761st Tank Battalion

The 761^st Tank Battalion, was a United States Army segregated combat tank battalion during World War II. Nicknamed after their crest patch, the "Black Panther's" motto was "Come out fighting".

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761st Shoulder Patch

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761st "Black Panther" Crest

Prior to combat

Before and during World War II, most military leaders had reservations about using African American soldiers in combat. One man in favor of using colored troops (although he may have just seen the logistical necessity that they would be needed) was General Lesley J. McNair. He was able to convince others, and in 1941, the Army started to experiment with the first segregated units. (Unfortunately, McNair would not live to see his ideas reach the battlefield. He died in July of 1944 during a friendly fire incident near St. Lo during Operation Cobra.)

The 761st was constituted on 15 March 1942, and activated 1 April 1942, Camp Claiborne, Louisiana. Final training was at Fort Hood, Texas.

Most of the black tankers had to train in places like Kentucky, Louisiana, and Texas, not the most hospitable bases for segregated units. However, the common racial bigotry in the Army helped motivate the soldiers of color. Many of them could not wait to prove their critics wrong, but, wait they would. The men of the 761st would have to train for almost two years, while other white units were being sent to the front in as little as two or three months.

Jackie Robinson confronts bigotry

The most famous member of the 761st took a stand against bigotry. A white bus driver, at Fort Hood during training, told Lieutenant Jack Robinson to move to the back of the bus, and Robinson refused. Although his battalion commander, Lieutenant Colonel Paul L. Bates, refused to consider the court-martial charges put forward by the arresting MPs, the base commander transferred Robinson to the 758th Tank Battalion, whose commander was willing to sign the insubordination court-martial consent. Robinson would eventually be acquitted of all charges.

Brian

Deployment

Finally, General Ben Lear, Commander of the US Second Army, rated the unit "superior" after a special review. They were now deemed "combat ready".

So it was a great relief for the men of the 761st to finally be deployed to France through England, landing via Omaha Beach on 10 October 1944. The unit arrived with six white officers, thirty black officers, and 676 black enlisted men. Lieutenant Robinson was not among them, however. He was left behind in Texas for his trial, and never saw combat. He would help desegregate baseball a few months later.

World War II

The unit went from Northern France in October of 1944, to the Rhineland, into the Battle of the Bulge, and at the end of the war to the Central Europe campaigns. They were assigned to General George Patton's US Third Army, and attached to the U.S. 26th Infantry Division.

Patton

As the 761st was about to enter combat, Patton reviewed the battalion and made a speech to the men which offered a guarded vote of confidence in their abilities,

"Men, you're the first Negro tankers to ever fight in the American Army. I would never have asked for you if you weren't good. I have nothing but the best in my Army. I don't care what color you are as long as you go up there and kill those Kraut sons of bitches. Everyone has their eyes on you and is expecting great things from you. Most of all your race is looking forward to you. Don't let them down and damn you, don't let me down!"Vorlage:Ref

However, like many Army officers, General Patton expressed his doubts about using black men in combat. On returning to headquarters following the review, he remarked, "They gave a good first impression, but I have no faith in the inherent fighting ability of the race."Vorlage:Ref

Despite the outstanding performance of the 761^st under his command, Patton was not compelled to change his perceptions about black soldiers. In War As I Knew It, he relates the interaction described above, and comments, "Individually they were good soldiers, but I expressed my belief at the time, and have never found the necessity of changing it, that a colored soldier cannot think fast enough to fight in armor."Vorlage:Ref

Combat record

On 7 November 1944, with Patton, they entered into action. First at Moyenvic, then on to Vic-sur-Seille, and then Morville. Due to their combat skills, the 761st was often on the leading edge of the advance, and they endured 183 days of continual fighting. To allow the U.S. 4th Armored Division to move into Germany in force, they were on point of the action that bridged the Siegfried Line. The unit was one of the first to reach the Steyr in Austria, at the Enns River, and hook up with the Ukrainians of the Soviet Army.

In November of 1944 alone, 24 men were killed, 88 wounded, and 44 were non-battle casualties. Also 14 tanks were lost and 20 were damaged. Despite that, in December, the battalion would rush to the aid of the 101st Airborne Division at Bastogne, and then without much of a breather, on into Germany.

The 761st was deactivated 1 June 1946 in Germany.

Medal of Honor for Ruben Rivers

For unusual heroism in serving with Company A the 761st, the Congressional Medal of Honor was awarded posthumously to Staff Sergeant Ruben Rivers in 1997.

