149th Armor Regiment (United States)
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The 149th Armored Regiment was an armored regiment that was part of the California Army National Guard. Its lineage dates back to a
cavalry Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from "cheval" meaning "horse") are soldiers or warriors who fight mounted on horseback. Cavalry were the most mobile of the combat arms, operating as light cavalry ...
unit organized in 1895 in Salinas. As Troop C, the unit's first major action occurred when it deployed to help in the aftermath of the
1906 San Francisco Earthquake At 05:12 Pacific Standard Time on Wednesday, April 18, 1906, the coast of Northern California was struck by a major earthquake with an estimated moment magnitude of 7.9 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of XI (''Extreme''). High-intensity sha ...
. In 1916, still as Troop C, the unit served along the MexicoUnited States border near
Nogales, Arizona Nogales (English: or , ; ) is a city in Santa Cruz County, Arizona. The population was 20,837 at the 2010 census and estimated 20,103 in 2019. Nogales forms part of the larger Tucson–Nogales combined statistical area, with a total population ...
to deter further border incursions, due to events surrounding the Pancho Villa Expedition. The following year, Troop C was activated then reorganized and redesignated as Company B, 145th Machine Gun Battalion upon the United States' entry into
World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
; as part of the 40th Division, the battalion deployed to France in 1918, and returned to the United States in 1919. In 1924, the unit converted from cavalry into armor, receiving its first tanks, and becoming the 40th Tank Company. In 1934, the company deployed again to
San Francisco San Francisco (; Spanish language, Spanish for "Francis of Assisi, Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the List of Ca ...
due to the
1934 West Coast waterfront strike The 1934 West Coast Waterfront Strike (also known as the 1934 West Coast Longshoremen's Strike, as well as a number of variations on these names) lasted 83 days, and began on May 9, 1934 when longshoremen in every US West Coast port walked out ...
. In February 1941, as Company C, 194th Tank Battalion, the unit was activated for training at Fort Lewis,
Washington Washington commonly refers to: * Washington (state), United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A metonym for the federal government of the United States ** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered on ...
; later that year in September, the battalion was deployed to the
Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...
. When the United States was drawn into
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
by the Japanese
attack on Pearl Harbor The attack on Pearl HarborAlso known as the Battle of Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service upon the United States against the naval base at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, j ...
, from December 1941 until April 1942, the battalion fought against Japanese forces. The company conducted a fighting withdrawal in Southern
Luzon Luzon (; ) is the largest and most populous island in the Philippines. Located in the northern portion of the Philippines archipelago, it is the economic and political center of the nation, being home to the country's capital city, Manila, as ...
; then it fought on
Bataan Bataan (), officially the Province of Bataan ( fil, Lalawigan ng Bataan ), is a province in the Central Luzon region of the Philippines. Its capital is the city of Balanga while Mariveles is the largest town in the province. Occupying the entir ...
until they were ordered to surrender. As prisoners of war (POW), soldiers of the unit suffered through the
Bataan Death March The Bataan Death March (Filipino: ''Martsa ng Kamatayan sa Bataan''; Spanish: ''Marcha de la muerte de Bataán'' ; Kapampangan: ''Martsa ning Kematayan quing Bataan''; Japanese: バターン死の行進, Hepburn: ''Batān Shi no Kōshin'') was ...
, and were later sent individually to various POW camps throughout the territories controlled by Japan; following the
surrender of Japan The surrender of the Empire of Japan in World War II was announced by Emperor Hirohito on 15 August and formally signed on 2 September 1945, bringing the war's hostilities to a close. By the end of July 1945, the Imperial Japanese Navy ...
, surviving soldiers returned to the United States in mid-September 1945. In 1946, the unit was inactivated, before being redesignated as the 199th Tank Battalion. It was redesignated as the 149th Tank Battalion in 1949, but became the 149th Armor Regiment a decade later. In 1965, the regiment was sent to
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in response to the Watts Riots. The unit returned to Los Angeles later in the 20th century, in response to the
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. Following the
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, the unit was activated for
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in 2003. Then in 2005, it deployed to Europe for peacekeeping in the
Kosovo Force The Kosovo Force (KFOR) is a North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO-led international NATO peacekeeping, peacekeeping force in Kosovo. Its operations are gradually reducing until Kosovo Security Force, Kosovo's Security Force, established in 2 ...
. The regiment was deactivated in 2007, as the 149th Armored Regiment.


