784th Tank Battalion (United States)

The 784th Tank Battalion, was a United States Army segregated combat tank battalion during World War II.

It was originally attached to the 5th US Tank Group that was based in Camp Claiborne, Louisiana during World War II. The 5th Tank Group also included the 758th Tank Battalion that saw action in Italy under the 92nd Division, and the most famous, the 761st Tank Battalion which saw action in Northern Europe and saw extensive action during the Battle of the Bulge. These three units were composed of African American personnel with African American junior officers and white senior officers.

The 784th went into action late December 1944. Landing in France Christmas Day 1944, the battalion consisted of six companies: A (Able), B (Baker), C (Charlie), D (Dog), Headquarters and Service Company. A, B and C Companies had M4 and M4A3 Medium Tanks while D company had M5A1 Stuart Light Tanks. Headquarters Company had a 105 mm assault platoon, a reconnaissance platoon and 81 mm mortar platoon.

On 31 December 1944 the 784th began official combat operations with the 104th Infantry Division. They participated in actions along the Roer River. On 3 February 1945, the 784th was released from duty with the 104th Division to the 35th Infantry Division. 8 February 1945 the 784th joined the 35th Division in a major offensive. On 26 February 1945, Able Company of the 784th assisted elements of the 134th Infantry Regiment from the 35th Infantry Division in capturing the town of Hilfarth across the Roer River. The next day they captured the town of Wassenburg. Baker Company along with the 137th Regiment(35th Div) took Goldrath.

Buffalo Soldiers Predecessors United States Colored Troops Bureau of Colored Troops Original units 9th Cavalry Regiment 10th Cavalry Regiment 24th Infantry Regiment 25th Infantry Regiment Medal of Honor recipients (1866–1918) Edward L. Baker, Jr. Dennis Bell Thomas Boyne Benjamin Brown George Ritter Burnett Louis H. Carpenter John Denny Clinton Greaves Henry Johnson George Jordan Fitz Lee Isaiah Mays William McBryar Thomas Shaw Emanuel Stance Freddie Stowers William H. Thompkins Augustus Walley George H. Wanton Moses Williams William Othello Wilson Brent Woods Notable battles (1866–1918) American Indian Wars Saline River Texas–Indian wars Beecher Island Wichita I Beaver Creek North Fork Red River War Wichita II Apache Wars Victorio Campaign Fort Tularosa Bannock Uprising Yaqui Uprising Bear Valley Spanish–American War Las Guasimas Tayacoba El Caney San Juan Heights Santiago Philippine–American War Moro Rebellion Border War Pancho Villa Expedition Carrizal Ambos Nogales World War I Third Battle of the Aisne Second Battle of the Marne Meuse-Argonne Offensive Oise-Aisne Offensive See also Wham Paymaster Robbery Brownsville Affair Bisbee Riot United States Armed Forces Military history of African Americans