HHC 3rd Armored Division

• Origins: The 3rd Armored Division ("Spearhead") was activated in 1941, and the Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC) served as the command and control element for the division throughout its existence. • World War II Service: HHC 3rd Armored Division landed in Normandy shortly after D-Day and played a key role in the breakout from Saint-Lô, advancing through France, Belgium, and into Germany. • Liberation of Concentration Camps: Elements of the 3rd Armored Division, including its command staff, were among the first to liberate the Dora-Mittelbau concentration camp in April 1945. • First into Cologne: The division, under HHC’s direction, was the first U.S. armored unit to enter Cologne, Germany, capturing the city and its famous cathedral. • Cold War Service: After World War II, HHC 3rd Armored Division was stationed in West Germany during the Cold War, serving as a key unit in NATO’s defense against the Warsaw Pact. • Patrolling the Iron Curtain: HHC 3rd Armored Division oversaw units that regularly patrolled the Fulda Gap, a critical potential invasion route for Soviet forces into Western Europe. • Persian Gulf War: The HHC 3rd Armored Division led the division during Operation Desert Storm in 1991, participating in the largest tank battle in U.S. history at the Battle of 73 Easting. • Technological Pioneers: The division was among the first to field the M1 Abrams tank and the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, with HHC managing their integration into combat units. • Decorations: The 3rd Armored Division, under HHC's leadership, earned numerous unit citations, including the Presidential Unit Citation and the Valorous Unit Award. • Inactivation: After nearly five decades of continuous service in Europe, HHC 3rd Armored Division was inactivated in 1992 following the end of the Cold War and the drawdown of U.S. forces in Europe.