History


Cavalry and World War I

Troop C of cavalry, the first unit on the Central Coast region of the National Guard of California, a state militia, was organized on 5 August 1895. The troop's first activation was when it was called up to provide law and order in San Francisco following the earthquake in 1906, using
Golden Gate Park Golden Gate Park, located in San Francisco, California, United States, is a large urban park consisting of of public grounds. It is administered by the San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department, which began in 1871 to oversee the development ...
as its base of operations. In 1911, the troop was incorporated into the 1st
Squadron Squadron may refer to: * Squadron (army), a military unit of cavalry, tanks, or equivalent subdivided into troops or tank companies * Squadron (aviation), a military unit that consists of three or four flights with a total of 12 to 24 aircraft, de ...
of Cavalry. In the early 1910s tensions between Mexico and the United States were high, due to the impact the
Mexican Revolution The Mexican Revolution ( es, Revolución Mexicana) was an extended sequence of armed regional conflicts in Mexico from approximately 1910 to 1920. It has been called "the defining event of modern Mexican history". It resulted in the destruction ...
had on the
border Borders are usually defined as geographical boundaries, imposed either by features such as oceans and terrain, or by political entities such as governments, sovereign states, federated states, and other subnational entities. Political borders c ...
; this resulted in several events which led to loss of life of citizens of both nations. These tensions came to a head in March 1916, with the
attack Attack may refer to: Warfare and combat * Offensive (military) * Charge (warfare) * Attack (fencing) * Strike (attack) * Attack (computing) * Attack aircraft Books and publishing * ''The Attack'' (novel), a book * '' Attack No. 1'', comic an ...
on Columbus, New Mexico by Mexicans under Pancho Villa. As a result, a punitive expedition by the United States Army was sent into Mexico, and National Guard units were activated in neighboring border states for federal service. With the regular United States Army busy pursuing Pancho Villa, being unable to defend the rest of the border with Mexico, the
National Defense Act of 1916 The National Defense Act of 1916, , was a United States federal law that updated the Militia Act of 1903, which related to the organization of the military, particularly the National Guard. The principal change of the act was to supersede provi ...
was passed in June, allowing for the activation of additional National Guard units throughout the United States for federal service. In June, the unit was activated for federal service on the Mexican border near Nogales, Arizona. As the threat of cross border hostility abated, the troop was deactivated later that year. Before, and while the troop was serving on the Mexican border,
World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
was being fought.
After the United States entered into World War I, the troop was activated into federal service in August 1917 at
Camp Kearny Camp Kearny was a U.S. military base (first Army, later Navy) in San Diego County, California, on the site of the current Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. It operated from 1917 to 1946. The base was named in honor of Brigadier General Stephen W ...
in San Diego. There it was redesignated as Company B of the 145th Machine Gun Battalion, as an element of the 40th Division. During this period the battalion was part of the 80th Infantry Brigade of the 40th Division. The brigade departed for France in August 1918, where it spent the majority of the time training replacements. In late October 1918, the machine gun battalion was sent to
Saint-Dizier Saint-Dizier () is a subprefecture Of the Haute-Marne department in north-eastern France. It has a population of 23,382 (2018 figure) and is a subprefecture of the department. Although Saint-Dizier is marginally the most populous commune in Haute ...
, then to
Baudonvilliers Baudonvilliers () is a commune in the Meuse department in the Grand Est region in northeastern France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas Fra ...
in November. During November 1918, the battalion supported First Army, when it was moved to
Marne Marne can refer to: Places France *Marne (river), a tributary of the Seine *Marne (department), a département in northeastern France named after the river * La Marne, a commune in western France *Marne, a legislative constituency (France) Nethe ...
for the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. Beginning in mid-December, the 40th Division began the process of returning to the United States, ultimately embarking through
Bordeaux Bordeaux ( , ; Gascon oc, Bordèu ; eu, Bordele; it, Bordò; es, Burdeos) is a port city on the river Garonne in the Gironde department, Southwestern France. It is the capital of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, as well as the prefectur ...
. In May 1919 it was
demobilized Demobilization or demobilisation (see spelling differences) is the process of standing down a nation's armed forces from combat-ready status. This may be as a result of victory in war, or because a crisis has been peacefully resolved and milita ...
at the
Presidio of San Francisco The Presidio of San Francisco (originally, El Presidio Real de San Francisco or The Royal Fortress of Saint Francis) is a park and former U.S. Army post on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula in San Francisco, California, and is part o ...
.


40th Tank Company

The unit was reorganized as the 40th Tank Company for the 40th Division in 1924 and it was equipped with
eight 8 is a number, numeral, and glyph. 8 or eight may also refer to: Years * AD 8, the eighth year of the AD era * 8 BC, the eighth year before the AD era Art *The Eight (Ashcan School), a group of twentieth century painters associated with the As ...
French
Renault Groupe Renault ( , , , also known as the Renault Group in English; legally Renault S.A.) is a French multinational automobile manufacturer established in 1899. The company produces a range of cars and vans, and in the past has manufactured ...
light tanks A light tank is a tank variant initially designed for rapid movements in and out of combat, to outmaneuver heavier tanks. It is smaller in size with thinner armor and a less powerful main gun, tailored for better tactical mobility and ease of ...
( M1917); it was California's first tank unit. It conducted its first annual training at Camp Del Monte in 1925. On Thanksgiving Day 1927, two of the units tanks were tasked to respond to a riot at the
Folsom State Prison Folsom State Prison (FSP) is a California State Prison in Folsom, California, U.S., approximately northeast of the state capital of Sacramento. It is one of 34 adult institutions operated by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabi ...
. The company was first activated in response to the 1934 West Coast waterfront strike of
longshoremen A stevedore (), also called a longshoreman, a docker or a dockworker, is a waterfront manual laborer who is involved in loading and unloading ships, trucks, trains or airplanes. After the shipping container revolution of the 1960s, the number o ...
during which it was sent to San Francisco for eight days. M2A2 light tanks replaced the Renaults in 1937. During the 1930s, training with the unit's tanks did not involve ammunition, and utilized
Ford Model T The Ford Model T is an automobile that was produced by Ford Motor Company from October 1, 1908, to May 26, 1927. It is generally regarded as the first affordable automobile, which made car travel available to middle-class Americans. The relati ...
automobiles to simulate enemy tanks. Training was often conducted in association with the 159th Infantry Regiment. April 1937, the company participated in activities on
Crissy Field Crissy Field is a public recreation area on the northern shore of the San Francisco Peninsula in California, United States, located just east of the Golden Gate Bridge. It includes restored tidal marsh and beaches. Crissy Field is a former Un ...
at the
Presidio of San Francisco The Presidio of San Francisco (originally, El Presidio Real de San Francisco or The Royal Fortress of Saint Francis) is a park and former U.S. Army post on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula in San Francisco, California, and is part o ...
. In August 1937, along with other units of the Fourth Army, the tank company was assigned to the brown force (national guard units) that simulated combat against the blue force (regular army units) in the area between Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo.


