1st Cavalry Regiment
WW II, Europe
"Courageous and Faithful"
The 1st Armored Division was ordered to Fort Dix on 11 April, 1942 to await
their deployment overseas. The division's port call required them to board the
Queen Mary at the New York Port of Embarkation at the Brooklyn Army Terminal
on 11 May, 1942. They arrived at Northern Ireland on 16 May, 1942, and trained
on the moors until they moved on to England on 29 October, 1942.
The unit's first contact with an enemy was on 08 November, 1942, in Operation
TORCH, as part of the Allied invasion of Northwest Africa. Elements of the
Division were part of the Western Task Force and became the first American
armored division to see combat in World War II. Combat Command B (CCB) of the
Division landed east and west of Oran, and entered the city on 10 November,
1942. On 24 November, CCB moved from Tafaroui, Algeria to Bedja, Tunisia and
raided Djedeida airfield the next day. Djedeida was finally conquered on 28
November. CCB moved southwest of Tebourba on 01 December, 1942, engaged German
forces on El Guessa Heights on 03 December, but its lines were pierced on 06
December. CCB withdrew to Bedja with heavy equipment loses between 10 and 11
December, and was placed in reserve.
CCB next attacked in the Ousseltia Valley on 21 January, 1943, and cleared
that area until 29 January, when sent to Bou Chebka, and arrived at Maktar on
14 February. Combat Command A (CCA) fought at Faid Pass commencing on 30
January and advanced to Sidi Bou Zid, where it was pushed back with heavy tank
loses on 14 February, and had elements isolated on Djebel Lessouda, Djebel
Kasaira, and Garet Hadid. Combat Command C (CCC), which had been constituted
on 23 January, 1943 to raid Sened Station on 24 January, advanced towards
Sbeita, and counterattacked to support CCA in the Sidi Bou Zid area on 15
February, but was repulsed with heavy loses. The Division withdrew from
Sbeita on 16 February, but by 21 February, CCB had contained the German attack
toward Tebessa. The German withdrawal allowed the Division to recover
Kasserine Pass on 26 February and assemble in reserve.
The Division moved northeast of Gafsa on 13 March and attacked in heavy rains
on 17 March as CCA took Zannouch, but became immobilized by rain the next day.
The Division drove on Maknassy on 20 March, and fought the Battle of Djebel
Naemia on 22 to 25 March, and then fought to break through positions baring
the road to Gabes between 29 March and 01 April. It began to follow up the
withdrawing German forces on 06 April and attacked towards Mateur with CCA on
27 April, which fell after hard fighting on Hill 315 and Hill 299 on 03
May.
The division fought the Battle for Djebel Achtel between 05 to 11 May and
entered Ferryville on 07 May. The German forces in Tunisia became trapped and
surrendered in the period between 09 to May. The Division was reorganized in
French Morocco, and began arriving in Naples, Italy on 28 October.
After the fall of Sicily, the unit, under the US Fifth Army, invaded mainland
Italy. The Division took part in the attack on the infamous Winter Line in
November 1943. It then flanked the Axis armies in the landings at Anzio, and
participated in the liberation of Rome on 04 June, 1944. The Division
continued in combat, moving to the Po Valley until the German forces in Italy
surrendered on 02 May. In June, the Division moved to Germany as part of the
occupation forces.
The 1st Armored Division returned to the New York Port of Embarkation on 24
April. 1946 and was deactivated at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey on 25 April,
1946.
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Revised 17 Jan '12 SpellChecked