807th TANK^ DESTROYER BAT17VLION mhrn^m W^M - SEPTEMBER 1945 A MESSAGE FROM THE BATTALION COMMANDER

l\s wc look back on those once familiar places in England, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Germany and Austria ice find that niany bare already .slipped from our memory. We become absorbed in the jiresent and plan for the future, as tbose names, faces and events quickly fade into the past.

This little book is intended as an aid to keep alive those memories and to recall the many events and places that made the history in ivbich you played such an important part. ^

This history can not be complete. Thousands of individual experiences wiU^ remain untold and many acts of heroism will go unheralded. Much was lost with those tc'ho gave their all and did not come back to tell their story. • • - ' .,' •

Records, awards and citations for- over two hundred days of effective andrcoura- geous combat speak for themselves. Little more can be said. I am proud to have been your Battalion Commander.

LIEUT. COL.. F.A., Commanding «3 A JOB OF WHICH WE ALL CAN BE PROUD

Member s of the 807th Tank De• Haguenau which spelt finis for the stroyer Battalion may well be proud German drive in ,Alsace; supporting of the role they played in bringing of the Ninth Army's gigantic Rhine the European War to a speedy finish. River crossing south of Wessel; the No matter what the mission, and defense of the Rhine River crossings these were many and varied, the between Wessel and Duisberg; and manner in which these tasks were last, but not least, the speedy pur• carried out, bore out the fruits of the suit through Bavaria into Austria many tedious months of training and with the 86 th Blackhawk Division preparation in the States. In every which terminated with the end of instance the job was well done organized resistance to our allied because each man did his part and armies. made for the smooth teamwork which is so essential to successful re• The two battle stars which the sults. It was gratifying to know that, unit is entitled to wear do not begin without exception, every com• to tell the story of the battalion's mander of units under which we role in the European War. Had our served was free in his praise of the landing on French soil been three splendid manner in which the bat• days prior to September 18, 1944, talion operated. Too much cannot be the Battle of Northern France would said of the long string of successful have been another star to our credit; operations. The Moselle River opera• and had we been a few more miles tions under Task Force Polk; the to the north during the Bastogne Moselle crossing with the 95 th Divi• breakthrough even a fourth star sion's 3 78th Infantry Regiment; the would have been added. But it seems brilliant spearheading of Task Force that fate, or call it what you will, Bacon into the fortress city of Metz; ordained that two stars and only two the speedy drive to the Saar River would be our lot. However, we can and the attacking of the Siegfried always look back on our record — Line; the staunch defense of the Saar the long vigil along the Moselle, bridgehead during the gloomy days Metz, Saarlautern, Haguenau, the of the Bastogne breakthrough just Rhine River crossings, the Bavarian north of our position; the sealing pursuit, and be proud that wherever of the Moder River defenses around or whenever we were called we were

2. AN IMPRESSIVE RECORD

ready and never failed to accomplish ably killed many hundreds more— the mission. Yes, two battle stars can knocked out four enemy tanks in• hardly begin to tell the story of your cluding a MK VI Tiger, two MK V gallant fighting in France, Holland, Panthers and a MK IV—destroyed Germany and Austria. three combat vehicles and fourteen Remember, inactivation does not general purpose vehicles, fourteen mean the dropping of the name of flak guns, seven 8 8mm guns, eighteen the 807th Tank Destroyer Battalion machine gun positions, five pillboxes, from the official records as it would and even shot down one observation have been had the unit been de• plane—and assisted the infantry in activated. The facts will always bear causing the surrender of Forts Yutz, out your deeds. You can well be Illange, Julian and Bellecroix. Dur• proud that you were a member of ing all this fighting the battalion was the 807th Tank Destroyer Battalion. fortunate in sustaining relatively A grand bunch of men from every light losses—twenty men killed, and section of the United States—who eighty men wounded, more than half fought in unison as one great team. of whom returned to duty. In all, Though the men are scattered to the over 2,5 00 miles of European soil far reaches of our vast country, the was ground under the wheels and spirit of the 807th Tank Destroyer tracks of the rapidly moving 8 07th Battalion will always live on. Tank Destroyer Battalion.

The numerous attachments and During the eight months of active assignments attest to our claim of combat in the ETO the battalion the most rapidly shifting outfit in the fired the staggering figure of 63,62 5 ETO. At one time or another the rounds of three-inch service ammu• battalion was part of the First, nition and 811 rounds of 76mm serv• Third, Seventh and Ninth Armies; ice ammunition — captured over XX, XV, VI, XVI, III and XXI Corps; 3,186 German prisoners of war, or 8 3rd, 95th, 5th, 90th, 100th, 3 5th, about six prisoners for each man in 75th, 3 0th and 8 6th Infantry Divi• the battalion—assisted the infantry sions; 101st and 17th Airborne Divi• in capturing many hundreds more sions; 3rd Cavalry Group; and 4th, —killed 85 of the enemy and prob• 12th and 16th T. D. Groups! STAFF 807th TANK DESTROYER BATTALION

Lieut. Col. Carlton K. Smith Commanding Officer Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Major Stanley R. Sheppard . Executive Officer Pensauken, New Jersey

Major Alexander Woodside S-3 Berkeley/ California

Captain Jerome Cohen S-2 San Francisco, Californio

Captain Albert J. Vogel S-4 McKee's Rocks, Pennsylvania

Lieut. Joseph J. Burns ^ S-1 Albany, New York

Lieut. William R. Barr . . . Motor Officer Derry, Pennsylvania

0Idtimer s will also remember our first Battalion Commander, Lieut. Col., now Colonel, Mathews; Major Wood J. Joerg, later Lieut. Col., killed in action while commanding an airborne bat• talion in the Ardennes; Major Harry J. Rainey, who succeeded Col. Mathews; Capt. Crandall, Capt. Smeltzer, Capt. Gustafson and Capt. Math is; and Capt. McGinnis, who left the battalion in Germany with an attack of appendicitis. HEADQUARTERS SECTION

T Handstad got the boys paid until he got too saturated

Ihe history of Headquarters Section has been one of and then Hcchard went to work. Ik'nlield never said many changes. The names of First Sergeants are long— much nor did Jasinski, but they were always reliable. Woods, De Poisterre, Palmer, Oatman, Lassiter. Most of the men remember S/Sgt. Alexander as the Supply Ser• The olficers came and went too. There were Capt. geant, but there were others such as Darville and Myers. Erkilla, Capt. Smeltzer, Capt. Olesen, and Capt. Stein as

Could anyone forget the mess—H. D. Wilson was the Commanding Oilicer. Some men may remember others

Mess Sergeant for quite a time but no (jne will ever too, but Lieuts. Ravely, Rasch, Vogel, and Mr. Zeigler forget S/Sgt. Lenz, one of the best cooks that ever will be remembered by most all men. Then too, there cooked in an Army Mess. No one will ever forget the was Lt. Riffel; you couldn't forget "Willie the Rabbit." baking that he put out to try to keep the boys happy.