194th Tank Battalion

In 1940, the company was designated as Company C,
194th Tank Battalion The 149th Armored Regiment was an armored regiment that was part of the California Army National Guard. Its lineage dates back to a cavalry unit organized in 1895 in Salinas. As Troop C, the unit's first major action occurred when it deployed ...
; other tank companies in
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(Company A, formerly the 34th Tank Company), and
Saint Joseph, Missouri St. Joseph is a city in and the county seat of Buchanan County, Missouri. Small parts of St. Joseph extend into Andrew County. Located on the Missouri River, it is the principal city of the St. Joseph Metropolitan Statistical Area, which inclu ...
(Company B, former 35th Tank Company), formed the rest of the battalion. A large number of men in Company C were
Salinas High School Salinas High School is a public 9–12 high school in Salinas, California, United States. It is the first of five primary high schools of the Salinas Union High School District. The school was moved to its current central Salinas location in 19 ...
graduates from the classes of 1938 and 1939. The battalion was mustered into federal service on 10 February 1941, and began training at Fort Lewis,
Washington Washington commonly refers to: * Washington (state), United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A metonym for the federal government of the United States ** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered on ...
; there, on 22 February, the battalion finally assembled as an entire unit. Rated among the best tank battalions in the Army, the battalion was equipped with 54 new
M3 Stuart The M3 Stuart/Light Tank M3, was an American light tank of World War II. An improved version of the tank entered service as the M5 in 1942 to be supplied to British and other Commonwealth forces under lend-lease prior to the entry of the U.S. ...
light tanks.


Deployment

Company B was detached from the battalion and sent to
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; the rest of the battalion boarded the in San Francisco on 8 September, bound for
Manila Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populate ...
. It was the first U.S. armored unit to deploy overseas, during
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
. On 26 September 1941 the 194th, along with the 17th Ordnance Company, arrived in Manila, and was then assigned to Fort Stotsenburg, in Sapangbato, Angeles City. There the unit found supplies to be unavailable, especially gasoline and spare parts; worse, ammunition for the tank's main gun was never shipped to the Philippines causing the tankers to improvise ammunition in the following campaign. The ammunition would only be
armor-piercing Armour-piercing ammunition (AP) is a type of projectile designed to penetrate either body armour or vehicle armour. From the 1860s to 1950s, a major application of armour-piercing projectiles was to defeat the thick armour carried on many warsh ...
, with high-explosive being unavailable. The
192nd Tank Battalion The 192nd Tank Battalion of the United States Army was a federalized Army National Guard unit activated in November 1940. Deployed to the Philippines, the battalion was engaged in combat during the Philippines campaign (1941–1942), Japanese invas ...
arrived in the Philippines on 20 November; joining with the 194th and the 17th, they formed the 1st Provisional Tank Group, under the command of Brigadier General James Weaver; this unit would go on to become the first organization of the United States to engage enemy tanks in combat.


