United States Army 3rd Armored Division (Spearhead)

U. S. ARMY 3RD ARMORED DIVISION (SPEARHEAD) -  The 3rd Armored Division ("Spearhead") was an armored division of the United States Army. Unofficially nicknamed the "Third Herd", the division was first activated in 1941, and was active in the European Theater of World War II.  The division was stationed in West Germany for much of the Cold War, and participated in the Persian Gulf War. On January 17, 1992, in Germany, the division ceased operations.  In October 1992, it was formally deactivated as part of a general drawing down of forces at the end of the Cold War.

At the height of the battle, the 3rd Armored Division included 32 battalions and 20,533 personnel.  It was the largest coalition division in the Gulf War and the largest U.S. armored division in history.  In its moving arsenal were 360 Abrams main battle tanks, 340 Bradley Fighting Vehicles, 128 self-propelled 155 mm howitzers, 27 Apache attack helicopters, 9 multiple-launch rocket systems, and more.

During the ground war, 3rd AD destroyed hundreds of Iraqi tanks and vehicles, and captured more than 2,400 Iraqi prisoners.  Fifteen members of the 3rd AD were killed between December 1990 and late February 1991.

In 1991, Division Historian Dan Peterson, comparing the performance of the division in World War II and Desert Storm stated "History does always repeat itself. 3rd Armored Division was the Spearhead in both wars."  Following the war, 3rd Armored Division was one of the first units rotated to Camp Doha, Kuwait, providing protection to Kuwait as it rebuilt.

Casualties

• Total battle casualties: 9,243
• Killed in action: 1,810
• Wounded in action: 6,963
• Missing in action: 104
• Prisoner of war: 366

Individual awards

• Distinguished Service Crosses – 17
• Legions of Merit – 23
• Silver Stars – 885
• Soldiers Medal – 32
• Bronze Stars – 3,884
• Purple Hearts – in excess of 10,500
• Air Medals – 138
• Distinguished Flying Crosses – 3