HISTORY OF THE 36th ARMORED INFANTRY REG I:MEl'T

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THIRTY-SIXTH ARMORED INFANTRY REGIMENT
• $pearMad 2Joughbo1Js·
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NORMANDY NORTHERN FRANCE ARDENNES RHINELAND CENTRAL GERMANY
HISTORY OF THE
36th ARMORED INFANTRY REG I:MEl'T~
THIRTY-SIXTH ARMORED INFANTRY REGIMENT
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NORMANDY NORTHERN FRANCE ARDENNES RHINELAND CENTRAL GERMANY
The 36th Armored Ini'antr·· J.egiment was originally org
anized at Brovvnsville, Texas, in June 1916, as the 36th In
fantry, the Reciment ·being organized b·.r the individual trans
fer of men from the ,:, th, 26th and 28th Infantr:-r hegiments.
It dic.l not serve during .".'orld :.::J.r I and was made
oversea~3
inactive at Fort Jay, Ne•;; York, 13 Oct ober 1921. Pursuant
to instructions contained in a letter fr om the 7-le.r Denart
ment dated 16 December 1940 as a~ended by letter dated 13
January 1941, the Regiment \KTas made active as a...'>l Armored
which on 1 June 1942 was redesignated the 36th
Regi~ent,
Armored Regiment. At the of its .·ation·
Infantr~r ~ine ~e·acti
the Resiment was entitled to no Battle Honors.
·DESCRIPTION OF COAT OF AR:t."S
The Regimental Coat of Arms is in three parts as
follows:
1. SHIELD. The official blazonry is A7ure, a sword
ba,ronet in fess, or within a border of the like. On a can
ton argent a cross of the field, over all a cactus proper
(for the 4th, 26th and 28th Infantry), which means in simple
English, A horizontal gold sword bayonet on a blue shield
with a gold border. On a silver guartered insert in the
upper left-hand corner (canton) is a blue cross, and super
imposed on top is a cactus. in natural colors.
The field of the shield is blue, the Infantr·r color.
The sword bayonet and border are taken from the unofficial
insignia adopted by the 12th Division. The three parent
organizations are shown on the canton. The 4th and 28th
Infantry took part in the Vera Cruz expedition, the name
suggesting the cross in blue for Infant~r. The cactus
represents the b9rder service of all three from
Re~iments
February 1913, until the organization of the 36th Infantry.
1 2. CREST. The official blazonry of the crest is"·On a
·:
wreath of the ·colors a six-bastioned fort vert charged with
a mullet argent," which means in G. I. language " A silver
·star mounted on a green six-bastion resting on a wreath of
gold and blue."
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THIRTY~SIXTH ARMOR.ED INFANTRY REGIMENT
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NORMANDY NORTHERN FRANCE ARDENNES RHINELAND CENTRAL GERMANY
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The crest symbolizes the birthplace of the Regiment.
The origin of Bro\vnsville was the fort built General
b~
Taylor in 1846, at first known as Fort Texas, later as
Fort BrC'.'.'!l in honor of Major Jacob Brown, who was killed
in its defense while comr.'.anding the 4th Infantr•!. The
36th Infantr-r is therefore doubly associated with .Browns
ville, as its birthplace and through the 4th Infantry, which
was connected with the birth of Brownsville. The battles of
Pala Alto and Risaca di la Palma were fought for the defense
of Fort Texas. This is shown by a six-bastioned fort in green,
an allusion to the Mexican color, charged with the silver lone
star of Texas.
3. ·MOTTO. "Deeds Not Words" needs no explanation.
B. On 22 April 1942, the War redesignated
D~partnent
the Coat of 36th Infantry, as the Coat of Arms, 36th
.~s,
Armored Regiment.
Infantr~~
c.
On 16 May 1941, information was received from the
.war Department that the distinctive insignia of the 36th
Infantry consisted of the crest onl:v of the Coat·· of Arms,
and on 22 April 1942, the distinctive insisnia of the 36th
Infantry was redesignated the distinctive insignia of the
36th Armored
Infant~! ~egiment.