Finally he became our Mess Sergeant and he kept up Perhaps there are a few names that have been omitted the good work. Drozd, Abies, Marshall, Dover, Pena, but they will not be forgotten. All these men traveled a

Armstrong and Ramos, were the old standbys in the long way together, have had fun, have been cold and kitchen with Lenz. miserable, have been scared and have been brave. They

T/Sgt. Zeich was doing the motor work with Dono- all are entitled to the best and everyone hopes they hue, Jones and Duris—they kept the vehicles rolling. will get it. was taken by Alburton Cook, who remained in that staff Platoon capacity until the date of inactivation.

May of 1942 saw the beginning of Headquarters Com• Early in October of 1942, the 807th was ordered to pany. The nucleus of this company was composed of Camp Hood, Texas, for Advanced Unit Training. This personnel originating from the 826th Tank Destroyer was one of the most hectic and trying periods ever ex• Battalion who came to Camp Cooke, California, early perienced by the organization. Barracks were still under in March for the purpose of activating the 807th Tank construction, administration and supply bogged under Destroyer Battalion. heavy and inconsistent pressure—by too many higher This fog shrouded garrison with its olive drab build• echelons in AUTC and TDRTC; training reached al• ings seemed to strike an ominous chord within the most a stage of frenzy; passes and furloughs were few hearts of all who first set eyes upon it. Upon first sight and negligible in length. This came, at a time when the foreboding atmosphere of Camp Cooke seemed to America first began to move aggressively in all theaters. parallel the dark uncertain future of the United States. Having completed advanced unit training the Bat• As days and weeks passed soldiers of the 807th Tank talion moved by motor convoy on the 7th of February, Destroyer Bn. became familiar with neighboring towns 1943 to its new station at Camp Gruber, Oklahoma. of Lompoc, Santa Maria and Santa Barbara. Camp Cooke L'pon leaving Camp Hood the 807th also left behind began to change. Instead of a far corner of desolation it a cadre for the activation of another Tank Destroyer took on the appearance of "The Home Town," the un• Battalion. More vacancies were created. Sgt. Young was tarnished memories of a birthplace and community taken from the Personnel Section and left behind as where the younger years have been happily passed. For Sergeant Major. Tec. 5 Richard Thoene was transferred in fact, here was born an organization which in later from Reconnaissance Company and placed in the va• years travelled under adverse weather and hostile condi• cancy. Subsequently Thoene was made Technical Ser• tions, an equivalent of the distance around the globe. It geant and has remained to the end with the 807th as was not in destiny for the 8G7th to return to Camp Personnel Sergeant Major through all of the various Cooke upon the day of inactivation. phases of maneuvers, overseas, and combat duties.