World War II


Clark Field and withdrawal

When the United States was drawn into World War II by the Japanese
attack on Pearl Harbor The attack on Pearl HarborAlso known as the Battle of Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service upon the United States against the naval base at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, j ...
on 7 December 1941, Company C was in defensive positions around
Clark Field Clark is an English language surname, ultimately derived from the Latin with historical links to England, Scotland, and Ireland ''clericus'' meaning "scribe", "secretary" or a scholar within a religious order, referring to someone who was educate ...
, where on 8 December the first Japanese attacks occurred leading to the destruction of half of the Far East Air Force; of the nine Japanese fighters shot down that day,
Private Private or privates may refer to: Music * " In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorde ...
Earl G. Smith of Company C was credited with downing one of them. Due to this action, the unit became the first California National Guard unit to see combat. Initially, General Douglas MacArthur was confident that the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) would be able to defend the entire archipelago under war plan Rainbow Five. Detached from the rest of the battalion on 12 December, Company C was attached to the South Luzon Force. On 13 December, Company C moved to Tagaytay Ridge, attempting to apprehend
fifth column A fifth column is any group of people who undermine a larger group or nation from within, usually in favor of an enemy group or another nation. According to Harris Mylonas and Scott Radnitz, "fifth columns" are “domestic actors who work to un ...
ists who had been launching
flares A flare, also sometimes called a fusée, fusee, or bengala in some Latin-speaking countries, is a type of pyrotechnic that produces a bright light or intense heat without an explosion. Flares are used for distress signaling, illumination, o ...
near ammunition dumps at night; this would continue until Christmas Eve. On 23 December, with the advances of Japanese forces after landing at
Lingayen Gulf The Lingayen Gulf is a large gulf on northwestern Luzon in the Philippines, stretching . It is framed by the provinces of Pangasinan and La Union and sits between the Zambales Mountains and the Cordillera Central. The Agno River and the Balili ...
dashing his confidence, General MacArthur ordered a reversion to
War Plan Orange War Plan Orange (commonly known as Plan Orange or just Orange) is a series of United States Joint Chiefs of Staff, Joint Army and Navy Board war plans for dealing with a possible war with Empire of Japan, Japan during the interwar years, years bet ...
, ordering all forces to withdraw to the
Bataan Peninsula Bataan (), officially the Province of Bataan ( fil, Lalawigan ng Bataan ), is a province in the Central Luzon region of the Philippines. Its capital is the city of Balanga while Mariveles is the largest town in the province. Occupying the entir ...
. Company C was assigned to the area east of Mount Banahao and attached to the Philippine Army 1st Infantry Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division. The commanding general of the South Luzon Force,
Brigadier General Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...
Albert M. Jones Albert M. Jones (July 20, 1890 – May 12, 1967) was an American major general and commanded the 51st Philippine Division during the Battle of Bataan during World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as W ...
, heard from a motorcycle messenger from Company C on Christmas Day that the 1st Infantry Regiment had prematurely moved westward away from their position at Sampaloc. He then instructed Company C to engage the Japanese who had landed at
Mauban Mauban, officially the Municipality of Mauban ( tgl, Bayan ng Mauban), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Quezon, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 71,081 people. It lies southeast of Manila and some ...
. He decided to conduct a
reconnaissance In military operations, reconnaissance or scouting is the exploration of an area by military forces to obtain information about enemy forces, terrain, and other activities. Examples of reconnaissance include patrolling by troops (skirmisher ...
himself using a half-track from Company C, and they were engaged by a Japanese patrol north of the town of Piis. During the engagement the half-track became immobilized in a ditch, however the crew was able to disperse the patrol allowing Jones and the crew to carry the half-track's machine guns back to friendly lines. For their action, Jones recommended the crew members receive the
Distinguished Service Cross The Distinguished Service Cross (D.S.C.) is a military decoration for courage. Different versions exist for different countries. *Distinguished Service Cross (Australia) *Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom) *Distinguished Service Cross (U ...
; by the April 1946, when the recommendation was finally processed, the awards were downgraded to
Silver Star The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against an e ...
s and only one of the five crew, Sergeant Leon Elliot, was still alive. The next day the second platoon of the company was ordered by a Major Rumbold, senior American instructor of the Philippine Army 1st Infantry Regiment, to attack the Japanese, who were in Piis, down a narrow mountain trail. The platoon leader, Second Lieutenant Robert F. Needham, suggested that a reconnaissance be done before the attack but was told it was unnecessary. Due to the firefight the night before, a roadblock had been prepared by the Japanese, consisting of
anti-tank gun An anti-tank gun is a form of artillery designed to destroy tanks and other armored fighting vehicles, normally from a static defensive position. The development of specialized anti-tank munitions and anti-tank guns was prompted by the appearance ...
s,
artillery Artillery is a class of heavy military ranged weapons that launch munitions far beyond the range and power of infantry firearms. Early artillery development focused on the ability to breach defensive walls and fortifications during siege ...
, and several machine guns. The Americans advanced as a
column A column or pillar in architecture and structural engineering is a structural element that transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below. In other words, a column is a compression member. ...
and the lead tank, commanded by Needham, was hit first. The second tank, commanded by
Staff Sergeant Staff sergeant is a rank of non-commissioned officer used in the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services. History of title In origin, certain senior sergeants were assigned to administrative, supervi ...
Emil S. Morello, drove around Needham's disabled tank and ran over a roadblock and an antitank gun behind it, firing upon other Japanese positions before his tank was disabled; in the end five tanks, an entire platoon, were immobilized and lost and five tankers were killed. The Japanese settled in around the tanks that night, believing all the Americans to be dead; as the front moved past them, with the Japanese advancing away from them, which allowed Morello to gather the wounded. Having collected them, he escaped with the help of Filipino guides to Manila, where he left one wounded tanker in a
Catholic The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
hospital; with the remainder of the wounded he was able to reach
Corregidor Corregidor ( tl, Pulo ng Corregidor, ) is an island located at the entrance of Manila Bay in the southwestern part of Luzon in the Philippines, and is considered part of the Province of Cavite. Due to this location, Corregidor has historically b ...
by the end of the month. In 1983, Morello was awarded the Silver Star for his actions; he later rejoined the company in Bataan. This action also led the War Department to change from
rivet A rivet is a permanent mechanical fastener. Before being installed, a rivet consists of a smooth cylindrical shaft with a head on one end. The end opposite to the head is called the ''tail''. On installation, the rivet is placed in a punched ...
s to
