I called the number ans wow he was blown away when he found out who I was. [2], 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. The insignia was redesignated for the 69th Medium Tank Battalion on 25 February 1954. KIA. Activated 15 May 1943 Entered Combat 11 Feb 1945 Days of Combat 86 Casualties 1,506, Maj. Gen. Charles L. Bolte (May 43 - Sep 44)Maj. Gen. Emil F. Reinhardt (Sep 44 - Aug 45)Brig. 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. This original assignment did not last for long. Company A was attached to the 1st Cavalry Division until October 1967. Some 16,500,000 were registered by October 1940, and the first group of conscripts, called selectees, was called in the next month. Re-designated on 15 August 1983 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3d Battalion, 69th Armor, the unit was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division, and activated in Germany. The Battalion displaced its forward headquarters in March, from Hwy 14S to Camp Radcliff in An Khe, under the operational control of the 173rd Airborne Brigade and was again involved in fighting along the coastal plain near Bong Son. 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. Many document need the free Adobe Reader to view. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! 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. The unit, along with many others, was deactivated in 1946 following the end of the Second World War. Shield: The shield is in the green and white of the Armored Force. 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. GitHub export from English Wikipedia. It inactivated on 1 July 1963 in Hawaii and relieved from assignment to the 25th Infantry Division. Company A was attached to the 1st Cavalry Division until October, 1967. 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. This web site strives to tell the wartime story of our great Divisionfrom its formation to its meeting Soviet soldiers at The Elbe River on April 25, 1945 as seasoned veteransa critical event that hastened the end of the war in Europe two weeks later on May 9, 1945 (Victory in Europe or V-E Day). The Battalion then redeployed to Fort Benning, Georgia in October 2010. 2nd Battalion - 69th Armor Regiment - GlobalSecurity.org This is a beachfront resort Hotel directly on the ocean. Anne & Sherry Lipsius' address: 6314 Deerings Hollow, Norcross, GA 30092-1800, annejoelip@bellsouth.net. Being always alert, the black variety of panther is considered the most dangerous of all the feline family. It was redesignated for the 69th Armor Regiment on 25 July 1958. [2], LTC Fairfield was promoted and subsequently reassigned as command of 1/69 Armor passed to LTC Clyde O. Clark. 6th Armored Division. Because of this Act, the men of The 69th Infantry Division entered the Army, by draft or voluntary enlistment. [2], A Company was committed within two hours of its disembarking from LSTs in Saigon, as a reaction force to combat in the Filhol Rubber Plantation west of Saigon. . It inactivated on 8 March 1946 at Camp Kilmer, NJ. Attached below and to the sides of the shield a Silver scroll inscribed VITESSE ET PUISSANCE in Black letters. Crest: The two ruined towers bearing a fleur-de-lis and an anchor allude to the two areas, Europe and the Pacific. Personal experience as a member of the Heavy Mortar Platoon, CSC (later HHC) 2/69th AR, Fort Benning, GA from August 1984 December 1985; US War Casualties Afghanistan (by date), http://www.benning.army.mil/armor/eARMOR/content/issues/1988/JAN_FEB/ArmorJanuaryFebruary1988web.pdf, The Institute of Heraldry 69th Armor Regiment, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=69th_Armor_Regiment&oldid=1100734449. Do you have 69TH ARMORED DIVISION Reunion information you'd like to share, "When I Joined VetFriends, I read about the email locator service, and sent an email to my old friend. wikipedia.en/3rd_Battalion,_69th_Armor_Regiment.md at main chinapedia E/203 SB was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation. This chart is available for purchase at HistoryShots.com. How cool is that. Justbeforethe 69th departed the USA for Europe, Major General Emil F. Reinhardt took division command. In a rapid advance to the east, the 69th took Schmidtheim and Dahlem, 7 March. [5] This time the battalion served as the 1st Brigade Combat Team's and 42nd Infantry Division's main effort in Samarra, Iraq. It was subsequently deactivated in late 1991 with the Regimental Colors returning to the 2nd Battalion at Fort Benning, Georgia. U.S. The unit, along with many others, was deactivated