[2], LTC (MG Retired) Stan R. Sheridan assumed command of 1/69 Armor in September 1968 as the battalion forward HQ again moved, this time west to the area of Landing Zone Oasis, HQ of the 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division along QL 19W, conducting numerous reconnaissance-in-force operations north and east of c C and along the Cambodian border. It was eventually absorbed on 10 July 1945 by the 69th Amphibian Tractor Battalion (the 69th Amphibian Tractor Battalion was concurrently relieved from assignment to the 6th Armored Division). It was formed with a cadre from the 2nd Armored Division. I'm the first to ever contact him. [2], LTC Fairfield was promoted and subsequently reassigned as command of 1/69 Armor passed to LTC Clyde O. Clark. No stranger to the Regiment, LTC Fairfield had seen previous service as Commanding Officer of A company and as S3 of the 89th Medium Tank Battalion in Korea in 1952. Following the outbreak of hostilities on the Korean peninsula, the 708th Amphibian Tank Battalion was subsequently restructured and re-designated the 89th Medium Tank Battalion. Colonel Bedford H. Forrest was killed in action in France November 26, according, to word received by his mother Mrs. Mattie S Forrest of Saluda. Redisignated as the 69th Medium Tank Battalion in August, 1950 and reactivated in Korea. Shield: The shield is in the green and white of the Armored Force. 69th Armor tankers learned on-the-job the importance of rear and flank security, the effect of canister in dense jungle, the exaggerated needs for constant maintenance halts and the value and down-sides of assorted OVM and equipment. LTC William Grant assumed command of 1/69 Armor as the Battalion was given the mission of securing the primary routes of communication on QL 19, between Qui Nhon on the coast and Duc Co on the Cambodian border; and on QL 14 between Dak To in the north to Ban Me Thout in the south. It has no heraldic significance. The 69th Tank Battalion, as part of the 6th Armored Division, was included in various European campaigns including Normandy, the Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace and Central Europe. Both battalions have transformed from tank pure battalions into Combined Arms Battalions (CAB), each comprising two mechanized infantry and two tank companies. The 69th Division landed in Le Havre, France, on January 24, 1945, and advanced through France and Belgium into Germany. KIA. 3d Battalion, 69th Armor similarly operated with the 24th Division during war.[2]. It is one of only three in the U.S. and painted as B11, is a lasting memorial to the tankers of 1/69 Armor in Vietnam. Sign up to receive our newsletter regarding Veterans, Reunions, Military, Veteran Benefits, Military Pictures, Jokes, Military History, The 52 ton M48A3 more than earned its stripes during this initial two week blooding and the unit set the example for future tactical employment of Armor in Vietnam. Search input Search The insignia was redesignated for the 69th Medium Tank Battalion on 25 February 1954. The Battalion continued to support the 4th Infantry Division along the Hwy 19 corridor, from Qui Nhon to Duc Co during the period, where it fought hot actions in and around LZ Schuller, An Khe, Plei Djereng and Plei Me. The battalion displaced its forward headquarters in March, from Hwy 14S to Camp Radcliff in An Kh, under the operational control of the 173rd Airborne Brigade to join Operation Walker and was again involved in fighting along the coastal plain near Bong Son. It was redesignated for the 69th Armor Regiment on 25 July 1958. In January 2005, the Speed and Power Battalion deployed again under the command of LTC Mark Wald[2] in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III. Find your friends and loved ones * * *, Sadly, Anne and Sherry Lipsius, wife and daughter, notified us on September 6, 2015 that our intrepid Webmaster, Joe Lipsius, passed away peacefully that morning. This deactivation came to an end when the unit was re-designated as the 69th Medium Tank Battalion in August 1950. The 2nd Battalion at Fort Benning, and the 3rd Battalion assigned to Fort Stewart, Georgia, were organic to the 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized). B Company elements engaged units of the 18th and 22nd NVA Regiments, as well as the 2nd VC Main Force Regiment in heavy combat between 10 and 25 April in the area of Ky Son, killing over 100 enemy. In six days after hitting France the 9th Armored was in Luxembourg near the German frontier. Moreover, it now boasted a V12 Continental Diesel engine which more than doubled the