welding Welding is a fabrication (metal), fabrication process that joins materials, usually metals or thermoplastics, by using high heat to melt the parts together and allowing them to cool, causing Fusion welding, fusion. Welding is distinct from lower ...
in new tank production. Another platoon of Company C was attached to the Philippine Army's 51st Infantry Division, and became part of a covering force for the division's withdrawal. The platoon prepared defensive lines near Sariaya, then
Tiaong Tiaong, officially the Municipality of Tiaong ( tgl, Bayan ng Tiaong), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Quezon, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 106,265 people. Tiaong is from Lucena and from Man ...
where it rejoined the rest of the South Luzon Force, minus the Philippine Army's 1st Infantry Division which rejoined the rest of the South Luzon Force at
Santiago Santiago (, ; ), also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile as well as one of the largest cities in the Americas. It is the center of Chile's most densely populated region, the Santiago Metropolitan Region, whose ...
. From there the force bypassed Manila, which had been declared an
open city In war, an open city is a settlement which has announced it has abandoned all defensive efforts, generally in the event of the imminent capture of the city to avoid destruction. Once a city has declared itself open the opposing military will be ...
, withdrawing northward to join the rest of the American-Filipino forces heading to Bataan. However, due to unfamiliarity with the geography, Company C passed through the city, with one of the tanks becoming immobile after hitting the Rizal Monument in the darkness; the crew of the immobilized tank eventually departed the city on
Bren Gun Carrier The Universal Carrier, also known as the Bren Gun Carrier and sometimes simply the Bren Carrier from the light machine gun armament, is a common name describing a family of light armoured tracked vehicles built by Vickers-Armstrongs and other ...
s driven by Filipino soldiers. At Calumpit there were important bridges over the Pampanga River, which connected Bataan to the forces that were now north of Manila. To defend these bridges the 194th took up positions at
Apalit Apalit, officially the Municipality of Apalit ( pam, Balen ning Apalit; tl, Bayan ng Apalit), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Pampanga, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 117,160 people. The town is ...
, covering the west bank of the river, thus ensuring the path of withdrawal to Bataan for the units defending the bridges. To the south Company C covered the southern front at Bocaue. While there, they observed empty trucks departing Manila for Bataan. The battalion organized the shipment of of
aviation gasoline Avgas (aviation gasoline, also known as aviation spirit in the UK) is an aviation fuel used in aircraft with spark-ignited internal combustion engines. ''Avgas'' is distinguished from conventional gasoline (petrol) used in motor vehicles, whi ...
and six truckloads of
canned food Canning is a method of food preservation in which food is processed and sealed in an airtight container (jars like Mason jars, and steel and tin cans). Canning provides a shelf life that typically ranges from one to five years, although un ...
from Manila. Even with those additional supplies sent to Bataan, a significant amount of supplies were either destroyed or left behind, which led to immediate rationing, which reduced the fighting ability of those on Bataan later on. With the bridges having been successfully defended by other units (including the 192nd), Company C became the last unit to cross the bridges before they were demolished to slow down the Japanese advance. Moving northward on the first days of 1942, the 194th took up position east of
San Fernando San Fernando may refer to: People *Ferdinand III of Castile (c. 1200–1252), called ''San Fernando'' (Spanish) or ''Saint Ferdinand'', King of Castile, León, and Galicia Places Argentina *San Fernando de la Buena Vista, city of Greater Buenos ...
and south of town on the banks of the Pampanga River. The rest of the Provisional Tank Group covered the withdrawal of the remaining American-Filipino forces into Bataan. While in defensive positions, the first tank-on-tank combat occurred for the 194th, when five Japanese Type 89A tanks approached; the Japanese unit, having not conducted reconnaissance prior to their movement, was destroyed by the 194th in an open field.
With the rest of the forces passing through the town, the tankers destroyed the bridge over the
San Fernando River The San Fernando River is a river of Mexico. See also *List of longest rivers of Mexico *List of rivers of Mexico This is a list of rivers of Mexico, listed from north to south. There are 246 rivers on this list. Alternate names for rivers are gi ...
and withdrew to
Guagua Guagua, officially the Municipality of Guagua ( pam, Balen ning Guagua; tl, Bayan ng Guagua), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Pampanga, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 128,893 people. The town o ...
. Ten days after the American-Filipino forces began withdrawing, the 1st Provisional Tank Group conducted their final delaying actions, while the rest of the force prepared the defenses in Bataan, giving those troops three additional days. The first unit to conduct a delaying action was Company C, as it serving as an advance force of the mainline, north of Guagua. There they held for three and a half hours. Guagua was not held for long, less than two days, and Company C covered the retreat of the remainder of the battalion. While Company C was covering the flank of the forces retreating south from Guagua, a large enemy force of 500 to 800 Japanese soldiers approached behind three Philippine Constabulary officers waving a
white flag White flags have had different meanings throughout history and depending on the locale. Contemporary use The white flag is an internationally recognized protective sign of truce or ceasefire, and for negotiation. It is also used to symbolize ...
; the covering force, consisting of two tanks and two half-tracks, opened fire upon the constabulary officers and the enemy behind them, killing them in the open. Following some additional combat which led to significant Japanese losses in the Tanaka Detachment, Company C and the rest of the 1st Provisional Tank Group joined the 26th Cavalry, and the Philippines'
11th 11 (eleven) is the natural number following 10 and preceding 12. It is the first repdigit. In English, it is the smallest positive integer whose name has three syllables. Name "Eleven" derives from the Old English ', which is first attested i ...
and
21st 21 (twenty-one) is the natural number following 20 and preceding 22. The current century is the 21st century AD, under the Gregorian calendar. In mathematics 21 is: * a composite number, its proper divisors being 1, 3 and 7, and a defici ...
Divisions, to form a defense along the Gumain River. Without contact with Japanese forces, the defense line along the Gumain River was abandoned, and new defenses which involved the entirety of the 1st Provisional Tank Group were formed at Layac Junction. That was the final defensive line before Bataan; which was worked on and completed on the morning of 6 January 1942. Following combat on 6 January, which included the action which resulted in the awarding of the
Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. ...
to Sergeant
Jose Calugas Jose Cabalfin Calugas (December 29, 1907 – January 18, 1998) was a member of the Philippine Scouts during World War II. He received the Medal of Honor for actions during the Battle of Bataan. At the age of 23, Calugas joined the Philippine Sc ...
, the 1st Provisional Tank Group began to withdraw into Bataan ahead of the rest of the units assigned to the defenses at Layac Junction. They were was the last U.S. unit to enter the Bataan Peninsula. Upon withdrawing behind the defensive lines to an area south of Pilar, the soldiers of the 1st Provisional Tank Group were finally able to rest, eating from their own
kitchens A kitchen is a room or part of a room used for cooking and food preparation in a dwelling or in a commercial establishment. A modern middle-class residential kitchen is typically equipped with a stove, a sink with hot and cold running water, a ...
for the first time since the beginning of combat operations, albeit at half rations.


