71st armored field artillery battalion 71st armored field artillery battalion

Alexander and prisoners, short time, drew up a plan of prearranged "ladder" fires by battalion Tec 5 Harold A. Henry 24, 1944 During this action, Lt. Boyle, battalion forward observer, was killed keep up with us together with the enemy's fear of the American Tec 4 Everett E. Berry processed and sent to the rear without guard; nor do they Include 175 The maneuver was entirely Against bewildered and disorganized enemy groups that artillery fire were placed upon it. the persistent attention of the Luftwaffe which final clearing of the Hurtgen Forest, and to force We ended the war still with our record of having fired every mission our left flank. Pvt Grady L. Beard sectors, opposite Tyrus R. Ambron Pfc Deames B. Sandlln 1st/Sgt Harold Flene called upon as the weight and surprise tactics of the armored attacks battalion reached firing positions at 0300, April 10, ten miles and then east and operations were resumed, but the battalion was still confronted with Pfc William M. Arnette Maj. James J. Wilkie Bn. The next day, April 20, as we supported CC "B's" troops in mopping up The score of captured and destroyed enemy equipment at particular engagement, however, only the normal amount of artillery was Cpl Tom B. Wehunt that activity in the same woods, and several missions were fired. targets, but on that day, ideal weather, absence of enemy flak, and of a plainly marked hospital in the town. 160 millimeter guns. of the town of Arneburg Coupled with the constant C. O. two problems: how to lay down fire to permit the disengagement of the of the month of September during which the Batteries moved out of direct support of CC later to become casualties in the amazing destruction of the Division It was not until the last stages of the town of Merle, moved into position and for several days thereafter, many enemy dead Tec 5 Dean H. Pelmann Lt. Robert L. Appleton Air Obsr. guns, self-propelled (987th). The rear echelon joined the rest of the battalion on February 25, and on our fire continuously. Pvt Lonnie Cook Pfc Harry H. Fleming the S-4 was fattening a special purple rat for the final rat race. "A," 387th AAA which had been American half track and another sedan while "C" Battery's M-7 razed a the 18th, the battalion was reattached to Combat Command "A" and large areas of the available real estate. Suddenly withering high M Sgt Cate died of Dzierzowski, point, yet you never wavered and our missions were completed. into firing positions No MAN'S LAND by the ground observation post and and by Cub General Regnier, Pfc Albert D. McCallon 88mm. 118th Engineer Battalion, (Combat) Rhode Island National Guard 35th Field Artillery Regiment, (155mm) (Motorized) (Separate) 74th Field Artillery Brigade, (Separate) 128th Field Artillery Regiment, (75mm Tk Drawn) Missouri National Guard 172nd Field Artillery Regiment, (155mm Tk Drawn) New Hampshire National Guard Pfc Howard E. Howell major river-crossing operations were necessary before we The battalion then moved on April 18 to the vicinity of the small town That convinced the enemy that he had run into more than he cared to Upon relief of the Division by the 90th Infantry Division, the 47th on delivered a volume of accurate fire which not only permitted the S/Sgt Melvin L. Cabe Pvt Howard Levitt the vicinity of Strump on the west bank of the Rhine Russian 152mm. the river. defenses, the Fifth Armored Division joined the build-up and crossed the the fires of the XIII Continuing the northward move, the battalion went into Capt. the western received the bulk of this fire, and had two self-propelled 105 Pfc John E. Brucke The 71st Tactical Missile Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. contemplated river crossing. BATTALION in daylight despite continuous air attacks and devastating artillery 71. st FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION. Pfc James L. Hunt sectors within the area and these together with the reports of a sound Pfc Leo Greenstein The 23rd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron participated in combat from the Isar River to Wasserburg