761st Tank Battalion

The history of the 761st Tank Battalion has been told a number of times, including books, starting with one titled Come Out Fighting that was written and self-published by the unit's enlisted members immediately after the end of World War II in Europe. The strength of the 761st Tank Battalion was proven during 183 days of continual fighting (including action in the Battle of the Bulge) after the Black Panthers became the first African-American armored unit to enter combat. Staff Sergeant Ruben Rivers posthumously received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his extraordinary heroism in action. Warren G. H. Crecy received a battlefield commission and a recommendation for the Medal of Honor while earning his reputation as the Baddest Man in the 761st. Baseball legend Jackie Robinson was an officer with the 761st Tank Battalion during training at Camp Hood, Texas, but he was prevented from going to Europe with his unit by a racial incident on a bus. An article in the January 1992 edition of Army magazine by Lt. Col. Philip W. Latimer describes his recollections of When the Black Panthers Prowled. Eventually, after delays caused by the deep racial prejudices of the time, the unit was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation by President Jimmy Carter. An oral history project interview with Staff Sergeant Floyd Dade, by The Urban School of San Francisco provides an interesting first hand account of a 761st Tanker's personal experiences. Cpl. Buddie V. Branch describes his recollections of being a 761st tanker in an interview with 761st Tank Battalion Historian Wayne D. Robinson.  An article about Cpl. Raleigh Hill by Greg Bischof titled Veteran helped make history from the February 25, 2007, edition of the Texarkana Gazette is re-published here with permission (and thanks.)   A January, 2009, feature story from the Southside Sentinel about Pvt. Raymond W. Burrell of Deltaville, Virginia, is republished here by permission.  Also, a feature article entitled Color Barrier Broken written by John Neville originally published in the Turret in February, 2007, is republished here by permission (with thanks to the author and the newspaper serving Fort Knox.) An article by Lt.Col. Roger Cunningham (USA-Ret.) originally published in the December 2004 issue of On Point magazine is republished here with the permission of (and with thanks to) the Army Historical Foundation.