The 149th Armored Regiment was an
armored
Armour (British English) or armor (American English; see spelling differences) is a covering used to protect an object, individual, or vehicle from physical injury or damage, especially direct contact weapons or projectiles during combat, or f ...
regiment that was part of the
California Army National Guard
The California Army National Guard (CA ARNG) is one of three components of the California National Guard, a reserve of the United States Army, and part of the National Guard of the United States. The California Army National Guard is composed o ...
. 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 to help in the aftermath of the
1906 San Francisco Earthquake. In 1916, still as Troop C, the unit served along the
MexicoUnited States border near
Nogales, Arizona to deter further border incursions, due to events surrounding the
Pancho Villa Expedition
The Pancho Villa Expedition—now known officially in the United States as the Mexican Expedition, but originally referred to as the "Punitive Expedition, U.S. Army"—was a military operation conducted by the United States Army against the p ...
. 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 for " 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 fourth most populous in California and 17th ...
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 o ...
; 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 opposing ...
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 ...
, 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 enti ...
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'') wa ...
, and were later sent individually to various POW camps throughout the territories controlled by Japan; following the
surrender of Japan, 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
Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...
in response to the
Watts Riots. The unit returned to Los Angeles later in the 20th century, in response to the
1992 Los Angeles riots
The 1992 Los Angeles riots, sometimes called the 1992 Los Angeles uprising and the Los Angeles Race Riots, were a series of riots and civil disturbances that occurred in Los Angeles County, California, in April and May 1992. Unrest began in So ...
. Following the
September 11th attacks
The September 11 attacks, commonly known as 9/11, were four coordinated suicide terrorist attacks carried out by al-Qaeda against the United States on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. That morning, nineteen terrorists hijacked four commer ...
, the unit 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..
...
in 2003. Then in 2005, it deployed to Europe for peacekeeping in the
Kosovo Force. The regiment was deactivated in 2007, as the 149th Armored Regiment.
History
Cavalry and World War I
![Camp in Golden Gate Park Under Military Control After the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Camp_in_Golden_Gate_Park_Under_Military_Control_After_the_1906_San_Francisco_Earthquake.jpg)
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 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, ...
of Cavalry.
In the early 1910s tensions between Mexico and the United States were high, due to the impact the
Mexican Revolution 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 on
Columbus, New Mexico
Columbus is a village in Luna County, New Mexico, United States, about north of the Mexican border. It is considered a place of historical interest, as the scene of a 1916 attack by Mexican revolutionary leader Francisco "Pancho" Villa that cau ...
by Mexicans under
Pancho Villa
Francisco "Pancho" Villa (, Orozco rebelled in March 1912, both for Madero's continuing failure to enact land reform and because he felt insufficiently rewarded for his role in bringing the new president to power. At the request of Madero's c ...
.
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 prov ...
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 Haut ...
, then to
Baudonvilliers 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 prefect ...
. 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.
40th Tank Company
The unit was reorganized as the 40th Tank Company for the 40th Division in 1924 and it was equipped with
eight 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 manufacture ...
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 Rehab ...
.
The company was first activated in response to the 1934 West Coast waterfront strike of
longshoremen 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 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 at the
Presidio of San Francisco.
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
Morro Bay (''Morro'', Spanish for "Hill") is a seaside city in San Luis Obispo County, California. Located on the Central Coast of California, the city population was 10,757 as of the 2020 census, up from 10,234 at the 2010 census. The town ...
and
San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo (; Spanish for " St. Louis the Bishop", ; Chumash: ''tiłhini'') is a city and county seat of San Luis Obispo County, in the U.S. state of California. Located on the Central Coast of California, San Luis Obispo is roughly hal ...
.
194th Tank Battalion
In 1940, the company was designated as Company C,
194th Tank Battalion
The 149th Armored Regiment was an Armor Branch (United States), armored regiment that was part of the California Army National Guard. Its lineage dates back to a Cavalry (United States), cavalry unit organized in 1895 in Salinas, California, Sa ...
; other tank companies in
Brainerd, Minnesota
Brainerd is a city in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, United States. Its population was 14,395 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Crow Wing County. Brainerd straddles the Mississippi River several miles upstream from its confluence with ...
(Company A, formerly the 34th Tank Company), and
Saint Joseph, Missouri (Company B, former 35th Tank Company), formed the rest of the battalion.
A large number of men in Company C were
Salinas High School 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 o ...
;
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. in ...
light tanks.
Deployment
Company B was detached from the battalion and sent to
Alaska
Alaska ( ; russian: Аляска, Alyaska; ale, Alax̂sxax̂; ; ems, Alas'kaaq; Yup'ik: ''Alaskaq''; tli, Anáaski) is a state located in the Western United States on the northwest extremity of North America. A semi-exclave of the U.S. ...
