It was one of five tank battalions all independent that landed in normandy on dday 6 june 1944. After action report, 735th tank battalion, julynov 44. I joined the 709th tank battalion as their first replacement on july 11, 1944, incidentally, their first day of combat. The epic story of the 761st tank battalion, wwiis forgotten heroes. If perchance in the postwar world you encounter a man who says that he fought in europe with the 745th tank battalion, salute him and offer him a drink for you have encountered one of the best soldiers in the world. If you are a seller for this product, would you like to suggest updates through seller support. The standard tank battalion three medium tank companies and one light tank company essentially superceded the medium tank battalion. In those days, it was known as the 99th infantry battalion anti tank. The battalion participated in combat operations throughout northern europe until ve day.
Us army units book 2 boxes 127489 33rd armored regiment. The ten most interesting little known black history facts. Included in the battalions monthly histories is a daily. Staybridge suites, 1787a, airport rd, allentown, pa. Patterson has been a member of the 745th tank battalion since august of 1942 when the battalion was activated from a cadre of the 191st tank battalion. Separate tank battalions were military formations used by the united states army during.
The 756th tank battalion in the battle of cassino, 1944. First published in 1995, it is now in its fourth printing. Activated on 1 april 1942 at camp claiborne, louisiana, as a light tank battalion manned by black enlisted personnel. The 758th tank battalion in world war ii book san francisco. Arrived in england in september 1944 and france on 10 october. It does have a little damage to the bottom and top. Battle of the, 19441945, campaigns, history, regimental histories, tank warfare, united states, united states. History of the 745th tank battalion books ww ii us. Very soon after the redesignation the battalion moved from camp gordon to ft.
The record of a tank battalion on the western front from may 1917 with mark iv tanks to the end of 1917 and then with whippets. The 761st tank battalion was formed in the spring of 1942 and according to army historical records, had 30 black officers, six white officers. The photo history of the american 70th tank battalion in world war ii. The unit headquarters is at the navy and marine corps reserve center san diego, california, but other units in the battalion are located throughout the united states. He left a copy of the history of the 745th tank battalion. But even with battleweary tanks and a large admixture of green tankers and armored infantry the 4th armored division, on its record. The 709th tank battalion page, history of, and information of upcoming events. The thunderbolt division had just come of maneuvers in louisiana and texas. Brothers in arms is the actual, heroic account of the 761st tank battalion, an africanamerican armored unit that fought in world war ii. Into the breach and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. It was redesignated as the 743rd tank battalion medium in october 1942. It is a wonder now what seemed so desirable about such a status but when on 20 sept. Army as the first black armed tank unit to enter combat during world war ii. Formed from 67th infantry medium tanks at fort meade, maryland, on 15 june 1940 under lt.
You have encountered a man who has contributed a great deal toward ending the conquests of the nazis and bringing peace to the world. Those with a link will take you to a battalionpublished history. The tank corps was formed from the heavy branch mgc on 27 july 1917 and the battalions adopted numbering rather than letter designations although tank names followed the same lettering. A battalion truck was driven hundreds of miles through germany to locate and haul a linotype machine so that type could be set for this book. Our battalion, the 899th tank destroyer battalion, was activated on july 1, 1940. The 745th tank battalion was an independent tank battalion that participated in the european theater of operations. Each tank battalion had a complement of 32 officers amd 374 men. Medical detachment, 70th tank battalion unit history. I do not want to use aggressive advertisements on the site, therefore the revenue from the site is very small. Books and research materials specifically about the 40th tank battalion. The battalion fought in northern france, pushed through the siegfried line, fought in the battle of the bulge and attacked across the rhine and roer rivers.
This book is the unit history of the 745th tank battalion in world war ii. It was one of five independent tank battalions that landed in normandy on dday. War history of the sixth tank battalion war history of. History of the 745th tank battalion, august 1942 to june. This book does a great job of telling a real story in a compelling way. Steven zaloga notes that the reason is obscure, and i. It is my considered opinion that there is no other military organization, which excels the 41st tank battalion. The 778th tank battalion, originally the first battalion, 41st armored regiment was organized on september 21, 1943, at camp barkeley, texas.
To link to this object, paste this link in email, im or document. Converted to medium tank battalion in september 1943. The combat history of the 746th tank battalion during world war ii. Army as m4 sherman medium tank hull number unknown. Book recalls black world war ii tank battalion the. Unt digital projects unit for partners and peer institutions seeking information about standards, project requests, and our services. Veritas journal of army special operations history. Read, highlight, and take notes, across web, tablet, and phone. It was then moved to fort knox, kentucky, where the battalion was training when the japanese attacked pearl harbor on december 7, 1941. Nominal roll of all who served with the battalion in france and flanders. It was activated with the thunderbolt division on august 15, 1942 at camp polk.
Home world war ii operational documents after action report 775th tank battalion. A history of the 23rd tank battalion 12th armored division. The fourth tank was commanded by jule braatz, a recently married 26. At a little after noon on july 3, 1944, the five medium tanks in the first platoon of a company of the 712 th tank battalion were heading toward their first combat assignment, outside the village of pretot. My father, olin garner johnston, served in the 745th tank battalion during world war ii. In fact as a battle group it has done entirely too well and has misled some observers into the idea that perhaps the opposition did not amount to much.
