 Shoulder sleeve patch of the United States Army 3rd Armored Division, Spearhead. The 3rd Armored Division —nicknamed the Spearhead— was an armored division of the United States Army. The Division was first activated in 1941, and was a key participant in the European Theatre of World War II, the division was stationed in Germany for much of the Cold War, and participated in the Persian Gulf War. Shortly after the Gulf War, the Division was deactivated as part of a general drawing down of forces at the end of the Cold War. As of 2004 its strength is officially zero, but it is not inactive. Shoulder sleeve patch of the 3rd Armored Division File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...
Shoulder sleeve patch of the 3rd Armored Division File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...
A Patch can refer to several different things: A piece of fabric. ...
Symbol of the Polish 1st Legions Infantry Division in NATO code A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of around ten to fifteen thousand soldiers. ...
To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...
German Führer Adolf Hitler Preceding events Main article: Events preceding World War II in Europe Main article: Causes of World War II Germany was in debt after World War I, due to the Great Depression and the forced payments to the victors of World War I. Germans wanted a leader...
Combatants Allies: Poland, British Commonwealth, France/Free France, Soviet Union, United States, China, and others Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, Japan, and others Casualties Military dead: 17 million Civilian dead: 33 million Total dead: 50 million Military dead: 8 million Civilian dead: 4 million Total dead: 12 million World War II...
The Cold War was the protracted geopolitical, ideological, and economic struggle that emerged after World War II between the global superpowers of the Soviet Union and the United States, supported by their alliance partners. ...
See also: 2003 invasion of Iraq and Gulf War (disambiguation) C Company, 1st Battalion, The Staffordshire Regiment, 1st UK Armoured Division The Persian Gulf War was a conflict between Iraq and a coalition force of 34 nations led by the United States. ...
2004 is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...
World War II
Order of Battle
The Third Armored Division was organized as a "heavy" Armored Division, as was its counterpart, the Second Armored Division aka "Hell on Wheels". Other U.S. Armored Divisions of the time were by smaller by comparison, since in the judgement of U.S. Military Staff, the large Divisions were so large as to be somewhat unwieldy when maneuvering across the European road systems. A military division: Infantry Australian 2nd Division British 2nd Division (World War I) British 2nd Infantry Division Canadian 2nd Infantry Division Soviet 2nd Rifle Division US 2nd Infantry Division Airborne German 2nd Parachute Division Cavalry British 2nd Mounted Division US 2nd Cavalry Division Armour US 2nd Armored Division This is...
The Division's core units were the 36th Armored Infantry Regiment, the 32nd Armored Regiment, the 33rd Armored Regiment, the 23rd Armored Engineer Battalion, the 83rd Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, and the 143rd Armored Signal Company. During World War II, these were organized into Combat Commands A, B and R (Reserve). As with most American Divsions in World War II, the 3rd Armored suffered heavy casualties, and by the end of the war replacement troops often outnumbered veterans in the line units.
WWII Timeline
 3 AD Tankers under fire, Cologne The division was activated on April 15, 1941 at Camp Beauregard, Louisiana. In June 1941, it moved to Camp Polk Louisiana (now Fort Polk). On 9 March 1942, it came under Army Ground Forces and was assigned to the II Armored Corps. In July 1942, it was transferred to Camp Young, CA and from August to October 1942, took part in maneuvers at the Desert Training Center. It left Camp Young in January 1943 and moved to the Indiantown Gap Military Reservation, Pennsylvania. Image File history File links 3adCologne. ...
Image File history File links 3adCologne. ...
April 15 is the 105th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (106th in leap years). ...
For the movie, see 1941 (film) 1941 (MCMXLI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1941 calendar). ...
The 3rd AD arrived in the European Theatre on September 15, 1943, conducting pre-invasion training in the Liverpool and Bristol areas. It remained in Somerset, England until June 24 1944, when it departed to partake in the Normandy operations. September 15 is the 258th day of the year (259th in leap years). ...
1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1943 calendar). ...
Somerset is a county in the south-west of England. ...
