HISTORY OF THE 36th ARMORED INFANTRY REGI

173 Pages·2014·18.59 MB·English

THIRTY-SIXTH ARMORED INFANTRY REGIMENT
"Spearhead !Douglrbor;sN
* * * * *
NORMANDY NORTHERN FRANCE ARDENNES RHINELAND CENTRAL GERMANY
HISTORY OF THE
36th ARMORED INFANTRY
REGI~!ENT
''
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THIRTY-SIXTH ARMORED INFANTRY REGIMENT
"Spearhead !lJougltboys"
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NORMANDY NORTHERN FRANCE ARDENNES RHINELAND CENTRAL GERMANY
The 36th Armored Ini'antr'.' Regiment was originally org
anized at Brownsville, Texas, in June 1916, as the 36th In
fantry, the Rec;i ment .being organized b7 the individual trans
fGr· of men from the 4th, 26th and 28th Infantry 1\.egiments.
It did not serve overseas during orld Jar I and was made
inactive at Fort Ja•r, New York, 13 October 19,21. Pursuant
to instructions contained in a letter from the :Jar Depart
ment dated 16 December 1940 as mnended b1r letter dated 13
January 1941, the Regiment was made active as an Ar111ored
ReGiment, which on 1 June 1942 was redesignated the 36th
Armored Infantrv Regiment . \t the time of its react:L Iation·
the Regiment was entitled to no Battle Honors.
DESCRIFriON O.r' CQNji OJ!" .A.Rl.'S
. The Regimental Coat of Arms is in three parts as
follows:
1. SHIELD. The official blazonrv is A?:ure , a sword
bavonet in fess, or within a borcJer 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 is blue, the Infantrr color.
shif~ld
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 Infantry. The cactus
represents the border service of all three from
Re.~iments
February 1913, until the oreanization of the 36th Infantry.
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, 11 which means in G. I. language " A silver
· star mounted on a green six-bastion resting on a wreath of
gold .and blue."
THIRTY-SIXTH ARMORED INFANTRY REGIMENT
"Spearhead 0oughboys •
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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 Brownsville was the fort built by General
Taylor in 1846, at first lrnown as Fort Texas, later as
Fort Brown in honor of Major Jacob Brown, who was killed
in its defense while commanding the 4th Infantry. The
36th Infa.ntr•r is therefore doubly associated with Brovms
ville, as its birthplace and through the 4th Infantry, which
was connected with the birth of Bro\vnsville. ·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 rords" needs no explanation.
B. On 22 .April 1942, the War redesignated
D~partment
the Coat of Arms, 36th Infantry, as the Coat of Arms, 36th
Armored Infan tr,r Hegiment. .
c.
On 16 May 1941, information was received from the
War Department that the distinctive insignia of the 36th
Infantry consisted of the crest of the Coat of Arms,
onl~
and on 22 April 1942, the distinctive insignia of the 36th
Infantry was redesignated the distinctive insignia of the
Armored Infantry Regiment.
~6th
THIRTY-SIXTH ARMORED INFANTRY REGIMENT
"Spearhead !I>oughboys"
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NORMANDY NORTHERN FRANCE ARDENNES RHINELAND CENTRAL GERMANY
36TH ARMORED INF.'-IJJTRY
Date: Station:
The 36th Armored Inf was activated in compliance
with .. ar Department letter, AG 320.2 (7 .E'eb 1941)
E.C. Subject: Cadres for the Armored l!'orce, dated
21 Feb 1941, as a unit of the 3rd :Lrmored Division,
Camp Polk, La., with temporary station at Camp
Beauregard, La. Colonel 1/al ton H. .;alker was asgd
to and assumed command of the regiment.
CJU P B·.AURli;GARD, LOUISIANA
4-16-41 Preparing a tent camp for the arrival of the cadre.
4-17-41 Cadre consisting of 6 officers (RA), 80 officers
(ORC) and 652 enlisted men joined by transfer from
41st Inf (..~\.rmd), :b'ort Benning, Ga., having departed
from that station vi&. RR Train at 8:30 AM, 16 Apr
1941, arrived at Camp Beauregard, La., at 8:45
.~1
17 Apr 1941.
4-18-41 Usual garrison duties.
to
5-31-41
6-1-41 Usual garrison duties. Band, 36th Armd Inf activated
by transfer of personnel and equipment of the Band,
20th Inf., Fort Francis E. darren, ·./yo., per letter
;i'lar ])ept., Subject: Bands, dated 2 Ap 1941, file
AG 320.2 {5 l11ar 41) 1-1 (Het) !.1-C. Did not join. On
Detached Service, Ft Leavenworth, Kan.
