Jump to content

77th Armor Regiment

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Joshuashearn (talk | contribs) at 08:15, 31 July 2009 (ADD: USARS data in opening para). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

77th Armor Regiment
77th Armor coat of arms
Active25 April 1941-Present.
CountryUnited States
BranchRegular Army
TypeArmor Regiment
Part of4th Brigade,1st Armored Division
Garrison/HQ1st Battalion: Fort Bliss, Texas
Nickname(s)Steel Tigers
Motto(s)Insiste Firmiter
ColorsBlue, Silver and Red
AnniversariesMarch 5 2008 = Became Part Of 4BCT 1AD
EngagementsWorld War II
Korean War
Vietnam War
Iraq War
Commanders
Notable
commanders		LTC Wesley Clark
Insignia
Distinctive Unit Insignia

The 77th Armor is an armored (tank) regiment of the United States Army. The 77th Armor Regiment is part of the U.S. Army Regimental System with only a single battalion, the 1st Battalion, 77th Armor Regiment, and is therefore classified as both a single battalion, and the remainder of the Regiment itself. 1-77 AR is currently stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas as part of the 4th Brigade "Highlanders", 1st Armored Division. In 2008 1-77 AR transformed from a tank pure battalion into a Combined Arms Battalion (CAB).

Heraldry

Distinctive Unit Insignia

  • Description: A silver color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86 cm) in height overall consisting of the shield and motto of the coat of arms.
  • Symbolism: The carnivorous tiger is symbolic of the "enemy devouring" qualities of the organization. Unlike the man-eating lion, which only attacks man in its dotage, the ferocious tiger attacks at all ages and at any time; the battle-axe symbolizes the offensive mission of a tank battalion.

Coat of arms

  • Blazon:
    • Shield: Azure, on a mount a tiger sejant argent, armed and langued Gules, supporting a battle-axe in pale of the second, embrued of the third.
    • Crest: On a wreath of the colors argent and azure in front of a wreath of laurel proper and below two lances in saltire of the first a volcano sable inflamed overall proper and charged in base with an hourglass divided per fess gules and of the second and fimbriated of the first, above the flames a blue fleur-de-lis charged with a gold mullet.
    • Motto: INSISTE FIRMITER (Stand to it Stoutly)
  • Symbolism:
    • Shield: The carnivorous tiger is symbolic of the "enemy devouring" qualities of the organization. Unlike the man-eating lion, which only attacks man in its dotage, the ferocious tiger attacks at all ages and at any time; the battle-axe symbolizes the offensive mission of a tank battalion.
    • Crest: The volcano is an allusion to Mt. Etna, the most distinctive feature of the island of Sicily, where the 77th Armor landed to begin its arduous World War II campaign history. The eruption of flames refers to the unit's subsequent participation in thirteen campaigns throughout Italy, France, Germany, and finally Korea. Two awards of the French Croix de Guerre, with Palm, are identified by the surrounding branches of laurel, while a third award with silver gilt star is marked by the star on the fleur-de-lis which refers to an assault landing in Southern France. Crossed lances denote the grand courage and aggressive spirit displayed by the men of this Regiment throughout its many campaigns. The red and blue hourglass shape is an adaptation of the shoulder sleeve insignia of the 7th Division with which the 77th Armor served in Korea through six campaigns, twice receiving the Korean Presidential Unit Citation.
An M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank from Company A, 1st Battalion, 77th Armor Regiment destroys an insurgent vehicle in Baghdad, Iraq in 2007

History

Combat History

  • Vietnam

The unit fought in Vietnam with the 1st Brigade, 5th Infantry Division. the unit moved with its brigade a few miles south of the DMZ to the Quang Tri area for search and clear, cordon and sweep operations. From time to time it became involved within 3d Marine Division operations on the Khe Sanh plains and up to the vicinity of the DMZ with the US Marines. In total, the 1st Battalion, 77th Armor participated in eight campaigns during its tour in Vietnam.[1]

  • Operation Iraqi Freedom

In February 2004 the 1st Battalion, 77th Armor Regiment deployed from Schweinfurt, Germany to Balad, Iraq as part of the 2nd "Dagger" Brigade Combat Team is support of OIF II. The battalion occupied Forward Operating Base Paliwoda and Logistic Support Area Anaconda. They redeployed to Schweinfurt, Germany in February 2005.

On 28 August 2006 the 1st Battalion, 77th Armor Regiment deployed from Schweinfurt, Germany as part of the 2nd "Dagger" BCT, 1st ID in support of OIF 06-08. The battalion was task organized, with its B Company attached to Task Force 1-26 Infantry and A Company attached to TF 1-18 Infantry. In return TF 1-77 Armor received the B Companies from both infantry battalions, a company of Combat Engineers from 9th Engineer Battalion, a Fire Support Team from 1-7 Field Artillery, and a Maintenance Support Team from 299th Forward Support Battalion. In early October 2006 the Task Force moved north from Camp Buehring, Kuwait to Camp Ramadi, Iraq. The two detached companies, A and B, were sent to Baghdad, Iraq with their infantry task forces. The entire brigade's deployment was extended from 12 months to 15 months with the onset of the "Surge" in early 2007. They redeployed to Schweinfurt, Germany in November 2007.

