Military Life
Military Experience
Raiford W Abernathy enlisted into the military on February 3rd, 1942. The combat organization that Abernathy was a part of was the 32nd Regiment 3rd Armored Division. Abernathy’s specific rank in the military was a Private and had a service number of 3413845. Abernathy entered the army when he was 26 years old. Before deciding to enlist in the military, Raiford had prior experience in the workface when he was apart of G C Everett’s Central Cash Store.
32nd Regiment of the 3rd Armored Division
The 32nd Armor Regiment was the branch of the US Army that Abernathy belonged to them. The motto of this regiment was known as “Victory or Death” and this motto was engraved onto the blazonry of the Regiment. The blazonry of the Regiment shows a red bolt resembling flames and a yellow background which is meant to represent “the striking fire-power of an armored regiment, the yellow background indicating the calvary branch of the service.”
The 32nd Armor Regiment was activated on April 15th, 1941 at Camp Beauregard, Louisiana as the 2nd Armored Regiment. On June 14th, 1941 the Regiment moved to Fort Polk Louisiana designated as training base. In July 1942, the regiment moved to the Mohave Desert to train for desert warfare.
The Regiment moved to Normandy, France in June 1944 where they were involved in fighting at Villiers-Fossard. This battle did not end until April 24th, 1945. On November 10th, 1945 the 32nd Armored Regiment was deactivated in Germany.
Battle of Villiers-Fossard
The Battle of Villiers-Fossard was deemed to be not as important as any other major battles in WWII, but it was deemed important because it gave soldiers who had never been in battle before a plunge into the action that many soldiers in the past had to experience during WW1. Many men were taught the lesson that the glory that was championed in combat was largely blown out of proportion among the general population back at home. This battle for many established the realities of war and reinforced the gravity of the WWII among many, at the time inexperienced, soldiers.
Raiford W Abernathy enlisted into the military on February 3rd, 1942. The combat organization that Abernathy was a part of was the 32nd Regiment 3rd Armored Division. Abernathy’s specific rank in the military was a Private and had a service number of 3413845. Abernathy entered the army when he was 26 years old. Before deciding to enlist in the military, Raiford had prior experience in the workface when he was apart of G C Everett’s Central Cash Store.
32nd Regiment of the 3rd Armored Division
The 32nd Armor Regiment was the branch of the US Army that Abernathy belonged to them. The motto of this regiment was known as “Victory or Death” and this motto was engraved onto the blazonry of the Regiment. The blazonry of the Regiment shows a red bolt resembling flames and a yellow background which is meant to represent “the striking fire-power of an armored regiment, the yellow background indicating the calvary branch of the service.”
The 32nd Armor Regiment was activated on April 15th, 1941 at Camp Beauregard, Louisiana as the 2nd Armored Regiment. On June 14th, 1941 the Regiment moved to Fort Polk Louisiana designated as training base. In July 1942, the regiment moved to the Mohave Desert to train for desert warfare.
The Regiment moved to Normandy, France in June 1944 where they were involved in fighting at Villiers-Fossard. This battle did not end until April 24th, 1945. On November 10th, 1945 the 32nd Armored Regiment was deactivated in Germany.
Battle of Villiers-Fossard
The Battle of Villiers-Fossard was deemed to be not as important as any other major battles in WWII, but it was deemed important because it gave soldiers who had never been in battle before a plunge into the action that many soldiers in the past had to experience during WW1. Many men were taught the lesson that the glory that was championed in combat was largely blown out of proportion among the general population back at home. This battle for many established the realities of war and reinforced the gravity of the WWII among many, at the time inexperienced, soldiers.