6-2-41 Usual garrison duties.
6-3-41 Usual garrison duties . Advance detachm~nt departed
for Camp Polk, La.
6-4-41 Usual garrison duties. lb..nd arrived at Camp rollc,
La., by HR Train f:.r:om .l!'t Leavenv:orth, .h.an.
6-5-41 Usual garrison duties.
·to
6-12-41
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THIRTY-SIXTH ARMORED INFANTRY REGIMENT
"Spearhead CDoughboys"
* * * * *
NORMANDY NORTHERN FRANCE ARDENNES RHINELAND CENTRAL GERMANY
Date:
~")tation:
CAL:P POLIZ, LOUISL~A
6-13-41 Regiment departed from Ca•xp Beauregard, La., at
9:00AM und arrived at Camp Polk, La., at 12:30
PT,,l. J:•,ethod of tr-":~·,,·e 1 J'.,otor Convoy. Distance
truvelsd 75 miles .
6-14-41 Usual garrison duties .
to
6-19-41
6-20-41 Usual garrison duties . ~e~imcnt conuncnced receiving
selectees .
6-21-41 Usual garrison duties .
to
7-17-41
7-18-41 Col Walton H. vlallwr relu from ased and comd and
r:.
trfd to Hq 3rd Ar1:1d J)iv. Lt Col A • .m ith assumed
comd.
7-19-41 Usual aarrison duties .
to
8-19-41
8-20-41 Usu<.-tl garrison duties . Col .iillio.m L. Hoberts, lnf,
asg<l and assumed comcl o.f 1 e,3t. Lt Col Edwin A. Smith
reld from comd of Uo t.
8- 21-41 Ut>ual garriFon duties .
to
9-6-41
9-6-41 Usual garrison duties . 2 Re:;v.lar -~rmy and 20 Reserve
O;[ficero and 12 3 cnliste d r.1en departed . bv rail for
detached service o.t Pt ~-:·nox, Ky., as cadre for 5th
.Armd Div., to be activated 1 Oct 1941.
9-7-41 Sunday. Pvt 3urch, Hq_ Co. \.ras o.ccid nta.lly killed
in an automobile nccident near I1alcc Ch,.J.rles , La.
9-8-41 Usual garrison duties . Col Tm L. l1oberts reld fr
comd of Rest and de'>arted as an observer, 3rd Army
m3.11euvers . Lt Col .Gdgar D. He,rlmun assumed cou1d.
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THIRTY-SIXTH ARMORED INFANTRY REGIMENT
"$pear head !.Doughboys"
* * * * *
NORMANDY NORTHERN FRANCE ARDENNES RHINELAND CENTRAL GERMANY
Date: Station:
9-9-41 Usual garrison duties.
9-10-41 Usual garrison duties . Col Iloborts returned :from de
tached service and assumed comd. Lt Col. IIeylmun
reld of comd.
9-11-41 Usual garrison duties .
9-12-41 Usual garri...1on duties.
to
10-30-41
10-31-41 Usual garrison duties . Col .!m L . Hoberts, Inf,
reld comd of Regt. Lt Col :Edgar B. Hc,,rlmun, In:f:',
assumed comd of Hegt.
11-1-41 Usual garrison duties. Lt Col Bd,~ar ·B. Heylmun Inf
reld comd of TI.e :.t. i.1aj or Joseph J. .3illo assumed
comd of B.ogt.
11-2-41 Sunday.
11-3-41 Usual garrison duties . Lajor Joseph J. Bille Inf
rcld comd of Regt . Col Jilliam L. Roberts Inf re
sumed comd of llegt.
11-4-41 Usual garrison duties .
to
11-7-41
11-8-4~ Usual garrison duties. }vt Bugene ~. Lelley, Co D,
died at Lawn on General Ho o tal, Ga.
~Ji ·~tlanta,
11-9-41 Usual garrison duties .
to
11-21-41
11-22-41 Usual garrison duties. Col \/m L Robert, Inf, reld
co mel of Rest. I1t Col Edgar B. He,rl mun, Inf', assumed
comd of l.legt.
11-23-41 Lt Col Edgar B IIeylmun Inf reld oomd of Regt. Col
·:/illiam L. Roberts Inf assumed comd of Regt.