;
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 opposing ...
.
On 26 September 1941 the 194th, along with the 17th Ordnance Company, arrived in Manila, and was then assigned to
Fort Stotsenburg
Fort Stotsenburg, during the World War II era, was the location of the Philippine Department's 26th Cavalry Regiment, 86th Field Artillery Battalion, and 88th Field Artillery Regiment; along with the Philippine Division's 23rd and 24th Fie ...
, in
Sapangbato,
Angeles City
, anthem = Himno ning Angeles (Angeles Hymn)
, subdivision_type3 = District
, subdivision_name3 =
, established_title = Settled
, established_date = 1796
, established_title1 = Chartere ...
.
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 wars ...
, with high-explosive being unavailable.
The
192nd Tank Battalion 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
Japanese may refer to:
* Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia
* Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan
* Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture
** Japanese diaspor ...
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 ...
on 7 December 1941, Company C was in defensive positions around
Clark Field, 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 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
Douglas MacArthur (26 January 18805 April 1964) was an American military leader who served as General of the Army for the United States, as well as a field marshal to the Philippine Army. He had served with distinction in World War I, was ...
was confident that the
United States Army Forces in the Far East
United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) ( Filipino: ''Hukbong Katihan ng Estados Unidos sa Malayong Silangan/HKEUMS''; Spanish: ''Fuerzas del Ejército de los Estados Unidos en el Lejano Oriente'') was a military formation of the Unit ...
(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
Mount Sungay, also known as Mount Gonzales, is a mountain in the Provinces of the Philippines, province of Cavite in the Philippines. Located in eastern Tagaytay, the inactive stratovolcano is the highest point in the province of Cavite, at . , attempting to apprehend
fifth columnists who had been launching
flares near
ammunition dump
An ammunition dump, ammunition supply point (ASP), ammunition handling area (AHA) or ammunition depot is a military storage facility for live ammunition and explosives.
The storage of live ammunition and explosives is inherently hazardous. The ...
s at night; this would continue until Christmas Eve.
On 23 December, with the advances of Japanese forces after landing at
Lingayen Gulf 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 Army and Navy Board war plans for dealing with a possible war with Japan during the years between the First and Second World Wars. It failed to for ...
, ordering all forces to withdraw to the
Bataan Peninsula.
![Withdrawal South Dec 1941](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f7/Withdrawal_South_Dec_1941.jpg)
Company C was assigned to the area east of
Mount Banahao and attached to the
Philippine Army
The Philippine Army (PA) (Tagalog: ''Hukbong Katihan ng Pilipinas''; in literal English: ''Army of the Ground of the Philippines''; in literal Spanish: ''Ejército de la Tierra de la Filipinas'') is the main, oldest and largest branch of the ...
1st Infantry Regiment of the
1st Infantry Division.
The
commanding general
The commanding officer (CO) or sometimes, if the incumbent is a general officer, commanding general (CG), is the officer in command of a military unit. The commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitud ...
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
A half-track is a civilian or military vehicle with regular wheels at the front for steering and continuous tracks at the back to propel the vehicle and carry most of the load. The purpose of this combination is to produce a vehicle with the cro ...
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)
The Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) is a military decoration awarded to ...
; by the April 1946, when the recommendation was finally processed, the awards were downgraded to
Silver Stars 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 guns,
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 and the lead tank, commanded by Needham, was hit first.
The second tank, commanded by
Staff Sergeant 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 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 War Department may refer to:
* War Department (United Kingdom)
* United States Department of War (1789–1947)
See also
* War Office, a former department of the British Government
* Ministry of defence
* Ministry of War
* Ministry of Defence
* D ...
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 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 is distinct from lower temperature techniques such as bra ...
in new tank production.
![Manila declared open city](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7c/Manila_declared_open_city.jpg)
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
Sariaya, officially the Municipality of Sariaya ( tgl, Bayan ng Sariaya), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Quezon, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 161,868 people.
As the only Mount Banahaw town i ...
, 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, whos ...
.
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
The Rizal Monument (original title: ''Motto Stella''; Latin: "guiding star") is a memorial in Rizal Park in Manila, Philippines built to commemorate the executed Filipino nationalist, José Rizal. The monument consists of a standing bronze sculpt ...
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.
![Holding Road to Bataan Jan 1942](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bf/Holding_Road_to_Bataan_Jan_1942.jpg)
At
Calumpit
Calumpit, officially the Municipality of Calumpit ( tgl, Bayan ng Calumpit), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 118,471 people.
Etymology
The name "''Calu ...
there were important bridges over the
Pampanga River
The Pampanga River is the second largest river on the island of Luzon in the Philippines (next to Cagayan River) and the country's fifth longest river. It is in the Central Luzon region and traverses the provinces of Pampanga, Bulacan, and Nueva ...