tank's combat range and significantly reduced the hazard of fire. Medal of Honor Recipients of the 69th Armor Regiment. It was formed with a cadre from the 2nd Armored Division . Thank you so much again for helping me 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor served with the 42nd ID, a National Guard Division based in NY. In February 1942 it was reassigned to the 6th Armored Division where it continued to serve until September 1943 when elements of the Regiment were divided and reassigned. The 6th Armored Division was one of General George S. Patton's famous Third Army divisions during World War II in Europe. The unit, along with . It crossed to England in August of 1944 and did not reach Normandy until a month later. MILITARY UNITS - 69th Armored Division VetFriends Veteran ID Card Quick Links. Deployment commenced on 25 January 1966 with the Battalion laying over in Okinawa to take over 52 new M48A3 tanks and familiarize crews with the new series, AN-GRC 12 radios. LTC Theodore S. Riggs took command of the Battalion in March, 1968, prior to its displacement to An Khe. It was redesignated for the 69th Amphibian Tractor Battalion on 8 January 1946. We will miss him. U.S. Many document need the free Adobe Reader to view. LTC (Lieutenant General, Retired) Paul S. Williams, Jr. took command of 1/69 Armor in March of 1967 and continued operations in support of the 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. During this period Alpha Company supported the three Sky Trooper brigades in heavy combat operations along the South China Sea coast, distinguishing itself in savage fighting against Main Force Viet Cong, for countless fortified village complexes in Binh Dinh province and the Bong Son plain area. We wonder about the rest that served with us in the artillery unit we served in. Deployment commenced on 25 January, 1966 with the Battalion laying over in Okinawa to take over 52 new M48A3 tanks and familiarize crews with the new series, AN-GRC 12 radios. It is an interlocked. Bulletins thru the years - training, combat, reunion & photos of buddies and you. The unit and its component line companies were awarded the Presidential Unit Citation, the Valorous Unit Award, the Meritorious Award, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm and the Vietnam Civic Action Award First Class. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! The unit, along with many others, was deactivated in 1946 following the end of the Second World War. The 69th Infantry Division arrived in England, 12 December 1944, where it continued its training. Plus, its a place where wives, children, grandchildren and friends to learn about the wartime service of their loved ones in the Unit histories, Company Photos and the post-war bulletins now being placed online in a Google-searchable format. Col. Ethan J. Diven, commander of the "Spartan Brigade," 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, passes the unit colors to new brigade senior enlisted advisor, Command Sgt. Some 16,500,000 were registered by October 1940, and the first group of conscripts, called selectees, was called in the next month. The Battalion continued to support the 4th Infantry Division along the Hwy 19 corridor, from Qui Nhon to Duc Co during the period, where it fought hot actions in and around LZ Schuller, An Khe, Plei Djereng and Plei Me. The Battalion continued operations west of Pleiku and along the coastal plain during 1969 with both the 4th Division and the 173rd Airborne Brigade. If you have a tribute, please email it to Webmaster Michael McKibben at mmckibben@leader.com and it will be posted shortly. All Rights Reserved. The 2017 Annual Reunion will be in Virginia Beach, VA at the North Beach Holiday Inn Sept. 21-24, 2017. For its actions A Company was awarded the Valorous Unit Citation. Up until five weeks ago, Joe was still emailing about website business. Free shipping for many products! This is a beachfront resort Hotel directly on the ocean. With the establishment of the regimental combat arms system, the formerly fragmented elements of the 2nd Battalion were remade into the 69th Armored Regiment. Earlier, in September, the battalion, along with the other elements of the 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division became part of the 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division in a swap of brigades in place. The Battalion shipped from Okinawa to Vietnam and, and true to the policy at the time, was fragmented, with the Battalion HQ, trains, A and C companies going to Cu Chi supporting the main elements of the 25 Division, while