ABOUT CoC,1ST ARB, 36TH INF,1STAD, FT POLK, LA
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- Unit Designation: "CoC, 1st ARB, 36th Infantry, 1st Armored Division" stands for Company C (Charlie Company), 1st Armored Rifle Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Division, historically stationed at Fort Polk, Louisiana.
- WWII Origins: The 36th Infantry Regiment was activated in 1916 and became part of the 1st Armored Division ("Old Ironsides") during World War II, participating in campaigns in North Africa and Italy.
- Combat Debut: The 1st Armored Division, including elements of the 36th Infantry, saw its first major combat in Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of North Africa in November 1942.
- Battle of Kasserine Pass: Members of the 36th Infantry fought in the tough and formative Battle of Kasserine Pass in Tunisia, one of the first major engagements between American and Axis forces in WWII.
- Mechanized Infantry Pioneers: The 36th Infantry Regiment was among the first to convert into an "Armored Rifle Battalion," pioneering the use of half-tracks and combined arms tactics in the U.S. Army.
- Cold War Service: After WWII, the 1st ARB, 36th Infantry was reactivated during the Cold War and stationed at Fort Polk, Louisiana, where it served as a training and operational unit.
- Vietnam Era Training: During the Vietnam War, Fort Polk and its units, including CoC, 1st ARB, 36th Infantry, became known for the "Tigerland" training center, preparing thousands of infantrymen for combat in Southeast Asia.
- Distinctive Unit Insignia: The 36th Infantry Regiment’s insignia features a blue shield with a silver bend, symbolizing the unit's long infantry heritage and its connection to the 1st Armored Division.
- Unit Nickname: The 36th Infantry Regiment is nicknamed "The Spartans," reflecting its reputation for toughness and discipline, values emphasized during its time at Fort Polk.
- Veteran Stories: Veterans of CoC, 1st ARB, 36th Infantry have recounted stories of intense training at Fort Polk's dense pine forests and swamps, forging camaraderie and preparing them for the challenges of combat and peacekeeping missions around the world.