THIRTY-SIXTH ARMORED INFANTRY REGIMENT
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NORMANDY NORTHERN FRANCE ARDENNES RHINELAND CENTRAL GERMANY
Date: Station:
The 36th Armored Inf was activated in comnliance
with .. ar Department letter, AG 320.2 (7 .E'eb 1941)
E.C. Subject: Cadres for the Force, dated
Ar~ored
21 .Feb 1941, as a unit of the 3rd ,\rmored Division,
Camp Polk, La., with station at Camp
temporc...~r
La. Colonel H. Nalker was asgd
B8aure~ard, W~lton
to and assumed of the regiment.
co~~and
BF.Alr.:GGA..-rt.D, LOUISLUa
C.A1"~
4-16-41 Preparing a tent camp for the of the cadre
~rival
4-17-41 Cadre consisting of 6 officers (RA), 80 officers
(ORC) and 652 enlisted men joined by transfer from
41st Inf (.Armd), Fort Benning, Ga., having de-parte
from that station vi&. RR Train at 8:30 .AM, 16 Apr
1941, arrived at Camp Beauregard, La.., at 8:45AM
17 Apr 1941 •
•
4-18-41 Usual garrison duties.
to ·
5-31-41
6-1-41 Usual garrison duties. Band, 36th Amid Inf activ<l ,
b7 transfer of personnel and equipment of the Band
20th Inf., Fort Francis E. ·.varren, ·:'!yo., per lette
Dept., Subject: Bands, dated 2 Ap 1941, file
~:{ar
AG 320.2 {5 Mar 41) M (Ret) Itt-C. Did not join. On
Detached Service, Ft Leavenworth, Ka.n.
6-2-41 Usual garrison duties.
6-3-41 Usual garrison duties. Advance detachment departed
.for Camp Polk, La.
6-4-41 Usual garrison duties. Band arrived at Camp rolk,
La., · by RR Train from Ft Leavemvorth, Ae.,n.
6-5-41 Usual garrison duties.
to
6-12-41
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THIRTY-SIXTH ARMORED INFANTRY REGIMENT
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NORMANDY NORTHERN FRANCE ARDENNES RHINELAND CENTRAL GERMANY
Date: Station:
C -~~ POLZ, I.·:~·U:J:.:.:.I::-A
6-13-41 Regiment d.,;:purted from. Car.:p .:::.eP..urc.::·::.rd, La., at
9:00 A1~ a."ld arrived at Camp Poll:, .•. z.., at 12:30
P1I. Method o:f tr::!.vel !1otor Convoy. Distance
75 miles.
tr~veled
Usual garrison duties.
6-1~~-41
to
6-19-41
. d ..
6-20-41 U sua1 'J' ;"J • ... co:'!lr:lence v:t.ng
garr~son u.u-::~es. ·'""eC~.JW!1"' rece~
selectees.
6-21-41 Usual garrison duties.
to
7-17-41
7-18-41 Col Wal. ton H~ \7allcer reld from asgd and comd and
trfd to Hq 3rd Armd Div . Lt Col E. A. ·:!:l.i th assumed
comd.
7-19-41· Usual duties •
~arrison
.t o
8-19-41
8-20-41 Usunl garrison duties. Col ','lillio.."ll L. Itoberts, Inf,
asgd and assumed comd of Regt. Lt Col Edwin A. Smith
reld from comd of ReGt.
8-21-41 Usual garrison duties.
to
9-6-41
9-6-41 Usual garrison duties. 2 Re;ular J.:rmy and 20 Reserve
Officers and 123 enlisted men departed bz: rail for
detached .service at Ft Knox, Ky., as cadre for 5th
Armd Div., to be activated 1 Oct 1941.
9-7-41 Sunday. Pvt Burch, Hq_ Co. was accid·::ntall~r killed
in an automobile accident near Lake Charles, La.
9-8-41 Usual garris.on duties. Col Wm L. Roberts reld fr
comd of Regt and de9arted as an observer, 3rd Army
maneuvers; Lt Col Edgar B. Heylmun assumed comd.
' .
