Author: [Tony Jenkins]

Interviewer: [Alex Byrd]

[During World War II, tank warfare was a frequently used method of combat that took place all across Europe. The US divided its tanks into units in order to have them placed in multiple regions a once. One of those units was the 761st tank battalion. This unit was made in 1942 and was entirely of African American soldiers and because of that they experienced a different type of war with their own fellow soldiers treating them just like the enemy they were facing. However; this racial tension would seem to disappear and reappear during different aspects of war and would affect the battalion’s views of the fact through their campaign. This fact brings up many questions about the unit and their experience in the war. What was basic training like? What obstacles did they have to deal with compared to their white teammates? How did they perform under General Patton during the war? How did they deal with racial tension within the ranks? Though the 761st tank battalion had many things going against them, how did they still leave the war as one of the most effective tank units in the US army? ]