Details for Second Armored Division, U. S. Army

Historical Marker — Atlas Number 5027000037

Data

Marker Number 37
Atlas Number 5027000037
Marker Title Second Armored Division, U. S. Army
Index Entry
Address
City Killeen
County Bell
UTM Zone 14
UTM Easting 619129
UTM Northing 3445527
Subject Codes World War II; military topics
Marker Year 1975
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark No
Marker Location At Memorial Park off Battalion Ave and 52nd St., Fort Cavazos, Killeen
Private Property No
Marker Condition In Situ
Marker Size 27" x 42"
Marker Text Gen. Patton's "Hell on Wheels," the 2nd Armored Division, United States Army Formed to meet 20th century challenges, this force includes Battery A, 1st Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery, which has been in service since 1778. That battery and other veteran units have found new capabilities in this age of mechanized combat involving lightning mobility and massive firepower. In 1940, as German panzers overran France, the United States Congress created the 1st and 2nd American Armored Divisions. The 2nd was organized July 15, 1940, at Fort Benning, Ga., by Gen. Charles L. Scott, and received its "Hell on Wheels" name in 1941 from Gen. George S. Patton, Jr. First U.S. armored force in combat in World War II, "Hell on Wheels" landed in North Africa on Nov. 8, 1942. It won great victories at Safi and Casablanca, in the assault on Sicily, the 1944 Normandy invasion, the Battle of the Bulge, and other campaigns. Along 11,702 miles of combat advance, the 2nd won 7 French Croix de Guerres, 19 Distinguished Unit citations, and was first foreign division ever given the Fourragere of Belgium. The 2nd provided Honor Guard for President Harry S. Truman at the Potsdam peace conference. Since 1945 Fort Hood has been 2nd's permanent base. (1975)
ATLAS_NUM=5027000037

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