Royal motto (French): Dieu et mon droit (Translated: God and my right) Englands location (dark green) within the United Kingdom (light green), with the Republic of Ireland (blue) to its west Languages English Capital London Largest city London Area – Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population – Total (mid...
1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ...
Mont Saint Michel, one of the famous symbols of Normandy. ...
 3 AD soldier and a young admirer The first elements of the 3rd Armored in France saw combat on June 29th, with the Division as a whole beginning combat operations on July 9th, 1944. During this time, it was under the command of VII Corps and XVIII Airborne Corps for some time, and assigned to the First Army and the 12th Army Group for the duration of its career. Image File history File links 3adThankyoukisss. ...
Image File history File links 3adThankyoukisss. ...
For the VII Corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War, see VII Corps (ACW). ...
Patch of the XVIII Airborne Corps. ...
Shoulder Sleeve Insignia of the U.S. First Army. ...
The 12th Army Group was the largest and most powerful American formation ever to take to the field. ...
The Division "spearheaded" the US First Army through Normandy, taking part in a number of engagements, notably including the Battle of Saint Lo, where it suffered significant casualties. After facing heavy fighting in the hedgerows, and developing methods to overcome the vast thickets of brush and earth that constrained its mobility, the unit broke out at Marigny, alongside the Big Red One 1st Infanty Division, and swung south to Mayenne. Saint-L is a city and commune of France, the pr fecture (capital) of the Manche d partement, in Normandy. ...
In gardening a hedge is a row of woody plants, generally of one species, used to demarcate spaces. ...
Shoulder Patch of the United States Army 1st Infantry Division. ...
Ordered to help close the Falaise Gap and Argentan pocket which contained the German Seventh Army, the Division finished the job near Putanges by 18 Aug. Six days later the outfit had sped through Courville and Chartres and was located at the banks of the Seine. On the night of Aug 25, 1944 the crossing of the Seine by the division started; once over, the 3rd slugged its way across France, reaching Belgium on September 2, 1944. During World War II, the Falaise pocket (also known as the Chambois pocket, Chambois-Montcormel pocket, Falaise-Chambois pocket) was the area between the four cities of Trun-Argentan-Vimoutiers-Chambois near Falaise, France, in which United States 12th Army Group encircled and destroyed the German Seventh Army. ...
September 2 is the 245th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (246th in leap years). ...
Toppled in the path of the Division were Meaux, Seissons, Laon, Marle, Mons, Charleroi, Namur and Liege. It was at Mons that the Division cut off 40,000 Wermacht troops and captured 8,000 prisoners. Then the Division began the first invasion of Germany since the days of Napoleon. The Wehrmacht (literally defence force or means/power of resistance) was the name of the armed forces of Germany from 1935 to 1945. ...
 3 AD Tanks & Troops cross the Siegfried Line, September 1944 On September 10th, 1944 the Spearhead Division sent what it claimed was the first American Field Artillery shell of the War onto German soil. Two days later it passed the German border and soon breached the Siegfried Line, taking part in the Battle of Hurtgen Forest. Image File history File links 3adsiegfriedline. ...
Image File history File links 3adsiegfriedline. ...
Map of Hürtgenwald and vicinity Battle of Hurtgen Forest (German: Schlacht im Hürtgenwald) is name given to series of fierce battles fought between the Americans and the Germans during World War II in the Hürtgen forest (or Huertgen forest). ...
The 3rd Armored Division continued fighting during the Battle of Bulge, far north of the deepest German penetration. Countering German attacks, it severed an important highway leading to St Vith. By January, the German offensive had been checked, and the Division began pushing its way into Germany. Advancing at a little better than half a mile a day against stiff resistance, the 3rd captured ten towns in January 1945, took 2,149 prisoners and destroyed 61 armored vehicles. The German Ardennes Offensive1, popularly known as the Battle of the Bulge, started in late December 1944 and was the last major German offensive on the Western Front during World War II. The German army had intended to split the Allied line in half, capturing Antwerp and then proceding to...
