253rd Tank Battalion

The 253rd Tank Battalion was activated during World War II as part of the United States Army’s rapid armored expansion. Initially trained at Camp Bowie, Texas, the unit specialized in armored warfare and provided crucial support during the European Theater of Operations. In 1944, the battalion landed in France and participated in key engagements during the Allied push across Western Europe, including actions in the Battle of the Bulge. Following the end of hostilities in 1945, the 253rd Tank Battalion was inactivated as part of the postwar drawdown.