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Armored Infantry Battalion (Sep)
US Constabulary / Seventh Army
Looking for more information from military/civilian personnel assigned to or associated with the U.S. Army in Germany from 1945 to 1989. If you have any stories or thoughts on the subject, please email me (webmaster).

370th Armd Inf Bn

371st Armd Inf Bn

373rd Armd Inf Bn

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370th Armored Infantry Battalion
 
 
 
371st Armored Infantry Battalion
 
 
 
373rd Armored Infantry Battalion
 
(Source: 19th Armor Group Germany 1954, Yearbook)
 

373rd Armored Infantry Battalion

The 373rd Armored Infantry Battalion, activated in October 1948, is a youngster in comparison to the other battalions of the 19th Armor Group, but in maintaining a high standard of performance, it holds its own. The keynote of all progress made and successes gained in every phase of activity has been the spirit of "performing the task at hand." It was only appropriate that after a year of working together as a unit, the Battalion chose as its motto, "Perform the Task."

The objectives in training throughout the 373rd's existence have been to increase the level of achievement in individual military training; to develop the tactical proficiency of all echelons; to heighten the professional acumen of all officers and non-commissioned officers; to train specialists and insure their proper replacement through the battalion; and, to instill in every soldier the elements of high physical endurance, discipline, esprit and individual pride through progressive, well-planned training.
     

373rd Armd Inf Bn
Pocket Patch
  On 10 February 1949 the Battalion, at that time a ground infantry unit, was officially attached to the U.S. Constabulary for operations and training. In July of that year, the headquarters was transferred to Wetzlar Military Post, Giessen, where the bulk of the battalion was stationed.

Although the principal role of the infantry is that of assaulting and seizing ground with and without tank support, missions of the 373rd during this early period of its history were of a broad variety including security-type missions on outpost and outguard action on both infantry and joint tank-infantry operations; missions on screening-type action covering large-scale withdrawals; river-crossing operations both as independent ground infantry and in joint tank-infantry river-crossing operations and extensive training as aggressor units. These training periods occurring between maneuver exercises produced a high proficiency in the tactical capabilities of each unit.

The Battalion experienced frequent inspections from all higher headquarters concerned in the operation, training and administration of the units. The sincerity of purpose and interest obviated by the manner and scope of the inspections was definitely a driving force in the continued rise in stature of the entire battalion.
Significant at the command level was the assumption of command of the 373rd by Lt. Col. Herbert A. Barrow, relieving Major James R. Hillard, on 3 February 1950. The status, unit location and post assignment of 1949 continued unchanged throughout 1950.

Several moves took place in the Spring of 1951. The first came in April when the 373rd moved to Wackernheim. In June, a more permanent move was made to Wildflecken, the present station. The unit was relieved from attachment to the 1st Constabulary Brigade and attached to the 4th Infantry Division as of 1 July 1951.

A major point in his history occurred on 19 July 1951, when the status of the battalion was changed considerably, due to reorganization. The designation was changed to 373rd Armored Infantry Battalion. In general, the transition from a ground infantry unit with limited potentialities to one with tremendous firepower and complete mobility progressed to a high degree of satisfaction in the remaining portion of that year. In August, the Battalion was relieved from attachment to the 4th Infantry Division and was attached to V Corps.

Lt. Col. James D. Fowler assumed command on 15 November 1951, relieving Lt. Col. Barrow. He remained at this post until Lt. Col. William N. Culver replaced him on 25 April 1953.

An immediate problem that Lt. Col. Colyer found himself faced with was an 87 percent changeover in personnel. At that time all combat-type units were to effect an integration of an approximation of 88 percent Caucasian and 12 percent Negro population. The 373rd was one of the first units in the theater to be integrated. At the conclusion of this operation the 373rd was in all respects a newly organized unit, and yet it had to maintain the operational readiness of a combat-ready unit.

In 1953, the 373rd hit its stride. It received an "excellent" rating for army-training tests and the annual Inspector General's test (IG) from V Corps. In September of that year, Col. R. H. Schultz of the 4th Infantry Division, 12th Regiment, reported that the 373rd "did an outstanding job in performing its assigned mission of obtaining maximum delay" during the field training exercise "Monte Carlo."

The early months of 1954 saw the Battalion continuously striving to improve itself as an efficient fighting team, with the spirit, morale and interest in training constantly improving, ready to live up to its motto of "Perform the Task."

(Webmaster Note: The 373 Armd Inf Bn would remain in Wildflecken and eventually (on 1 April 1958) be inactivated and replaced by the concurrently activated 3rd Armored Rifle Battalion, 50th Infantry)

373rd Armd Inf Bn


1. 373rd AIB Headquarters Building, 1954 (156 KB)
2. Wildflecken Detachment Dispensary (109 KB)

3. NCO Club (94 KB)
  

4. EM Club (91 KB)
5. A Company, 373rd AIB, maintenance shop (115 KB)
6. B Company personnel carrier moves to the field (93 KB)
  

7. Armored infantry exits a personnel carrier during field training (79 KB)
8. Men of the 33rd Infantry Scout Dog Pltn train with their dogs (52 KB)
9. 33rd Infantry Scout Dog Platoon stands at parade rest (70 KB)
  
 
(Source: Email from Thomas Short)
I was Message Center Chief, Col Barrow made me Sgt, maybe first, or second week he was there. We were originally an Infantry Battalion and changed over to Armor. I'm the person who helped put in the radios and communications equipment. In the change over, all of the half tracks had no communications. We were blind until we got everything up and going. We only had two Tanks at first.

I'm the one who retired the records (1951) to Kansas City. I'm wondering are they still available? Some of my fondest memories, I'm 75 now, were of keeping Our Bn together

I got to Europe in the winter. As you probably know traveling the Atlantic in winter is not fun. Giessen, Germany was where the 373rd began as I knew it. Three companies in Giessen and one company in Darmstadt out of Wiesbaden. Being a clerk in message center I traveled quite a bit, we did not have the communications we have now. I had Airplane drops. Anything that was "secret" or of that level I hand carried. Our job was, before the (Berlin) Airlift, being the troops that went along with the trucks that kept Berlin alive. The Airlift is well known but the little stuff that went before is not publicized. We also were " show off troops". 
 
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