The 81st earned the following campaign credits: Source: U.S. Army Order of Battle: World War II by Shelby L. Stanton Combat Service Shortly after its service in California, the 81st Tank Battalion headed to Europe in July 1944 to participate in the battles for Normandy and Northern France.

It then drove to the Elbe, 45 miles from Berlin, and was engaged in mopping up German resistance in the Ninth Army sector.

The 2d Battalion was inactivated again in 1989 and then reactivated in January 1996 as a part of the 1st Armored Training Brigade at Fort Knox, Kentucky.

The battalion was constituted on 28 August 1941, as Company C, 81st Armor Regiment and activated at Fort Knox, Kentucky, on 1 October of that year.

The 707th was awarded the Luxembourg Croix de Guerre, World War II streamer, for its outstanding wartime service.

In its many forms and under various designations, 3d Battalion, 81st Armored Regiment has a long and proud history of service to our Army in time of peace and war.

[4] A Gold color metal and enamel device 1+1⁄8 inches (2.9 cm) in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned: Per fess enhanced Or and Sable, a chevron in point embowed between two fleurs-de-lis Vert and in base a battle-axe and key in saltire of the first.

The key, occurring frequently in the civic arms of the towns of Rheinprovinz (the province in which the Rhine River crossing was made and the Siegfried line breached), symbolizes the Rhineland campaign.

The battle-axe, a favorite Teutonic weapon and heraldic charge throughout the entire medieval period, signifies the Central Europe campaign.

[5] Per fess enhanced Or and Sable, in chief a chevron in point embowed between two fleurs-de-lis Vert and in base a battle-axe and key in saltire of the first.

Crest On a wreath Argent and Vert between two branches of oak Proper a tower Or charged with an escutcheon per pale Tenné and Azure and surmounted with a lion's head erased Gules.

The key, occurring frequently in the civic arms of the towns of Rheinprovinz (the province in which the Rhine River crossing was made and the Siegfried line breached), symbolizes the Rhineland campaign.

The battle-axe, a favorite Teutonic weapon and heraldic charge throughout the entire medieval period, signifies the Central Europe campaign.

The red lion's head is adapted from the Arms of the Duchy of Luxembourg and the gold tower alludes to the successful accomplishment of the unit's mission in that area in World War II.

The oak leaves symbolize honor, victory and valor and the shield, in the colors of the Luxembourg Croix de Guerre, alludes to the award of that decoration to the 81st Armor.