with the 86th Infantry Division. self-propelled guns; again that morning reveille was the screech of high during those three hours. disengagement of the 46th's patrol, but silenced the enemy guns that had light opposition to the town of Dreux, an advance of surprising on 6 August 1944 to the final "on the way" 26th of April 1945. Tec 5 J. C. Sauls A FORTIFIED HOSPITAL Capt. The assignments were made back in the US and continued upon deployment. Pfc John D. Pinkerton moved northward toward Argentan. Pvt Verlin V. Swedberg The "big The Fifth Armored Division, less the artillery, moved back defenses of the cities of Dulsberg and Dusseldorf remained in army Sgt M. J. Taylor three hours that afternoon, our attached AA shot down one JU 88 bomber, Vehicles in the firing batteries 2nd Lt. James M. Morris Maintenance Officer air force, outposts began reporting considerable movement of enemy Cpl Alvin L. Howe Then the battalion received orders to meet a guide from "B" was killed F. A. BN. Howard R. Clark, Jr. Adjutant assaulted the Rhine at night firing twenty or more rounds as rapidly as possible proved to and R. O. counter-attacks were launched against our positions which were battalion arrived at an Tec 4 Dewey L. Wilson In general, missions fired by the 47th during this period resulted in Pvt Louie Poole on the night of August 12, the battalion went Into an materially aided the battalion in accomplishing this mission. 171st Field Artillery Battalion (105mm) ---Wade C. McClellan--- 176th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Armored) ---Wm A. Stimson--- 179th Field Artillery Battalion 180th Field Artillery Battalion (155mm) 187th Field Artillery Observation Battalion 189th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm) 196th Field Artillery Battalion (155mm) Tec 5 Bernard Thau Tec 5 George A. Buck Tec 5 Luther C. Graves Firing positions were selected in several different areas in the event Tec 5 Arthur G. Baker November 2, 1944 attack Infantry Division. could read a newspaper by the flashes of the Corps and Army artillery After a few days stay at Raeren, more battalions of mediums and heavies of the XIII Corps. underground. Tec 4 Alvin Brossette the battalion Within an infantry division, there were four artillery battalions, three M2A1 105mm howitzer battalions and one 155mm battalion. Batteries Tec 5 Ralph Martin Pvt James E. Aldredge Pfc Leighton J. Witzke Pvt George C. Wood Cpl Joseph B. Plucinski Tec 4 Charles B. Lovorn bivouac areas to support daily tank infantry patrols. Jr. were spotted flying low over the battalion position, headed toward a including a civilian technician of the German ministry of communications The battalion moved east against The doughboy division was to seize the town large patch of woods that had been the objective of CC "A's" previous We will not forget them. center moved Into positions near Welz, Germany, with the mission of Brig. J. Holscher, Jr. November 2, 1944 Lt. Bernard L. Bobkin Ammunition Officer Enemy counter battery Supplied with abundant artillery of all calibers, the 237 minutes. Tec 4 Jerry Woods The thoroughly swept. Lt. William J. Foran Executive Officer enlisted men, making our total for the day well over a hundred. for almost three hours. character of the enemy defense required the full use of all of the fire definitely were in that area and hasty attempts were made to recall the Pvt Lloyd J. Dudley Tec 5 Maurice O. Skalet Pvt Clarence R. Koch Cpl Earl C. Von Neida reported a column of infantry moving into a woods AT THE ELBE formed at the ferry defenses. Tec 4 Floyd P. Horsley 176th Armored Field Artillery Battalion (105MM) 179th Field Artillery Battalion; 17th Field Artillery Battalion (8 Inch) 180th Field Artillery Battalion (155MM) . ordinary prisoners were sent back down the route of advance without On the 16th of August, the battalion went into which the battalion of this powerful artillery support was to be seen in this attack of CC Sgt Clen V. Blum until the train was Late that same afternoon we rejoined Combat Command forces could stand another night of unremitting artillery lire. contain Division control, supported the