Lineage and Honors

Constituted 25 April 1941 in the Army of the United States as the 73d Tank Battalion

Redesignated 8 May 1941 as the 753d Tank Battalion

Activated 1 June 1941 at Fort Benning, Georgia

Reorganized and redesignated 9 September 1942 as the 753d Tank Battalion, Medium

Reorganized and redesignated 29 March 1944 as the 753d Tank Battalion

Inactivated 15 January 1946 at Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia

Activated 1 August 1946 at Fort Knox, Kentucky

Inactivated 15 October 1946 at Fort Knox, Kentucky

Redesignated 20 March 1949 as the 77th Heavy Tank Battalion, assigned to the 7th Infantry Division, and activated in Japan.

Redesignated 5 August 1950 as the 77th Tank Battalion

Relieved 10 October 1951 from assignment to the 7th Infantry Division

Inactivated 10 November 1951 Korea

Redesignated 24 January 1962 as the 77th Armor, a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System

Redesignated 19 February 1962 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 77th Armor, assigned to the 5th Infantry Division, and activated at Fort Carson, Colorado

Relieved 21 March 1973 from assignment to the 5th Infantry Division and assigned to the 4th Infantry Division

Withdrawn 16 February 1989 from the Combat arms Regimental System and reorganized under the United States Army Regimental System.

Inactivated 15 December 1989 at Fort Carson, Colorado, and relieved from assignment to the 4th Infantry Division

1st Battalion, 77th Armor Regiment is activated 5 April 1996 at Schweinfurt, Germany as part of the 2nd “Dagger Brigade” 1st Infantry Division (Mechanized).

1st Battalion, 77th Armor Regiment is redesignated 5 March 2008 at Fort Bliss, Texas as part of the 4th Brigade "Highlanders", 1st Armored Division

Campaign History

Battalion Colors of the 1st Battalion, 77th Armor Regiment
  • World War II
  • Korean War
    • UN Defensive
    • UN Offensive
    • CCF Intervention
    • First UN Counteroffensive
    • CCF Spring Offensive
    • UN Summer-Fall Offensive
  • Vietnam War
    • Counteroffensive, Phase V
    • Counteroffensive, Phase VI
    • Tet 1969 Counteroffensive
    • Summer-Fall 1969
    • Winter-Spring 1970
    • Sanctuary Counteroffensive
    • Counteroffensive, Phase VII
    • Consolidation I
  • Balkans
    • Operation Joint Guard, NATO intervention in Bosnia 1997
    • Operation Joint Guard II
    • NATO intervention in Kosovo 1999
    • NATO peacekeeping in Kosovo 2002
  • Global War on Terrorism

Decorations

  • 77th Armor Regiment

French Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War II, Streamer embroidered CENTRAL ITALY

French Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War II, Streamer embroidered VOSGES

French Croix de Guerre with Silver-Gilt Star, World War II, Streamer embroidered ITALY

French Croix de Guerre, World War II, Fourragere

Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered INCHON

Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered KOREA 1950

Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered KOREA 1950-1951

  • 1st Battalion, 77th Armor Regiment

French Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War II, Streamer embroidered CENTRAL ITALY

French Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War II, Streamer embroidered VOSGES

French Croix de Guerre with Silver-Gilt Star, World War II, Streamer embroidered ITALY

French Croix de Guerre, World War II, Fourragere

Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered INCHON

Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered KOREA 1950

Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered KOREA 1950-1951

Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1968

Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1971

Company A additionally entitled to the Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1969[2]

Commanders of the 77th Armor Regiment

  • 1st Battalion, 77th Armor Regiment

LTC Matthew L. Smith

LTC James Greer

LTC Timothy R. Reese

LTC William H. Hedges

LTC David S. Hubner, - 21 June 2005

LTC Miciotto O. Johnson, 21 June 2005 - February 2008

LTC Louis B. Rago II 2008, (right before 1-77 AR moved its colors to Ft. Bliss, Texas)

COL James D. Nickolas, March 2008 - 24 June 2008

LTC James J. Gallivan, 24 June 2008 - Present

References

  1. ^ Global Security.org_1-77 Armor Page
  2. ^ history.army.mil
  • 1-77 Armor Homepage
  • 77th Armor Association
  • Mihalko in the 77th
  • history.army.mil
Wikimedia Commons has media related to 77th Armor Regiment (United States).
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=77th_Armor_Regiment&oldid=305238586"