In charge of the original cadre was able M/Sgt. Frank Camp Gruber, Oklahoma, was memorable for early Azevedo. Behind him were years of knowledge and ex• spring floods of the Arkansas River, the mtense stilling perience with the Army. He was in all probability ihe hca; of summer, and the easily accessible western towns first member of the Staff Platoon which materialized two of Muskogee, Tulsa, and Okmulgee. Early September months later. Sgt. Azevedo handling the cadre which found the 807th ready for participation in the tamed was to form all companies welded a link of friendship Louisiana Maneuvers. and teamwork among these soldiers that has lasted until Upon departure from Camp Gruber for Louisiana by the day inactivation dissolved this combination. motor convoy the S-3 Section lost Technical Sergeant The heavy demand for officers in all branches of Malozemoff. S-3 Clerk Joseph Espy was shot into this service was cause for rapid changes in members of the vacancy and efficiently managed all subsequent plans Staff Platoon. Technical Sergeant Bliss was the first of and operations through Louisiana Maneuvers, Desert four Personnel Sergeant Majors. Sgt. Bliss accepted ap• Maneuvers, Garrison in Fort Dix, and the ETO. pointment to Field Artillery OCS at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Pilot Knob in California was a proving ground. For Technical Sergeant Cox fell heir to the vacancy created almost five months running the 807th lived in the field. in Personnel, but only for a short time when he too ac• A well earned respite from two consecutive maneuvers cepted appointment to TD OCS at Camp Hood, Texas. was given the organization upon its arrival at Fort Dix, Technical Sergeant Roe Young then handled the Per• where six months passed before going overseas to sonnel position. Europe. S-4, with its many departments causing it to be the In France, during the early part of November, 1944, first section to operate upon activation, and the last to circumstances caused the loss of Technical Sergeant cease upon inactivation, has experienced almost as many McKiddy from the S-2 Section. Fortunately an able and changes as has Personnel. Technical Sergeant Gus Tapp, efficient replacement was available in Technical Sergeant Cadreman from the 826th was the first Battalion Supply Gerald Woods who had previously occupied that posi• Sergeant. He too heeded the government's call for Officer tion in the recently inactivated 608th TD Bn. His in• Candidates and proceeded to TD OCS at Camp Hood. exhaustible initiative and perseverance gained for that 'Willis Horning, Technical Sergeant, stepped into the Section an unbeatable reputation for reliability upon its vacancy just long enough to submit his application for primary functions. Officer training and have it approved. Then, S-4 Sergeant CWO Morris J. Lattman, Platoon Leader, came to the 8C)7tli at (~amp Cirubcr, Oklalioma. 11 is position as Per under the supervision of Lt. Halliburton, jr. Within a sonnel Olliccr of tiie Battalion became more esteemed siiort time men like Robert Darville, Orland Moore, day by day tlirotigii his tireless cllorts both diiniii; gar• Oscar F.ngcii, Roland Squyres, Ben George and Smith rison and during combat in controlling the administra• joined the section. The training at Camp Cooke was tion of the Battalion. mostly (".W. with very little 'Voice Procedure; as yet most of us liad never seen a radio. In Tec. 5 Eugene Coin, Tec. 4 Troy Davis, Tec. 5 William Rushing. Tec. 5 Edward Parks, Tec. -i Benjamin At C!amp Hood, Texas wc drew our tirst radios, a Howling, Tec. 5 Dan Austell, were fotmd the idealistic few S.C.R. 6i0s. We also had more C.W. and classes qualities of men capable of handling any and all phases in voice procedure while here. While here Charles Ervin of intricate Army administration. Their contribution to attended Communications School and then entered our the success of the Battalion in all of its phases of ex• section. He proved to be a very good man. Here we istence cannot be over-emphasized. lost Smith and Brown, who were transferred to another battalion. Sgt. Leon Davis and S/Sgt. Harold Trenkel and Tec. 5 Orlo Lang, became famous through the characteristic of At Camp Gruber, Oklahoma, Bernard A. Jacobs, P. W. punctuajity. Sgt. Davis with the rations and Sgt. Trenkel Baker, James L. Griffeth, Dan W. Austell and George P. with the ammunition and Tec. 3 Lang with gas and oil Fries, who were just finishing basic training, entered the never failed to complete a mission regardless of adverse Section. Orlo Lang, another new man was transferred weather, or enemy opposition, or both. To these men from "A" (Company. With the exception of Lang, these who traveled constantly under the cloak of uncertainty men have stayed with the section up until the present a great debt is owed. time. Wiley and Moudry were with us at Camp Gruber but Wiley went to the Air Corps and Moudry was Radio Operators Tec. 4 Oscar Engen, Tec. 5 Alonzo discharged due to bad health. We had a lot of practical Sears, and Tec. 5 James Griffeth, performed at all times training here with the S.C.R. 610th, 608s and 245s in• as men whose sense of duty overrides all other desires. cluding many field problems. Theirs is an unsung lot. Hours upon hours, regardless of weather or hostile territory, these men kept the ether At Camps Gruber and Hood we suffered many in• waves open night and day. Their skill was the eyes and spections uniler the supervision of Lt. Paul P. Prunty, ears of the Battalion. who timk iharge of the Section in Camp Hood but was transferred to C" (.Company at Camp Gruber. Tec. 5 Earle Payne, Tec. 5 Richard Rossman, Tec. ."^ Lt. Vogel uas then placed in charge and proved himself Milton Flowers, PFC Ira Wagner, PFC Jamus Bratton, very capable as Communications officer. PEG Everrette Sprinkle, and PFC Floyd Engstrom, all The first j(;b of Comnumications overseas at Llanover drivers, were never hesitant and always ready. Day or Park, Wales, was that of running a commercial switch• night would find tliein upon the roads—-roads that board. All of the boys took quite an interest in it, too, weren't always cleared of mines, roads that very fre• because tnere were quite a few English girl operators on quently came under heavy enemy artillery fire. In com• different lines to talk with. Many men not in the Section bat or maneuvers these are the men who bore the brunt even volunteered to help. Talking with the girls proved of all movement in a strictly mechanized and highly to be a favorite pastime. mobile unit of the Army. While in England we drew all our equipment and it Tec. 5 Eugene Sentowski, draftsman in the S-3 Section was really quite a job getting it mounted on the vehicles. was the only battle loss suffered by the Staff Platoon. Two certain fellows, one from Georgia and one from Sentowski was killed early in January in Saarlautern, Pennsylvania made five 150-mile trips to get one radio mounted in a jeep. Of course they took a little extra Germany. Gene was a nice, quiet, likeable Polish boy time off to "bat the breeze," doubtless because the from Chicago. He was a friend of all who knew him and "scenery" was so pleasant along the way. an expert in his line of work. His name will live forever in the hearts and minds of his buddies and his memory Our first combat experience took place one cold rainy night about the 23rd of September, 1944 in France cherished as one of our honored dead who gave his The wire crews and M.C. crews had to set up a Message life for his country. Center and a field switchboard. The first operators were Private Jacob Goldman and Private Daniel Feick. They Communications Platoon • . sat all night in the rain running the switchboard. It was wet and every time they would turn the crank they'd get The first man in Communications was T/Sgt. James L. a big shock. Feick was wanting to see his "Momm.y" al• Helms, who was later transferred to the Air Corps while ready and was really hard to get along with the next at Camp Gruber, Oklahoma. Alonzo F. Sears was the day. Goldman didn't have much to say. Everyone had to first private to join the section which at that time was have a nickname so Feick was tagged with "Light Duty." Goldman was given the name of "Flat Bush Johnny." Germans liad were really the .stuff. Tiiey saved us from digging fox holes and were much dryer and warmer too. In the beginning the Communications section was sup• posed to be composed of M.C. personnel, two radio elec• Both men and equipment were utilized to the utmost. tricians and a few radio operators. Instead of radio The wire crew worked all night on quite a few occasions, operators and electricians the entire crew became wire- lying in shell holes and ditches splicing phone lines men. The wire crew consisted of T/Sgt. Robert Darville, while sparks from shells were flying all around. The two T/4 George (Good Buddy) Fries, T/5 Griffeth (Griff), vehicles used by the wire crew, a ^/i-ton truck driven and T/5 Ralph (Wormy) Miller. We had quite a time by T/5 Miller and a jeep driven by T 5 Griffeth, were laying wire. The battalion was only authorized a few really put through the ropes. miles of wire but Capt. Vogel (then 1st Lt.) kept the The battalion says "thanks" for a swell job to the ball rolling by talking his way into specially authorized men of the Communication section: allowances so that there was always enough on hand to T/Sgt. Robert Darville, Port Arthur, Texas; S.^Sgt. do the work. We had phone lines strung all over France, Cleo Henncman, Dubois, Pennsylvania; Sgt. Orland A. Belgium, Holland, Germany and Austria. Moree, Powderly, Texas; Sgt. Oscar F. Engen, Presho, . After a couple of months T/5 P. W. Baker joined South Dakota; Sgt. George P. Fries, Salisbury, North wire communications. He was Capt. Stein's boy before Carolina; Cpl. Alonzo Sears, Houston, Missouri; Cpl. then. Bernard A. Jacobs, Carrolton, Georgia; Cpl. P. W. Baker, In Saarlautern, Germany, the Communications crew Rome, Georgia; Cpl. James L. Griffeth, Bogort, Georgia; moved into a big fancy Kraut house that had almost all Cpl. Ralph Miller, Granite Falls, North Carolina; Cpl. the comforts of home. Nice inner-spring mattresses were Orlo Lang, Waseca, Minnesota; PFC Jacob Goldman, fixed up in the large basement. Wire was strung so that Brooklyn, New York; PFC Daniel L. Feick, Detroit, we had a radio and electric lights. We took our choice Michigan; PFC James E. B.dlard, Tuscaloosa, Alabama; of anything in the town that we liked. There was a Eric M. Adams, Dothan, Alabama. modern kitchen in the house and we did our cooking there for a long time. T/5 Ralph Miller and T/5 James Griffeth were the Chief Cooks. If no phone lines were Transportation Section . . . out in the early morning we slept late and had breakfast The Transportation section will be remembered for its late so we wouldn't have to cook again till about seven unfailing and tireless efforts in getting supplies up for• at night. If there were lines out, OhI! Our Aching ward despite rain, mud, snow, bad roads, artillery fire, Backs! We had to get out and fix them before breakfast. and countless other obstacles that invariably made life There was a lot of good looting in Saarlautern and miserable for the faithful and gallant men of this section. Privates First Class James (Chateau) Ballard and Jacob Though battle lionors are not tiie lot of the Transporta• (Flat Bush) Goldman really got their part of it. tion crew, the combat echelons could not liave moved Big T/5 Orlo (Smuck) Lang did a pretty good job one inch nor shot a single round had it not been for of going back to Bouzonville, France, every day for the the work of these men. Thanks to; maiL Other than that he sat around on his big fanny Sgt. Johnny "Pig" Lucas . .? eating, if there was anything other than "C" rations to eat. T/5 Harvey Harrel Corporal Bernard (Nubbin) Jacobs, the Code and T/5 Fabian "Goobler" Cobb Panel Cpl., didn't have to worry about panels much but PFC George "Stooge" Doyle he had plenty coding and decoding to keep him busy. T/5 Leslie "Skeets" Walker Private Wade (Hatchet) Childers and Private Ronnie T/5 Francis "Rooten TooT' Rittenhouse Wilson really did a good job as motorcycle mes.sengers T 5 George "Rossic" Cansler until the weather got so bad they couldn't operate the bikes. They had to make the trips in jeeps from, there on. T/5 Glenn Hass An officer really boosted our morale one night just T/5 Ben George after one wireman had been killed by a shell burst. He PFC Hazen "Soupy" Wilson told; us that a mortar shell wouldn't go through the PFC William "Chubby" Haynes canvas top of our % ton truck. We almost had to laugh right in his face. On another occasion a shell hit just out• PFC Charles Clough .' side our window and broke every glass in the house. We PFC Gaither Vanhoy were all sitting around playing cards and listening to PFC Stacy Leicht the radio and Orland Moree was running the switch• A PFC John Holden board. We all ran over each other getting to tiie base• ment. It all happened so fast that after it was over no PFC Wade "Hachet" Childers one could tell how they got there. Those basements the PFC Guy "Goon" Lane BATTALION SHOP

