Staff Sgt. Ruben Rivers was part of Company A, attached to the 104th Infantry in the attack and capture of Vic-sur-Seille. The next day, the force took Chateau-Salins in a four-hour fight in the season's first snowstorm, then continued east toward Morville-les-Vic.   In those first two days of combat, the battalion lost all but one white company commander to death or wounds. The battalion commander was wounded and evacuated, and a 104th task-force commander had been evacuated for combat fatigue. Nine of the battalion's enlisted soldiers were killed.  On Nov. 12, Company A, fighting under the only white company commander left in the battalion, repulsed an enemy counterattack near Wuisse, destroying two enemy tanks. The next day, a platoon acting on its own counterattacked and took the town -- holding it through the night until the rest of the force could move up.
 

The target for Nov. 16 was Guebling, France.  Rivers' tank hit a mine at a railroad crossing while advancing toward the town with his company.  His leg was slashed to the bone in the explosion, but he refused a morphine injection and, as many would do in the 761st, he also refused to be evacuated.  He would refuse numerous evacuation offers over the next few days.  Taking command of another tank, Rivers advanced with his company to take Guebling the next day and directed his tank's fire at enemy positions east of town through the morning of Nov. 19, despite the company losing three of its five tanks in the town to antitank fire and one to mines.  One tank crew acquired a replacement and returned to the town.

Art composition of Staff Sergeant Ruben Rivers contributed by Jody Harmon jodyharmon.com Staff Sergeant Ruben Rivers of the 761st Black Panther Tank Battalion was killed on November 19, 1944, while directing a concentrated barrage on German anti-tank guns, allowing his trapped comrades to escape with their lives. In 1997, Rivers was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. From http://afroamhistory.about.com/library/prm/blblackpanthers1.htm [old link]

Continuing the attack east toward Bourgaltroff Nov. 19, the company was stopped by enemy fire. Capt. David J. Williams, the company commander, ordered his tanks to withdraw to cover, but Rivers radioed that he had spotted the antitank position.  "I see `em.  We'll fight `em," Rivers said, and opened up on the enemy tanks, covering Company A's withdrawal. Rivers' tank was hit, killing him and wounding the rest of the crew.

In November alone, the battalion had 22 killed in action, two who died of wounds, 81 wounded, 44 non-battle casualties, 14 tanks lost and 20 damaged.  The battalion went with the Third Army to the relief of the encirclement of Bastogne the following month, and into Germany.  By war's end, 761st troops had accrued 11 Silver Stars and 69 Bronze Star Medals -- most for valor under fire.

When the news of the German breakthrough in the Ardenns Forest reached Patton, the 761st along with other tankers were diverted north to take part in what has become known as the Battle of the Bulge.  The objective given to the 761st was the German stronghold in the town of Tillet.  Every other American unit assigned to take the town had been beaten.  Tanks, artillery, and infantry inside the Ardenns Forest had tried to take Tillet and all had failed.  After a week of steadily fighting the same SS troops that had held Patton up at Normandy, the 761st took Tillet and drove the Germans out in full retreat

The lieutenant's trial opened on August 2 and lasted for 17 days, during which time the 761st departed Camp Hood. Robinson was charged with violating the 63rd and 64th Articles of War. The first charge specified, "Lieutenant Robinson behaved with disrespect toward Captain Gerald M. Bear, Corps Military Police, by contemptuously bowing to him and giving several sloppy salutes while repeating, O'kay Sir, O'kay Sir, in an insolent, impertinent and rude manner." The second charge stipulated, "Lieutenant Robinson having received a lawful command by Captain Bear to remain in a receiving room at the MP station disobeyed such order." Robinson was eventually acquitted, and he was not charged for his actions on the bus. Three years later, Robinson was riding buses in the major leagues after breaking baseball's color barrier.