I was dropped off a truck as dusk was just over the horizon. This unit history is for the 48th tank battalion during the battle of the rhine and the battle of central europe from 1944 to 1945. Kernersville, north carolina co a 737th tank battalion kia. At fort jackson, the 714th conducted basic and advanced unit training as a separate tank battalion until march 1944. The 751st tank battalion was activated at fort benning, georgia, on june 1, 1941. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. The only man who greeted me was our first sargent john campbell. The book chronicles the lives of young black men from all over the united states who registered for the draft or volunteered in the united states army in 1942.
Nasa sends generated thoughts and generated feelings to control a human being. Armed forces by maintaining and promoting americas overseas commemorative cemeteries and memorials. The series chronicles the history of the 4th tank battalion 1st armored division for june and july 1945. Assigned to the 710th tank battalion, a company, 1st platoon. After action report, 709th tank battalion, july 44 thru. So i got hold of the official history of 739th medium tank battalion, special mine exploder by capt richard g schneider, and an after action report for the 739ths a company for the period december 1944 to february 1945. A history of the 814th tank destroyer battalion, 19421945 is the name of the excellent history of the 814th tank destroyer battalion, written and published in 1995 by 814th reconnaissance company veteran calvin c. Nicknamed flyin home after the song of the same name. In april 1919, in blangysurternoise where the battalion had been billetted since the armistice, the co of the 6th tank battalion, lord somers late 1st life guards summoned a meeting of all his officers, ncos and men at which it was unanimously agreed to devote the private funds of the battalion to publishing the battalion history for the. Unts history and scholarship, library special collections, plus a large collection of u. Here three tanks of the 191st tank battalion under the command of 1st lt.
While that gives the preferred organisation for both, it doesnt say for certain what they actually used in action. The 745th was attached to the 1st infantry division and stayed with the big red one throughout its european tour of combat. And the following is a link to an excel spreadsheet 40th tank battalion individual awards in 7ad general orders. The 746th tank battalion was an independent tank battalion that participated in the european.
My grandfather was the commander of the 740th tank battallion that saved the country of belgium from the german forces. History buffs will be entranced by the detailed depiction of american and military society during the war as well as the first person accounts portrayed. The author centers his book on the 1943 police shooting of an african. A handful of light tank battalions were kept on the books. And the following are links to other pages about 31st tank bn. To link to this object, paste this link in email, im or document to embed this object, paste this html in website.
For many, disappointment became a determination to fight discrimination with the same resolve that had defeated the axis. Home world war ii operational documents after action report, 740th tank battalion, january thru april 45. We want this to be in the history books so some little black kid can know that his greatgranddaddy or granddaddy did something. This is just one of the sometimes fantastic difficulties overcome during the manufacture of these pages in the bombdevastated city of frankfurtonmain in july 1945. The life and times of the 740th tank battalion in world war ii, revised edition. After action report, 740th tank battalion, january thru. Many may lay claim to the black panthers name, but the 761st tank battalion of world war ii, were one of the first groups to use it.
Books and written experiences afteraction reports museum scrapbook. Bastogne was gallantly defended and has become an american epic. This torture of mine isnt the battle of the bulge but its my war and i hope he is proud of what i have done during the course of it. Their primary weapon system is the m1a1 abrams main battle tank and they are part of the 4th marine division and marine forces reserve. The 745th tank battalion was an independent tank battalion that participated in the european theater of operations eto with the united states army in world war ii. This is real history, real soldiers, and real combat. And the following are links to other pages about 40th tank bn. Ransom, plus a cadre of old army men from the 15th infantry regiment to help train us, we began.
Brothers in arms and millions of other books are available for instant access. I thought it would be a good idea to preserve the content for my three nephews, so they would know more about their grandfather. Books and research materials specifically about the 31st tank battalion. Wartime history built as a m4 largehatch composite hull sherman. In early 1942, the battalion moved from fort knox to camp gordon, near augusta.
History of the 714th tank battalion 12th armored division. Welcome to the 709th tank battalion wwii the 2005 reunion is as follows. The 747th tank battalion was an independent tank battalion that participated in the european. Home world war ii operational documents after action report, 735th tank battalion, julynov 44, febmar 45. July 3, 1944 712th tank battalion oral history audiobooks. It trained at fort knox and at camp bouse, az as a canal defense light cdl unit and as a standard medium tank battalion from october 15, 1943 to april 24, 1944 then sailed to england on july 26, 1944. During the sicilian campaign, the 70th tank battalion for the first time fought together as a unit and the medical detachment was able to operate more efficiently being directed by radio to casualties, who were then picked up, treated at an improvised aid station, and then taken to the rear to an evacuation hospital. Home world war ii operational documents after action report, 709th tank battalion, july 44 thru april 45. The original black panthers fought in the 761st tank battalion. Established 16 december 1941, at forrest, tennessee, as a heavy selfpropelled unit. Not only an exciting, informative military history for the general reader but. Check out the new look and enjoy easier access to your favorite features.
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