3rd Squadron
"Wolfpack"
Until May 1942, Third Squadron was assigned as part of the Second Cavalry Regiment. On 15 May 1942, the 2d Cavalry was moved to camp Funston, Fort Riley, Kansas, and redesignated the 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment as part of the 9th Armored Division. Third Squadron was reequipped with medium Tanks, and became the Regiment's Third Battalion. In June 1943 the Regiment was renamed the 2d Cavalry Group, Mechanized. In October 1943, Third Squadron was renamed the 19th Tank Battalion and relieved of assignment to the 2d Cavalry Group. It was reassigned to Combat Command Alpha of the 9th Armored Division; and fought with this unit throughout World War II.
Third Squadron, now renamed the 19th Tank Battalion (medium), arrived in the European Theater of Operations on 3 October 1944. It was moved to a quiet sector of the front in the Ardennes-Eiffel region where it was employed to patrol the sector of Major General Middleton's VIII Corps. The Battalion remained in this region throughout October and November 1944 to gain combat experience. During this time both of the VIII Corps' full strength Infantry Divisions were withdrawn and replaced by the inexperienced 106th Infantry Division and the 4th and 28th Infantry Divisions. Both the 4th and 28th Infantry Divisions had seen heavy combat in the Heurtgen Forest and suffered heavy losses. Additionally, Combat Command B of the 9th Armored Division was temporarily assigned to V Corps to act as a reserve. This was the situation when the Germans appeared out of the mist on 16 December 1944.
Early on the 16th December 1944, the Infantry regiments of the 267th Volksgrenadier Division crossed the Sauer River and attacked the 60th Armored Infantry Battalion. At this time the 19th Tank Battalion was in the vicinity of Ermsdorf as part of the Tactical Reserve. During the next four days, until 20 December 1944, the companies of the Battalion defended in widely scattered areas helping stall the attack of the 267th Volksgrenadier Division. During the evening of 20 December 1944 the 19th Tank Battalion was ordered south to assist the hard-pressed 12th Infantry Regiment in the vicinity of Osweiler. It fought in this area against elements of the 212th Volksgrenadier Division until early 22 December 1944. from that time until it was withdrawn on 30 December 1944 for refit the 19th Tank Battalion participated in counter-attacks alongside units of the Third Army, which stopped the German offensive. During the "Battle of the Bulge", 19th Tank Battalion distinguished itself by it's fierce defense on the southern flank of VIII Corps, and during the U.S. Counter-Offensive.
Throughout January and February 1945, and the 19th Tank Battalion rehabilitated and trained in preparation for the drive into Germany. Also during this time the 9th Armored Division was put under the command of III Corps. On 28 February the battalion attacked across the Roer River in the Soller region as part of Combat Command A. It helped clear strong resistance in Wollersheim and Lanendorf on 2 March 1945. Continuing to advance along with the rest of Combat Command A the 19th Tank Battalion crossed the Roth River and established a bridgehead at Friesheim for the follow-on elements of 9th Armored Division. On the 4th of March the battalion advanced to Euskirchen along the Erft River and prepare to advance to the Rhine.
At this time the Lundendorff Railroad Bridge was the only bridge still standing that could handle heavy vehicles; the bridge was located at a town called Remagen. The battalion helped capture the bridge and establish a firm bridgehead on the east bank of the Rhine River where it was joined the next day by the rest of the 9th Armored Division. After some reconsolidation the battalion attacked across the Lahn River at Diez on 26 March and by the 31st had established a bridgehead across the Diemel River in the Warburg area. Here it stopped a counter-attack by the 10th Infantry Division and prepared for further offensive operations. On 10 April 1945, the 9th Armored Division, along with the 19th Tank Battalion, attacked through the 2d and 69th U.S. Infantry Divisions and spearheaded the drive on the Saale River, crossing it on 12 April. The next day Combat Command A reached the Weisse River near Pegau and consolidated. After heavy combat in the Borna Area against elements of the German 1st Parachute Army, the battalion advanced to and cleared Coldiz. It then helped mop up along the Mulde River until moved into V Corps reserve on 12 April. On 29 April the 19th Tank Battalion moved to Jena with the rest of the 9th Armored Division. On the 3d of May 1945, the 19th Tank Battalion was detached to the 1st Infantry Division along with the rest of Combat Command A for the drive on Karlsbad in Czechoslovakia. On 6 May it attacked down the Cheb-Falknov Road and was in Rudolec when hostilities were ended on 7 May 1945.
By November 9th, 2003 Wolfpack have conducted 4000 missions for CPA since beginning the mission on June 7th. Wolfpack troopers continued its mission supporting the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA). They had been deployed over six months, and seen many changes. The standard of living is markedly better. Baghdad has electrical power. Schools are open. Markets are busy, and Iraqis are getting on with their lives. The enemy is persistent, but their attacks are ineffective. Wolfpack troopers continue high tempo operations, and I'm fiercely proud of them.
The Squadron conducted gunnery training the last two weeks at a range 40 km east of Baghdad. There the troopers fire rifles, machine guns and anti-tank weapons at a variety of targets. It's a welcome break from daily missions, and a confidence builder for the crews. K Troop was the first to shoot, and I Troop fired last Friday. Support platoon spent two days on the range last weekend, culminating in a convoy live-fire exercise on November 8th.
By January 20th, 2004 the Squadron continued high tempo operations in support of the Coalition Provisional Authority, the Nation's main effort in Iraq. 3d Squadron has conducted 4,253 missions for CPA in the city of Baghdad and across Iraq. 568 missions were long-range patrols as far north as Irbil, south to Nasiryiah, and west to Ramadi. Average mileage per HMMWV in December exceeded 1,100 miles. 3d Squadron troopers had good reason to be fiercely proud of their mission.
3d Squadron conducted two-weeks of training for the battle staff of the 302d Iraqi Civil Defense Corps (ICDC) Battalion. The mission to train ICDC staff is one of the Squadron's most important missions they have undertaken, and has positive long-term consequences for establishing a free and democratic Iraq. The staff did a superb job developing a program of instruction, and instructor and student materials in both Arabic and English. The program of instruction has become the standard for other units to use.
On 19 August 2003, following the bombing of the United Nations Headquarters building in Baghdad, personnel from the 3rd Squadron, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment responded to the scene and were tasked with most of the evacuations and immediate casualty assistance for UN personnel injured in the attack. In this, they received assistnce from the 2nd ACR's support squadron.