in 1946 following the end of the Second World War. 69th ARMORED REGIMENT Constituted 15 July 1940 in the Regular Army as Company B, 69th Armored Regiment, an element of the 1st Armored Division Activated 31 July 1940 at Fort Knox,. [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. In January 2007, 3rd Battalion 69th Armor Regiment deployed with the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division to Operation Iraqi Freedom V. The battalion was initially tasked with securing the volatile city of Ramadi, appropriately dubbed by intelligence personnel as the "most dangerous city in the world. An element of the former organization was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for service in Europe. The period from 9 to 21 March was spent in mopping up activities and training. The battalion played an important role by providing security assistance during the crucial Iraqi national elections in March 2010. The 69th Infantry Division was originally scheduled for activation before the end of World War I, but Armistice Day, November 11, 1918, halted this. Armored. [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. The 1st Battalion was alerted to begin preparations for deployment to the Republic of Vietnam in December 1965. Company A was attached to the 1st Cavalry Division until October, 1967. In 2002 the 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor deployed with 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division to Operation Desert Spring in preparation for future combat operations in a six month training mission. This operation proved the value of Armor in reducing the number of friendly casualties while significantly increasing losses to the enemy. Gen. Robert V. Maraist (Aug 45 - inactivation), Rhineland(15 Sep 44 - 21 Mar 45)Central Europe(22 Mar 45 - 11 May 45). Symbolism: The shield is in the green and white (silver) of the Armored Force. In six days after hitting France the 9th Armored was in Luxembourg near the German frontier. If you have a tribute, please email it to Webmaster Michael McKibben at mmckibben@leader.com and it will be posted shortly. Shield: Per bend Argent and Vert on the first a panther passant on division line, head to chief sable. find my friend. We will not forget Joe and his band of brothers either. The 1st Battalion was alerted to begin preparations for deployment to the Republic of Vietnam in December of 1965. 69th ARMORED REGIMENT - United States Army Center of Military History 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. Meanwhile, B and C Companies were placed OPCON to the Republic of Korea's 'Tiger' Division, headquartered near Qui Nhon at Camp Townes to support Operation Maeng Ho 11. LTC William Grant assumed command of 1/69 Armor as the Battalion was given the mission of securing the primary routes of communicationon 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. Motto: VITESSE ET PUISSANCE (Speed and Power). With the establishment of the regimental combat arms system, the formerly fragmented elements of the 2nd Battalion were remade into the 69th Armored Regiment. He said we were like brothers and then all of a sudden, we lost all contact. [2], The 1st Battalion was again reactivated and assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division in Germany in 1975. 69th Armor Regiment Air Force Units Army Units Coast Guard Units Marine Corps Units Navy Units . 6th Armored Division With the left over elements of the 69th and the 89th Tank Battalions, the 69th Armored Regiment was re-designated the 69th Armor, a parent regiment under the Regimental Combat Arms system. Following great successes in Chalis Qada and Ar Ramadi, the Battalion redeployed to Fort Benning, Georgia in January 2006. We were stationed in Germany in 1975 through 1978. [2] Both received the Superior Unit Award. We will be posting a tribute and the family's eulogy. The Battalion displaced its forward headquarters in March, from Hwy 14S to Camp Radcliff in An Khe, under the operational control of the 173rd Airborne Brigade and was again involved in fighting along the coastal plain near Bong Son. 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. 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 Division resumed its forward movement to the west bank of the Rhine, crossing the river and capturing the fortress of Ehrenbreitstein, 27 March. 3/69 Armor similarly operated with the 24th Division during this massive assault. It participated in the Battle for Jalibah Airfield. View our site visit statistics. This campaign map shows the route of the 69th Infantry Division during World War II. Search input Search It was redesignated for the 69th Tank Battalion on 4 November 1943. 