 General Hickey & 3 AD Officers question locals after liberation of concentration camp
 Major General Maurice Rose, Killed in Action, March 1945 The Division began a thrust on the Rhineland of Germany on February 7, 1945. On March 31, the commander of the division, Major General Maurice Rose, famed as one of few Commanding Generals to frequent the front lines during combat, rounded a corner in his jeep and found himself face to face with a German Tank. As he withdrew his pistol to surrender, the young German tank commander, apparently misunderstanding Rose's intentions, shot the General. Image File history File links 3ADNordhausen. ...
Image File history File links 3ADNordhausen. ...
Image File history File links MauriceRose. ...
Image File history File links MauriceRose. ...
The Rhineland (Rheinland in German) is the general name for the land on both sides of the river Rhine in the west of Germany, although some consider the lands to the east of the river culturally distinct, jovially referring to them as Schäl Sick; the bad or wrong side...
February 7 is the 38th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ...
1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1945 calendar). ...
March 31 is the 90th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (91st in Leap years), with 275 days remaining. ...
Insignia of a United States Air Force Major General German Generalmajor Insignia Major General is a military rank used in many countries. ...
General Maurice Rose (November 26, 1899 - March 31, 1945) was an American military officer in the United States Army during World War II. Rose first enlisted in the Colorado National Guard as a Private in 1915 hoping to serve with General John Black Jack Pershings expedition into Mexico. ...
The Division swept into the key city of Cologne in March 1945. Besides Cologne the Division swept up Paderborn in its advance, to shut the back door to the Ruhr. In April the 3rd crossed the Saale River, north of Halle, and sped on toward the Elbe River. Cologne (German: ; Kölsch: Kölle) is Germanys fourth-largest city after Berlin, Hamburg and Munich and is the largest city both in the German Federal District of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the largest European metropolitan areas with over 12 million...
For the conurbation see Ruhr Area. ...
The Elbe River (Czech Labe, Sorbian/Lusatian Łobjo, Polish Łaba, German Elbe) is one of the major waterways of central Europe. ...
On April 11, 1945, the 3rd Armored discovered the Dora-Mittelbau concentration camp. The division first arrived on the scene, reporting back to headquarters that it had uncovered a large concentration camp near the town of Nordhausen. Requesting help from the 104th Infantry Division, the 3rd immediately began transporting some 250 ill and starving prisoners to nearby hospital facilities. Categories: Stub | Nazi concentration camps ...
It has been suggested that Internment be merged into this article or section. ...
(Redirected from 104th Infantry Division) ...
At war’s end it pulled up near Dessau. Occupational duty near Langen was given the Division following V-E Day, a role it filled until inactivation.
The 3rd Armored Division had 231 days of combat in WW2, with a total of 2,540 killed, 7,331 wounded, 95 missing, and 139 captured. Total battle and non-battle casualties equalled 16,122. About 5,000 awards were won by soldiers in this division, including about 3,900 Bronze Stars. It was inactivated on 10 November 1945. The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration and is the fourth highest award for bravery, heroism or meritorious service. ...
November 10 is the 314th day of the year (315th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 51 days remaining. ...
1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1945 calendar). ...
Successive Commanding Generals
Major General Andrew C. Gillem, April 1941 to January 1942
Major General Walton H. Walker, January 1941 to August 1942
Major General Leroy R. Watson, August 1942 to August 1944
Major General Maurice Rose, August 1944 to March 1945 KIA KIA is a three-letter abbreviation for killed in action, a term often used in military histories and narratives to count the number of casualties in a conflict, or the status of an individual. ...
Brigadier General Doyle O. Hickey, March to June 1945 A Brigadier General, or one-star general, is the lowest rank of general officer in the United States and some other countries, ranking just above Colonel and just below Major General. ...
Brigadier General Truman E. Beidinot, June & July 1945
Brigadier General Frank A. Allen, Jr., July 1945
Major General Robert W. Grow, July 1945 until inactivation
The Cold War
 US Army Recruiting Poster, 1955
 Ayers Kaserne, 1985. Note Motorpools with Tanks, APCs & Artillery The Division was reactivated on 15 July 1947 at Fort Knox, Kentucky to act as training formation. In 1955 it was reorganized for combat and shifted to Germany the next year. It replaced the 4th Infantry Division. Image File history File links 3ad_recruit_1955. ...