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.THIRTY-SIXTH ARMORED INFANTRY REGIMENT
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NORMANDY NORTHERN FRANCE ARDENNES RHINELAND CENTRAL GERMANY
Date: Jtation:
9-9-41 Usual garrison duties.
9-10-41 Usual garrison duties. Col Roberts r:-:turned from de
tached service and assun.cd comd. Col. Heylrn.un
~t
reld of comd.
9-11-41 Usual garrison duties.
9-12-41 Usual garri:'3on duties.
to
10-30-41
10-31-41 Usual garrison duties. Col ·.vm L. Roberts, Inf,
reld comd of Regt. Lt Col :Edgar B. Hcylmun, Ini.',
assumed comd of
Reg~.
11-1-41 Usual garrison duties. Lt Col Ed!.;ar ·B. Heylmun Inf
reld comd of Regt. Llajor Joseph J. 3illo assumed
comd of Regt.
11-2-41 Sunday.
11-3-41 Usual garrison duties. i.~ajor Joseuh J. Bille Inf
reld comd of Regt. Col William L.-Roberts Inf re-
sumed comd of Regt.
11-4-41 Usual garrison duties.
to
11-7-41
11-8-41 Usual garrison duties. Pvt 3ugene E. ~ell~y, Co D,
died at Lawson General Atlru1ta, Ga.
Hoo~ital,
11-9-41 Usual garrison duties.
to
11-21-41
11-22-41 Usual garrison duties. Col Wm L Robert, Inf, reld
comd of Regt. Lt Col Edgar B. He,.rl::nun,. Inf, assumed
comd of Regt.
·11-23-41 Lt Col Edgar B Heylmun Inf reld comd of Regt. Col
William L. Roberts Inf assumed of Regt.
co~d
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THIRTY-SIXTH ARMORED INFANTRY REGIMENT
• Spta1'htad 0oughbo1Js•
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NORMANDY NORT.HERN FRANCE ARDENNES RHINELAND CENTRAL GERMANY
Date: Station:
1-7-42 Usual garrison duties.
1-8-42 Band was transferred to 33rd A.rmd .:.~e~t., per leJ;;ter
Hq. A.F. file 32C.2 dated 29 Dec 41.
1-9-42 Usual garrison duties.
to
2-20-42
2-21-42 Regiment commenced.training personnel for 7th .~d
Div by increasing strength of to double
regL~ent
auth strength.
2-22-42 Usual garrison duties, including of
tr~ining per~
to sonnel for 48th Inf Regt, 7th Armd Div.
;~a
4-26-42
4-27-42 15 Off and 357 ELl were transferred to 48th Armd
Inf, 7th Armd Div cadre per TM No 7, Hq II .trmd
Corps, 14 Apr 1942.
4-28-42 Usual garrison duties.
to
4-29-42
4-30-42 Pvt Grady L. Baker, ·Hq Co, let Bn, died.
5-1-42 Usual garrison duties. Yellow jaundice epidemic
to . 20 percent of personnel affected.
6-9~42
6-10-42 Pvt Elias B. Ortega, Co I, died.
6-11-42 U~al garrison duties.
to
6-21-42
.6-22-42 Col Roberts reld comd. Lt Col Cockefair assumed
comd.
6-23-42 Usual garrison duties.
6-24-42 Hq & Hq Co, 36th Armd Inf Regt: Hq & Hq Co let Bn
and Hq &: Hq Co 2nd Bn and Hq &: Hq Co 3rd Bn, 36th
Armd Inf Regt were enactivated, and Hq, 36th .trmd
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THIRTY-SIXTH ARMORED INFANTRY REGIMENT
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NORMANDY NORTHERN FRANCE ARDENNES RHINELAND CENTRAL GERMANY
Date: Station:
Inf Regt; Hq Co; Hq 1st Bn; Hq Co 1st Bn; Hq 2nd
Bn; Hq Co 2nd Bn; 2rd Bn; Hq Co 3rd Bn were
H~
activated per letter Hq Armd Force, file 320.2
of Hq & Hq Co's of
~NOAG, Subject:·~rg~~ization
Units of the 3rd Armd Div dated 6-19-42.
