SEW ON PATCH 34TH TANK COMPANY

SEW ON PATCH 34th Tank Company.

On February 10, 1941 Brainerd’s 34th Tank Company, Minnesota National Guard, commanded by Ernest B. Miller, was Federalized and ordered to Fort Lewis, Washington for training. At Fort Lewis, the 34th Tank Company was combined with units from St Joseph, Missouri and Salinas, California and redesignated as the 194th Tank Battalion. Major Miller was appointed the battalion commander.

The 194th Tank Battalion, less Company B, was ordered to reinforce the Philippine Islands arriving in Manila on September 26, 1941. The 194th was the first Tank unit in the Far East prior to WWII. In August 1941, Company B had been reassigned to the Alaskan Defense Command. This was the first Armored unit sent outside the Continental United States.

The 194th Tank Battalion was stationed at Fort Stotsenburg near Clark Field on the Island of Luzon, where they trained until the outbreak of the war on December 7, 1941. After the invasion of the Philippines by the Japanese, the Battalion was crucial to the beleaguered defense of Luzon and the Bataan Peninsula. The 194th held vital positions throughout the Islands defense until the fall of Bataan, on April 9, 1942, when ordered to surrender by General King. For their outstanding performance of duty in action, the 194th Tank Battalion was awarded three Presidential Unit Citations.