The 807th batwhon shop came into being under the training there, we left for Louisiana Maneuvers. Lt. Barr supervision of Captain Levy as Motor Oliicer and Master succeeded Captain Olesen as Motor Officer while at Sergeant Ziech as battahon Motor Sergeant. Of the Camp Gruber, Oklahoma and remained there until we original staff of twenty-one mechanics, only three now were shipped overseas. remain to see the final inactivation of the unit. These men are Staff Sergeant Clouse, T/4 Joseph (Clarence) Overseas the battalion shop continued its all import• Borba, and T''5 (Swede) Johnson. At Camp Hood, Lt. ant work despite the hazardous conditions. At Saar• Olesen became our next motor officer and remained with lautern, Germany, the incessant artillery shelling made us until elevated to Company Commander of Head• work virtually impossible, so the battalion shop was quarters Company. moved back to Bouzonville, France. But even here the Heinies managed to drop in some 380mm shells fired At Camp Gruber, Oklahoina we received shipment from one of their many large railway guns. ^ of our new M-10 Tank Destroyers. These tanks were the latest and best of Tank Destroyer equipment. Thereafter Men of the shop crew can well be proud of their fine work became plentiful with a lot of motor maintenance record in keeping the battalion mobile at all times and during our months of training. At the completion of our under all conditions. Crew members included:

M/Sgt. Oswald N. Sloan T/5 John L. Wilson

S/Sgt. Eugene I. Clouse T/S Donald J. Johnson

T/4 Edward T. Maiurek T/5 A. C. McNelly

T/4 James E. Hoskins T/5 Krikor Gulezian .V -

T/4 Curtis G. Clayton T/5 Gran Hanson

T/4 Gerald R. Myers T, 5 Raymond F. Wasser

T/4 John P. Rees T/5 James P. Fields

T/4 Milford O. Johnson T/5 Leroy Miller

T/4 George G. Blackburn T/5 William F. Jones

T/4 Joseph C. Borba T/5 Steve Duris

T/4 James J. Utiey PFC Nat Tarsi

T/4 George E. Yetter PFC Robert E. Cauffman

T/4 Leo C. Donahue Pvt. George W. English

In closing let us not forget the yeoman service of T/5 Glen A. Yoder, who from the very beginning of the battalion

has day in and day out so faithfully and efficiently executed the duties of battalion mail orderly. RECONNAISSANCE COMPANY

