The American armored division was designed primarily after the much vaunted Panzer division which proved so effective in the early blitzkriegs of the German Army. Under a single command, light, medium and heavy tanks, armored infantry, self-propelled artillery and armored engineers are combined with attached units of tank destroyers and observation planes to get the maximum effective speed, mobility, armor and firepower. The armored division is a great offensive weapon usually sprung through a gap or weak spot in the enemy's lines for the purpose of creating havoc in the rear areas, dividing units, destroying communication and supply lines or attacking the flanks or rear of the enemy.

Once known as the American Army's "Show Horse," the 8th Armored Division was activated on April 1, 1942, at Ft. Knox, Kentucky. It differed from other armored divisions in that its original purpose was to train cadres which were sent out as the nuclei around which other armored divisions might be built. It trained more than 50,000 officers and men, cadres for eight other armored divisions.

On December 22, 1942, the 8th A.D. (Armored Division) moved from Ft. Knox to Camp Campbell, Kentucky.

On March 1, 1943, the 8th was given the status of a combat outfit. March 4, 1943, the 8th A.D., calling itself "The Thundering Herd," moved to North Camp Polk, Louisiana with cadre strength. There it received the green recruits which were to be molded into a fighting team. These rookies were from all walks of life, of different faiths, of diverse races -- but all Americans. Here was the famous American melting pot in action; a crucible in which varied ores were poured; and the product was a forged weapon of great strength.

From March 1943, through September 1944, a rigid routine of training, basic and advanced, was adhered to, interrupted only by maneuvers. These maneuvers were carried out during the winter months and under strongly simulated combat conditions. Eastern Texas and western Louisiana as the locale furnished excellent training grounds inasmuch as the country was sparsely populated and quite rugged, creating many problems whose solution provided much experience. In fact, there were those who were of the opinion that living conditions on maneuvers were somewhat rougher than most experienced abroad except when in actual combat.

By August 1944, it was generally believed that the 8th A.D. was going overseas. As the weeks sped by, the careful inspections, the issuing of new equipment, the hurried furloughs and finally the boxing and crating of heavy equipment in waterproof boxes convinced the final doubting Thomas that at long last "The Thundering Herd" was going on a journey of more than a few miles.

The battle of Louisiana was over.

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