History 64th Armor Regiment

1 history

1.1 1st battalion desert rogues
1.2 2nd battalion (rogue)
1.3 3rd battalion (rampage)
1.4 4th battalion (tuskers)

1.4.1 world war ii
1.4.2 korea
1.4.3 germany
1.4.4 gulf war
1.4.5 oif 1
1.4.6 oif 3
1.4.7 oif 5
1.4.8 deactivation

history

the regiment traces lineage 78th tank battalion, activated on 13 january 1941 @ fort knox kentucky. unit redesignated 758th tank battalion (light) on 8 may 1941. 758th first tank battalion in history organized black soldiers. 758th soldier designed regimental crest, rampant head of black african elephant symbolizing soldier s pride in heritage , unit s mission of mobile armored warfare. today, every 1-64th armor soldier wears same crest, prominently displayed on unit colors motto pierce.

the 758th tank battalion served 92nd infantry division in world war ii, , inactivated on 22 september 1945 @ viareggio, italy. 758th served distinction in italian campaign of world war ii, earned first of many campaign streamers on battalion colors.

in 1949, 758th tank battalion redesignated 64th heavy tank battalion , assigned 2nd armored division. in 1950, 64th tank battalion assigned 3rd infantry division, , deployed overseas combat operations during korean war. battalion participated in total of 8 separate campaigns , fought intervention of chinese communist forces in november 1950 until cease-fire in 1953.

in 1957, 64th tank battalion inactivated @ ft. benning, georgia. in 1963, 64th armor regiment activated parent regiment under combined arms regimental system. 4 battalions of 64th armor in germany on 30 years of distinguished service. in 1987, 1st battalion redeployed germany fort stewart, georgia. 5th battalion, 32nd armor inactivated , personnel reassigned 1st battalion, 64th armor. 2 battalions of 64th, 2nd , 3rd remained in germany. 1st battalion 64th regimental headquarters @ fort stewart, georgia, home base.

1st battalion desert rogues

the mission of 1st battalion, 64th armor to, on order, deploy air, sea, , land contingency area, project strong forward presence , conduct combat operations defeat armored heavy force in order preserve regional stability. following transformation of 2nd brigade combat team modular force structure, 1st battalion, 64th armor iron fist of 2nd brigade combat team, 3rd infantry division (mechanized).

in 1990, battalion deployed 24th infantry division (mechanized) part of operation desert shield. during combat operations in iraq part of operation desert storm, battalion spearheaded division attack against forces of iraqi republican guard , advanced on 350 miles in 4 days. during action, unit earned 2 campaign streamers: defense of saudi arabia , liberation of kuwait. following successful conclusion of war, battalion redeployed fort stewart.

in october 1993, elements of battalion deployed part of task force 1-64th armor protect united nations operation somalia (unosom) forces deployed africa operation continue hope. task force conducted force security missions in hostile theater 6 months before safely returning soldiers home in march 1994. in reaction shooting-down of army black hawks in mogadishu, somalia in october 1993, 1-64th armor deployed immediate reaction force in support of 2-22nd infantry, part of 10th mountain division, suppress further attacks on personnel.

elements of 1-64th armor deployed during mid-1990s bosnia part of stabilization force 8 (sfor 8).

in september 2002, 1-64th armor deployed kuwait in order prepare offensive operations. in march 2003, task force 1-64th armor attacked across border liberate iraq , force regime change part of operation iraqi freedom. task force 1-64th armor led division heart of baghdad in order demonstrate american resolve, presence, , destroy hussein regime.

in january 2005, 1-64th armor deployed again baghdad, iraq, battalion began combat operation tissa nissan. actions of rogue soldiers secured dangerous routes in baghdad on daily basis. battalion enabled iraqis vote in 2 elections including national referendum provided iraq first democratic government in country s history.

in 2006, 2nd brigade, 3rd infantry division mechanized began transformation army s new modular force structure. part of transformation, 1-64th armor reorganized, remained part of reorganized , redesignated 2nd brigade combat team.

the 1-64th armor deployed in mid-2007 tour of duty in iraq part of operation iraqi freedom. unit remained in country 2008, while returning in 2009 2010 in mosul region.

in march 2012, 1-64th armor deployed kandahar province, afghanistan in support of operation enduring freedom xii. unit part of task force arrowhead , remained in afghanistan until december 2012. while in afghanistan, battalion given mission reduce rocket fire on kandahar air field, commonly referred kaf, , through coordination air force, romanian military, intelligence gathering units, , fixed , rotary-wing aviation personnel, able address problem , decrease rocket attacks 70 percent. bayonet , cyclone companies attached 1st battalion 23rd infantry regiment (fort lewis, wa) , operated in volatile panjwai district of kandahar. executed interdiction missions, tasked interrupting flow of weapons , insurgents kandahar city area goal of preventing spectacular attacks on kandahar city. working military working dog teams, explosive ordnance disposal teams, special operations forces, , close combat air assets, bayonet , cyclone companies able disrupt core of taliban network in south. prevented spectacular attacks occurring , inflicted unsustainable casualties on taliban forces.

2nd battalion (rogue)

following korean war, 64th heavy tank battalion reorganized 64th armor regiment, parent regiment under combined arms regimental system. 2nd battalion, 64th armor born @ time, , 3 sister battalions, helped preserve freedom’s frontier in federal republic of germany. 2nd battalion, commonly written 2–64 armor, assigned 1st brigade, 3rd infantry division @ conn barracks in schweinfurt, germany. remained there 33 years until inactivation ceremony of 5 april 1996. second armored unit receive m-1 abrams tank. during tenure in germany, companies of rogue battalion performed numerous reforgers (return of forces germany), winter warriors, border missions, selected united states representatives nato’s armor competition, canadian army trophy (cat) in 1989 , participated in peace keeper 95.

3rd battalion (rampage)

following korean war, 64th heavy tank battalion reorganized 64th armor regiment, parent regiment under combined arms regimental system. 3d battalion, 64th armor born @ time, , 3 sister battalions, helped preserve freedom’s frontier in federal republic of germany. 3rd battalion, commonly written 3–64 armor, assigned 1st brigade, 3rd infantry division, @ conn barracks in schweinfurt, germany. remained there 30 years until inactivation ceremony of 17 december 1993. first armored unit receive m-1 abrams tank. during tenure in germany, companies of rampage battalion performed numerous reforgers (return of forces germany), winter warriors, border missions , selected united states representatives nato’s armor competition, canadian army trophy (cat) in 1983, 1985, , 1987.

in november 1990 select units of 3rd battalion called action , attached 1st armored division in saudi arabia part of desert shield/desert storm allied coalition.

4th battalion (tuskers)

the mission of 4th battalion, 64th armor to, on order, deploy air, sea, , land contingency area, project strong forward presence , conduct combat operations defeat armored heavy force in order preserve regional stability.

world war ii

the 64th armor regiment descended 78th tank battalion, activated on 13 january 1941, , redesignated 758th tank battalion (light) on 8 may 1941. 758th tank battalion served 92nd infantry division in world war ii, , inactivated 22 september 1945 @ viareggio, italy.

the 758th first tank battalion in history organized black soldiers. 758th soldier designed regimental crest, rampant head of black african elephant symbolizing soldier s pride in heritage , unit s mission of mobile armored warfare.

korea

in 1949, 758th tank battalion redesignated 64th heavy tank battalion , assigned 2nd armored division. in 1950, 64th tank battalion assigned 3rd infantry division, , deployed overseas combat operations during korean war. 64th tank battalion fought in battle of kumsong salient, , company awarded presidential unit citation bravery , heroism. in 1957, 64th tank battalion inactivated @ fort benning, georgia.

germany

in 1963, 64th armor activated parent regiment under combined arms regimental system. 4 battalions of 64th armor in germany on 20 years of distinguished service. in 1984, 1st , 4th battalions, 64th armor, redeployed germany fort stewart, georgia, while 2nd , 3rd remained in germany. 1st battalion 64th regimental headquarters , fort stewart home base.

gulf war

for on 50 years, 64th armor regiment served distinction in world war ii, korea, germany, , united states. while assigned 24th infantry division, 1st , 4th battalions distinguished in defense of saudi arabia during desert shield, , in combat operations in iraq during desert storm. following iraqi invasion of kuwait in 1990, 4-64th armor 1 of first battalions deployed defend kingdom of saudi arabia part of operation desert shield. battalion attacked 6 months later, spearheading 24th infantry division s left hook iraq destroy elements of 26th command brigade , republican guard hammurabi division part of operation desert storm. speed , forcefulness helped force iraqi retreat , surrender.

in august 1990, battalion deployed saudi arabia attached 24th infantry division (mechanized), in support of operation desert storm. through 1990s, battalion deployed bosnia, , conducted numerous rotations through national training center @ fort irwin, ca. (note earlier entry stated deployment kuwait in 1991. incorrect, 4th bn never entered kuwait, after combat operations.)

oif 1

in 2002, battalion deployed 2nd brigade, 3rd infantry division kuwait operation desert spring. 1 of acclimated units desert environment, 4–64 led third infantry division iraq operation iraqi freedom in march 2003. tuskers second unit international zone of baghdad in april 2003, following task force 1-64ar on second thunder run (7 april 2003). in june 2003, unit moved habanyiah, iraq (between fallujah , ramadi in al-anbar province), , provided security there before redeploying fort stewart in august 2003.

oif 3

in 2004, tuskers reassigned new 4th brigade, 3rd infantry division. transitioned four-company seven-company structure, exchanging former bravo company (armor) 3–7 infantry, gaining bravo 3–7 infantry , b-10 engineer, redesignating alpha company (armor) delta company (armor), , dividing hhc fsc , hhc. in november 2004, 4–64 armor deployed joint readiness training center first time, prepare second deployment iraq.

the battalion s second deployment fob prosperity in international zone of baghdad. unit had responsibility security within international zone, , neighborhoods in vicinity. c co cross attached 1/184th in (aa) @ fob falcon. responsible 1 of worst sectors in iraq @ time. c co suffered many losses , injured soldiers managed reduce insurgent threat. battalion redeployed in january 2006.

oif 5

in october 2007 battalion deployed once again iraq. during deployment battalion positioned @ fob falcon, baghdad, iraq. battalion had daunting task of clearing , securing greater portion of west rashid in southwest baghdad.

deactivation

in march 2009, battalion deactivated , re-flagged 3rd battalion, 15th infantry regiment 4th brigade combat team reorganised heavy brigade combat team (hbct) infantry brigade combat team (ibct).