At this writing. Reconnaissance Company has come a when Glenn Smith, Allen Edwards, and Troy Tolbert long way from the early days after the activation of the were killed by artillery fire. During the following few battalion. At that time the latest tank-busting weapon in days, Lt. John "Vader, then reconnaissance coordinator, the company was the towed .37mm gun. The old type, and one of the best liked officers in the battalion, was clumsy scout car was the main reconnaissance vehicle. As killed while attempting to make contact with another improvements were made and newer models were pro• unit. duced, Recon worked and studied -.vith them until, when From the vicinity of (jttenom the two platoons pro• the time came to prove its worth, the unit, two platoons ceeded to Thionville to be attached to the 95th Division included with Headquarters company, was ready. with Task Force liacon. From this position they pushed From that time we begin our story. across the Mo.selle and then south and were among ihj The first round fired by the Reconnaissance Platoons first vinits to enter Metz, the city which hadn't been suc• in combat sounded off on September 29, 1944. From cessfully attacked in alinost two thou.sand years. that time on, Recon was to establish a record of persever• After a three-day rest during the Th.mksgiving holi ance and fighting fortitude that will long be remem• days, the platoons moved on zo Saarlautern and took up bered. a holding action until some time in January. Lt. Toole Things were pretty quiet for a few days after their described Christmas Eve as being "pretty hot," even if combat debut until, on the 11th of October a 60-man it was wintertime. He continued, "We spent the night enemy patrol was encountered and they had the first in what was left of a tobacco factory, drinking coffee and direct contact with the foe. The unit was with the ad• trying not to think about the Kraut shells coining in. We vance elements of Task Force Polk at the time, attached sure could have used some good cellars that nightl New to the 43rd Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop in the Moselle Year's Eve it was a lot more quiet than the week be• River town of Cattenom. fore." The following day probably the most outstanding On New Year's Day, Jim Taylor managed to get hold single act of heroism in the battalion was accomplished of a bottle of cognac to celebrate the holiday. "It was by PFC Joe Stefan when he saved the lives of four men good stuff, too!" he says. In keeping with the spirit of trapped in a house in the town under small arms fire the occasion, he started down the street with the un• and a stream of hand grenades. Stefan stayed with his opened bottle in hand to share it with "the boys." He machine gun for four long hours in spite of continuous had gone only a few yards when the Krauts opened up jamming of the weapon while he too was being sub• with their 88's. One shell hit a roof directly above, show• jected to a hail of snipers' bullets from houses nearby. ering him with bricks and mortar. Well, as you've al• Joe finally beat off the attack and for this feat he ready guessed, the priceless bottle of cognac was smashed was awarded the Croix de Guerre by the French gov• to smithereens. Jim was injured by the debris but told ernment and the Silver Star by our own "War Depart• us, "I was more concerned at the time about the damn ment. He was the only man in the battalion to receive a liquor than I was about the pile of bricks on top of me." foreign decoration. The Haguenau sector was the next scene of action but The next day Joe was wounded during another attack from that time on, and after joining the 9th Army in and never rejoined the battalion after being hospitalized. the north, the drive to the Rhine was steady and un• At the same time Recon suffered its first casualties eventful. With the conversion from towed gtins to tiie M-18's darker that night, we lost contact with the enemy. We in the gun companies, the present Reconnaissance Com• went on all that night, until about three o'clock the next pany was formed on April 5, 1945. morning when we suddenly met head-on with a Ger• A few days later, Lt. Toole and the men in his vehicle man convoy coming toward us." There Lt. Sentes stopped suddenly came upon several German foot troops one talking but the outcome of the situation was that the afternoon. Platoon Sergeant Claude Romack tells the platoon knocked out three enemy vehicles, forced them story: back, and succeeded in capturing intact a heavily mined "In the excitement that followed this unexpected en• bridge across the Isar River. counter with the Germans, Lt. Toole started firing away The second platoon also captured—or brought about with the 37mm. He had plenty of small arms ammuni• the capture of close to 500 prisoners. Sgt. Verheul also tion and H. E. shells but for some reason, he grabbed told of their releasing about a hundred Allied prisoners all the A. P. rounds. The Germans scrambled back be• from one of the many concentration camps they came hind a low embankment and began to wave both arms upon in Germany. He said they watched the gaunt and legs in an attempt to surrender. The lieutenant had emaciated men trying to help each other to walk as they them pinned down so completely, they couldn't do any• came out of the prison enclosure. Sgt. Verheul said it thing else. In the meantime, Jim Dillingham was plead• was one of the most pitiful sights he witnessed over ing with me to let him fire his carbine. Finally, we let there. up long enough for those Krauts to come out with their The boys in the third platoon point with pride to the hands Over their heads." Incidentally, Romack says that fact that for a while they fonned a spearhead for the his first platoon captured over 750 prisoners during the entire 3rd Army. "The Stars and Stripes" reported at the final drive. time that the most advanced elements of the 3rd Army Elmer Lytle described the thrill when the first platoon were situated in Ingolstadt, which the third pLitoon had contacted the 7th Army. They were moving along with just taken. Under the most commendable leadership of the doughboys of the 86th Division when a report came Lt. James "Armor-plate" Wilson and Platoon Sergeant back that a tank had been sighted ahead but had not Lester Frederick, winner of the Silver Star award, the been recognized. They immediately sought out a Colonel platoon forced the capture of more than 700 prisoners. from the Division who informed them that "it couldn't In Ingolstadt, Ben Lubelsky had about thirty-five Ger• be one of ours." The boys started out to do a little tank mans in tow when the Heinies started throwing in an busting and moved up with Howard Sumner in the lead artillery barrage. Ben, while trying to keep the group to get a better look. Peering around the corner of a together, began to direct them in his best high school building they at once recognized the Yank insignia. In• German to a shelter a few buildings away. He was vestigating further, they learned that the tank was from astonisiicd wlien one of the Krauts explained hurriedly the 7th Army. It was the first contact made with them. —and in perfect English!—that he knew of .i shorter In Altmuhlhof a funny incident happened—rather it way to the same shelter. After the Kraut l^^i led the wasn't so humorous at the time, but later on the inen group to safety—with Ben in tow this time—he ex- concerned had a laugh over it. Sergeant Romack had five plainetl liiat he had lived in New Ycjrk Cit)' for several men with him and was scoiumg around in the town years prior to the war. looking for German stragglers and expecting to find One day Serguant Arnold Marx w.is directed to look "maybe half a dozen or so," he explained. They came up over a town that had already been reported as taken. to a fortification and saw a couple of Krauts inside, With Johnny Purdue and Oley "Hedgerows" Olsson, he cautiously looking out. Sgt. Romack called to them to took off in a jeep down the main street of the town. come out and surrender. Then the procession started! Suddenly he realized something was wrong, for there When it ended at last, the six dumbfotinded men had was no evidence of a surrender and the place lotjked 341 prisoners on their hands. But that wasn't all. It deserted. Just to make sure, Sgt. Marx went back to turned out that the Germans had been guarding an guide the platoon in and, after making everything se• Allied PW enclosure in the vicinity and the record later cure, learned from the then solicitous civilians that they showed that their capture resulted in the liberation of were the first Yanks to arrive. over 9,000 Allied Prisoners of War. Cpl. Dave Ivanec was proclaimed "overseer of special Our second platoon proved to be a modest group when rations." He acc]uired the title when one day he found they were approached to provide some noteworthy inci• a warehouse full of choice cuts of beef. While the other dents for this history. Lt. Joseph Sentes, our official cut- platoons contented themselves with C-rations, the third up (the censor, of course!) and Platoon Sergeant "Verne platoon feasted on steak. 'Verheul were extremely reticent about the whole thing. One of the many outstanding achievements of the You've all heard the saying that "actions speak louder battalion was the capture by the third platoon of six than words." Nothing could be more true than this about enemy towns within eighty minutes during one of the the "fighting second." last days of the war. One incident, for example, that we succeeded in draw• Sergeant Chris Swanson of the Pioneer platoon won ing our of them concerned the time when they started the nickname of "Fearless Fosdick" during the brief out at seven o'clock one morning to continue the "Rat battle on the Danube. The Pioneers had gone up to the race" that was then in progress. Lt. Sentes said, "We river to repair the entrance to a bridge. Shortly after didn't know what was ahead of us that morning but we they had unloaded all the tools necessary to begin work, decided to find out. We rode all day long, with the Ger• the Germans began "zeroing in" with direct fire from mans retreating only a short distance ahead of us. Wc an 88inm. When things started to get a little hot, Chris stopped just long enough for a little chow, but as it grew jumped up in the middle of the road in the excitement and exclaimed dramatically, "no Heinle is going to drive noitering for new positions, with his driver, Mallard me back!" This courageous remark is herewith recorded Jackson and Company Interpreter and Mailman Maurice for posterity. "Pinky" Pinsky, he went into and took charge of towns Lawrence Franklin was just wondering at the time that had never been entered by our troops. Many times whether the Heinies were going to drive HIM back Captain Slusser exposed himself unnecessarily to the when a shell landed close by and the concussion caused enemy so that he could better direct his men. his nose to start bleeding. It was a "close one" but Much credit is due 1st Sergeant Harry Tryon. Sergeant Franklin refused medical aid, the job was completed and Tryon was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds re• the Pioneers had come through once again. ceived in action—a rarity among 1st Sergeants. On one Even the kitchen crew was right up there pitching occasion while two platoons of the Company were wait• all the while. The story of Ed Litwhiler, "The fighting ing in a tavern before moving on, Harry served as bar• cook," is the proof. When the kitchen crew pulled up tender for most of the day, dispensing the best German one day and began to start housekeeping. Lit decided to brew he could find. Harry was considered by all as a look around in the cellar of the house. He doesn't know "regular guy," which is an unusual reputation for the who saw whom first but he came upstairs with his car• "top-kick." bine trained on a Heinle. Later, he proved to be an Before wc conclude this history, we feel it couldn't S.S. man, too. be complete without a brief mention of the fair city of Then there was the tiine when the kitchen truck was Hockenheiin—but then YOU know about that, too. In spearheading the 86th Division with Mess Sergeant Jeff fact YOU probably know more about THAI' than IF/; Jones in command. Jeff had passed up "B" Company and do! was in the lead of the 86th when his crew came upon a We wish also to remember four of our fellows who road block and stopped to see what was going on. They were unfortunately wounded m action and were not with were "politely" directed by one of the doughboys to "get us to share in the final spoils of the war. To Isaac Whitt, the H— out of the front lines—but fast." Jeff and the Otis "Smokey" Williford, Carl Payne and Leroy Gill, crew needed no second invitation and withdrew to where we wish a speedy and full recovery. they belonged to prepare the next meal. In closing, we hope that some day these pages might Incidentally, present Mess Sergeant Freddy Johnson be read in a moment of perhaps sentimental reminis• says that less than 500 K-rations were used by the Com• cence. We leave with you these words which will no pany during the whole course of the war—some sort of doubt express the thoughts of all: a record, we think. Tbniigli our u'uys in later years 7nay Captain Jim Slusser's leadership is deserving of the lake lis jar apart, nor time, nor space highest praise. His many accomplishments art too may separata the ties nil bin the heart. numerous to mention, for he was always out where the —DON NUTTINC, going was toughest. On several occasions, while recon- BEN LUBI;LSK.Y

