101423 Way Black History Fact - The Original Black Panthers

here we go, all right. The men of the African Americans seven hundred and sixty first Tank Battalion entered combat at Mooreville, Lesvic on November seventh, nineteen forty four, and an infronto battle, they proved their worth for the first time in a series of hard fought battles the seven

hundred and sixty first Tank Battalion. The battalion's motto was come out fighting, and that it did from its first engagement at the little Belgian town of Moreville, Lesvic in November nineteen forty four, and through heavy combat right through the end of the war. But the seven hundred and

sixty First fight was not just against the Germans. As a segregated African American unit, it took part in the struggle for racial equality, a struggle in which the men of the seven hundred and sixty First, the so called Black Panthers would engage for the rest of their lives. Brought into existence on April first, nineteen forty two, at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, the seven hundred and sixty first Tank Battalion trained amid the restrictions and racism of Jim Crow South.

First Lieutenant Jack Roosevelt Robinson of the seven hundred and sixty first, an athlete who had become one of the greatest baseball players of all time, lost his chance to see combat when he refused to move to the back of a segregated military bus during an incident in Fort Hood, Texas,

in July nineteen forty four. The seven hundred and sixty first Battalion's commander, Lieutenant Colonel Paul el Bates, refused to prosecute Robinson, but a superiors got around that by transferring the lieutenant to another unit, where he was court martial. Robinson was later acquitted, but too late to rejoin the

Black Panthers. Seven hundred and sixty First arrived in France on October ten, nineteen forty four, coming ashore at Omaha Beach and moving into Belgium at the beginning of November, General George S. Patten famously gave the Black Panthers a pep talk, saying in part, men, you're the first Negro Tan to ever fight in the American Army. I would never have asked for you if you weren't good. I have nothing but the best in my army. I don't care what color you are, as long as you go

up there and kill those proud soldiers. Everyone has their eyes on you and is expecting great things from you, most of all your races, looking forward to your success. Don't let them down, and darn you, don't let me down. Privately, however, Patten harbored the same doubts that many white officers had about black soldiers, and he was reluctant to commit them

to combat. On November seven, nineteen forty four, the Black Panthers finally got their chance as they attacked the German held town of Morville Lesvik in support of the twenty six Infantry Division. Bates, wounded the night before the engagement,

was not present, nor were many of his white senior officers. Instead, the thrust into town was commanded by African American Captain John D. Long of b company who followed behind the lead Sherman tank commandment by Sergeant Roy King quote, I am sure men thought I was a bad man and hated my guts, but they followed me. Later recalled Long, a no nonsense officer who held from Detroit Motown. They

were a well greased fighting machine. Captain Long proudly summed up his pride for the Black Panthers and their conduct not for God and for country, but from me and my people. He said, this was my motivation, pure and simple. When I entered the army, I sware to myself there would never be a headline saying my men and I chicken. Soldier in time of war is supposed to accept the idea of dying. That's what he's there for. Live with

it and forget it. I expected to get killed, whatever happened, I was determined to die an officer and a gentleman. The town of morethe Less Victor was supposed to be a snap, but it was my inferno. My men were tigers. They fought like seasoned veterans. We got our lumps, but we took that efing town. So that's where the Black Panthers came from. Some soldiers and some ogs stick around,