tank destroyer battalion united_states_army active second world war activated april segregated african american unit deploying europe end attached saw action operation january elements battalion performed overall combat record marred severe disciplinary problems insufficient training withdrawn february assigned rear area duties nominally remained active remainder war effectively disbanded background army basic wartime racial policy established dictated whites african americans inducted army equal proportions strength assigned segregated units black soldiers led white officers vice versa unit composition strictly controlled mix combat support service units theory roughly equal groups caused tension department operational commanders generally unwilling provide places black combat units practice combat units pre war period white response growing pressure equal distribution white_house issued statement october segregation provided negro organizations established major branch service black armored units matter great public interest activated early black tank destroyer units formed december tank destroyer battalions treated separate arm service activated addition planned later canceled early service activated april camp tennessee battalions created year initially armed millimeters half tracks later received self propelled tank destroyer reorganized towed battalion equipped trucks anti tank guns finally returned self propelled unit equipped point constant unit receive allocation equipment time original officer replaced twice black officers white officers disbanded segregated battalions time battalion sailed overseas seen separate commanding officers unit emerged repeated poor state training inadequate unit repeatedly failing battalion tests areas combat training notably indirect fire avoided altogether discipline order unit equally low september battalion held courts murder situation dire battalion commander felt likely oversee disbanding battalion conversion non combat service unit happened number segregated tank destroyer battalions originally scheduled sent pacific theater february declared trained held preparation different unit substituted minute months great improvement quality nonetheless battalion eventually sent overseas arrived late deploying december attached 12th armored division combat portion deployed combat single company support 12th armored division december failing action company withdrawn reserve days line discipline proved problem period men abandoning guns collect despite assistance advice experienced regarded black unit operating area second company screening purposes week january seeing combat remainder battalion narrowly avoided assigned indirect fire role completely unprepared january battalion attached 12th armored division assigned participate task force led defending january german region disciplinary problems persisted company ordered lead unable deploy men absent remainder drunk time battalion managed officers shot man shot trying restore order company separate incident sergeant assaulted men defending accidentally shot following weeks saw period prolonged combat task force slowly fell pressure german offensive battalion split commands cut communication infantry units tank destroyers assigned expected operational control giving inappropriate orders suited tanks lightly armored breeding resentment battalion crews time trained expectation gunners fire direct instruction officers limited ability operate outsiders willingness adapt small scale combat vehicle commanders regularly argued orders refused act commander present case january infantry commander threatened shoot crew engage german tank stranded elements battalion suffered similar problems day january destroyed german tanks advancing village day section working nearby accounted units remained infantry village days unable withdraw acquitted close fighting achievement considered leaving disciplinary problems aside battalion suffered major training deficiencies entirely combat inexperienced member battalion awarded recommended crew fought receive unclear awarded service duties following reports disciplinary problems ordered investigation took place days elements battalion engaged recommended battalion withdrawn returning combat new commander corps commander instead recommended battalion entirely disbanded men distributed units general commanding agreed brooks suggesting new tank destroyer battalion formed men service units replaced men contentious number status segregated combat units matter intense political debate converting black combat unit service favor white troops likely controversial discussion continued battalion withdrawn lines leaving task force january returned committed combat support fighting pocket week february remainder battalion kept reserve disciplinary problems including assaults civilians grew point commander request outside assistance restore control february battalion removed attachment 12th armored february request divisional command withdrawn rear area guard duties battalion future referred controlling formation consideration debate requested investigation reopened particular focus enlisted men unit second inspection showed enlisted men broadly competent duties preferred rear area duties combat roles inspection recommended enlisted men transferred segregated infantry divisions event unit assigned headquarters service role remained nominally active avoid political fallout black combat unit equipment transferred replacements battalions battalion virtually disbanded combat unit
827th Tank Destroyer Battalion