Task Force, 1-72 Armor Regiment

• Combat Battalion

Mission

On Order TF 1-72 transitions to war; Secures a designated AO;On order executes offensive operations todestroy any enemy that threatens the US-ROK alliance.

History

The 1-72 Battalion was born of Armor in 1943 as Alpha Company, Fifth Armored Regiment and was activated for battle in July 1943 at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas. It became the 717th Tank Battalion and was assigned to the 16th Armor Division, where it fought in the decisive Rhineland and Central European Campaigns.

Reorganized in 1948, it was transformed from the 717th Tank Battalion to the 72nd Tank Battalion and assigned to the 2nd Infantry Division at Ft. Lewis, Washington. Once again, it answered the call of America, steeled itself for combat, and fought in the Korean War. Its actions during that conflict at places such as Heartbreak Ridge, Old Baldy, and the punchbowl heralded its performances at Hong’chon, Yongsan, and Kapyong. Its actions during the defense of the Naktong River Line added two Korean Presidential Unit citations and a streamer for superior performance. Its battle credits include the UN defenses, the first UN Counter-offensive, the Summer-Fall of 1952, the Third Korean Winter, and the Korean Summer of 1953.

Battle weary, yet proud, the First Tank was deactivated in 1958 at Camp Irwin, California. Five years later on the first of March, 1963, it was activated again to serve in the defense of freedom as 1st Battalion, 72nd Armor. In July, 1965, the First Tank rejoined the Warrior Division and has served since on freedom’s frontier.

On 16 December, 2004, the battalion said goodbye to two of its companies and became a Combined Arms Battalion. It is now proudly composed of two Infantry Companies, two Armor Companies, a Combat Engineer Company, a Headquarters and Headquarters Company, and an attached Forward Support Company. It stands ready to continue its proud tradition as a Combined Arms Battalion, and looks to the future eager to fulfill its duties to the nation.

1st Brigade Combat Team

• 1st Battalion, 15th Field Artillery
• 2nd Battalion, 9th Infantry (M)
• 302nd Brigade Support Battalion
• Task Force, 1-72 Armor Regiment
• 4th Squadron, 7th U.S. Cavalry
• 1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion