32nd Cavalry Regiment
| 32nd Armor Regiment & 32nd Cavalry Regiment | |
|---|---|
| File:32AR.jpg | |
| Active | 1941 -- Present |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Type | Armor & Cavalry |
| Garrison/HQ | Fort Campbell, KY |
| Motto(s) | Victory or Death |
| Colors | Gold and Scarlet |
| Engagements | World War II *Operation Overlord *Battle of the Bulge Operation Desert Storm Iraq War War in Afghanistan |
The 32nd Armor Regiment was an armored regiment of the United States Army until 2000 at which time it was deactivated. It was redesignated and reactivated as a cavalry unit serving in the 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division in 2006.
History
The 32nd Armor Regiment was activated 15 April 1941 at Camp Beauregard, Louisiana as the 2nd Armored Regiment and assigned to the 3rd Armored Division. This title designation did not last for long as the unit was quickly redesignated less than a month later on 8 May 1941 as the 32nd Armor Regiment.[1] The 32nd Armor along with the 33rd Armor were the only two armor regiments to have ever been deployed in full regimental formation (during World War II.) All other armor units were constituted and deployed at the battalion level.
The 32nd Armor Regiment then moved to Fort Polk, Louisiana on 14 June 1941. When the unit arrived Fort Polk was still not completed but nonetheless it was designated as the training base for the 3rd Armored Division. The Battalion received the bulk of its men who underwent basic training, began field training and learned to operate their tanks.
World War II
The unit moved to Normandy in mid June 1944.[2] On 29 June 1944, the Battalion entered combat as part of Combat Command A at Villiers-Fossard. The Battalion fought on until 24 April 1945. During their time in action the unit assisted in the liberation of France and Belgium and breaking through the Siegfried Line. The unit earned two Distinguished Unit Citations and twice received the Meritorious Service Plaque for their service.
Post Korea - Pre Vietnam 1st Battalion was in Germany. 2nd Battalion was in Hawaii. 3rd Battalion was in Fort Stewart, Georgia before being sent to Germany in the early 60's.
Cold War
Following the end of the Second World War, the 32nd Armor Regiment stood down along with the rest of the 3rd Armored Division on 10 November 1945.
As Cold War tensions grew, the regiment was reactivated on 15 July 1947. The unit was stationed in Germany and was tasked with deterring any Soviet advance through the Fulda Gap.[1]
Locations varied with divisional attachments. Examples in the 1960s: 1st Battalion with the 3rd Armored Division, in Friedberg; 5th Battalion with the 24th Infantry Division in Munich.
The 32nd Armor Regiment also played an important role in Operation Desert Storm as part of the 3rd Armored Division.[3] Following the end of hostilities in the Persian Gulf, the 32nd Armor Regiment stood down along with the rest of the 3rd Armored Division at Fort Knox, KY, on 17 October 1992 with personnel and equipment being transferred to the 2d Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment.
Post Cold War & War on Terror
The 1st Battalion was reactivated 16 April, 1995 at Fort Lewis, Washington using personnel and equipment from the 5th Battalion, 77th Armor Regiment, 1st Armored Division, recently transferred from Mannheim, Germany in 1994. The battalion then became a subordinate unit of the 2nd Infantry Division.
The 1st Battalion (the last active unit of the 32d Armor Regiment) was deactivated on September 15, 2000 at Fort Lewis, Washington with personnel and equipment being transferred to the 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment.
In 2006, the 1st Battalion. 32nd Cavalry Regiment was activated at Fort Campbell, Ky inheriting all lineages and honors (including distinctive unit insignia) from the 32nd Armor Regiment.
Popular Culture
The 32nd Armor Regiment is best known as the unit that Elvis Presley served with. Elvis was a member of Company D, 1-32 Armor, 3rd Armored Division in Friedburg, Germany from October 1958 through March 1960. The lead singer of Guns N' Roses Axl Rose has a tattoo of the regimental crest on his left arm although he's never served in the US Army. In the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off, the regimental crest can be seen on Ferris Bueller's black beret.
References