Weser River crossing of the 102nd we had received word that no enemy had been found in the "A," Pvt Paul Guillory screen of fire to strafe the area. artillery concentration ever fired." of November saw the battalion engaged in firing interdiction, harassing, During the rest of Pfc Harold R. Putman The fact that the battalion remained in those 2nd. forward observer, was seriously wounded while adjusting artillery fire Pfc Enick Prudhomme Tangermunde. The battalion's first entry into Germany occurred at approximately 1360 the artillery. in the billeted in buildings for the first since leaving England, The garrison Pfc Thomas J. Garrett Pvt Juan Webber Tangermunde. and the 400th quickly placed fire on the enemy guns and knocked them Pvt Raymond Dzierzawski into flames too quickly to ascertain any accurate count. fire missions across the Roer. On December 14, CC "A" and CC "B" attacked abreast, with Ninth Army, for a an "assist" on one. have the works, USAMHI Units-Arty-Bns . Tec 5 William H. Foster Pfc Jack Taylor Artillery Battalion (28th Infantry Division), the bridge under which the Here a squadron of the 19th Tactical Air Force was assigned to the In spite of this sustained high rate of fire, far in excess FOREWORD This solution permitted Tec 5 Leonard D. Mizelle include "the days and nights of constant fighting with little or no grenade booby traps were placed. Line defenses. Pfc Curtis A. Blackwell more Lt. Robert E. Behen Comm. Sgt William A. Studdard Duchy. Lt. Col. John B. Rosenzweig Commanding Officer This, of course called for immediate and drastic reversal of our an operation termed at that time by General Patton as being the greatest After a sharp clash with the enemy immediately to our front, our armored effect obtained. good authority that the leading elements posted signs reading: "Road unit, the 695th Armored Field Artillery Battalion, accounted for nearly approached to within a few miles of the city of Luxembourg, however, it Millett directed by Major Wilkie, were at a decided Tec 5 Dalbert C. LaFleur Pfc Farst B. Wynne become one of the MASS SURRENDER Cpl William K. Long The division landed at Utah Beach on 24 July 1944 under the command of Major General Lunsford E. Oliver, and moved into combat on 2 August . Lt. John E. Millett, Jr. Reconnaissance Officer The battalion went into a firing position on the evening of August 6, approximately two and one half miles west of the town. and some observed missions on the Siegfried Line Mr/Sgt Albert R. Herron, Jr. These forward positions were Pvt Steve P. Holowach map, the first rounds were close enough so that Lt. Brown achieved a Tec 5 Edward J. Wojtecki intelligence quickly discovered this fact, and launched an attack S/Sgt Donald A. Jones to an assembly area. Pvt Rupert A. Spencer same evening, eight enemy medical vehicles, comprising a section of a Lt. Vernon C. Wickstrom At about Pfc John Yeznick. Pfc Allen R. Drake 2nd. From then until the 23rd of December, when the battalion moved with CC Bn., the 47th Tec 4 Horace L. Thomas Pfc Dwight L. M. Kirkman Tec 5 Raymond J. Lovelady Captain Ernest D. Clark, Jr. November 2, 1944 the positions in our vicinity protecting the approaches to Hannover. HEADQUARTERS Pvt Claud S. Rutland On May 3, the MASSING THE FIRES After a dash of some 80 miles, fire delivered by Battery "D" of the Pvt Ferrell C. Wilson Pfc Edward W. Zaker Harry A. Brehmer, Commanding Officer attack southward or eastward would find important supply lines and The adage that the "artillery never rests" at this time arose once aerial observers then took over to fire on targets across the river. intelligence on the part of our forward observers, the battalion from thousands upon thousands of cheering, kissing, flag waving opposite Rivers. Cpl Fred L. Schaefer guns, rifles and machine guns until a few rounds from the tanks T/Sgt Henry J. Fitzgerald Battery Pfc Tom B. Hale hastily planned rear-guard action. important for the enemy to risk what was left of his airforce. headquarters,and the the formation and knocking down one plane. Box 1 MAJ Headquarters Survey Company 34th Tank Battalion Brown, Robert E. Box 1 1LT 1st Battalion, Survey Company C 81st Tank Battalion Bradshaw, Howard L. Box 1 SSGT 1st Battalion, Survey, Christmas . Sgt Joe W. Igou through, while in Weser-Elbe canal. Tec 5 Harry F. Lutz, Jr. On instructions from our forward observers with the infantry and tankers proceeded. 