B Company joined the 3rd Brigade of the 25th Division in Pleiku. Earlier, in September, the Battalion, along with the other elements of the 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division became part of the 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division in a swap of brigades in place. In July 2003, following the downfall of the regime under Saddam Hussein, the Battalion redeployed to Fort Benning, Georgia. We will try to record some of the many outstanding feats of our Division and to recognize the thousands who trained in the 69th but were sent out as replacements to other units, including reinforcements to the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944. 69th Tank Battalion, 6th Armored Division | American Battle Monuments Commission Cemeteries & Memorials Burial Search Education About Us News Data Multimedia Contact Us 69th Tank Battalion, 6th Armored Division Home 69th Tank Battalion, 6th Armored Division Legacy ID 19993 Legacy Alias /db-abmc-burial-unit/69th-tank-battalion-6th-armored-division In July, 1994, a monument was erected and dedicated to the tank Soldiers of the 69th Armor Regiment, from all battalions, in Armor Memorial Park at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Company A was attached to the 1st Cavalry Division until October, 1967. Joe Lipsius, 272nd Inf. You are visitor number: Copyright 1946-2020. [2], The battalion continued operations west of Pleiku and along the coastal plain during 1969 with both the 4th Division and the 173rd Airborne Brigade. Further, we want these pages to be a gateway for 69ers to locate and contact "buddies" and obtain service information from the military. This original assignment did not last for long. ". Part of the 2nd Battalion was redesignated the 109th Amphibious Tank Battalion and also participated in key amphibious operations in the PTO distinguishing itself at Saipan and Tinian and was also awarded the Navy Presidential Unit Citation. The Battalion redeployed in May 2008 to Fort Benning, Georgia and awarded the Valorous Unit Award. A Company completed its mission with the 1st Cavalry in October, 1967 and returned to Camp Enari with Battalion HQ. The bulk of the Battalion was moved in May 1966 to Qui Nhon via LST, then overland along the infamous QL (Highway) 19 to join B Company at Camp Enari near Pleiku, the home of the 4th Infantry Division. The battalion assumed responsibility for an area of operations once belonging to two battalions and a brigade headquarters. In July 2003, following the downfall of the regime under Saddam Hussein. 2-69 AR is currently stationed at Fort Stewart, Georgia as part of the 2nd Armor Brigade Combat Team ("Spartans . During this period Alpha Company supported the three Sky Trooper brigades in heavy combat operations along the South China Sea coast, distinguishing itself in savage fighting against Main Force Viet Cong, for countless fortified village complexes in Binh Dinh province and the Bong Son plain area. This world is a better place because Joe Lipsius passed through. 2023 Copyright VetFriends.com. The 52 ton M48A3 more than earned its stripes during this initial two week blooding and the unit set the example for future tactical employment of Armor in Vietnam. The 9th Armored, which was activated in 1942, was late in getting overseas. The 69th Armored Regiment was constituted on 15 July, 1940 in the Regular Army and initially assigned to the lst Armored Division. Joe was 97 years old. 2,951,373. Once again it assigned to the 6th Armored Division, where it served until it was stood down in 1956, ending its assignment to the 6th Armored Division. [2], For actions during a reaction force operation just prior to Tet in January 1968, Sp5 Dwight Hal Johnson, gunner on B11, was awarded the Medal of Honor. Operations were based in the Chalis Qada area. The 69th Tank Battalion, as part of the 6th Armored Division, was included in various European campaigns including Normandy, the Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace and Central Europe. A large group of infantry and some supporting unit officers were called from the 96th Infantry . [2], LTC Theodore S. Riggs took command of the Battalion in March, 1968, prior to its displacement to An Khe. The Regimental HQ and 1st Battalion remained with the 6th Armored Division as the 69th Tank Battalion, while the 3rd Battalion was re-designated as 708th Amphibian Tank Battalion and was a participant in several critical amphibious campaigns and distinguished itself during the bloody fighting on Okinawa earning the battalion the Navy Presidential Unit