Image File history File links 3ad_recruit_1955. ...
Image File history File links Ayerskaserne. ...
Image File history File links Ayerskaserne. ...
July 15 is the 196th day (197th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 169 days remaining. ...
1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ...
There is also a Fort Knox in the state of Maine, across the Penobscot River from Bucksport. ...
Official language(s) English Capital Frankfort Largest city Louisville Area Ranked 37th - Total 40,444 sq. ...
It has been suggested that U.S. 1st Brigade 4th Infantry Division be merged into this article or section. ...
The 3rd Armored's primary mission during this period was, in the event of War, to defend the Fulda Gap against numerically superior Warsaw Pact forces alongside other NATO elements. To prepare for this eventuality, the Division's units frequently conducted field training at Hohenfels, Wildflicken and Grafenwohr US Army Training areas, conducting excercises of live fire, movement and communications tactics. The Division would also frequently take to the German countryside for training maneuvers, including what became an annually staged war game Reforger, which simulated invasion of Western Europe by Warsaw Pack forces. The Fulda Gap is a section of territory between the former East German border and Frankfurt, (West) Germany. ...
Unofficial Seal of the Warsaw Pact Distinguish from the Warsaw Convention, which is an agreement among airlines about financial liability. ...
NATO 2002 Summit in Prague The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, the Atlantic Alliance or the Western Alliance, is an international organisation for collective security established in 1949, in support of the North Atlantic Treaty signed in Washington, DC, on 4 April 1949. ...
Grafenwoehr is a military training ground in northeast Bavaria, Germany, located to the east of Nuremberg. ...
Throughout the Cold War, the Division's Headquarters was based in Drake Kaserne, in Frankfurt Germany, with a number of its subunits based in other Kasernes throughout the German state of Hesse, east to Buedingen and Gelnhausen and north to Giessen. The Division itself comprised an average of 15,000 soldiers, organized into Three Primary Brigades. These Brigades were individually manned by at least one battalion each of Infantry, Armor, and Artillery, and various supporting units, notably including Medical, Engineering, and Aviation elements. Kaserne is the German translation of the word Barracks, and is the typical term used when naming the Garrison location for NATO forces stationed in Germany. ...
Hesse (German: Hessen) is one of Germanys sixteen federal states (Bundesländer) and has an area of 21,110 km² and just over six million inhabitants. ...
Brigade is a term from military science which refers to a group of several battalions (typically two to four), and directly attached supporting units (normally including at least an artillery battery and additional logistic support). ...
Most of the Kasernes were located adjacent to or within German communities, leading to lively trade and interaction between soldiers and German civilians. A few, however, were somewhat remotely located, particularly Ayers Kaserne, where the 1st Brigade, aka "The Rock" was stationed. The most famous soldier in the 3rd Armored Division during this time was Elvis Presley, a Tanker in the 2nd Brigade at Ray Barracks in Friedberg. After his time in service, Presley made the movie G.I. Blues, in which he portrays a 3rd Armored Division Tank Crewman with a singing career. Elvis redirects here. ...
G.I. Blues is a 1960 Elvis Presley musical motion picture played as a romantic comedy. ...
Desert Storm The Division remained in Germany until momentous events in the Middle East developed. In August 1991, Iraq invaded Kuwait, and soon after, President George Herbert Walker Bush committed US troops to the theater, first to defend Saudi Arabia, and then to eject Iraqi troops from Kuwait. A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ...
George H. W. Bush - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ...
Redeployment and Retraining
 MG Paul Funk reviews plans with Brigade Commanders and Aides - note woodland camoflauge The 3rd Armored Division, then commanded by Major General Paul Funk, was one of four US heavy divisions deployed with U.S. Army VII Corps. The Division and its equipment were shifted from Germany to Saudi Arabia, with in some cases, National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve elements taking some of their duties in Germany, while in others, Kasernes were left virtually empty. One must note that this massive redeployment was possible only due to the U.S. victory in the Cold War, in which the 3rd AD helped to play a part by guarding the Fulda Gap. Image File history File links 3adpaulfunk. ...
