Another of the 3d Infantry Division's long-time major attachments was the 756th Tank Battalion. The spirit of this organization is reflected by the fact that two of its members were posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for actions performed during the passage of the Vosges Mountains.

The 756th was activated as a light tank battalion on June 1, 1941, at Fort Lewis, Washington. The battalion received its first training at Fort Lewis as part of IX Corps. It first joined the 3d Infantry Division after it left Fort Lewis on August 4, 1942, at Fort Ord, California, and it was there it took its first amphibious training.

At Camp Pickett, Virginia, Company A (reinforced) was attached to the 7th Infantry, and Company C (reinforced) was attached to the 30th Infantry. The remainder of the battalion went to Fort Dix, New Jersey on November 28, 1942, for further staging. Companies A and C landed with the 3d Division at Fedala and assisted the Division in establishing and exploiting one of the first beachheads in the North African theater.

The remainder of the Battalion rejoined its units at Port Lyautey in February 1943. It was relieved of attachment to the Division on May 7 and moved to Pont du Cheliff, Algeria under control of I Armored Corps. Its next move was to Petit Port in May and to Magenta, Algeria early in June, where it trained with elements of the Fifth Army Tank Destroyer school.

The first combat commitment of the 756th was at Paestum on September 17, attached to the 45th Infantry Division. It was re-attached to the 34th Infantry Division on October 1, after having supported the 45th in action, and continued in this mission until October 20, when it reverted to VI Corps control.

After numerous combat missions, the unit was redesignated from 756th Tank Battalion (L) to 756th Tank Battalion by authority of General Order No. 107, Headquarters Fifth Army, dated December 15, 1943.

The Battalion supported the 34th Division on the first and second attempts at crossing the Rapido River, the second of which, on January 29, was successful. The 756th was the first allied unit into Cassino. The Battalion continued in close support of the 34th Division until February 22, when it was relieved after having suffered heavy casualties in personnel and tanks.

During the period from May 11, 1944 to June 10 the Battalion was attached no less than eleven times, each one for combat. -It participated in all phases of the drive on Rome. It was not relieved until June 10, six days after the fall of Rome.

The 756th Tank Battalion was attached to the 3d Infantry Division at Qualiano, near Naples on June 19, as the Division was preparing for its part in the invasion of southern France.

Except for two brief periods with the 103d Infantry Division, the 756th remained with the 3d Division for the rest of the war. Its hardest fight came during the Colmar Pocket battle, in which accurate enemy panzer faust, bazooka and tank destroyer fire accounted for much of its armor. The Battalion in turn, however exacted a heavy toll in enemy armor and personnel.

From D-day, August 15, 1944, until May 8, 1945, the Battalion was continuously in action except for one ten-day period.

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