com/books?id=PFAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA83
  4. The History of Jim Crow
    http://www.jimcrowhistory.org/history/surviving.htm
  5. Michael Perman. Struggle for Mastery: Disfranchisement in the South, 1888–1908. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolin
  6. J. Morgan Kousser. The Shaping of Southern Politics: Suffrage Restriction and the Establishment of the One-Party South,
  7. Battles, D. M. (2009). The History of Public Library Access for African Americans in the South, or, Leaving Behind the P
  8. Fultz, M. (2006). "Black Public Libraries in the South in the Era of De Jure Segregation." Libraries & The Cultural Reco
  9. The Training of Negro Troops. Study No. 36
    https://www.governmentattic.org/4docs/TrainingNegroArmyTroops_1946.pdf
  10. The 761st "Black Panther" Tank Battalion in World War II: An Illustrated History of the First African American Armored Unit to See Combat
    https://books.google.com/books?id=tyr-lWAieSgC&q=761st+tank+battalion+alexandria&pg=PA18
  11. Brothers in Arms: The Epic Story of the 761St Tank Battalion, WWII's Forgotten Heroes by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Anthony
  12. Prologue Magazine
    https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2008/spring/robinson.html
  13. American Heritage
    https://web.archive.org/web/20081119151636/http://www.americanheritage.com/articles/magazine/ah/1984/5/1984_5_34.shtml
  14. Linge, Mary Kay (2007). Jackie Robinson: A Biography. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. ISBN 0313338280, p. 37.
  15. Brothers in Arms: The Epic Story of the 761St Tank Battalion, WWII's Forgotten Heroes by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Anthony
  16. Philadelphia Phillies
    https://www.mlb.com/phillies/community/educational-programs/uya-negro-league/road-to-baseball-integration
  17. The Employment of Negro Troops
  18. Warfare History Network
    https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/the-u-s-third-army-and-xix-tac-partners-for-victory/
  19. Mixing it : diversity in World War Two Britain
    https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/1023575251
  20. Wilson, Joe W. The 761st "Black Panther" Tank Battalion in World War II. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, 1999. p53.
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