Bataan

On 10 January 1942, the 194th was called on to support the 57th Infantry Regiment near Abacay. On 23 January, Company C was called upon by Major General Jonathan M. Wainwright (later promoted to general), commander of
I Philippine Corps I, or i, is the ninth letter and the third vowel letter of the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''i'' (pronounced ), plural ...
(the renamed
North Luzon Force The North Luzon Force was a corps-sized grouping of the U.S.-sponsored Philippine Army, defeated in battle against the Japanese in 1941–42. On November 4, 1941, United States Army Forces Far East (USAFFE) announced the creation of new commands t ...
), to fight a battalion of Japanese infantry to the west, near Mount Silanganan. Two tanks were damaged by anti-tank mines during the initial attack. Yet after that setback, with the support of elements of the 26th Cavalry, and a battalion of the Philippines' 72nd Infantry Regiment, the forces were able to reverse the gains of the Japanese. In late January, it was decided that the defensive line would be withdrawn down to Bogac and through to Orion. The 194th covered some of the last units to withdraw, which included the 31st and 45th Infantry Regiments; By 26 January, the 194th was the last to withdraw, breaking from contact while being attacked by artillery and mortar fire. While withdrawing, additional pressure was placed on the 194th, as air attacks harassed the unit along the way. Major combat on Bataan came to a halt as Japanese force withdrew northward in February, maintaining a line of control at Balanga, and the Japanese 14th Army awaited reinforcements. By March 1942, rations were reduced from the meager half rations to quarter rations; this was accompanied by soldiers getting sick from
dengue fever Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne tropical disease caused by the dengue virus. Symptoms typically begin three to fourteen days after infection. These may include a high fever, headache, vomiting, muscle and joint pains, and a characterist ...
,
malaria Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects humans and other animals. Malaria causes symptoms that typically include fever, tiredness, vomiting, and headaches. In severe cases, it can cause jaundice, seizures, coma, or death. S ...
and other diseases. Company C was assigned to defending the coast along the eastern half of Bataan. During the final Japanese attack on the defending American and Filipino forces on Bataan, Company A of the 194th was assigned to coastal defense, firing upon Japanese barges and keeping them from coming ashore. On 4 April, Company C of the 194th, along with the 45th Infantry Regiment, were assigned to attack northward along Trail 29; commencing the attack on 7 April, they advanced northward, surprising a Japanese defensive position. In advancing, they had lost contact with friendly forces to their east and west; receiving new orders, and being informed of rapid Japanese advances, they were ordered southeast towards the junction of Trails 6 & 8 in hopes of establishing a new defensive position. Reversing their advance towards their new objective, with Company C leading the movement, the fire of Japanese anti-tank guns revealed that they had been flanked to the south by Japanese forces of the 65th Brigade. To the rear of their new movement and to the north, on Trail 29, Company C came into contact with elements of the Japanese 7th Tank Regiment which were attempting to advance southward along the trail, the ensuing combat lead to the destruction of two Japanese Type 89A tanks. By 8 April, Company C was ordered to regroup to the south with the rest of the Provisional Tank Group, who were involved in attempting to provide defense against the Japanese attack along Trail 10. That evening all of the tank battalions were pulled off the line, and on the morning of 9 April, with the Company C tanks finally joining the rest of the group, received orders to destroy their equipment. By the time of surrender, Company C had lost 10 of its tanks, and had six soldiers killed in action.


Surrender and occupation

Following the surrender of the forces on Bataan by Major General
Edward P. King Edward Postell King Jr. (July 4, 1884 – August 31, 1958) was a major general in the United States Army who gained prominence for leading the defense of the Bataan Peninsula in the Battle of Bataan against the Japanese invasion of the Philippi ...
, officers of the tank units were questioned by the Japanese; during the questioning, the officers learned that the tanks had kept away an invasion across
Manila Bay Manila Bay ( fil, Look ng Maynila) is a natural harbor that serves the Port of Manila (on Luzon), in the Philippines. Strategically located around the capital city of the Philippines, Manila Bay facilitated commerce and trade between the Phili ...
, and that the American tanks were feared by the Japanese. When the Japanese finally arrived on 10 April, they began to loot the soldiers of anything of value. Following the looting, the Japanese began to force march them northward towards San Fernando, in what became known as the
Bataan Death March The Bataan Death March (Filipino: ''Martsa ng Kamatayan sa Bataan''; Spanish: ''Marcha de la muerte de Bataán'' ; Kapampangan: ''Martsa ning Kematayan quing Bataan''; Japanese: バターン死の行進, Hepburn: ''Batān Shi no Kōshin'') was ...
. Some of the soldiers chose not to comply with orders and surrender, instead becoming guerrillas, resisting the Japanese occupation; one was Technician Fifth Grade Eugene Zingheim of Company C, a radio operator, who would later be executed after being caught by the Japanese due to malaria in 1943. Over time, the soldiers of Company C were spread across the areas occupied by Japan at various POW camps. Six were awarded the Silver Star, some posthumously, and each soldier of the company was awarded a
Bronze Star Medal The Bronze Star Medal (BSM) is a United States Armed Forces decoration awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone. Wh ...
and a
Purple Heart The Purple Heart (PH) is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those wounded or killed while serving, on or after 5 April 1917, with the U.S. military. With its forerunner, the Badge of Military Merit, w ...
. In mid-September 1945, after the
Surrender of Japan The surrender of the Empire of Japan in World War II was announced by Emperor Hirohito on 15 August and formally signed on 2 September 1945, bringing the war's hostilities to a close. By the end of July 1945, the Imperial Japanese Navy ...
, the surviving members of the 194th Tank Battalion embarked for the United States at
Yokohama is the second-largest city in Japan by population and the most populous municipality of Japan. It is the capital city and the most populous city in Kanagawa Prefecture, with a 2020 population of 3.8 million. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of To ...
.