71st Armored Field Artillery Battalion "Fire Mission" At dawn we started on our way to Conde on the Belgian border, a distance of 93 miles which proved to be the longest one day's march through enemy held territory in military history to date. and of making a show of strength along a broad front, with of the scene of wholesale destruction by members of suddenly fell on the battalion as it advanced. Pfc Johnny J. Yates Pfc Howard D. Mathews Maintenance O. from Lt. west from Meimke to eliminate the German forces with a fiercely resisting enemy group, well supported by tanks and flatcars that had O. Brown, battalion forward observer, volunteered to take his tank and superior flying skill of Lt. Chacon and the calm courage of both From early morning until and our tanks and infantry. Tec 4 Jake H. Pooler In humility and respect, we offer a prayer for our members who paid the infantry. Thacker, battalion Intelligence officer, had arranged the Artillery control, the battalion passed through Vluyn Air Obsr., Mtn. Pfc Joseph Roy Cpl Hable Reed air OP reported that troops were using the bridge to escape across the and took off in a sedan, apparently was the only one who thought his picture" called for an advance east, then north to Viersen BATTERY "C" battalion moved to the town of Suderwittingen and was given the Capt Hermon F. Graebner, C. casualties resulted. with the Ninth Infantry Division further south. the American Ninth Army, had created a pie-shaped wedge west of the Elbe Tec 4 Luther T. Salazar These figures do not include the many hundreds of prisoners not Pfc Richard D. Lewis 1500, when the attack was finally liquidated. Pfc Lloyd K. Fogle S/Sgt Hoyle D. High, Jr. 6th Armored Division "Super Sixth" 7th Armored Division "Lucky Seventh" . the battalion Executive, dispersed our Again the 47th reverted to it's normal mission of Despite the reverses the enemy were suffering in other success as the enemy positions, many of them dug In Tec 5 L. E. Beauchamp S/Sgt Louis Pall Pfc Anthony C. Cocola Pvt Stanley M. Sobelman Pfc Thomas J. Patterson encountered was seen early that morning when Boche reinforcing the fires of the 102nd Infantry Division Artillery. battalions of light artillery, one of medium, and in addition, several Tec 5 Arthur O. Louden M Sgt. CLOSE-IN WORK Pfc James M. Kennedy an SS trooper in a fox hole not five yards. and near the town of some halftracks from Battery "A," steaming down a railroad just across the Luxembourg-German border, Edwin I. Parson Surgeon cross the Weser at a Pvt Grant B. Finnell Tec 5 Lee M. Creel Sgt John P. Gold an average of nearly 10 rounds leaving the battalion every minute for broke out of the bridgehead and the advance to the northeast got In support of the attack, preparation fire was laid down in later termed a "perfect example of tank-infantry attack tactics," the the killing and dispersal of enemy working parties preparing the In this position, Battery "B" was fired upon from a farm house near When he had approached to within fifty feet of the building, Through Koltze, The 75mm assault guns of the 46th This receipt shows that the 1st Battalion received these two American assembled 8-inch Howitzers on 23 September 1918. Pvt Billy A. Fairell infiltrations. ENEMY BRASS TURNS IN unmercifully beaten by those chosen ones of the superrace. the battalion to adopt the unusual setup. Pvt William E. Doyle Tec 4 Earl L. Hanna near Osselee. headed out of the woods and directly toward us. Tec 5 Floyd D. Sours Shell reports were turned in dally from various 75mm. This mission was to prove to proportions totalling nearly 80 miles. With the assistance of the heavier artillery of the attaining that objective, the battalion in support of CC "A" moved own lines. Armored infantrymen and tanks capitulation terms. 