The 761st Tank Battalion, the “Black Panthers,” was the first independent black armored unit in the history of the U.S. Army to see combat. Independent because the law at that time decreed blacks and whites couldn’t serve in the same outfit.
The brass had reservations about using black soldiers in combat roles. The CO of Army Ground Forces, General Lesley J. McNair, argued they would be just as effective as white troops. In 1941, the Army began to enroll blacks into combat units.
Prior to 1941, blacks were relegated to labor units, truck drivers, cooks and orderlies. Old opinions die hard. Their own Commanding Officer, “Old blood and Guts” General George S. Patton Jr. said, “…I have no faith in the inherent fighting ability of the race.”
The 800 man strong 761st (motto: “Come Out Fighting”) trained for over two years before it shipped overseas. Fully armed, the unit was outfitted with fifty-four M4 Sherman and fifteen M5 Stuart tanks.
The most famous member of the 761st was baseball legend, SSgt. Jackie Robinson.
In the fall of 1944, Able Company and the 104th Infantry Regiment launched an attack on German positions in northeastern France. As they approached the town of Vic-sur-Seille, a German roadblock halted the advance. Withering enemy fire poured into the American column. Casualties mounted.
The pride of Hotulka, Oklahoma, Staff Sergeant Ruben Rivers, the tank platoon sergeant in the lead tank, jumped from his tank, attached a cable to the roadblock and pulled it off the road while bullets snapped all around him. The column proceeded into the town and won the day. Rivers was awarded The Silver Star for his heroism.
A week later, Rivers was back in his usual position, in the lead tank. Able Company led an assault on German positions in the French town of Guebling. As the Panthers entered the town, River’s tank hit a mine. The Tanks’ right track was blown off.
Rivers was seriously injured. The medics found him with a jagged bone sticking through his pants. Shrapnel had cut his leg to the bone from knee to thigh. His commanding officer said, “Ruben, you’ve got a million dollar wound. You have a Silver Star and a Purple Heart. You’re going home.”
“Captain, you’re gonna need me. I’m staying.”
“Goddammit, Ruben, I’m giving you a direct order. You’re going back!”
“This is one order, the only order, I’ll disobey.” Turning to the medics, he said, “Clean and dress this thing.”
Risking losing his leg, Rivers refused evacuation and continued to fight in another tank. The lead tank.
The Germans knew their backs were against the wall. If they lost eastern France, the Allies next stop would be the Fatherland. Patton’s tanks broke through line after line of enemy defenses. The Germans fought with the ferocity of the desperate.
Anti-tank fire swept the American tank columns. Rivers poured fire into enemy positions. They reciprocated by zeroing on River’s lead tank and hammered it with shells. The first shot penetrated the tank spraying the interior with steel fragments, wounding all of the crew. The second shot decapitated Rivers. The daring, fearless fighter was gone. The same officer whose orders he disobeyed recommended him for the Medal of Honor.
The Panthers fought their way across Europe, participating in four different major campaigns in six different countries.
By the end of the war, the 761st had been in continuous combat for 183 days. During that period, the Black Panthers suffered 50% casualties, earned one Medal of Honor, seven Silver Stars, fifty-six Bronze Stars and 246 Purple Hearts.
This from a unit that didn’t have “ inherent fighting ability.”
Despite facing fierce discrimination at home, the 761st showed the world a loyalty, valor, bravery and fighting ability equal to their white brothers-in-arms.
