83rd Recon Bat, 3rd Armored Division

The 83rd Reconnaissance Battalion was an integral part of the 3rd Armored Division, known as the "Spearhead" Division, in the United States Army. Activated during World War II, the battalion provided vital reconnaissance, security, and intelligence-gathering capabilities for the division’s armored operations across Europe, participating in significant campaigns including the liberation of France and the push into Germany. After the war, the 83rd Recon continued its service during the Cold War, stationed in West Germany as part of NATO’s forward defense against the Warsaw Pact. The battalion remained active until the post-Cold War drawdown, when the 3rd Armored Division was inactivated in 1992.