The Mississippi enterprise. (Jackson, Miss.) 1938-current, 1944-10-21
Negroes Urged Give to National War Fund
Al-Negro Tank Battalion in
France for Thrust on Reich
Outfit Activated at Camp
Claiborne, Louisiana, in 1912

Headquarters, Euro pean Theatre
Of Operations-An all Negro tank
unit which recently arrived in the
European theatre of operations, is
adding its armored might to the AL
lied assault against Fortress Ger
many, the War Department has
announced.
Entering battle with the latest
equipment, the uotfit hopes to
blast the way into Berlin and thus
crown the excellent record made
by Negro troops in this war.
This front line combat unit was
the first Negro tank battalion to
arrive in the ETC and is under the
command of 1t. Col Paul L. Bates
of Boonton. ~ j., who refused a
promotion to remain with what he
terms zone of the best tank batta-
lions in the war"
Col. Bates, a former alI-Ameri-
can football player and oil COM
pany executive has moulded toge-
Their top flight fighting unit that
is led by a group of ten white and
81 Negro officers ranging from an
heir to a fortune, Captain David
Williams, III, of Pittsburgh, Pa,
to Il year old former ROTC stu
dent just out of OCS, Second Lieu
tenant James c. Lightfoot of 1929
Concord Avenue, NV Washington,
D. c. These officers and men have
established good records and are
known to many of the armored I'M
its in the field today.
During the maneuvers in Louis
lana in April, 1943, at which time
1t. Gen. George S. Patton was
commander of all armored units,
this tank battalion made one of the
highest efficiency records ever
compiled by tank outfit. 1t is
because of this achievement and
its superior rating by army ground
forces that it was selected for
combat duty before older Negro
tank battalions.
The outfit was activated on April
l, 1912, at Camp Claiborne, La, and
participated in maneuvers under
the late 1t Gen. Lesley j. McNair,
who also commanded them for de-
monstration of exceptional ability
and efficiency. In September, 1913,
they were ordered to Camp Hood,
Tex, where they served as chool
troops. From there it was to the
port of embarkation and England.
Just under the lip of slight hill
out of sight of the main camp in
France, an army correspondent
found the motor park of the bat
talon. Although all of the vehicles
were not in at the time, the motor
pool Seethed with activity. Every
man was busy at Wrk on his truck,
tank or gun. First Lieutenant Chas.
Gates of 2007 East oath Terrace,
Kansas City, Mo-, leader of the as
sault platoon, whose job is to fur
nish light artillery fire for advanc-
ing tanks, was personally checking
each MI, the medium tank equip
ped with the 105-mm Howitzer.
Gates is one who makes me
anxious for combat" said First
Lieutenant Warren ]. Taylor, spe-
ciaI service officer of 1343 North
Allison street, Philadelphia, Pa
He really knows indirect fire
(firing on targets not visible from
guns and his men can shoot he
added. Target effect means to
come within 80 to so yards, but his
men only believe in hitting the
target and they do hit it.
This tank outfit is equipped with
enough fire power to not only as
sault a position, but if necessary
to maintain itself without support
from the infantry.
Just as the unit is armed to the
teeth, it also is over flowing with
talent. Undoubtedly the most un-
usual personality is Virgin Is
lander from New York, who claims
to be the only soldier in the ETC
capable of playing "Boogie Woogie''
on a violin. He is Pfc. Levi G. Yogi
Bough, radio operator, of 800
Dawson street, the Bronx. Of Jew
ish and Danish descent, he speaks