ABOUT 1:69 Armor
- Origins: The 1st Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment ("1/69 Armor") was originally constituted in 1940 as part of the 69th Armored Regiment, a component of the 1st Armored Division.
- Nickname: The unit is known as "The Fighting 69th," a moniker it shares with the famous 69th Infantry Regiment, though the two are unrelated.
- World War II: The regiment saw extensive action in North Africa and Italy during World War II, participating in key battles such as Kasserine Pass and Anzio.
- Vietnam War: 1/69 Armor was one of the few US Army armored battalions to serve in Vietnam, arriving in 1966 and participating in critical operations such as the battles for Pleiku and Dak To.
- Tet Offensive: During the 1968 Tet Offensive, 1/69 Armor played a pivotal role in defending Kontum and recapturing key terrain from North Vietnamese forces.
- First Tank-on-Tank Kill in Vietnam: The unit achieved the first tank-on-tank kill by US forces in Vietnam when it destroyed a North Vietnamese PT-76 during the Battle of Ben Het in March 1969.
- Cold War Deployments: After Vietnam, the unit was stationed in Germany as part of NATO’s forward defense during the Cold War, ready to face potential Warsaw Pact aggression.
- Operation Desert Shield/Storm: Elements of 1/69 Armor participated in the Gulf War, supporting coalition operations during the liberation of Kuwait.
- Modern Deployments: In the 2000s, 1/69 Armor deployed to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, conducting combat operations in Baghdad and other regions.
- Distinctive Insignia: The battalion’s distinctive unit insignia features a green and gold shield with a mailed fist, symbolizing its strength and heritage as an armored force.