6-24-42 Usual garrison dut ies.
to
6-27-42
6-28-42 Lt Col Cockefair reld comd. Lt Col :3eely asmd
comd.
6-29-42 Usual garrison duties.
to
7-10-42
7-11-42 Lt Col Seel;,r reld comd. Col Roberts asmd comd.
7-12-42 Usual garrison
duti~s.
to
7-13-42
7-14-42 Fvt Erie G. Linnstaedter, Co B, died.
7-15-42 Usual garrison duties.
7-16-42 Col Roberts reld comd. ·Lt Col Cockefair asmd Comd.
7-16-42 Regiment dep~ted from Camp Polk, La., in 7 RR
and Trains for Desert Training at Freda, Calif.
7-17-42
Zlffi OUTE
7-18-42 Enroute from Camp ?elk, La., to Freda, Calif.
to
7-19-42
7-20-42 Lt Col Cockefair reld comd. Lt Col Seely asmd comd.
7-21-42 Regiment arrived at Freda, California, and estab
and lished bivouac l2 miles southwest of Freda, Calif.
7-22-42
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THIRTY-SIXTH ARMORED INFANTRY REGIMENT
• $pta1'1rtad ::Douglrbor;s"
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NORMANDY NORTHERN FRANCE ARDENNES RHINELAND CENTRAL GERMANY
Date: Station:
12 SW PR:::DA, CALIFORNIA
1~IL3>)
7-23-42 Preparing camp site.
7-24-42 Lt Col Seely reld comd. Col Roberts asmd comd.
7-25-42 Usual camp duties.
to
7-26-42
7-27-42 Pvt George A. Parker, Hq Co, 1st Bn, died.
7-28-42 Pvt Spencer A. Cornelius, Co F, died.
7-29-42 Usual camp duties.
to
8-7-42
8-8-42 Col Roberts reld comd and trfd to C & GSS School,
Ft Leavenworth, Kan. Lt Col Cockefair asmd comd.
8-9-42 Usual c.amp duties.
to
8-11-42
8-12-42 Lt Col Cockefair reld comd. Lt Col ·Seely asmd
comd~
8-13-42 Usual camp duties.
to
8-16-42
8-17-42 Col G G Parks joined by transfer 8th Serv Comd
fro~
asmd ·comd of ~egt. Lt Col Seely reld comd.
8-18-42 Usual camp duties and maneuvers.
to
10-22-42
10-23-42 Regiment departed from Freda, California, in 6 RR
to Trains for Camp Piclcett, Va.
10-25-42
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THIRTY-SIXTH ARMORED INFANTRY REGIMENT
~ Spta1'htad 1Joughboys~
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NORMANDY NORTHERN FRANCE ARDENNES RHINELAND CENTRAL GERMANY
Date: -Station:
10-26-42 Enroute from Freda, California to Camp Pickett,
to Virginia.
10-29-42
10-30-42 Reg~cnt arrived at Camp Picket, Va.
to
10-31-42
CA!.!P PICJC:TT, YIRGINIA
11-1-42 Usual garrison duties including preparation for
overseas movement.
11-18-42 Col Parks reld comd. Lt Col Seely asmd comd.
11-19-42 Usual garrison duties including preparation for
to overseas movement
11-27-42
,
11-28-42 Lt Col Seely reld comd. Col Parks asmd comd.
11-29-42 Usual garrison duties inc-Luding preparation for
to overseas movement.
1-10-43
1-11-43 departed in 5 RR Trains for Indiantown Gap,
Regi~ent
to Pa.
1-12-43
INDI.AlTT0~.7N GAl? biiL RES, PEN~lSYLV .iliit..
1-12-43 RegL~ent arrived at Indiantown Gap Mil Res, Pa.
&
1-13-43
1-13-43 Usual garrison duties including preparation for
to overseas movement.
2-3-43
Major Charles Cooke, 36th Inf Regt died.
2~4-43 -~d
2-5-43 Usual garrison duties preparation for
inclu~ing
overseas movement.
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