World War II Honoree

Floyd Dade, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Texarkana, Texas

Honored By

Edris Dade

Relationship

Wife

SERVED IN THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN TANK BATTALION THAT WAS ACTIVE FROM OCTOBER 31, 1944 TO MAY 6, 1945; 761ST TANK BATTALION, UNDER GENERAL GEORGE S. PATTON’S 3RD ARMY, EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. DURING 183 DAYS OF COMBAT, THE 761ST WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR INFLICTING THOUSANDS OF ENEMY CASUALTIES, CAPTURING, DESTROYING OR AIDING IN THE LIBERATION OF MORE THAN 30 MAJOR TOWNS, 4 AIRFIELDS, 3 AMMUNITION SUPPLY DUMPS, 461 WHEELED VEHICLES, 34 TANKS, 113 LARGE GUNS, 1 RADIO STATION AND NUMEROUS INDIVIDUAL AND CREW SERVED WEAPONS. FOUGHT AT THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE (ARDENNES) FROM JANUARY 5, 1945 TO JANUARY 9, 1945. ENGAGED THE 15TH PANZER DIVISION IN THE AREA OF TILLET, BELGIUM. THE 761ST ATTACKED AND COUNTER-ATTACKED DURING THE 5-DAY PERIOD AGAINST THE NUMERICALLY SUPERIOR FORCE IN BOTH EQUIPMENT AND PERSONNEL. JANUARY 9, 1945, CAPTURED THE TOWN. MARCH 20, 1945, BROKE THROUGH THE SIEGFRIED LINE INTO THE RHINE PLAIN ALLOWING UNITS OF THE 4TH ARMORED DIVISION TO MOVE THROUGH TO THE RHINE RIVER. THROUGHOUT THE 72-HOUR PERIOD OF ATTACK, FOUGHT 14 DIFFERENT GERMAN DIVISIONS WHILE CAPTURING OR DESTROYING 7 SIEGFRIED TOWNS, 31 PILLBOXES, 49 MACHINE GUN EMPLACEMENTS, 61 ANTI-TANK GUNS, 451 VEHICLES, 11 AMMUNITION TRUCKS, 4 SELF-PROPELLED GUNS, ONE 170MM ARTILLERY PIECE, 200 HORSES, AND ONE AMMUNITION DUMP. THE 761ST SERVED AS A SEPARATE BATTALION WITH THE 26TH, 71ST, 79TH, 87TH, 95TH AND 103RD INFANTRY DIVISIONS, THE 17TH AIRBORNE DIVISION AND IN THE 3RD, 7TH AND 9TH ARMIES FIGHTING THROUGH 6 EUROPEAN COUNTRIES AND IN FOUR MAJOR ALLIED CAMPAIGNS. LIBERATED GUNSKIRCHEN LAGER IN AUSTRIA. THE BATTALION SUFFERED AN OVERALL CASUALTY RATE OF ALMOST 50%, LOSS 71 TANKS, EXTREMELY ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, TERRAIN NOT SUITED FOR ARMOR OPERATIONS, HEAVILY FORTIFIED ENEMY POSITIONS AND UNITS, AND EXTREME SHORTAGES OF REPLACEMENT PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT.