1ID 1-63AR

• Origins in World War II: The 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment (1-63 AR) traces its roots back to World War II, where the 63rd Armored Regiment was activated in 1942 and fought with distinction throughout Europe. • Big Red One Connection: 1-63 AR is part of the 1st Infantry Division (1ID), famously known as the "Big Red One," one of the U.S. Army’s most historic and decorated divisions. • Normandy Campaign: During WWII, elements of the regiment participated in the Normandy campaign, contributing to the Allied liberation of France. • Cold War Service: Throughout the Cold War, 1-63 AR was stationed in Germany as part of NATO forces, prepared to defend against any Soviet aggression in Europe. • Operation Desert Storm: The battalion deployed to Southwest Asia in 1990-1991 during the Gulf War, helping to liberate Kuwait from Iraqi forces. • Balkans Deployments: In the late 1990s, 1-63 AR participated in peacekeeping operations in Bosnia and Kosovo, supporting stability in the Balkans after the Yugoslav Wars. • Operation Iraqi Freedom: The unit deployed multiple times to Iraq after 2003, conducting combat operations, training Iraqi security forces, and engaging in counterinsurgency. • Modernization: 1-63 AR has been at the forefront of Army modernization, fielding advanced equipment such as the M1A2 Abrams main battle tank. • Distinctive Unit Insignia: The battalion’s crest features a gold lion’s head, symbolizing courage and the unit’s European campaigns, and a blue fleur-de-lis for its WWII service in France. • “Dragon” Battalion: 1-63 AR is nicknamed the “Dragons,” and is known for its aggressive training and combat proficiency, maintaining a reputation for excellence among U.S. Army armored units.