Constituted 1 March 1942 in the Army of the United States as the 741st Tank Battalion (Medium). Activated 15 March 1942 at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland. Departed the New York Port of Embarkation on 20 October 1943 and arrived in England on 2 November 1943. Committed to combat in the European Theater of Opertions and landed in France on D-Day, 6 June 1944. Served in the Army of Occupation of Germany from 2 May-4 June 1945*. The unit was at Rosutka, Germany at the end of World War II (15 August 1945 location).** Returned to the United States via the New York Port of Embarkation on 25 October 1945 and inactivated at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey on 27 October 1956.
Redesignated 396th Heavy Tank Battalion and allotted to the Organized Reserve Corps, 1 February 1949. Activated 5 March 1949 with Headquarters at Spokane, Washington. Assigned to the 96th Infantry Divisiion, 12 April 1949. Location of headquarters changed to Seattle, Washington, 1 August 1950.
Redesignated 741st Tank Battalion, relieved from the 96th Infantry Division and inactivated at Seattle on 1 March 1952. (Organized Reserve Corps redesignated Army Reserve, 9 July 1952). Withdrawn from allotment to the Army Reserve, allotted to the Regular Army and assigned to the 11th Amored Division on 25 February 1953.
CAMPAIGN PARTICIPATION CREDITS:
(World War II):
Normandy (with arrowhead)+
Northern France;
Rhineland;
Ardennes-Alsace;
Central Europe.
+=: Invasion of Normandy, 6 June 1944 (unit cited per WD GO 70-1945).
DECORATIONS:
Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered: COLIEVILLE-SUR-MER (741st Tak Bn cited for pd 6-7 June 1944 per WD GO 85, 1944).
Belgian Fourragere 1940 (741st Tk Bn citred per DA GO 43, 1950),
Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action in the ARDENNES (741st Tk Bn cited for period 13-19 December 1944 per DA GO 43, 1950),
Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for actin at ELSENBORN CREST (741st Tk Bn cited for period 19-30 December 1944 per DA GO 43, 1950).
COAT OF ARMS:
SHIELD: Per fess vert and argent, two swords in saltire, pooints in chief between as many griffins' heads erased palewise, all counterchanged.
CREST: None.
MOTTO: Strenue et Audacter (Strength and Bravely).
SYMBOLISM:
In the green and silver of the Armored Forces of World War II the griffin with its scaly armor sets forth the property of a valorous soldier whose magnanimity is such that he will dare all dangers, even death itself rather than become captive. It is also a symbol of vigilancy. The two swords are representative of the military aspect of their functions. The motto is expressive of the strenuous and brave manner in which the personnel undertake their allotted tasks.
DISTINCTIVE INSIGNIA;
The distinctive insignia is the shield and motto of the coat of arms.
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