Citation. B Company elements engaged units of the 18th and 22nd NVA Regiments, as well as the 2nd VC Main Force Regiment in heavy combat between 10 and 25 April in the area of Ky Son, inflicting over 100 enemy KIA. [2], The Battalion continued operations west of Pleiku and along the coastal plain during 1969 with both the 4th Division and the 173rd Airborne Brigade. Archer 1/35 U.S. 69th, 71st, 95th, 98th, 106th Infantry Division Patches FG35035. It was temporarily stopped south of the Karbala Gap due to intense sandstorms and a need to wait for logistical support. Following great successes in Chalis Qada and Ar Ramadi, the Battalion redeployed to Fort Benning, Georgia in January 2006. The 2nd Battalion at Fort Benning, and the 3rd Battalion assigned to Fort Stewart, Georgia, were organic to the 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized). Tanks from 1st Platoon, A Company, 369 AR entered the Baghdad International Airport (BIAP)shortly after midnight on 4 April and 369 AR captured (BIAP)later that day, after limited resistance from elements of the Hammurabi Division of the Republican Guard. We will never forget! [2], The battalion shipped from Okinawa to Vietnam, and true to the policy at the time, was fragmented, with the battalion HQ, trains, A and C companies going to C Chi supporting the main elements of the 25th Infantry Division, while B Company joined the 3rd Brigade of the 25th Division in Pleiku. Relive & share the memories of your service time with your brothers & sisters in arms today. In June 2005, 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor was called to be the tip of the spear against the insurgent influence in the city of Ramadi in the Al Anbar province. A Company was charged with the security of Hwy 19E between An Khe and Mang Jiang Pass, and on 10 April, routed a regimental size ambush attempt on a convoy which effectively destroyed the NVA 95B battalion as a fighting force. 369 AR was the first conventional US unit to enter Iraq in 2003, and among the first units to serve four tours in Iraq. Meanwhile, B and C Companies were placed OPCON to the Republic of Korea's 'Tiger' Division, headquartered at Camp Thunderbolt near Qui Nhon to support Operation Maeng Ho 11. "The Fighting 69th" became the Division motto after the troops passed their first test of battle with flying colorsgoing into the front lines on February 11, 1945, and quickly smashing through the vaunted Westwall, dubbed the "Siegfried Line" by American and British troops. 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, was originally constituted on 15 July 1940 in the Regular Army as Company C, 69th Armored Regiment, an element of the 1st Armored Division. [2], LTC James L. Marini took command in December, 1969 and continued operations until the Battalion stood down with the 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division and returned to the U.S. in mid-1970. On April 19, 1945, the Division captured Leipzig. Fortunately he had also become a member and responded to my email. [2], 1/69 Armor played a critical role in the defense of Pleiku, Kontum, Dak To and Hwy 19 during the Jan/Feb. [2], 1st Platoon, B Company earned a special Presidential Unit Citation in August 1966 for their actions at LZ 27 Victor, a small Korean enclave in the triple canopy jungles of the Ia Drang-Chu Pong mountain area, where nine months earlier, the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) fought savage battles with infiltrating North Vietnamese units. Both battalions have transformed from tank pure battalions into combined arms battalions (CAB), Each comprising two tank companies and one mechanized infantry company as of August 2019. United States Army combined arms battalion, Thunder Run: The Armored Strike to Capture Baghdad, Baghdad International Airport (BIAP) formerly Saddam International Airport, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=3rd_Battalion,_69th_Armor_Regiment&oldid=1099274630, Armor battalions of the United States Army, Articles with dead external links from April 2019, Articles with permanently dead external links, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2012, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, LTC Ernest P. "Rock" Marcone, 2002 2004, LTC Jessie L. Robinson, 27 July 2008 October 2009, LTC Jeff Denius, October 2009 October 2011, LTC Orestees "Bo" T. Davenport, October 2011 October 2013, LTC Harry "Zan" Hornbuckle III, October 2013 July 2015, LTC Johnny A. Evans Jr., July 2015 May 2017, LTC William F. Coryell, May 2017 May 2019, This page was last edited on 19 July 2022, at 22:40.