69th Infantry Division US Army Divisions Articles for tag: 69th Tank Battalion - 6th Armored Division The unit, along with . The Battalion was instrumental in keeping these vital roads open for re-supply of units heavily engaged with the North Vietnames during the heavy battles around Dak To and Kontum in November, 1967. "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. 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. This deactivation came to an end when the unit was re-designated as the 69th Medium Tank Battalion in August 1950. It was temporarily stopped south of the Karbala Gap due to intense sandstorms and a need to wait for logistical support. It activated on 31 July 1940 at Fort Knox, KY, and inactivated there on 10 January 1942. Able-co/2-69 AR, Delta/2-69 AR, HHC/2-69 AR, and E/203 SB (FSC/2-69 AR) along with B/1-30 IN operated out of CAMP CORREGIDOR and COMBAT OUTPOST on the eastern side of Ar Ramadi. 6th Armored Division (United States) | Military Wiki | Fandom [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. 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 insignia was redesignated for the 69th Medium Tank Battalion on 25 February 1954. Contrasting with the old Battalion M48A2 vehicles, the new A3 models still featured the 90mm cannon, a M2HB cupola mounted .50 caliber machinegun and a 7.62mm, M72 coaxial machinegun. It was reassigned to the 6th Armored Division in February, 1942 where it remained until September of 1943 when elements of the Regiment were broken up and reassigned. 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. It reactivated on 15 February 1942 at Fort Knox, KY, ( the 69th Armored Regiment was concurrently relieved from assignment to the 1st Armored Division and assigned to the 6th Armored Division). He is so thankful I called and we exchanged addresses and he wants to come and visit. Colonel Forrest, who was 34 years of age was. But once on fighting soil it wasted no time. Background: The coat of arms was originally approved for the 69th Armored Regiment on 7 September 1942. Bradley Fighting Vehicles attached to 369 AR were the first regular army elements to cross the berm into Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom I. The 4th Battalion was reactivated in 1972 at 1st Brigade HHC 8th Infantry Division at Robert E. Lee Barracks in Mainz Gonsenheim Germany. A large group of infantry and some supporting unit officers were called from the 96th Infantry Division training at Camp Adair, Oregon, to supply the cadre (nucleus) for The 69th Infantry Division, which trained at Camp Shelby, near Hattiesburg, Mississippi. 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. FG35039 | 1:35 . Also during this period, a provisional detachment of tanks taken from each line company, was detailed to support elements of the 101st Airborne Division and the 44th ARVN Regiment in the Phan Thiet-Song Mao area. 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. In January 2003, 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor deployed to Kuwait awaiting orders to begin combat operations. Co A, 777th Tk Bn: 6 Mar 45-8 Mar 45: 777th Tk Bn: 29 Mar 45-15 Jun 45: Chemical. Lineage and Honors Information as of 16 May 2012, Robert J. DalessandroDirector, Center of Military History, Constituted 15 July 1940 in the Regular Army as Company B, 69th Armored Regiment, an element of the 1st Armored Division, Activated 31 July 1940 at Fort Knox, Kentucky, Inactivated 10 January 1942 at Fort Knox, Kentucky, Activated 15 February 1942 at Fort Knox, Kentucky (69th Armored Regiment concurrently relieved from assignment to the 1st Armored Division and assigned to the 6th Armored Division), Reorganized and redesignated 20 September 1943 as Company B, 69th Tank Battalion, Reorganized and redesignated 10 July 1945 as Company B, 69th Amphibian Tractor Battalion (69th Tank Battalion concurrently relieved from assignment to the 6th Armored Division), Inactivated 8 March 1946 at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, Redesignated 21 August 1950 as Company B, 69th Medium Tank Battalion, an element of the 6th Armored Division, Activated 5 September 1950 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, Inactivated 16 March 1956 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, (69th Medium Tank Battalion relieved 1 February 1957 from assignment to the 6th Armored DIvision), Redesignated 1 July 1957 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Medium