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THIRTY-SIXTH ARMORED INFANTRY REGIMENT
"Spearhead 0oughboys"
* * * * *
NORN:ANDY NORTHERN FRANCE ARDENNES RHINELAND CENTRAL GERMANY
Date:
Station:
11-24-41 Usual garrison duties.
11-25-41 Usual garrison duties. Col ·Nm L. Roberts Inf reld
comd Rec;t . 1'.1ajor Joseph J •. Billo Inf assumed comd.
11-26-41 Usual garrison duties .
11-27-41 Usual garrison duties.
11-28-41 Usual garrison duties.
to
12-4-41
12-5-41 Usual garrison duties. ~ajor Joseph J. Billo Inf
reld comd of 1-i.eet. Col ·.im L. Hobcrts Inf assumed
of Regt.
com~
12-6-41 Usual garrison .duties.
to
12-14-41
12-15-41 Usual garrison duties. 2 Officers and 48 enlisted
men transferred to 703rd Tank Destroyer Bn., Camp
Polk, La., as part of cadre.
12-16-41 Usual garrison duties.
to
12-23-41
12-24-41 Col Roberts reld oomd. IJt Col Billo assumed oomd.
12-25-41 Usual garrison duties.
to
12-27-41
12-' 28-41
Lt Col Bille reld oomd. Col Roberts assumed cond.
12-29-41 Usual garrison duties.
to
1-B-42
1-6-42 Antitank Co inactivated and Co I activated per letter
Hq Armd Force, file AG 320.2, 29 Dec 41, Subject:
Reorganization of Existing Armored Divisions.
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THIRTY-SIXTH ARMORED INFANTRY REGIMENT
"Spearhead !Doughboys"
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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 Armd Hegt., per letter
Hq. A.F. file 320.2 dated 29 Dec 41.
1-9-42 Usual garrison duties.
to
2-20-42
2-21-42 Regiment commenced -training personnel for 7th Armd
Div by increasing strength of regiment to double
auth strength.
2-22-42 Usual garrison duties, including training of per,.
to sonnel for 48th Armd Inf Regt, 7th Armd Div.
4-26-42
4-27-42 15 Off and 357 EM were transferred to 48th Armd
Inf, 7th Armd Div cadre per TM No 7, Hq II Armd
Corps, 14 Apr 1942.
4-28-42 Usual garrison duties.
to
4-29-42
4-30-42 Pvt Grady L. Baker, Hq Co, 1st 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 Usual 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 1st Bn
and Hq & Hq Co 2nd Bn and Hq & Hq Co 3rd Bn, 36th
Armd Inf Regt were enactivated, and Hq, 36th Armd
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THIRTY-SIXTH ARMORED INFANTRY REGIMENT
"Spearhead 0ouglzboys"
* * * * *
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; Hq 2rd Bn; Hq Co 3rd Bn were
activated per letter Hq Armd Force, file 320.2
GNOAG, Subject: 'ur ganization of Hq & Hq Co's of
Units of the 3rd Armd Div dated 6-19-42.
6-24-42 Usual garrison duties.
to
6-27-42
6-28-42 Lt Col Cockefair reld comd. Lt Col 0eely asmd
comd.
6-29-42 Usual garrison duties.
to
7-10-42
7-11-42 Lt Col Seely re1d comd. Col Roberts asmd comd.
7-12-42 Usual garrison duties.
to
7-13-42
7-14-42 Pvt 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 Reeiment dep?rted from Camp Polk, La., in 7 RR.
and ~rains for Desert Training at Freda, Calif.
7-17-42
Jo:NROUTE
7-18-42 Enroute from Camp .f·olk, La., to Freda, .0alif.
to
7-19-42
7-20-42 Lt Col Cocltefair r eld comd. Lt Col Seely asmd comd.
7-21-42 legiment arrived at Freda, California, and estab
· and lished bivouac 12 miles southwest of Freda, Calif.
7-22-42
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THIRTY-SIXTH ARMORED INFANTRY REGIMENT
"Spearhead 0oughboys"
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NORMANDY NORTHERN FRANCE ARDENNES RHINELAND CENTRAL GERMANY
Date:
' Station:
12 rULES SIV l!'REDA, CALIFORNIA
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 camp 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 from 8th Serv Comd
asmd comd of Regt. 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 Pickett, Va.
10-25-42
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