RECON NAISANCE COMPANY HISTORY Tryon—Only "top-kick" who never took Calvert—Mokes a good drink. Purdue—Barney Oldfield. the Army seriously. Clutter—Purple Heart collector. Pettit~"Call me PFC." Andrews—Scourge of the motor pool. Coyne-The missing moil man. Pierce—Man of few words. Baldwin—Calling all cars. Crosby—"If its liquid, he'H drink it." Pinsky—Mad cop moilmun. Frederick-Hi Ho Silver Star. Cummings—lmmaculateness personified. Pyrcz—Connecticut Yankee. Jones, Jeff—Pierre of the mess hall. Darby—"I use Kreml." Rich—Ah'm F'um Virginia, Romack—Our Bronze Star hero. Dillingham—Tennessee southpaw. Roark—Slim supermen. Sharpe—Two sizes too small and too big. Edwards—Coast to coast, then back again. Rowley—Rough-house." Verheul—Quiet but efficient. Evans—"The voice." Seel—Wisconsin's pride and joy. Freeman—Wild Bill. Farrcll—Give us a fast two. Shushok—"Its the Gypsy in me." Fields—"Wie gehts, fraulein." Shutt—How do you spell it? Kotsay-The French citizen with 85 plus. Fleming—Souvenir of Hockenheim, Smith—Morine reporter. Marx—Hollywood Kid. Franklin—"Is you is or is you ain't my Sosebee—Free oir. Mitchell—Kansas Sunflower. Strawn—I cosh jewelry. Rarden-Old Faithful. baby?" Suino—Poncho Villa. Steckelberg-"Stinky" himself. Garcia-The perfect soldier. Surratt—Shave and a hair-cut. Sumner—Foto fiend without film. Gaski 11—Barking bartender. Taylor-Our clap doctor. Swanson—Fearless Fosdick of the Blue Geer—Our messenger boy. Thorson—"Two-gun." Danube. Giesen—Pioneer spearhead. Trovn ichek—"Bug-eye." Radakovich—They couldn't hang "Doc." Gropp—Wake up and start over. Turk—"Splash-em." Garrard—Silent man. Ham by—Toole's alarm-clock. Turner—Lance Corporal. Johnson—More cook then talk. Hanson—Hardrock. Watson—Garrulous Jock, Litwhiler—The sunbathing baker. H;nojosa—"alio my fran." Welch—"Did you say something, Jim?" Luke—I'll fade ya. Hoynoski—Pot ish ambassador. Willioms—"Call me wavy." Wilson—Texas, my c o u n t r y—r i g h t or Humphries—"Ah come from Alabamy." Breathwit—"Con I have a pass?" wrong, Irby—Silent pordner. McConnell—Buckin' for PFC. Grothouse—Mr. Anthony. Jackson—Rosebud. Murphy—Buzz-bomb juice. Ivester—Orderly room all-star. Jones, Frank—Van Joneson. Trojanowski-"We fix flats." Nuttihg—"Parlez-vous francais?" Kerns—Pappy. Childers—Gentleman from Texas. Bryon—"Testing 1-2-3-" Laurent—The crooner. Howard—Our high-point man. Contrino—European excursion. Libson—The handy man. Opitz—Dead-eye. Ivanoc—"Overseer of special rations." Lubelsky—"I'm trapped." Parrish—Carrot-top. Jakes—Reconnaissance jeweler. Lytle-Pride of "Pa." Parker s Mitcham—Georgia cracker. McNomara-"Haben-sie schnopps." Davoli 1 Moon—Over Carolina. McNeal—Roger-out. McClure f Pcdersen—Call to arms. Miller, A,—"On detail again." Hay Riley—On the target. Miller, L.-"Which Miller." Sanders—The musical gunner. Minyard—Lightning. De Vries / Guests in the house. Svoboda—D.C—Doctor of Carburetors. Mitchell, B.—Rainstorm. Garcia, M. V Troyer—"Eggs boys—up or over," Morey—Dynamite driver. Iron Shields 1 Wallace—"I'll drive it." Morgan—Rabbit, the Nazi exterminator. Thayer ' Whidby-Little John. MoxIcy—Room service. OFFICERS Adcock—One-stripe General. Mueller-Chow-hound, wrappers and all. Copt. Slusser—The Patriot. Black—Smiling Bill—alias Ned Sparks. Morris—Remember Belgium. Lt. Toole—Warhorse. Bulchuck--"rm a mechanic." Olsson—"Ve vas in der hedgerows." Lt. Wilson—Armorplate. Butcher—With no meat. Page—Hairless Harry. Lt. Sentes—The official cut-up. COMPANY "A"

1^ on the post. Beach patrols kept us busy, and Cpls. Kahle 1 he main body of recruits arrived at Camp Cooke, CaU- and Mason often mistook seals .uid buoys for Jap inva• fornia fresh from basic training at Camp Roberts, Cali• sion barges. fornia. Company officers consisted of Lt. Levy, Com• At (.!amp Hood, Texas, the .idvance p.irty under the manding Oliicer; Platoon Leaders Lt. Wright, Lt. leadership of Sgt. Gaffey (McGiUicuddy ) arrived 3 days McCune and Lt. Roysdon. Whatever we lacked in mili• late after a layover in Juarez, Mexico. Cold showers luitil tary discipline was soon ironed out by our able 1st Sgt. December; no heat in the barracks, days of terrain ap• John P. Proctor. Even the lieutenants were not long in preciation, O^lOO reveille and training (jn the ('ommando finding out that they did not outrank the 1st Sergeant, course, lots of douole timing and night marches. The and not as much as a lead pencil on his desk was to be Goya spirit was slowly dying out. Received our first OCS tinkered with. Officers, Lts. Read, Barr and Underwood. Captain Levy Our outlit was known as the "Goya Battalion" and returned and left again. Seemed as if this was worse than along with that went certain distinctive features that set combat; the AUTC officers were in our hair all the time. us apart from other outfits on the post. (Cocked fatigue The TD School had a solution for every problem, hats and a loud "one" "hut" to every facing made in "theoretical stuff"—Texas was supposed to be down our drill). GOYA meants "Go on all you Americans," south but it was colder than Montana. Our first cadre or did it? left, Sgts. Milam, McCrosson, McDonald, Cpls. C. Bird The company mess sergeant often made up menus and Momyham. From later reports they were always that were a little on the unusual side. Hotcakes, French sorry they left—main reason they stayed at Camp Hood, fries, and gravy for breakfast, and Schnell's famous stew Texas for a couple of years. T/4 Parks was the first man and burnt bread soup. to be discharged from the com.pany. In December we Cycle riding was also quite a relaxation for many of drew more replacements; all boys from south of the the men, but Clarence "Hollywood" Mills relaxed too Mason Dixon Line. Our Non-Corns formed a training much when he fell asleep while riding down a country company to make soldiers of them. Got our first fur• lane, and he wound up resting a few days in the hospi• loughs from Camp Hood, Texas in January and Feb• tal with minor aches and pains. ruary saw us on the way to Camp Gruber, Oklahoma.