, which connected Bataan to the forces that were now north of Manila.
To defend these bridges the 194th took up positions at
Apalit, 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
Bocaue, officially the Municipality of Bocaue ( tgl, Bayan ng Bocaue), is a 1st class municipality of the Philippines, municipality in the Philippine Province, province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of ...
.
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 ...
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 and withdrew to
Guagua
Guagua, officially the Municipality of Guagua ( pam, Balen ning Guagua; tl, Bayan ng Guagua), is a 1st class municipality of the Philippines, municipality in the Philippine Province, province of Pampanga, Philippines. According to the 2020 cens ...
.
![Layac Junction Jan 1942](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/82/Layac_Junction_Jan_1942.jpg)
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
The Philippine Constabulary (PC; tl, Hukbóng Pamayapà ng Pilipinas, ''HPP''; es, Policía de Filipinas, ''PF'') was a gendarmerie-type police force of the Philippines from 1901 to 1991, and the predecessor to the Philippine National Po ...
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 atteste ...
and
21st 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 valo ...
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
![Mauban Line](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8d/Mauban_Line.jpg)
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 ...
), 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,
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.
![Japanese Breakthrough Apr 1942](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cc/Japanese_Breakthrough_Apr_1942.jpg)
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, 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 Phi ...
, 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'') wa ...
.
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 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, ...
.
In mid-September 1945, after the
Surrender of Japan, 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 T ...
.
Post World War II
![199th Tank Battalion recruiting advertisement (1947)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fd/199th_Tank_Battalion_recruiting_advertisement_%281947%29.jpg)
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. ...
(CARS) in 1959.
In 1960,
annual training
Annual training refers to the yearly training period conducted by all National Guard and Reserve components of the United States military pursuant to law and military service directives.
Usually advertised as two weeks each year that personnel mu ...
for the regiment was held at
Camp Irwin. By 1962,
M48 Patton
The M48 Patton is an American 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 M26 Pershing, M4 Sherman, M46 and M47 Patton tanks, and w ...
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, 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 cultur ...
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
The United States Army Regimental System (USARS) is an organizational and classification system used by the United States Army. It was established in 1981 to replace the Combat Arms Regimental System (CARS) to provide each soldier with continu ...
;
by that same year the regiment was equipped with
M60A3 Patton. In response to the 1992 Los Angeles riots,
Operation Garden Plot 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
The Presidio of Monterey (POM), located in Monterey, California, is an active US Army installation with historic ties to the Spanish colonial era. Currently, it is the home of the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center (DLI-FLC). ...
.
Due to the force reduction in other units, as part of a post-
Cold War peace dividend
''Peace dividend'' was a political slogan popularized by US President George H. W. Bush and UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the light of the 1988–1991 dissolution of the Soviet Union, that described the economic benefit of a decrease in d ...
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 ...
, 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.
![SecretsOfFortOrdTour1](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e7/SecretsOfFortOrdTour1.JPG)
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 duties as part of the
Kosovo Force.
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 military campaign initiated by the United States following the September 11 attacks. The main targets of the campaign are militant ...
, 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
The Philippine Presidential Unit citation BadgeThe AFP Adjutant General, ''Awards and Decorations Handbook'', 1997, OTAG, p. 65. is a unit decoration of the Republic of the Philippines. It has been awarded to certain units of the United States mi ...
*7 December 1941 to 10 May 1942
Campaign streamers:
*
![Streamer WWI V](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3b/Streamer_WWI_V.PNG)
World War I streamer without inscription
*
![Streamer APC](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f2/Streamer_APC.PNG)
Philippine Islands
*
Aleutian Islands
The Aleutian Islands (; ; ale, Unangam Tanangin,”Land of the Aleuts", possibly from Chukchi ''aliat'', "island"), also called the Aleut Islands or Aleutic Islands and known before 1867 as the Catherine Archipelago, are a chain of 14 large v ...
(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
Anti-aircraft warfare, counter-air or air defence forces is the battlespace response to aerial warfare, defined by NATO as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action".AAP-6 It includes surface based ...
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 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, a television station (channel 50, virtual 54) licensed to serve San Jose, California, which held the call sign ...
, and in February 2012, it was proposed that an access road off Airport Boulevard in Salinas, leading to
Salinas Municipal Airport, 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, 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 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
The Second Battle of the Marne (french: Seconde Bataille de la Marne) (15 July – 18 July 1918) was the last major German offensive on the Western Front during the First World War. The attack failed when an Allied counterattack, supported by s ...
; 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'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
Desiderio Alberto Arnaz y de Acha III (March 2, 1917 – December 2, 1986) was a Cuban-born American actor, bandleader, and film and television producer. He played Ricky Ricardo on the American television sitcom '' I Love Lucy'', in which he c ...
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