Brothers in Arms

The Epic Story of the 761st Tank Battalion, WWII's Forgotten Heroes

By Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Anthony Walton

Publisher: Broadway (an imprint of Random House)
ISBN: 0385503385
Hardcover: 320 pages, 1st edition May 4, 2004
Also Available as an eBook

Overview
Brothers In Arms: The Epic Story of the 761st Tank Battalion, WWII's Forgotten Heroes tells the extraordinary story of the 761st Black Panthers, the first all-black armored unit to engage in combat during World War II. Written by NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in collaboration with acclaimed writer Anthony Walton, this powerful narrative is based on interviews with surviving members of the battalion and their descendants.

The story follows the battalion from basic training through the brutal realities of warfare, highlighting their heroic service under General Patton's Third Army during the Battle of the Bulge and across France and Germany. Despite being initially considered a public relations gesture, the men of the 761st fought for over six months under extreme conditions, facing prejudice and a casualty rate nearing 50 percent. Their courage and sacrifice helped liberate thirty towns and villages, and they were instrumental in the liberation of the Gunskirchen Lager concentration camp.

Abdul-Jabbar's personal connection to the battalion, through family friend Leonard "Smitty" Smith, a veteran of the 761st, adds a deeply personal layer to this historical account. The narrative also addresses the racial challenges faced by these soldiers both during and after the war, reflecting their enduring patriotism and dignity.

Quote from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
"I believe it is time for America to meet the men of the 761st, common men who grew to become heroes, black men who fought for a country that often hated them, stalwart men who overcame social injustice to become men of colorblind valor."