United States Army 13th Armored Division (Black Cat)

U. S. ARMY 13TH ARMORED DIVISION (BLACK CAT) -  The division was activated on October 15, 1942 at Camp Beale, east of Marysville, California.  The 13th Armored, known as the Black Cats, landed at Le Havre, France, January 29, 1945.  After performing occupation duties, the Division moved to Homberg near Kassel to prepare for combat under the Third Army,  April 5th.  At Altenkirchen, it was attached to the XVIII Corps and prepared for the Ruhr Pocket operation. The attack jumped off at Honnef on April 10th.  After crossing the river Sieg at Siegburg, the 13th pushed north to Bergisch Gladbach, then toward Duisburg and Mettmann by April 18th.

Shifting south to Eschenau, the Division prepared for Bavarian operations.  Starting from Parsberg, April 26th, the 13th crossed the Regen river, then the Danube at Matting and secured the area near Dünzling.  On the 28th, elements closed in at Plattling and crossed the Isar River.  Moderate to heavy resistance was met during this drive through southern Germany. The Division smashed into Braunau am Inn, Austria, May 2nd, and the command post was set up in the house where Hitler was born.  A bridgehead across the Inn was established at Marktl, but the river was not crossed as orders came to reassemble north of Inn River, May 2nd.  Preparations were made for further advances when the war in Europe ended. The 13th remained in Germany until June 25th and left Le Havre, France, for home, July 14, 1945.

The division moved to Camp Cook, California after returning to the United States. It was training in amphibious operations at the time of the Japanese surrender.  The men were aware that it was an open secret that they were likely to participate in the invasion of Japan.  It was inactivated on November 15, 1945.

The division was reactivated in 1947, reflagged from the 19th Armored Division, which had been 'placed on rolls,' but not actually activated, during World War II.  The 19th Armored Division was eventually activated just after the war, and allotted to the Sixth Army area of the Organized Reserves (specifically California, Oregon, and Arizona).  In 1947, the 19th Armored Division was reflagged as the 13th Armored Division at California's request.   In 1952, the division was reflagged as the 63rd Infantry Division in Los Angeles, California, and thus the 13th Armored Division was finally inactivated.

Casualties

• Total battle casualties: 1,176
• Killed in action: 214
• Wounded in action: 912
• Missing in action: 16
• Prisoner of war: 3

Individual Awards

• Distinguished Service Cross: 2
• Silver Star: 6
• Bronze Star: 102