Image File history File links 3adpaulfunk. ...
National Guard may refer to: A military force: Cypriot National Guard United States National Guard National Guard (France), active during the French Revolution Saudi Arabian National Guard A part of the Military of Kuwait Iraqi National Guard A part of the Military of Venezuela Portuguese Republican National Guard National Guard...
The Army is the branch of the United States armed forces which has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ...
After redeployment, the division acclimated to the desert climate and its troops faced new challenges in mobility, tactics and maintenance in the sandy and hot climate. Various National Gurad and Army Reserve units were then attached to the Division for the duration of the conflict, bringing the division's size to over 20,000 troops - 25% larger than during its time in Germany.
The majority of the division's troops never received Desert BDUs, due to a shortage of the uniforms, and fought in lightweight summer "woodland camoflauge" uniforms, covered by tanker suits or the ever-present and much-despised chemical warfare protective MOPP suits. The abbreviation BDU may refer to: Battle dress uniform, United States combat uniforms. ...
Soldier shown wearing MOPP 4 level gear M.O.P.P. (Mission Oriented Protective Posture) (acronym pronounced as mÇ’p) is a military term used to describe chemical protective gear, to be used in a toxic chemical environment or for example during a chemical or biological strike: Protective Mask - Commonly...
Into Battle
Finally, after months of training the Division moved to the Line of Departure, alongside the 2nd Armored Division on its left flank and the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment on its right flank. While the Iraqi Army concentrated much of its defenses in and around Kuwait itself, the 3rd AD and VII Corps launched a massive armored attack into Iraq, just to the west of Kuwait, taking the Iraqis completely by surprise. Line of Departure is a military term used to denote the starting position for an attack on enemy positions. ...
Coat of Arms of the United States Army 2d Cavalry Regiment Shoulder Sleeve Insignia of the United States Army 2d Cavalry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia of the United States Army 2d Cavalry Regiment The 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment (2d ACR) —established by President Andrew Jackson on May 23, 1836 as...
 A 3rd AD Brigade along the Line of Departure Scouts from 2nd Brigade crossed on the afternoon of the February 23, 1991 just after 1500 hours. Less than two hours later, they had penetrated several miles into Iraq and managed to capture over 200 prisoners. On February 24, the official first day of action, the division as a whole swung into action as part of a coordinated attack by hundreds of thousands of allied troops. Image File history File links 3adiraq. ...
Image File history File links 3adiraq. ...
February 24 is the 55th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ...
During the first day of battle, the 3rd Armored pushed 18 miles into Iraq, taking over 200 prisoners. By dawn of the second day, an additional 50 prisoners had been taken, with scouts reporting enemy reinforcements moving to meet the division.
The Second Day
At 1115 hours of the second day, all elements of the division were finally across the Line of Departure. The day was marked by hard pushing to penetrate deep and fast, striking for an objective south of Basra. In the course of its drive, various elements of the Division engaged the enemy, taking prisoners, skirmishing, sometimes bypassing enemy strongholds to gain ground, other time engaging in full scale battle. Location of Basra Basra (also spelled BaÅŸrah or Basara; historically sometimes written Busra, Busrah, and the early form Bassorah; Arabic: , Al-Basrah) is the second largest city of Iraq with an estimated population of c. ...
 Iraqi Tank knocked out by 3rd AD fire By nightfall of the second day, the 3rd AD had driven 53 miles into Iraq, with dozens of enemy vehicles destroyed, hundreds of POWs captures, and on the verge achieving its first Objective - an accomplishment that war planners had not anticipated. Image File history File links 3adtankblown. ...
Image File history File links 3adtankblown. ...
The Third Day
On the third day of combat, February 26th, the division closed in upon its objective and faced for the first time the Iraqi Republican Guard, a much stronger foe than the forces the Division had first engaged, and less inclined to retreat or surrender. Opposing forces included the highly touted Republican Guard "Tawakalna" Division, the Iraqi 52nd Armored Division and elements of the 17th and the 10th Armored Divisions. The Division engaged in full scale tank battles for the first time since World War II, and as one of the Division's veterans states "There was more than enough action for everyone. Republican Guard is the organization of a republic which serves to protect the President and the government. ...
