1:37 Armor

• Origins and Nickname: 1st Battalion, 37th Armor Regiment ("Bandits") traces its lineage back to the original 37th Armor, constituted in 1941 at Fort Knox, Kentucky. • World War II Service: The battalion fought in North Africa, Sicily, and Europe with the 4th Armored Division, earning distinction for its actions in the breakout from Normandy and the liberation of France. • Bastogne Relief: 1/37 Armor played a crucial role in relieving the besieged town of Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944. • Cold War Era: During the Cold War, the battalion was stationed in Germany as part of the U.S. commitment to NATO, poised to defend against potential Warsaw Pact aggression. • Gulf War Participation: 1/37 Armor was part of the famed "left hook" maneuver during Operation Desert Storm in 1991, helping to encircle and defeat Iraqi forces. • Balkans Deployments: In the late 1990s, elements of 1/37 Armor participated in peacekeeping operations in Bosnia and Kosovo. • Operation Iraqi Freedom: The battalion saw heavy combat in the initial 2003 invasion of Iraq, taking part in the "Thunder Run" into Baghdad as part of the 1st Armored Division. • Medal of Honor Recipient: Staff Sergeant Lafayette G. Pool, a tank commander with 1/37 Armor, was one of the top American tank aces of WWII, credited with destroying over 250 enemy vehicles. • Modernization: 1/37 Armor was among the first units to receive the M1 Abrams tank, transitioning from older models in the 1980s. • Motto and Symbolism: The battalion’s motto, "Courage Conquers," reflects its legacy of valor. Their unit crest features a wolverine, representing tenacity and ferocity in battle.