Unit History - 1st Armored Division
Records: 35
Soon after the activation of the 1st Armored Division at Fort Knox on July 15, 1940, its first commander, Major General Bruce R. Magruder, began searching for an appropriate nickname for the division. From a painting of the USS Constitution he noted its nickname, “Old Ironsides”. Impressed with the parallel between the early development of the tank and the Navy’s “Old Ironsides” spirit of daring and durability he decided the 1st Armored Division should also be named “Old Ironsides.” Thus a famous warship of the US Navy and the famous 1st Armored Division of the US Army are historically and appropriately welded by name “Old Ironsides.”
Source Information
"Group Records - 1st Armored Division" database with images Fold3 (https://www.fold3.com/publication/1039/unit-history-1st-armored-division: accessed May 21, 2022)
- Publication Title
- Unit History - 1st Armored Division
- Total Records
- 35
- Content Source
- Published on Fold3
- 07 Aug 2019
- Last Updated
- 07 Aug 2019
- Description
- Members of the 1st Armored Division share their history and experiences through photos, scrapbooks, memorials, and personal memoirs. Some donated books containing valuable information regarding individuals and unit histories may also be part of this collection.