Kareem abduljabber has done a fabulous job of documenting the 761st tank battalions service during world war ii. The africanamerican 761st tank battalion in world war ii. It details the daytoday activities of the 784th tank battalion, describing basic training, actual combat, occupation and, finally, the deactivation of the unit. African americans in military historyworld war ii bibliography from air university library. In an interview with chuck sasser, for his book pattons panthers. Brothers in arms is the actual, heroic account of the 761st tank battalion, an africanamerican armored unit that fought in world war ii. It was then moved to fort knox, kentucky, where the battalion was training when the japanese attacked pearl harbor on december 7, 1941. Kareem abduljabbar first learned about the battalion from family friend leonard smitty smith, a veteran of the battalion. The 761st tank battalion was formed in the spring of 1942 and was the first african american tank battalion to see combat in the second world war. The epic story of the 761st tank battalion, wwiis forgotten heroes by anthony walton and kareem abduljabbar 2004, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn about the hardships endured by those men who had to endure the double problems of discrimination by their countrymen and the fighting of a determined enemy. Were getting a new negra tank battalion, the 761st, he said. The tank battalions mark in history slowly began to fade until its actions were summed up in a presidential unit citation awarded in 1978. The 761st was made up primarily of africanamerican soldiers, who by federal law were not permitted to serve alongside white troops.
The author centers his book on the 1943 police shooting of an african american. Dinicolo tells the full and unvarnished history of this important american fighting force. Converted to medium tank battalion in september 1943. The epic story of the 761st tank battalion, wwiis forgotten heroes ebook written by kareem abduljabbar, anthony walton. The epic story of the 761st tank battalion, wwiis forgotten heroes kareem abduljabbar, author, anthony walton, author. It is important to put in what a senior leader of his stature had to say about colored men. The africanamerican 761st tank battalion in world war ii by charles w. Relying on extensive archival research, including documents that had not been consulted in previous accounts, and interviews with surviving soldiers and family members, the author describes the units training, deployment, combat, and individuals, such as sgt.
Special emphasis is placed on the ways in which these war experiences contributed to the american civil rights movements of the 1960s. The history of the black soldiers of the 761st tank battalion, which served with distinction during world war ii, is well presented in this entry in the africanamerican soldiers series. The 761st was made up primarily of africanamerican soldiers, who by federal law were not permitted to serve alongside white troops as the u. Brothers in arms and millions of other books are available for instant access. The 761st tank battalion was an independent tank battalion of the united states army during world war ii. The real patton presented that speech on october 28, 1944, in france to the soldiers of the 761st tank battalion, the first negro armored unit in the history of the u. A detailed and informative history is told in the book entitled the 761st black panther tank battalion in world war ii an illustrated history of the first african american armored unit to see combat, by joe wilson, jr. The 761st tank battalion by kathryn browne pfeifer. The epic story of the 761st tank battalion, wwiis forgotten heroes abduljabbar, kareem, walton, anthony on.
The africanamerican 761st tank battalion in world war. Robinson was transferred from 761st, because paul refused to sign court martial papers. A story of race, war, and courage the 761st tank battalion in world war ii, historian gina m. The original black panthers fought in the 761st tank battalion during wwii. Assigned at various times to the third, seventh and ninth armies, the black panthers fought major engagements in six european countries and participated in four major allied campaigns, inflicting heavy casualties on the german army and capturing or. Brothers in arms by kareem abduljabbar, anthony walton. The 751st tank battalion was activated at fort benning, georgia, on june 1, 1941. The epic story of the 761st tank battalion, wwiis forgotton heroes by kareem abduljabbar and anthony walton. The 761st black panther tank battalion in world war ii. Known as the first african american armored unit to see combat in world war ii and as future baseball star jackie robinsons onetime outfit. The book chronicles the lives of young black men from all over the united states who registered for the draft or volunteered in the united states army in 1942. Kathryn browne pfeifer explores the black panthers, the first africanamerican tank battalion to see combat in world war ii. The 761st tank battalion, a black unit, fought with distinction and earned the praise of the flamboyant. Constituted 15 march 1942 in the army of the united states, the battalion was activated 1 april 1942 at camp claiborne, louisiana.