Action continued after nightfall, and by By 1840 hours, the ground and air elements of the 3rd AD could report over 20 Tanks, 14 Armored Personnel Carriers, several trucks and some artillery pieces destroyed. Unfortunately, that same evening, the 4/32nd Armored lost the division's first casualties Bradley Fighting Vehicle to tank fire - with two soldiers killed and three wounded. During the night, both darkness and sandstorms hampered soldiers' visibility, but thermal sighting systems on board the M1A1 Abrams tanks and Bradleys allowed gunners to knock out Iraqi targets. General Characteristics (M2 Bradley) Length: 21 ft 2 in (6. ...
The M1 Abrams main battle tank is the principal combat tank of the United States Army. ...
The Fourth & Fifth Days
By the fourth day, the division reached its objective, and pursued its now retreating enemy. The division turned east, into Kuwait, continuing to inflict heavy casualties and capture troops as it rolled forward, often hitting new units whose defensive berms and foxholes faced south from their northern flank, rendering their defenses ineffective. By nightfall, forces facing the 3rd Armored Division had been virtually eliminated, with their remants in full retreat.
By the fifth day of combat, the Division had achieved all objectives and continued to push East to block Iraqi retreat from Kuwait, conducting mopping up operations. One hundred hours after the ground campaign started, President Bush declared a ceasefire.
Spearhead
 Click for visual of 3AD movement during Gulf War At the height of the battle, the 3AD included 32 battalions and 20,533 troops. It was the largest coalition division in the Gulf War and the largest U.S. armored division in history. In its moving arsenal were 360 Abrams tanks, 340 Bradley Fighting Vehicles, 128 self-propelled 155mm howitzers, 42 Apache attack helicopters, 27 multiple-launch rocket systems, and more. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2346x1650, 561 KB) Description: Map of Troop Movements from Desert Shield/Storm Source: US-Army images Licence: Public Domain File links The following pages link to this file: Gulf War ...
Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2346x1650, 561 KB) Description: Map of Troop Movements from Desert Shield/Storm Source: US-Army images Licence: Public Domain File links The following pages link to this file: Gulf War ...
Superior training, initiative and equipment, had enabled the soldiers of the 3rd Armored Division to spearhead their way through some the world's best desert fighters, including opponents with Soviet-provided training and equipment. In the 100-hour Gulf War, the 3rd AD destroyed hundreds of Iraqi tanks and vehicles, and captured more than 2,400 Iraqi prisoners, with 15 division troops killed between December 1990 and late February 1991.
In 1991, Division Historian Dan Peterson, comparing the performance of the Division in WWII and Desert Storm stated ""History does always repeat itself. 3rd Armored Division was the Spearhead in both wars." The soldiers of the 3rd Armored had lived up to the reputation set by their WWII predecessors.
Following the war, 3rd Armored was one of the first units rotated to Camp Doha, Kuwait providing protection to Kuwait as it rebuilt.
Retirement Following Desert Storm, a number of the Division's units were transferred to the First Armored Division.
On January 17, 1992, the 3rd Armored Division officially ceased operations in Germany, with a ceremony in Frankfurt at Division Headquarters, Drake Kaserne.
"Sir, this is my final salute. Mission accomplished," said Maj. Gen. Jerry Rutherford, the division commander. Rutherford preceded the final salute to Gen. Crosbie Saint, USAREUR Commander, with a loudly shouted "Spearhead!" Tears rolled down the cheeks of some of the soldiers gathered for the ceremony. The Division colors were then returned to the United States, with the 3rd AD still officially active, since Army Regulations state that Divisional "Casing of Colors" cannot occur on foreign soil. The Seventh United States Army, also known as USAREUR, is the main American force in Europe. ...
