Date of birth:

January 15th, 1920 (Lafayette, Louisiana/United States)

Nationality:

American

Christopher Navarre accepted a set back in ranks from First Sergeant to Private in 1943 in order to be transferred from an Ambulance Company of the 429th Medical Ambulance Battalion to join the 761st "Black Panther" Tank Battalion. He remained with this unit until the end of the war.

Christopher Navarre was appointed as Warrant Officer in 1949 and served in the Korean War. He retired from active duty in 1963, taking a position in the Logistics Center at Ft. Lewis, Washington, until retiring in 1982.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Private

Unit:

Company C, 761st Tank Battalion, 410th Infantry Regiment, 103rd Infantry Division "Cactus Division", U.S. Army

Awarded on:

January 22nd, 1997

For gallantry in action in the European Theater of Operations between 15-23 March 1945.

Senate resolution 6885:
"Christopher Navarre and the other African-American men of the 761st spearheaded several attacks allowing General Patton's 4th Armoured Division to drive forward into Germany. He was wounded in the hand and leg while the 761st fought elements from 14 different German divisions to allow the 4th Armored Division to move through the Rhine River. Christopher assisted in destroying 23 fortified German pillboxes, and was directly responsible for destroying seven. He also helped to liberate Holocaust victims held in concentration camps at Dachau and Buchenwald."

Originally awarded a Bronze Star Medal, which was upgraded 50 years later.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Private

Unit:

Company C, 761st Tank Battalion, 410th Infantry Regiment, 103rd Infantry Division "Cactus Division", U.S. Army

Awarded on:

1997

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Private

Unit:

Company C, 761st Tank Battalion, 410th Infantry Regiment, 103rd Infantry Division "Cactus Division", U.S. Army

Awarded on:

April 10th, 2007

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Private

Unit:

Company C, 761st Tank Battalion, 410th Infantry Regiment, 103rd Infantry Division "Cactus Division", U.S. Army

• Photo: Joe Wilson via 761st Tank Battalion
  
• - Wilson Jr., J., The 761th "Black Panther" Tank Battalion in World War II, McFarland & Company, Jefferson, North Carolina, USA, 2006
  - Senate Resolution 8685, April 10, 2007
  - 761st.com
  - Vincent Navarre (son)