Captain williams and first sergeant sam turley were both kicked out of the 758th and reassigned to the 761st. The epic story of the 761st tank battalion, wwiis forgotten heroes 9780385503389 by abduljabbar, kareem. Pattons panthers would not quit the history reader during the 183 days pattons panthers, the 761st tank battalion, were in continuous combat, they participated in four major allied campaigns, including the battle of the bulge. Dinicolo, this novel brims over with exquisite detail that leaves readers feeling. The strength of the 761st tank battalion was proven during 183 days of continual fighting. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read pattons panthers. The 761st tank battalion was formed in the spring of 1942 and according to army historical records, had 30 black officers, six white officers, and 676 enlisted men. 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 selfpublished by the units enlisted members immediately after the end of world war ii in europe. The story of race, war, and courage tells the story of the armys 761st tank battalion, its men, and their training with the dream of fight. The 761st tank battalion and general pattons drive on germany, tells the full and unvarnished history of this important american fighting force. Army afroamerican troops history 20th century, world war, 19391945 regimental histories. See more ideas about wwii, american soldiers and world war ii.
Book recalls black world war ii tank battalion the. The epic story of the 761st tank battalion, wwiis forgotten. Walton, anthony and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. Kareem abduljabbar first learned about the battalion from. A powerful wartime saga in the bestselling tradition of flags of our fathers, brothers in arms recounts the extraordinary story of the 761st tank battalion, the. The epic story of the 761st tank battalion, wwiis forgotten heroes by kareem abduljabbar and anthony walton, broadway books, 2004. Delaware county district library ohio scanned in china. Throughout this period of combat, the courageous and. The 761st tank battalion and general pattons drive on germany is a military masterpiece that chronicles the lives, victories, and in some cases, deaths of crew members of the first african american tank unit to see combat in wwii. An illustrated history of the first african american armored unit to see combat joe wilson jr.
The history reader is a blog for history lovers and readers of history books 761st tank battalion. The first black panthers liberated concentration camps. Williamss book tells the story of the 761st the battalion that wore the black panther patch from its formation and training in deep south army. The epic story of the 761st tank battalion, wwiis forgotten heroes. The 784th tank battalion in world war ii mcfarland. The original black panthers fought in the 761st tank battalion. The 761st had paused after a breathless dash most of the way across france for final checkups and repairs prior to battle when pattons entourage. The africanamerican 761st tank battalion in world war ii, bates wife, taffy, confirmed the transfers goal. Assigned at various times to the third, seventh and ninth armies, the black panthers fought major engagements in six european countries and participated in four major allied campaigns, inflicting heavy casualties on the german army and capturing or destroying thousands of. Arrived in england in september 1944 and france on 10 october.
These african american heroes battled the nazis but were still. A powerful wartime saga in the bestselling tradition of flags of our fathers, brothers in arms recounts the extraordinary story of the 761st black panthers, the first allblack armored unit to see combat in world war ii. New york city native and teenager william mcburney who rushes to join the air corps. The 761st were known as the black panthers after their units distinctive insignia. The following description of the book is from the website of the publisher. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read brothers in arms. Sasser is a solid contribution to this growing literature that anyone interested in wwii andor issues of segregationrace relations in the middle of the 20th century should pick up. Pfeifer discusses not only the history of the units battle record, marginalized by racism, but also the experiences of individual men who suffered many injustices. The africanamerican 761st tank battalion in world war ii ebook written by charles w. This is a comprehensive record of the 761st tank battalion, the first african american armored unit to enter combat. The original black panthers were the 761st tank battalion, the first allblack armored battalion of world war ii. Assigned at various times to the third, seventh and ninth armies, the black panthers fought major engagements in six european countries and participated in four major allied campaigns, inflicting,000 casualties on the german army and capturing or destroying thousands of. Their logo depicting a black panther, as well as their nickname, was later adopted.
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