About this Unit
A Company, 1st Battalion, 35th Armor Regiment, part of the 1st Armored Division, has a distinguished history dating back to World War II. Activated in 1941, the 35th Armor participated in major campaigns in North Africa and Europe, including the liberation of France and the push into Germany. During the Cold War, the unit was stationed in Germany as a key element of NATO’s forward defense. More recently, A Co, 1-35 AR has deployed in support of Operations Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom, and Enduring Freedom, continuing its legacy of excellence in armored warfare.
Historical Facts
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Origins in WWII: The 35th Armor Regiment was constituted on July 1, 1941, and activated at Fort Knox, Kentucky, as part of the U.S. Army’s expansion for World War II.
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North Africa and Italy Campaigns: The unit saw its first combat with the 1st Armored Division in North Africa in 1942, participating in Operation Torch, then fought in Tunisia and later in the Italian Campaign.
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Nickname - “Iron Knights”: The battalion, including Alpha Company, is known as the "Iron Knights," a name reflecting its legacy of armored warfare excellence.
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First Armor’s “Old Ironsides” Connection: As part of the 1st Armored Division, A Co, 1-35 AR shares in the division’s famous nickname, “Old Ironsides,” adopted in 1941 by the division’s first commander, Major General Bruce Magruder.
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Cold War Service: During the Cold War, 1-35 AR was stationed in Germany as part of NATO’s forward defense, regularly training for the possibility of conflict with the Warsaw Pact.
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Gulf War Actions: The 1st Battalion, 35th Armor, including A Company, played a significant role in Operation Desert Storm (1991), conducting armored assaults and breaching Iraqi defenses.
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Peacekeeping in the Balkans: In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the unit deployed to Bosnia and Kosovo as part of peacekeeping and stabilization missions.
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Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan: A Co, 1-35 AR participated in multiple deployments to Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom) and Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom), conducting a wide range of combat and security operations.
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Modernization and Transition: The unit has transitioned through various main battle tanks, from the M4 Sherman, M48 Patton, M60, to the current M1 Abrams, reflecting the evolution of U.S. armored warfare.
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Distinguished Unit Citations: The battalion and its companies, including Alpha Company, have earned numerous unit citations and awards for valor, including Presidential Unit Citations for actions in World War II and other conflicts.