Post World War II

After World War II, the 194th Tank Battalion was inactivated in April 1946, then redesignated as the 199th Tank Battalion in June of that same year; it was federally recognized in 1947, with a leadership team made up of survivors of the 1941–1942 Philippines campaign. Two years later in 1949, the unit was reorganized and redesignated as the 149th Heavy Tank Battalion, as an element of the 49th Infantry Division. Then upon being consolidated with the 170th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion, the unit was elevated to a parent regiment within the
Combat Arms Regimental System The Combat Arms Regimental System (CARS), was the method of assigning unit designations to units of some of the combat arms branches of the United States Army, including Infantry, Special Forces, Field Artillery, and Armor, from 1957 to 1981. A ...
(CARS) in 1959. In 1960, annual training for the regiment was held at
Camp Irwin Fort Irwin National Training Center (Fort Irwin NTC) is a major training area for the United States military in the Mojave Desert in northern San Bernardino County, California. Fort Irwin is at an average elevation of . It is located northeast o ...
. By 1962,
M48 Patton The M48 Patton is an American List of main battle tanks by generation#First generation, first-generation main battle tank (MBT) introduced in February 1952, being designated as the 90mm Gun Tank: M48. It was designed as a replacement for the M2 ...
tanks were being used during annual training at Camp Roberts. In 1963, the regiment was reorganized again and expanded to consist of 1st, 3rd, and 4th battalions, with 2nd squadron becoming the 170th Cavalry Regiment. During a weekend drill in 1965, the unit was called up to man roadblocks created in response to the Watts Riots; while there the tankers were fired upon. The regiment's 1st, 3rd, and 4th battalions were called up during the Watts Riots, with the regimental headquarters operating out of the 118th Street School. In 1968, the regiment was reorganized to consist only of its 1st Battalion; the regiment was detached from the 49th, and was no longer associated with a division. Later, in 1974, the regiment became an element of the 40th Infantry Division. During the 1970s and 1980s the regiment continued to conduct its regular cycle of monthly weekend drills and annual training; one of these sent the regiment's lone battalion to
Camp Ripley Camp Ripley is a military and civilian training facility operated by the Minnesota National Guard near the city of Little Falls in the central part of the state. The location of the camp was selected in 1929 by Ellard A. Walsh, Adjutant General ...
, Minnesota, for
winter Winter is the coldest season of the year in polar and temperate climates. It occurs after autumn and before spring. The tilt of Earth's axis causes seasons; winter occurs when a hemisphere is oriented away from the Sun. Different cultures ...
training in 1982. During the 1980s, the regiment was authorized a strength of 501 Soldiers. In 1989, the regiment was withdrawn from CARS and reorganized in the United States Army Regimental System; by that same year the regiment was equipped with M60A3 Patton. In response to the 1992 Los Angeles riots,
Operation Garden Plot The Department of Defense Civil Disturbance Plan, also known by its cryptonym GARDEN PLOT, was a general United States Army, US Army and National Guard of the United States, National Guard plan to respond to major domestic Civil disorder, civil dis ...
was initiated, leading to the regiment returning to riot control duties in Los Angeles. During the 1990s, the regiment was part of the 3rd Brigade of the 40th Infantry Division. In 1996, the regiment's headquarters moved to the Presidio of Monterey. Due to the force reduction in other units, as part of a post-
Cold War The Cold War is a term commonly used to refer to a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, the Western Bloc and the Eastern Bloc. The term '' cold war'' is used because the ...
peace dividend which included
Base Realignment and Closure Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) is a process by a United States federal government commission to increase United States Department of Defense efficiency by coordinating the realignment and closure of military installations following the end o ...
, in 1997 the regiment saw an increase in its size; this increase in size coincided with the regiment transitioning from the M60A3 to the M1IP Abrams. In May 1998, a training center was established at
Watsonville Watsonville is a city in Santa Cruz County, California, located in the Monterey Bay Area of the Central Coast of California. The population was 52,590 according to the 2020 census. Predominantly Latino and Democratic, Watsonville is a self- ...
, and named after Chief Warrant Officer Ero "Ben" Saccone, who was the First Sergeant of Company C, 194th Tank Battalion in 1941; within the training center was the 40th Tank Company's guidon, which dated back to June 1924 (and survived combat overseas, and being hidden by unit members while they were POW). A year later, the regiment's headquarters was moved once again to Seaside.The battalion was activated for
Operation Noble Eagle Operation Noble Eagle (ONE) is the United States and Canadian military operation related to homeland security and support to federal, state, and local agencies. The operation began 11 September 2001, in response to the September 11 attacks.. ...
I & II, providing security at potential targets and airports in the United States, in 2003. Then in 2005, it was activated to conduct
NATO peacekeeping Although the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was present throughout the Cold War as the opposite to the Warsaw Pact, and conducted joint military exercises, no military operations took place. All military NATO operations have occurred ...
duties as part of the
Kosovo Force The Kosovo Force (KFOR) is a North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO-led international NATO peacekeeping, peacekeeping force in Kosovo. Its operations are gradually reducing until Kosovo Security Force, Kosovo's Security Force, established in 2 ...
.

Following redesignation of the regiment from ''armor'' to ''armored'' in 2005, it was consolidated with another unit, which retained the name 340th Brigade Support Battalion in 2007, a part of the 65th Fires Brigade. Prior to the regiment being consolidated into another unit, almost 90% of the soldiers of the regiment had already seen combat in the
War on Terror The war on terror, officially the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT), is an ongoing international Counterterrorism, counterterrorism military campaign initiated by the United States following the September 11 attacks. The main targets of the campa ...
, as strained resources led to more national guardsmen serving in overseas conflicts.


Awards

The regiment, and its subordinate units are authorized the following awards and streamers:
Presidential Unit Citations *DEFENSE OF THE PHILIPPINES *LUZON 1941–1942 *BATAAN PENINSULA Philippine Presidential Unit Citation *7 December 1941 to 10 May 1942 Campaign streamers: * World War I streamer without inscription * Philippine Islands *
Aleutian Islands The Aleutian Islands (; ; ale, Unangam Tanangin,”Land of the Aleuts", possibly from Chukchi language, Chukchi ''aliat'', "island"), also called the Aleut Islands or Aleutic Islands and known before 1867 as the Catherine Archipelago, are a cha ...
(Company C, 1st Battalion)