Tank Battalion, 69th Armor (organic elements concurrently constituted), Battalion assigned 8 July 1957 to the 10th Infantry Division and activated in Germany, Relieved 14 June 1958 from assignment to the 10th Infantry Division and assigned to the 2d Infantry Division, Inactivated 1 March 1963 at Fort Benning, Georgia, and relieved from assignment to the 2d Infantry Division, Redesignated 21 March 1973 as the 2d Battalion, 69th Armor, assigned to the 197th Infantry Brigade, and activated at Fort Benning, Georgia, Relieved 16 October 1991 from assignment to the 197th Infantry Brigade and assigned to the 24th Infantry Division, Relieved 16 February 1996 from assignment to the 24th Infantry Division and assigned to the 3d Infantry Division, Relieved 16 March 2004 from assignment to the 3d Infantry Division and assigned to the 3d Brigade Combat Team, 3d Infantry Division, Redesignated 1 October 2005 as the 2d Battalion, 69th Armored Regiment, *Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered IRAQ 2003, Presidential Unit Citation (Navy), Streamer embroidered SAIPAN AND TINIAN, Presidential Unit Citation (Navy), Streamer embroidered OKINAWA, Presidential Unit Citation (Navy), Streamer embroidered WONJU-HWACHON, *Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered BAGHDAD, *Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered IRAQ 2009-2010, Navy Unit Commendation, Streamer embroidered PANMUNJOM, *Army Superior Unit Award, Streamer embroidered 1994, Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered YUSUFIYAH, IRAQ. Until VE-day the 69th patrolled and policed its area. This operation proved the value of armor in reducing friendly casualties while significantly increasing losses to the enemy. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 11 April: Patrolled vicinity of Mulhausen. The mission of enabling security and protecting the people of Iraq was accomplished through advising and assisting the Iraqi Security Forces as well as transitioning the overall responsibility for the security of Iraq from US forces to the Iraqi government. The 9th Armored, which was activated in 1942, was late in getting overseas. The Division was activated May 15, 1943. [2], 1/69 Armor played a critical role in the defense of Pleiku, Kontum, Dak To and Highway 19 during the Jan/Feb. Contribute to chinapedia/wikipedia.en development by creating an account on GitHub. The 1st Battalion was alerted to begin preparations for deployment to South Vietnam in December 1965. On April 19, 1945, the Division captured Leipzig. 69th Armor Regiment | Detailed Pedia Up until five weeks ago, Joe was still emailing about website business. 69th Infantry Battalion, 16th Armored Division | American Battle The Presidential Unit Citations (Navy) were awarded for service in the Pacific during World War II and the Korean War. We raced volkswagens on our time off and we'd go to the range and shoot all day. The 2nd Battalion at Fort Benning, and the 3rd Battalion assigned to Fort Stewart, Georgia, were organic to the 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized). B/2-69 AR and E/2-69 AR were awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation. Military Catalog, Sales, Discounts & more. (Click for explanation of photos.) Excerpts from the second English version of a book in German by historian Karl-Heinz Lange were used for this link at first, but a 2005 updated translation from German is now linked here. The 69th Armored Regiment's history began on 15 July 1940 when it was formed and assigned to the 1st Armored Division. [2], LTC Paul S. Williams Jr. took command of 1/69 Armor in March 1967 and continued operations in support of the 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. The 89th Tank Battalion returned to Hawaii with the 25th Infantry Division where it remained until deactivation in 1957. This deployment was part of the transition from Operation Iraqi Freedom to Operation New Dawn. Military Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. Archer | No. Soldiers from Task Force 369 deployed in December 2009 in support of OIF VII to northeast Baghdad as the main effort of the 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team-Augmented. Lieutenant Colonel (Major General, Retired) R.J. Fairfield, Jr. assumed command of the 1st Battalion, 69th Armor on 31 July, 1965. Both Battalions were redeployed to Georgia and awarded the Presidential Unit Award. 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. For its actions A Company was awarded the Valorous Unit Citation. 