Regimental History

WWII - Call Sign "ORCHARD"

33^rd*1 Armored Regiment

The 33rd Armored Regiment, Sunday punch of Brigadier General Truman E. Boudinot's Combat Command "B", was the second half of that massive tank battering ram which made the 3rd Armored Division famous.  Its Shermans were the first allied fighting machines to reach the Third Reich and to capture a German town.  Commanded by Colonel John C. Wellborn, veteran of North Africa and Sicily, the 33rd "Men of War" emerged from the European conflict with a brilliant reputation for fighting ability. 

The 33rd was an original "Spearhead" unit.  It was activated at Camp Beauregard, Louisiana, on April 15, 1941, by a cadre of 92 officers and 524 enlisted men from the 68th Armored Regiment (Light) of the 2nd Armored Division.  The new organization was designated the 3rd Armored Regiment (Light), until May 12, 1941, when it became the 33rd Armored Regiment (Light).  Lt. Colonel Robert W. Strong was the first commanding officer and the unit trained on a small number of the old "Mae West" light tanks. 

Early in January, 1942, the 33rd received a number of medium tanks from the disbanded 40th Armored Regiment.  The new table of organization, then put into affect, added more striking power and modernized the entire unit.

The 33rd Armored Regiment trained with the rest of the 3rd Armored Division at Camp Polk, Louisiana; Desert Center, California; Camp Pickett, Virginia; and Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania.  Early in September, 1943, the regiment sailed for Europe on the John Errickson.  Upon arrival in Great Britain, the men were stationed at Warminster, Wiltshire, England.  During nine months of pre-invasion training, they maneuvered extensively over Salisbury Plain, engaged in practise^*2 (practice) landing operations up and down the British coast, and received special courses of instruction in various subjects.

Colonel Dorrance S. Roydsen*³ led the 33rd in its baptism of fire on bloody Haut Vents, Hill 91 in Normandy.  In spite of serious losses, the combat team took the hill, was driven off, and came back to hold the ground a day later.  In their first combat, here at Haut Vents, at Point Herbert, and Belle Lande, the men of the 33rd Armored Regiment, fighting alongside other units of Combat Command "B" helped to turn back a vicious counter attack by Germany's elite Panzer Lehr Division.  During this period, Colonel Roydsen assumed command of CC "B", and Lt. Colonel L. L. Doan became regimental commander.  Later, when Brig. General Boudinout became CC "B" commander, Colonel Roydsen reverted to regimental C.O. and Colonel Doan assumed command of the 32nd Armored Regiment.

Colonel Roydsen was transferred to SHAEF on August 31, 1944.  Lt. Colonel Littleton A. Roberts then assumed command, but reverted to executive officer under Colonel John C. Welborn, two days later.  Colonel Welborn led the regiment during the remainder of the European war.

(continued in History Part II)

*1  The correct military numbering/naming conventions were not followed by the 3d Armored Division or the 33d Armor Regiment causing confusion, consternation and unnecessary bitterness among some of the 3AD WWII veterans toward General Patton and his equally infamous Third Army.  As you can see from the monograph, our regiment and the 3d Armored Division were the children of the 2d Armored Division.  Our regiment in particular owes a tremendous debt to "Hell on Wheels" for providing the cadre that was the foundation of the "Men of War".  The regiment is eternally thankful to the men of the 68th Armored Regiment, 2d Armored Division for their skill, knowledge and professionalism.  The misplaced anger for Third Army receiving credit for 3AD accomplishments should be addressed as the result of clerical errors, 3AD usage of non-standard abbreviations and failure to follow accepted Army naming conventions by the 3d Armored Division administrative personnel.    If there is a responsibility to be accepted, certain "Spearheaders" should lead the way and accept responsibility for their misguided anger and administrative errors.

^*2  Difficult English Words:  Practise / Practice   In many parts of the English speaking world (UK, Ireland, Australia, Canada, and South Africa) “practice” is the noun, “practise” the verb. However, in the U.S.A the spelling “practice” is more often used for both the noun and the verb. Contrary to popular belief a significant minority of the American population also observe the distinction. If you are not sure about what a verb or noun is, it might be safer to just use the spelling "practice", as many Americans do!   Source:  http://www.world-english.org/practise_practice.htm

^*3 "Roysden" should read "Roysdon".