758th Tank Battalion (United States)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 758th Tank Battalion


caption=Official Insignia of the US Army 758th Tank Battalion
dates= 1941 to 1949
country= United States of America
branch= United States Army
type= Armored unit
role= Reconnaissance
nickname=Tuskers
motto=We Pierce
mascot=African ElephantThe 758th Tank Battalion was formed in 1941 and served in Italy during World War II. It was the first United States Army armored unit to be made up of African American soldiers.

History

On May 8, 1941 at Fort Knox, Kentucky the 78th Tank Battalion was re-designated as the 758th Tank Battalion. It was the first of three units that would form the 5th Tank Group. The 758th trained in mechanized warfare using light tanks, specifically the M-5 light tank. One of the battalion's more notable members was Jackie Robinson. Robinson was transferred to the unit from the 761st Tank Battalion after an incident in which he refused to move to the back of a civilian bus. The 758th was permanently attached to the 92nd Infantry Division until September 22, 1945 when the unit was inactivated.The unit's insignia is the head of a black African elephant accompanied by the motto, "We Pierce".

Legacy

The 758th was re-designated as the 64th Heavy Tank Battalion from 1949 to 1957. Today the unit exists as the 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment attached to the 4th Brigade Combat Team of the 3rd Infantry Division. The 4-64th has served with distinction in several armed conflicts including Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Fox, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The unit currently operates from Fort Stewart, Georgia.The African elephant remains the insignia of the unit and has earned them the nickname "The Tusker Regiment".

See also

* 761st Tank Battalion
* 784th Tank Battalion

References

*cite web | title = 761st Black Panthers, they came out fighting | publisher = Talking Proud | url = http://www.talkingproud.us/HistoryBlackPanthers.html | accessdate = 2007-04-16
*cite web | title = World War II: 761st Tank Battalion | publisher = The History Net | url = http://www.historynet.com/wars_conflicts/world_war_2/3029271.html | accessdate = 2007-04-16
*cite web | title = 4th Battalion - 64th Armor Regiment "Tusker" | publisher = GlobalSecurity.org | url = http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/4-64ar.htm | accessdate = 2007-04-16
*cite web | title = 4th Battalion - 64th Armor Regiment | US Army | url = http://www.stewart.army.mil/3DIDWeb/4th%20BCT/unit4-64Armor/4-64Armorhome.htm | accessdate = 2007-04-17