Official retirement took place at Fort Knox, on October 17, 1992. In attendance at the Ft. Knox ceremony were several Spearhead Commanding Generals, and Spearhead veterans from all eras. In a traditional ceremony, Command Sgt. Major Richard L. Ross, holding the division flag with battle streamers, passed it to 4-star Gen. Frederick M. Franks, Jr., and with that, the official retirement of the Division was complete, and it was removed from the offical force structure of the U.S. Army. There is also a Fort Knox in the state of Maine, across the Penobscot River from Bucksport. ...
With the end of the Cold War, several of the division's overseas Kasernes were transferred to other units, particularly the 1st Armored Divison. Over time, many were closed, fell into disrepair and were eventually demolished.
Future In the modern era, the differences between an Infantry Division and an Armored Division are not as great as in past years. One of the consequences of this is that unit designations are somewhat liquid, with less regard for Unit Histories than for seemingly ensuring that the "lowest numbered" Infantry and Armored divisions remain active (with some exceptions). Infantry of the Royal Irish Rifles during the Battle of the Somme in World War I. An infantry is a body of soldiers who fight primarily on foot with small arms in organized military units, though they may be transported to the battlefield by horses, ships, automobiles, skis, or other...
Alternative meanings: vehicle armour, Armor (novel) A hoplite wearing a helmet, a breastplate and greaves (and nothing else). ...
For example, the 5th Infantry Division was reflagged as the 2nd Armored Division, after the original division was retired. After some time, the 2nd Armored was reflagged -again- as the U.S. 4th Infantry Divison. Should the U.S. Army grow in size once again, the 2nd Armored Division would likely be reactivated prior to the 3rd Armored Division. Shoulder sleeve patch of the United States Army 5th Infantry Division, the Red Devils. ...
A military division: Infantry Australian 2nd Division British 2nd Division (World War I) British 2nd Infantry Division Canadian 2nd Infantry Division Soviet 2nd Rifle Division US 2nd Infantry Division Airborne German 2nd Parachute Division Cavalry British 2nd Mounted Division US 2nd Cavalry Division Armour US 2nd Armored Division This is...
If the 3rd Armored was reactivated, most of the new soldiers would never have served in the Division, and the equipment, if not brand new would have been transferred from storage, or other units. Some of the regiments historically associated with the Division might be returned to it, but once again, new units might simply be reflagged in the name of the old for a semblance of historical continuity.
As technological advances and the nature of warfare change, it may be that someday soon, Heavy Armored vehicles and large units of over 10,000 soldiers may no longer be desireable. If so, then the 3rd Armored may never return to duty. However, in the minds of its veterans, and those who love history, it will remain forever alive.
In Media & Memory
 Elvis made G.I. Blues immediately after leaving the 3AD Despite the Division's impressive record and the important role it played during the War, it has been often overlooked by both Historians and Hollywood, who have favored depictions and histories of units participating in D-Day, and in the siege of Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. Books, Movies and other Media that feature the Third Armored Division include: Image File history File linksMetadata GIBluesElvis. ...
Image File history File linksMetadata GIBluesElvis. ...
Land on Normandy In military parlance, D-Day is a term often used to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. ...
Combatants United States United Kingdom Germany Commanders Dwight D. Eisenhower Gerd von Rundstedt Strength Dec 16 - start of the Battle: about 83,000 men; 242 Sherman tanks, 182 tank destroyers, and 394 pieces of corps and divisional artillery. ...
- The Tanks Are Coming (1951) -- A typical WWII action movie of the time, only vaguely based on actual events
- G.I. Blues (1960) -- Elvis Presley, a real life 3AD tanker, stars as a 3rd AD Tanker with an off-post singing career and dreams of owning a nightclub
- Death Traps: The Survival of an American Armored Division in World War II -- A unique look at the war from a Maintenance Officer's perspective
- Rolling Thunder - The True Story of the Third Armored Division (2002) -- A History Channel documentary detailing the history of the Division from birth to the 1990s
- Stormin' Norman and the Abrams Tank -- Featuring footage of the 3rd AD in the Gulf War, & interviews with 3AD tankers
G.I. Blues is a 1960 Elvis Presley musical motion picture played as a romantic comedy. ...
External links Association Websites
Personal Photos & Remembrances of the Third Armored Division in WWII
Cold War Sites featuring the Third Armored
Official & Government Sites
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