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. The battalion continued its second half of the deployment north of Ramadi, and executed numerous expeditionary combat operations near Lake Tharthar, Habbaniyah, and the southern region of the Salah ad Din Province. It is an interlocked. The 69th Armor is an armored (tank) regiment of the United States Army. The 6th Armored Division was one of the divisions in wwii that saw the most action. 69TH ARMORED DIVISION. The first address you sent me is my buddy. It crossed to England in August of 1944 and did not reach Normandy until a month later. Throughout Operation Iraqi Freedom 369 AR was featured several times on CNN, ABC News, and the PBS documentary Back to the Front[1] detailing the deployment of Sgt Michael Murphy. Also during this period, a provisional detachment of tanks taken from each line company, was detailed to support elements of the 101st Airborne Division and the 44th ARVN Regiment in the Phan Thiet-Song Mao area. Regtl. LTC Theodore S. Riggs took command of the Battalion in March, 1968, prior to its displacement to An Khe. After a successful tour, Task Force 369 Armor redeployed to Fort Stewart, Georgia in March 2008, to train in preparation of future operations. [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. Joe Lipsius, 272nd Inf. Our prayers and sympathies go out to the Lipsius family. What a conversation we had. This selfless dedication to duty, to the Battalion and to themselves exemplifies the role of the soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 69th Armor in Vietnam and underscores the reasons why the Battalion was honored as the most decorated tank battalion in United States Army history. 2023 Copyright VetFriends.com. The 6th Armored Division ("Super Sixth") was an armored division of the United States Army during World War II. The 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment (3-69 AR) is a United States Army combined arms battalion and part of the Third Infantry Division based at Fort Stewart, Georgia. 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. 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. Once the weather improved, the division resumed its advance, clearing the gap and turning north-east towards Baghdad. Archer ,1/35, US Armored Division Patches..# AR99019, sealed + bonus 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. This operation proved the value of Armor in reducing the number of friendly casualties while significantly increasing losses to the enemy. It was amended to add a crest on 18 May 1965. The 69th Armor Regiment is part of the U.S. Army Regimental System with only two battalions, the 2nd and 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, existing in separate brigades and representing the regiment as a whole. A Company had previously decimated this same unit in the streets of Pleiku during TET. Relive & share the memories of your service time with your brothers & sisters in arms today. The unit, along with many others, was deactivated in 1946 following the end of the Second World War. The motto translates to Speed and Power.. Online Archives of 69th Bulletins & Newsletters Needs Your Help. The bumper number reads "B31", as in Bravo Company, 3rd Platoon, 1 track (platoon leader's tank). In this section you can see items that are related to the 6th Armored Division. 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. Contrasting with the old Battalion M48A2 vehicles, the new A3 models still featured the 90mm cannon, a M2HB cupola mounted .50 caliber machinegun and a 7.62mm, M72 coaxial machinegun. ABMC Headquarters 2300 Clarendon Blvd, Suite 500 Arlington, VA 22201 Phone: 703-584-1501 As President Franklin D. Roosevelt watched, a blindfolded Secretary of War Henry C. Stimpson selected the first number in the draft lottery, drawing from a huge container filled with numbers assigned to registered young Americans aged 21 to 36. A Company had previously decimated this same unit in the streets of Pleiku during TET. Div. LTC Fairfield was promoted and subsequently reassigned as command of 1/69 Armor passed to LTC Clyde O. Clark. 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.[2]. 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. Co A, 86th Cml Mort Bn: 7 Apr 45-28 Apr 45: Field Artillery. . 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. [2], LTC Fairfield was promoted and subsequently reassigned as command of 1/69 Armor passed to LTC Clyde O. Clark. 10 April: Reported to White Battalion, 273rd Infantry Regiment, 69th Division, and formed part of the advance guard for Combat Command A, 9th Armored Division.