To Harry Taylor went the distinction of being the At Camp Gruber, Oklahoma the training company first single man in the company to enter into holy wed• stayed behind, Valente, McPeeters, Opitz, Rummelhart lock. That jump on the boys netted Harry 24 extra and Smelzer were doing the honors for "A" Company. points. Stood inspection in a raging snowstorm for some un• known Colonel and later in the spring were isolated by The Japs were on the offensive, and we were on the the worst floods in many ycats. Seems as if the weather alert. We toted 120 rounds of ball ammunition in our always went to extremes wherever the 807th Tank pockets and a rifle on our shoulder wherever we went Destroyer Battalion was stationed. It was here that we drew our long awaited equipment—first 75s on half• made for a bad impression but later it was acknowledged tracks and later the M-lOs, which most everyone took to to be the best Camp we were ever in. After everyone like ducks to water. We found out there was plenty of was furloughed we started the same old training grind, work to them and we started in on a very rough sum• artillery classes for the NCO's till they nearly went nut.s. mer—the nights were so hot you couldn't sleep and the This was relieved by plenty of passes to New York, days resembled the well known "hot spot." We had one Trenton, Philadelphia and other nearby places of inter• 3-day problem per week and everything had to be spot• est. The 807th Tank Destroyer Battalion was well known less for Saturday inspection. This is where the 25 mile at the "Extension Bar" in Trenton, New Jersey. It was hikes started and many found out just how far you could here that Captain Vaughn and Lt. Read took the fatal plod on—after you thought the limit of human endur• step into matrimony. ance was reached. T/4 Anderson, mechanic, stuck his Like all good things, our sojourn in Fort Dix, New hand in the fan of an M-10 and went to the hospital. He Jersey came to an end on the 5th day of August, 1914, came back. Next on the discharge list were S •'Sgt. Bush, when we entrained for Camp Kilmer, New Jersey. For Cpl. Horn Herbert, T/4 Mason, PFC Payne and Privates the next four days at Camp Kilmer we received our final Storey and Hayes. Lt. Vaughn made captain. "Tiger" checkups and on August 11, 1944 we left pier 86 in Proftor and "Jack" Mathieson were attached for rations New York Harbor. T.'ic U.S.S. Hermitage was to be and became the company mascots. More furloughs for our home for the next 14 days, on our trip to England. some in September saw us on the way to Louisiana for maneuvers. Our heavy equipment was shipped and we During combat the platoons within the company were convoyed the trucks through. The citizens of Mena, Ark., pretty much on their own, and we were pretty well gave us a dance on the night of our stay there and a fine spread out, but Lt. Beeney and his able staff handled time was had by all. the problems of logistics most efficiently, keeping the platoons well supplied with hot meals, gasoline, ammuni• Louisiana Maneuvers started during a rainy spell, M-10 tion, and P.X. rations. Entertainment within the platoons drivers were informed of the $25 fine for knocking was no problem, and the second platoon was especially down pine trees, quite a sport in the past. We got our fortunate in having music at all times, from the "Whist• first taste of large scale maneuvering and everything was ling Lieut." Everything was not rosy though in this strictly "tactical." The blackout driving practice paid fighting platoon. Until Ren. Co. was formed Pvt. John R. off here. "Kelly's Ridge Runners" almost completed McConnell had the whole platoon pinned down with his maneuvers without even blowing a bogey, only to fall tommy gun. Sylvester J. 'Winowicz, the boy Edison of out in the last week due to engine trouble. 1500 miles the platoon, can be credited for inspiring Lt. Read t > with no motor trouble is c|uite a record. Bouquets tu many different actions, mostly violent. The platoon's de• driver Cpl. Clyde England. The battle of Peason Ridge fense against Robots was a carbine manned by Cpl. and the niglir the crews dug their destroyers in will Kahle. Bill "Chow Hound" Munde made nistory by de• long be remembered by all who participated. vouring fourteen hot cakes at (^ne sitting. Until the second platoon reached Saarlautern, Gerni.iny, Donald J. Our training on the desert, at Pilot Knob, California Gaffey proved to be the meanest man west of the Mis• was marked especially by the converting of our self- sissippi River, but then the great McGillicuddy's driver, propelled battalion to a towed battalion status. We also Leonard McKinney, proved to be the platoon's most received another group of replacements, but this time feared man. While engaging the enemy one day T/4 the new men were hardened soldiers from the 608th Lloyd M. Larsen fired upon an enemy plane, later he Tank Destroyer Battalion, which we were led to be• was informed not to fire on any more FRIENDLY lieve must have been the crackest outfit this country had planes. Our cooks brought forth a new secret weapon. ever known, and its de-activation was the greatest mili• One night they took and liberated a town in enemy ter- tary blunder of this war. ritry by the sound of chains clanging on the Mess Truck. "No shots, no casualties" was their motto. Then we had Our outfit was really getting hot now, and we were "Wrongline Wilson," better known as "Pop." While rapidly getting to the top of the priority list. Our high testing lines one night near Thionville, all he could get priority now permitted the pioneer platoon to borrow on his test line was "Nix Verstehe." Oh well. We sort old sticks of dynamite and a few blocks of TNT from of have one up on the rest of the boys for being the the engineers to put on demonstrations for the battalion. only company in the battalion on the line in Luxem• Sandstorms, heavy rains, the hot sun, desert maneuvers, bourg. Not everyone is as fortunate as Clarence Rients, and dehydrated chow were getting us down. The Goya Norbert Miller, Carlton Kepler, and Willie Graves by spirit had left and no one dared to mention the word. getting to see their brothers while overseas. At the first .sound of hob nail shoes on the streets of Metz, PFC Ford The end of this assignment did not come too soon, but was the first person in our company to do indirect fire the boys in the outfit west of the Mississippi were re• with his carbine. warded with 15-day furloughs and they all reported to our new post at Fort Dix, New Jersey. Company "A" is indeed proud of Staff Sergeant Don• The battalion minus the western boys who were fur- ald J. Gaffey, wearer of the Soldier's Medal, I5ronze Star loughed from the desert hit Fort Dix, New Jersey on a Medal and Good Conduct Ribbon, the most decorated very cold night and in the deserted end of camp. This enlisted man in the battalion. COMPA NY "B" ACTIVATION ANDTRAINING In mid-year 1942, "B" Company, part of the 807th or perhaps we did. We received our towed guns here T.D. Bn., started its interesting life. Then we were few and also replacements. in number and green in experience. The men of the These replacements were not the "green" rookies, but company totaled about half strength and equipment for seasoned men of the 608th T.D. Bn. These men knew training was definitely limited. Naturally, this was pre• the score. Remember at first we thought there was to liminary until our full quota of men arrived from re• be a little trouble with the Civil War again.-* The major• placement depots. Under Captain Gray, the company ity of the battalion was from the South, but the new commander, we started training. We remember the days men were mostly from the North. Ht)wever tiie Yankees of "dry running" on the 37mm gun, and occasional fil• and the Rebels got along swell together. We were now ing of the bee-bee gun. These were the days at Camp men, not kids anymore. We had our desert maneuvers Cooke, California. Advanced tr.dning was our next step and we received the good news that the battalion was so it wasn't long before we were in the heart of Texas. to go M Fort Dix, New Jersey. Our first ti.riough in Now we were getting down to business. Training was many months was also due. It was here th,i: wc had rougher, days filled with schedules and passes limited. We plenty of passes and lots of places to go. Through a now had Captain Woodside as our company commander. period of time we were given the alert but ic was a false Our worst memories are of the obstacle course at Hood. alarm, so another furlough was enjoyed. Social activities were again limited but we shall remem• ber Killeen, Belton, Temple and Waco. Finally orders did come through and we were pro• During these four months at Hood we had another cessed for overseas shipment. Then to Camp Kilmer our change of company commanders. Lt. Molloy relieved last camp before going overseas. In a few days we were Capt. Woodside. At Camp Gruber, Oklahoma passes on a ship heading for Europe. This ship was the U.S.S. were liberal. Parties at Tulsa and Muskogee will never Hermitage. We cannot forget the famous compartments be forgotten. It was here that we received our first "Ferry" and "Eagle." Landing at Liverpool, England, we M-lO's. Now was the period of driving instruction and were sent to Llanover Park. We stayed here three weeks later the night problems. Lt. Robran was our acting and drew our equipment. company commander and stayed with us through the The time we spent here was a new experience for all Louisiana Maneuvers and the Desert Maneuvers. Going of us. The cozy Welsh towns, the pubs and the Welsh to Louisiana we stopped at Mena, Arkansas. What a time girls were quite friendly. The towns of Abergavenny, was spent there. The maneuvers in the swamps plus Pontypool, and Newport all are to be remembered. dark, dismal days made life miserable. Continual black• Over the channel we went to France. The crossing was out drives with little rest was an omen that the days of made and everything went along well for us. The wel• toughening up was in our midst. Finally the maneuvers come we received from the French was a joyous one. were over and there was a sigh of relief on all of the Women and children showered us with flowers and gave faces . . . but, our joy was short lived since we were go• freely of cognac. Our ride through France had to end ing to Pilot Knob, California. This was the new experi• soon we knew and that would be near the front lines. ence of life, the desert, sand, heat and tents. Through We reached that area and waited for the orders that time we had our tents set up and our area cleaned. would take us into combat for the first time. Those orders Passes were given but after all we were on the desert. came and we were to begin our combat at Metz. After Yuma, Arizona was near so that town took the beating. two and a half years we were ready. ROUTE OF THE 807th TANK DESTROYER BATTALIO

