The Black Panthers at War: The 761st Tank Battalion and General Patton's Drive on Germany, tells the full and unvarnished history of this important American fighting force. Known as the first African American armored unit to see combat in World War II and as future baseball star Jackie Robinson’s one-time outfit, the 761st Tank Battalion emerged from the adversity. Led by a small cadre of white and black officers, the men trained to the pinnacle of their craft to fight a common enemy. They proved their battle prowess on the parched Texas training fields against tank destroyer units bound for combat. (Formerly, The Black Panthers: A Story of Race, War, and Courage. The 761st Tank Battalion in World War II. Westholme Publishing 2014)

The Black Panthers at War: The 761st Tank Battalion and General Patton's Drive on Germany

History

DiNicolo, Gina M.

Americas

St. John's Press

The Black Panthers: A Story of Race, War, and Courage―the 761st Tank Battalion in World War II

Known as the first African American armored unit to see combat in World War II and as future baseball star Jackie Robinson's one-time outfit, the 761st Tank Battalion emerged from the adversity of Camp Claiborne, Louisiana. Led by a small cadre of white and black officers, the men trained to the pinnacle of their craft to fight a common enemy. The Black Panthers, as their unit insignia designated, proved their battle prowess on the parched Texas training fields against units bound for combat. The 761st earned a coveted assignment to fight under General George S. Patton to fight head-to-head with the best of Hitler's arsenal. Moving to the front in November 1944, trial by fire soon shook the unit to its core. Ambushed by a veteran German force, the 761st suffered heavy casualties in the confusion as they cut their way out of the trap. But the men rallied to overcome self-doubt and vindicated their losses. Battle-hardened, the tankers saw intense fighting through November and as well as December when Germany launched its last-ditch offensive through the Ardennes. The 761st fought side-by-side with Patton's Third Army. Moving through deep snow against uncertain opposition, the unit helped check the German advance, cut resupply routes to the forces surrounding beleaguered Bastogne, and drove the enemy back, recapturing towns crucial to the final defeat of Germany. In The Black Panthers: A Story of Race, War, and Courage--the 761st Tank Battalion in World War II, historian Gina M. DiNicolo tells the full and unvarnished history of this important American fighting force. Relying on extensive archival research, including documents not consulted in previous accounts and interviews with surviving soldiers and family members. The author describes the unit--its training, deployment, combat, and notably its men, such as Sergeant Ruben Rivers, one of only seven African American men awarded the Medal of Honor for World War II heroism. The professionalism, dedication, and courage of the 761st endures.

Westholme Publishing

Product Description 
In a Segregated Military, the African American Armored Unit That Helped Patton Check the German Advance, Close the Rhine Ring, and Spearhead a New Postwar Army Known primarily for being the first African American armored unit to see combat in World War II and as future baseball star Jackie Robinson’s onetime outfit, the 761st Tank Battalion was forged in a devil’s cauldron of heat and prejudice at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana. Here, most viewed the tankers as tokens in a racial experiment, rather than as fellow American soldiers who would actually be deployed to fight a common enemy. Led by a small cadre of white and black officers, the 761st trained to the pinnacle of its craft. The Black Panthers, as they soon were called, proved their battle prowess against other units bound for combat on the parched Texas training fields. For this, they earned a coveted assignment to fight under General George S. Patton and go head-to-head with the best of Hitler’s arsenal. Moving to the front in November 1944, trial by fire soon shook the unit to its core. Ambushed by a veteran German force, the 761st suffered heavy casualties in the confusion as they cut their way out of the trap. But the men rallied to overcome self-doubt and vindicate their losses. Quickly battle hardened, the tankers saw intense combat through November and when Germany launched its last-ditch offensive through the Ardennes in December, the 761st fought side-by-side with Patton’s Third Army. Moving swiftly, the unit helped check the German advance, cut resupply routes to the forces surrounding beleaguered Bastogne, and drove the enemy back, recapturing towns crucial to the final defeat of Germany. In The Black Panthers: A Story of Race, War, and Courage—the 761st Tank Battalion in World War II, historian Gina M. DiNicolo tells the full and unvarnished history of this important American fighting force. Relying on extensive archival research, including documents that had not been consulted in previous accounts, and interviews with surviving soldiers and family members, the author describes the unit’s training, deployment, combat, and individuals, such as Sgt. Ruben Rivers, one of only seven African American men awarded the Medal of Honor for World War II heroism. The professionalism, dedication, and courage of the 761st and other non-white units made clear that the strength of the American army in the future lay with integration—one of the enduring accomplishments of these servicemen. 
 About the Author \nGINA M. DINICOLO is a military historian and award-winning journalist who has written on military topics for nearly two decades. She was a contributing editor at Military Officer magazine, where more than twenty of her stories graced the publication’s cover. She is a 1984 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy with a degree in history, and was a career officer in the Marine Corps. She resides in Alexandria, Virginia.

Africa

The Meuse-Argonne Offensive stands as more than the largest single combat operation in U.S. history. It marked the arrival of the United States as a world power that earned notice and respect. Much credit goes to John J. Pershing who kept America fighting as one force, free from foreign domination under amalgamation. His army stands as the root of a force structure that helped the U.S. Army through the lean, postwar years as well as the next world war. It remains the foundation of the Army in the 21st century. Many have debated Pershing’s belief in the French idea of “elan.” Roughly translated, elan means guts with an indomitable spirit. First U.S. Army’s ultimate success at Meuse-Argonne and the months-long run-up to the grueling forty-seven day campaign can be credited in large part to the American spirit. Pershing had the right mix of diplomatic and military skills to lead the American Expeditionary Forces. His handling of French leaders like Ferdinand Foch and Britain’s unpopular and difficult Douglas Haig provided the top cover necessary for America’s new army to take the field unencumbered. He remained a strong organizer but poor combat leader. He could not quite execute his well-thought plans. His weaknesses from the Punitive Expedition haunted him in France. Aware of his limitations he passed his combat command to those who could lead First Army to victory. The AEF was not ready to fight the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, but the United States had fought conflicts since the 18th century ill-prepared. Pershing had his orders. His men learned quickly. A failing army transformed into a formidable fighting force during the last days of the war. Men like George Patton, Douglas MacArthur, George Marshal and Harry Truman came of age at the Meuse-Argonne. The cost: a stupefying loss of life. A modern Defense secretary said, “You go to war with the Army you have.” He could have been talking about John Pershing’s AEF. Pershing had one advantage going into combat—elan. The American soldier had guts and fought with an indomitable spirit that carried more than 1 million men through the Meuse-Argonne.

The Meuse-Argonne: and the Triumph of the American Spirit

Europe

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Books by DiNicolo, Gina M.

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by DiNicolo, Gina M.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

The Black Panthers at War: The 761st Tank Battalion and General Patton's Drive on Germany

The Black Panthers: A Story of Race, War, and Courage―the 761st Tank Battalion in World War II

The Black Panthers: A Story of Race, War, and Courage―the 761st Tank Battalion in World War II

The Meuse-Argonne: and the Triumph of the American Spirit