Official Citation:

For extraordinary heroism in action during the 15-19 November 1944, toward Guebling, France. Though severely wounded in the leg, Sergeant Rivers refused medical treatment and evacuation, took command of another tank, and advanced with his company in Guebling the next day. Repeatedly refusing evacuation, Sergeant Rivers continued to direct his tank's fire at enemy positions through the morning of 19 November 1944. At dawn, Company A's tanks began to advance towards Bougaktroff, but were stopped by enemy fire. Sergeant Rivers, joined by another tank, opened fire on the enemy tanks, covering company A as they withdrew. While doing so, Sergeant River's tank was hit, killing him and wounding the crew. Staff Sergeant Rivers' fighting spirit and daring leadership were an inspiration to his unit and exemplify the highest traditions of military service.

"Baddest Man in the 761st"

Tank commander Sergeant Warren G. H. Crecy came to the aid of his men on 10 November 1944, and fought through enemy positions until his tank was destroyed. He eliminated the enemy position that had knocked out his tank by commandeering a vehicle armed with only a .30-caliber machine gun. He then took out the forward observers directing artillery fire.

Later that morning, Crecy's replacement tank lost traction in heavy mud. Under fierce machine gun, antitank, and artillery fire, he exited the tank and worked to free the tracks. He had to abandon his efforts to free the tank and man the .50-caliber machine gun, holding off the advancing enemy, allowing the infantry unit to withdraw.

Although this baby-faced, "quiet, easy-going, meek-looking fellow", was armed with only a machine gun, he destroyed an antitank position, and a number of German machine gun positions, once again going without cover. With almost total disregard for his own personal safety, he fought on under heavy fire, to aid his brothers in arms. His men had a hard time getting the machine gun away from him when he was finished.

Crecy was nominated for the Medal of Honor and received a battlefield commission. His heroic actions gave him the title "Baddest Man in the 761st".

Presidential Unit Citation

After many racial tensions had eased, the battalion was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation (US) (PUC) by President Jimmy Carter in 1978, for their WWII service. Read the entire citation here.

After World War II

The men of 761st, along with other African American units, did not receive the welcome home that many thought that they should have. They felt personally disappointed; they had fought equally, but were not treated that way back home. It has been hard for these men to achieve any recognition for being just as brave as anyone else. However, their distinguished service helped convince the government to desegregate the US Armed Forces soon after the war ended.

On 24 November 1947, the 761st was reactivated at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and assigned to Regular Army. It was deactivated again on 15 March 1955.

Stats

CAMPAIGN STREAMERS: Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe.
Silver Star: 11
Bronze Star: 69

Countries: France, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg, Germany, and Austria.

Attachments:

Third Army:
- 26th, 1st, and 87th Infantry Divisions
- 17th Airborne Division
- 17th Armored Group
Ninth Army:
- 95th and 79th Infantry Divisions
- XVI Corps
Seventh Army:
- 103d and 1st Infantry Divisions

COMMANDING OFFICERS:
(1 April 1942 – June 1946)
Lt Col Edward E. Cruise	1 April 1942 – 21 Nov 1942
Maj John R. Wright, Jr.	22 Nov 1942 – 3 Jul 1943
Lt Col Paul L. Bates	4 Jul 1943 – 8 Nov 1944
Lt Col Hollis E. Hunt	9 Nov 1944 – Feb 1945
Lt Col Paul L. Bates	Feb 1945 – Jun 1946

Dramatizations

Cinema

Neither Battle of The Bulge (1965) nor Patton (1970) mention the contributions of African American tanker troops. An African American soldier with a non-speaking role appears briefly in Battleground where he attends Christmas chapel services with members of the 101st Airborne; chronologically, this is before the arrival of Patton's Third Army to which the 761st was attached, so the soldier may have been intended to represent a black trucker of the Red Ball Express. Thus, African American tankers have been absent from major cinematic Battle of the Bulge productions.

Actor Morgan Freeman and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar are co-producing a new movie about the 761st, based on Jabbar’s and co-writer Anthony Walton's 2004 book, Brothers in Arms. It has been adapted for the screen by Gregory Allen Howard who wrote the script for Remember the Titans. Produced by Lori McCreary, the film is expected for release in the summer of 2006 by Dreamworks Pictures. [1].

References

Abdul-Jabbar, Kareem, and Walton, Anthony, Brothers In Arms : The Epic Story of the 761St Tank Battalion, WWII's Forgotten Heroes. New York: Broadway, 2004.
Anderson, Trezzvant W., Come Out Fighting: The Epic Tale of the 761st Tank Battalion. Salzburg, Austria: Salzburger Druckerei, 1945.
Wilson, Joseph E. Jr., "Black Panthers Go To Combat in World War II". World War II Magazine, 1998.
Lee, Ulysses, The Employment of Negro Troops, Washington D.C.: Center of Military History, United States Army, 1966.
Weigley, Russell, Eisenhower's Lieutenants: The Campaign of France and Germany, 1944-1945, Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1981.

Notes

Vorlage:NoteWilson, Joe W. The 761^st "Black Panther" Tank Battalion in World War II". Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, 1999. p53. Vorlage:NoteIbid., p53. Vorlage:NotePatton, George S. War As I Knew It. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1947. p60.

External links