Nov. 15-19, 1944—Drive south along BATTALION HISTORY IN BRIEF east bank of Moselle River into Metx, France with Task Force Bacon Dare l"'"' (9Sth Division). March 1, 1942-807th Tank Destroyer Nov. 24-Dec. 5, 1944—Drive east from Battalion activated. Camp Cooke, Metx, France to Saarlautern, Ger• California. many. Scixure of Soar Bridge, 95th March 30, 1942-Officer Cadre re• Division. ported from Camp Roberts, Cali• Dec. 5-Jan. 18, 1945-Atfack of forti• fornia. fied positions in Siegfried Line vie. May 27, 1942—First group of fillers Saarlautern, Germany and defense reported from Camp Roberts, Cali• of Soar river bridgehead, Saarlau• tern, Germany. (95th Infantry Divi• fornia. sion and Sth Infantry Division.) Aug. 1, 1942-"Goya Day," Camp Jon. 19-25, 1945—Transferred from Cooke, California. 3rd to 7th Army. Attached to XV Oct. 5, 1942-Departed Camp Cooke, Corps, 101st Airborne Division, 35th California. Infantry Division and 100th Infan• Oct. 8, 1942-Arrived Camp Hood, try Division, vie. of Montbronn, Texas, for Advanced Unit Troining. France. Jan. 4, 1943-Second group of fillers Jan. 26-Feb. 27, 1945-Attached to arrived. 101st Airborne Division, VI Corps, Jan. 18-25, 1943-"Siege of Mumps vie. of Haguenau, France. Defense and Measles," Camp Hood, Texas, of Moder River. provisional training company. March 1-6, 1945—Transferred to 9th Army. Attached XVI Corps. Drive Feb. 6, 1943-Departed Camp Hood, from Venlo, Holland on Roer river Texas. to Rhine river vie. Rheinberg, Ger• Feb. 7, 1943—Arrived Camp Gruber, many, 35th Division. Oklahoma. March 23, 1945—Support of 30th In• Sept. 14, 1943-Departed Camp Gru• fantry Division crossing of Rhine ber, Oklahoma for Louisiana Ma• river south of Wesel, Germany. neuvers. March 24-April 1, 1945-Attached to Oct. 24, 1943—Reported Camp Polk, 75th Infantry Division. Louisiana, preparation for desert April 1-20, 1945-Defense of Rhine training. River bridycs, Wesel-Duisberg area Nov. 17, 1943-Departed Camp Polk, April 5, 1945—Re-converted to self- Louisiana. propelled battalion, M-18''s. Nov. 20, 1943-Arrived Camp Pilot April 2S-May 3, 1945-Attachcd 3rd Knob, California. Army, III Corps. Drive with 86th Dec. 21, 1943—Converted from Self- Infantry Division in Bavaria from Propelled to Towed Battalion. Ansbach, Germany to Erding, Ger• many. Dec. 25, 1943-Fillers from 608th Tank Destroyer Battalion reported. Moy 3-6, 1945—Attached 7fh Army, XV Corps. Drive with 86th Infan• Feb. 12-March 1, 1944-Desert Ma• try Division from Erding, Germany neuvers. to vie. of Salxberg, Austria. March 6, 1944-Departed Camp Pilot May 8-12, 1945-Attaehed 86th In• Knob, California for Fort Dix, New fantry Division. Set up Military Jersey. Government vie. of Burghausen, March 9, 1944-Arrived Fort Dix, New Germany. Jersey. May 14-June 20, 1945-Hockenheim, Aug. 5, 1944-Departed Fort Dix, New Germany, XXI Corps. Maintenance Jersey for Camp Kilmer, New Jer• of equipment. Athletics and Recrea• sey, New York Port of Embarka• tion- Preparation for redeployment to Pacific. tion. Aug. 10, 1944—Embarked USS Her• June 11, 1945—Alerted for Redeploy• ment through U. S. to Pacific Thea• mitage, New York Harbor. ter. Aug. 11, 1944-Departed United June 21-29, 1945—Camp Miami, Cha• States for European Theater of lons, France, assembly area. Operations. July 1-6, 1945—Staging area, Le Aug. 23, 1944—Arrived Liverpool, Havre, France. Camp Lucky Strike, England. St. Valery, France. Aug. 24-Sept. 13, 1944-LI a n o ve r July 7, 1945—Sailed from Le Havre, Park, Wales, drawing equipment France for U.S.A. on USS Marine and preparation for short sea voy• Robin. age. July 16, 1945—Arrived Hampton Roods, Virginia. Camp Patrick Sept. 16, 1944-Boarded LST's Port• Henry, Virginia. land Horbor, England for France. July 17-Sept. 4, 1945—Personnel on Sept. 18, 1944-Landed Utah Beach, 30 day Rehabilitation, Recupera• France. tion and Recovery. Sept. 18-23, 1944—Race across France Aug. 21, 1945—Assembly at Camp to catch Third Army, vie. of Metx. Hood, Texas. Sept. 23, 1944-Annoux La Grange, Sept. 22, 1945—807th Tank Destroyer France, XX Corps. Battalion inactivated. Sept. 29-Nov. 15, 1944-Vie. Veyme- J^.iTullich—^^fc range, France along Moselle river. 3rd Cavalry Group, Task Force Polk. 17. 16.