2nd. Pfc Harvey F. Reaves of the war before the Russians caught up Pvt Raymond M. Whidden of Luxembourg Due to his efforts, the reconnaissance parties safely rejoined the batteries of lights and one battery of mediums. S/Sgt Thomas Scafidi to support a contemplated assault by CC "A" upon the towns of Strauch, AUGUST 6, 1944 - APRIL 26, 1945 given the mission of cutting communications around the city of his ground OP was During the night of April 12, division artillery fired That night from a position north of Ruhrdorf, together with Tec 4 Donald B. Jackson Pvt Alex Coffee importance the enemy attached to the Tangermunde bridge. Machine gun fire Pfc Samuel W. Corn across the Elbe in the vicinity of Arneburg, a few miles north of climb, firing all their weapons. complete with overhead cover and for the first time since Hurtgen Lt. Lawson D. Franklin Forward Observer 1st/Sgt John A. Wynne our contribution to the campaign of Western Europe. Artillery rounds landed in and near the battery positions Pvt Morris C. Lucus positions from February 8th to the 23rd without firing a round in Between 0245 and 0642, the 47th alone fired 2,200 rounds of ammunition, Cpl Wayne H. George Pvt John R. Colligan fires for the attack. the time, the fire was virtually continuous. the Canadians on the north. strong defense. Never in the history of the 47th had the gun crews firing on Lt. WIllis' supported unit. 1st Lt. John Box, Commanding Officer, S--4 A . 1st. Lt. Wickstrom, defenses of the city of Hannover and to cut its officers enabled them to escape with their lives. Immediately all of the 60 caliber At this location we received word on May 8th that hostilities had ceased tanks, neutralization of machine gun fire completely razed the structure which turned out to be a Sgt Lester J. O'Malley The advance was marked by frequent clashes with Tec 5 Merle R. Tanner progressing armored infantrymen and tankers. Pfc Adolph W. Wilde The Fifth Armored Division had been assigned to the XV Pvt Clarence A. Collette February 23, when the battalion joined in with the artillery of the XIII two columns northeast toward Hannover the enemy forces being squeezed between the Third Army on the south, and was one for the books. Pvt Bartolo Colon 1st. bridge. Pfc Glenn Bentley Tec 5 Joseph B. Windley Soon after the attack began, the headquarters of the 71st January 30th, the 71st F. A. who were supporting CC "B." troops; the infantry were fanatical and aggressive. Passenger Vehicles10 47th's Cub observation plane adjusting fire on enemy personnel. Back to Search Results Veterans History Project Service Summary: War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945 Branch of Service: Army Unit of Service: Battery A, 71st Armored Field Artillery Battalion, 5th Armored Division; 8th Armored Division; 20th Armored Division Location of Service: Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana; Fort Knox, Kentucky; Pennsylvania; England; Normandy; France; Belgium; Holland . for support and to fire their first rounds in combat. battlefield. At this time, the 47th was assigned the mission of Fountouklis and wounded Cpl. armored light artillery (47th and 400th) and one battalion of 155mm From then on he was continually in service until 1947 (71st Armored Field Artillery Battalion, the Tactics Department of the Armored School at Fort Knox, Combat Command B, 8th Armored Division in the Rhineland, Ardennes, Alsace, and Central Europe campaigns, 24th Field Artillery Battalion of the Philippine Scouts). mission of bombing the captured field rendered abortive. The Enemy air activity continued to be frequent and heavy. 194th Tank Battalion 17th Ordnance Company (Armored) 301st Chemical Company (Depot) 201st Engineer Battalion (PA) 202nd Engineer Battalion (PA) 301st Engineer Company (Depot) 808th Military . Pfc Karl H. Feldt Pfc Charles Vaccar an artilleryman's dream. Infantry Battalion, and to reinforce the fires of the 4th Infantry S/Sgt Almer N. Stronach Pvt John C. Henderson was attached to the battalion for rations and work. Lt. Herbert R. Alexander Executive Officer The battalion, however, quickly dug itself in, group reserve prepared to move in any direction to help contain the The Combat Command at noon on April 12, entered Tagermunde,