Lineage

The lineage of the unit is as follows: * Organized 5 August 1895 in the California National Guard at Salinas as Troop C, Cavalry. * Redesignated 1 May 1911 as Troop C, 1st Squadron of Cavalry. * Mustered into Federal service 26 June 1916 at
Sacramento ) , image_map = Sacramento County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Sacramento Highlighted.svg , mapsize = 250x200px , map_caption = Location within Sacramento ...
; mustered out of Federal service 17 November 1916 at Los Angeles. * Drafted into Federal service 5 November 1917. * Reorganized and redesignated 3 October 1917 as Company B, 145th Machine Gun Battalion, an element of the 40th Division. * Demobilized 20 May 1919 at the Presidio of San Francisco, California. * Reorganized and Federally recognized 18 June 1924 in the California National Guard at Salinas as the 40th Tank Company and assigned to the 40th Division. * Reorganized and redesignated 1 September 1940 as Company C, 194th Tank Battalion, and relieved from assignment to the 40th Division. * Inducted into Federal service 10 February 1941 at Salinas. * Surrendered 9 April 1942 to the Japanese 14th Army in the Philippine Islands. * Inactivated 2 April 1946 in the Philippine Islands. * Expanded and redesignated 21 June 1946 as the 199th Tank Battalion. * Reorganized and Federally recognized 27 May 1947 with headquarters at Salinas. * Reorganized and redesignated 1 February 1949 as the 149th Heavy Tank Battalion and assigned to the 49th Infantry Division. * Reorganized and redesignated 1 September 1950 as the 149th Tank Battalion. * Consolidated 1 May 1959 with the 170th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion and consolidated unit reorganized and redesignated as the 149th Armor, a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System, to consist of the 1st Medium Tank Battalion and the 2d Reconnaissance Squadron, elements of the 49th Infantry Division. * Reorganized 1 March 1963 to consist of the 1st and 3d Battalions, elements of the 49th Infantry Division, and the 4th Medium Tank Battalion. * Reorganized 1 April 1964 to consist of the 1st and 3d Battalions, elements of the 49th Infantry Division, and the 4th Battalion. * Reorganized 29 January 1968 to consist of the 1st Battalion. * Reorganized 13 January 1974 to consist of the 1st Battalion, an element of the 40th Infantry Division. * Withdrawn 19 January 1988 from the Combat Arms Regimental System and reorganized under the United States Army Regimental System. * 1st Battalion ordered into active Federal service 1 May 1992 at home stations; released from active Federal service 9 May 1992 and reverted to state control. * Location of headquarters changed 1 June 1996 to the Presidio of Monterey; on 1 October 1999 to Seaside, California. * Ordered into active Federal service 14 August 2002 at home stations; released from active Federal service 2 September 2003 and reverted to state control. * Redesignated 1 October 2005 as the 149th Armored Regiment. * Consolidated 1 September 2007 with the 340th Support Battalion and consolidated unit designated as the 340th Support Battalion.


Legacy

During the Bataan Death March, Salinas had the unfortunate distinction of having the highest number of soldiers per capita in the march, of any city in the United States. Of the 105 soldiers who left Salinas, who made up a large part of the 114 men who were part of Company C, 46 or 47 survived the war. In October 2011, Sergeant Roy Diaz was reported to be the last surviving Salinas member of Company C; he was the subject of an
Emmy Award The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the calendar year, each with the ...
winning story produced by
KTEH KTEH may refer to: * KTEH-LP, a low-power radio station (98.9 FM) licensed to serve Los Molinos, California, United States * KQEH KQEH, virtual channel 54 (ultra high frequency, UHF Digital terrestrial television, digital channel 30), branded o ...
, and in February 2012, it was proposed that an access road off Airport Boulevard in Salinas, leading to
Salinas Municipal Airport Salinas Municipal Airport is an airport in Monterey County, California, Monterey County, California, United States, three miles (4.8 km) southeast of Downtown Salinas, California, Salinas. It is included in the 2017–21 National Plan of I ...
, be named for Diaz. In fact, Diaz was not the lone survivor, but was one of three. By June 2013 all had died, with the last survivor of Company C being Manny Nevarez; he had been a
private Private or privates may refer to: Music * " In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorde ...
, and spent time on
Mindanao Mindanao ( ) ( Jawi: مينداناو) is the second-largest island in the Philippines, after Luzon, and seventh-most populous island in the world. Located in the southern region of the archipelago, the island is part of an island group of ...
and in
Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
as a POW.


Descendant units

*115th Regional Support Group *340th Support Battalion *670th Military Police Company, 185th Military Police Battalion, 49th Military Police Brigade


Memorials

In 2006, a memorial was erected at the Boronda History Center to commemorate the soldiers of Company C 194th Tank Battalion. This follows a memorial located at
Camp San Luis Obispo Camp San Luis Obispo is the original home of the California Army National Guard. It served as an Infantry Division Camp and Cantonment Area for the United States Army during World War II. History Camp San Luis Obispo, formerly called Camp Merri ...
depicting the actions of Morello's tank on 26 December 1941. In Salinas, a triangular park was named Bataan Memorial Park.


Popular media

In July 1918, some of the soldiers that were part of Troop C, were already in France and participated in the Second Battle of the Marne; one of these soldiers (Martin Hopps) died during the battle, becoming the first soldier from Salinas to die during World War I; he is mentioned in
John Steinbeck John Ernst Steinbeck Jr. (; February 27, 1902 – December 20, 1968) was an American writer and the 1962 Nobel Prize in Literature winner "for his realistic and imaginative writings, combining as they do sympathetic humor and keen social ...
's book '' East of Eden''. Tanks of the 40th Tank Company were used during the filming of '' The Big House''. In the film ''Bataan'', Desi Arnaz depicts a California National Guardsman in a multi-racial unit fighting a delaying action.





See also

* 194th Armor Regiment


Notes


References


External links


149th Armor Regiment Association
* * ** ** ** ** * {{DEFAULTSORT:149th Armor Regiment Military units and formations in California Armor 149 Armored regiments of the United States Army Military units and formations established in 1959 Military units and formations disestablished in 2007 Army units and formations of the United States in World War I Tank 194