2nd Armored Division Assoc.

Shoulder Patch: Conventional Armored triangular design of Infantry blue. Field Artillery red and Cavalry yellow areas bearing black Arabic numeral "2"; contains tank tread and cannon)black) superimposed by red thunderbolt. Three colors signify three branches of service forged together.

Type of Division: Regular Army, Activated, June, 1940

Training

First training of the 2nd Armored was at Fort Benning, Ga. It participated in Tenn.,La., and Carolina maneuvers in 1941. In August of 1942, the division had special training off Carolina coast under Atlantic Fleet Amphibious force. First unites left for North Africa in September 1942. Overseas training in North Africa followed.

Commanding Generals

Maj. Gen. charles L. Scott, July, 1940 to Jan., 1941. Maj. Gen. George S. Patton. Jr., Jan., 1941 to Feb., 1942, Maj. Gen. W.D. Crittenberger, Feb., 1942 to July, 1942; Maj. Gen. E.N. Harmon, July, 1942, to April 1943; Gen. H.J. Gaffey, May, 1943 to April, 1944; Maj. Gen. E.H. Brooks, April 1944 to September, 1944; Maj. Gen. E.N. Harmon, September, 1944 to January, 1945, Maj. Gen. Isaac D. white, January, August, 1945; Maj. Gen. John M. Devine, August...1945.

Awards

Distinguished Unit Citation presented Co. H, 41st Armored Infantry Regiment for action 9-14 August, 1944, in the Normandy campaign. On 12 June, 1945, division listed for mass citation for Crois deGuerre, first foreign division ever to be offered such an honor by Belguim.

Combat Highlights

In November, 1942, under Maj. General Patton, the division joined drive on Casablanca. In the battle for Tunisia, division participated in brillant action.

In September, 1943, 2nd Armored took part in the invasion of Sicily, landing at Gela and fighting at Butera, Campobello, Saselvetrano and Palermo.

The division transferred to England late in 1943, to refit and train for continental campaign. In early stages of June, 1944. Normandy invasion the division landed and fought across France, through Belgium, into Holland and finally into Germany. In January 1945, it spearheaded the First Army's assault in Belgium against north flank of German bulge, helping to hurl back von Rundstedt's troops.

A first was claimed for the division when it was asserted that the 2nd Armored was the first American division to arrive in Berlin.

Among the more than 3200 decorations won there was a Medal of Honor for S/Sgt. Hulen B. Whittington, who maneuvered to pointblank range and wrecked the lead Mark V tank of a German column, It blocked the others which were then destroyed.





		Carentan, France WWII Photos Contributed by Curtis Cheeseman Shoulder Patch: Conventional Armored triangular design of Infantry blue. Field Artillery red and Cavalry yellow areas bearing black Arabic numeral "2"; contains tank tread and cannon)black) superimposed by red thunderbolt. Three colors signify three branches of service forged together. Type of Division: Regular Army, Activated, June, 1940 Training First training of the 2nd Armored was at Fort Benning, Ga. It participated in Tenn.,La., and Carolina maneuvers in 1941. In August of 1942, the division had special training off Carolina coast under Atlantic Fleet Amphibious force. First unites left for North Africa in September 1942. Overseas training in North Africa followed. Commanding Generals Maj. Gen. charles L. Scott, July, 1940 to Jan., 1941. Maj. Gen. George S. Patton. Jr., Jan., 1941 to Feb., 1942, Maj. Gen. W.D. Crittenberger, Feb., 1942 to July, 1942; Maj. Gen. E.N. Harmon, July, 1942, to April 1943; Gen. H.J. Gaffey, May, 1943 to April, 1944; Maj. Gen. E.H. Brooks, April 1944 to September, 1944; Maj. Gen. E.N. Harmon, September, 1944 to January, 1945, Maj. Gen. Isaac D. white, January, August, 1945; Maj. Gen. John M. Devine, August...1945. Awards Distinguished Unit Citation presented Co. H, 41st Armored Infantry Regiment for action 9-14 August, 1944, in the Normandy campaign. On 12 June, 1945, division listed for mass citation for Crois deGuerre, first foreign division ever to be offered such an honor by Belguim. Combat Highlights In November, 1942, under Maj. General Patton, the division joined drive on Casablanca. In the battle for Tunisia, division participated in brillant action. In September, 1943, 2nd Armored took part in the invasion of Sicily, landing at Gela and fighting at Butera, Campobello, Saselvetrano and Palermo. The division transferred to England late in 1943, to refit and train for continental campaign. In early stages of June, 1944. Normandy invasion the division landed and fought across France, through Belgium, into Holland and finally into Germany. In January 1945, it spearheaded the First Army's assault in Belgium against north flank of German bulge, helping to hurl back von Rundstedt's troops. A first was claimed for the division when it was asserted that the 2nd Armored was the first American division to arrive in Berlin. Among the more than 3200 decorations won there was a Medal of Honor for S/Sgt. Hulen B. Whittington, who maneuvered to pointblank range and wrecked the lead Mark V tank of a German column, It blocked the others which were then destroyed.