2:32nd Armor

• Formation and Early Years: The 2nd Battalion, 32nd Armor Regiment (“2/32 Armor”) was constituted on 13 January 1941 in the Regular Army and assigned to the 3rd Armored Division. • World War II Service: The unit fought with distinction across Europe during World War II, participating in major campaigns including Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace (Battle of the Bulge), and Central Europe. • “Hell on Wheels”: As part of the 3rd Armored Division, 2/32 Armor inherited the famous nickname “Spearhead” for its role in leading offensive operations. • Breaking Through the Siegfried Line: 2/32 Armor participated in the historic breakthrough of the Siegfried Line, the formidable German defensive network, in 1944. • Cold War Service in Germany: After World War II, 2/32 Armor was stationed in West Germany for decades, serving as a deterrent force during the height of the Cold War. • Reactivation and Inactivation: The battalion has been inactivated and reactivated several times, reflecting changing Army needs and restructuring. • Gulf War Service: The 2/32 Armor deployed to Saudi Arabia and participated in Operation Desert Storm in 1991, contributing to the liberation of Kuwait. • Distinctive Unit Insignia: The battalion’s insignia features a mailed fist holding a lightning bolt, symbolizing its striking power and armored strength. • Decorations: The unit has been awarded the Presidential Unit Citation and French Croix de Guerre with Palm for extraordinary heroism in action during World War II. • Legacy and Lineage: Although inactivated in the late 1990s, the traditions and honors of 2/32 Armor are perpetuated by successor units, and its veterans maintain a strong alumni network.