758th Tank Battalion (United States)

The 758th, the first armored unit whose members were African American soldiers, was formed in 1941 and served in Italy.

In March 1941 the tankers reported to Fort Knox, Kentucky, to begin armored warfare training.

Robinson was transferred to the unit from the 761st Tank Battalion after an incident in which he refused to move to the back of a bus (contracted by the military, and not requiring segregation.

The unit's insignia is the head of a black African elephant with large white tusks accompanied by the motto, "We Pierce".

The African elephant remains the insignia of the unit and has led to their nickname "The Tusker Regiment".