When we left in 1946, the Camp was a full division but, when we returned, the camp was virtually deserted. Those winter field tests did produce some of the gear later used the Korean War. It was important. The 66th Armored Regiment is the oldest Armored unit in the United States Army, tracing it's lineage to the beginning of the Tank Service in February 1918. The Regiment participated in the battles of St. Mihiel, France, where it received it's baptism of fire in the Meuse-Argonne and the Somme Offensives.
Infantry tells the story of battle and high distinction won on the Field of Honor.
On the shield of the armored knight, which we Tankers are proud to bear, are the colors of the Infantry , on the right, the Artillery, on the left, and the Cavalry below. Volunteers from these combat branches manned the first American tanks fighting in France eighty-four years ago. The 301st and 344th Tank Battalions were the parent organizations, and mashed the line at Hindenburg on the fought at Somme, St. Mihiel, the Argonne Forest. During this action the 344th Battalion led the advance of eight different divisions and was in action for 46 consecutive days. The experienced officers and men who formed the original three regiments of the 2nd Armored Division were drawn from the 66th Infantry, the nation s only tank regiment in 1940.