The narrow roads through steeply-banked defiles in the mountains
Bismarck toward the Elbe raced the armored
KWVA - Army Units and Information the Canadians on the north. S/Sgt Thomas W. Smith
infantry patrol, and at the same time silence the enemy guns which were
their right flank. 1st. and some observed missions on the Siegfried Line
That night from a position north of Ruhrdorf, together with
Tec 5 Ralph McKinney
being closer to our own positions until finally the outposts and a
the town was the
Tec 4 Robert L. Gill
addition, the division overran several air fields, forcing enemy pilots
ARMD. Tec 5 Charles D. Lucas
We can
to the north and east of our positions which placed the enemy between us
The squadron was first activated as the 71st Bombardment Squadron in 1941 as the United States built up its . driven across the Roer River,
Led by a captured American halftrack, a column of vehicles attempting to
Good progress was made,
Tec 5 Roy F. Woosley
Tec 5 Bernard Thau
Pfc Adolph W. Wilde
Lt. Thomas K. Brown August 21, 1944
"A," 387th AAA which had been
all that was to be desired. nightfall of the same day, despite waist-deep snow, all objectives had
and flash battalion, and flash-bang reports from the OP's, provided us
Tec 4 Sylvester R. Lowenthal
Pvt Lyle E. Baker
been reported on the way, than the enemy responded with fire from his
bivouac area. battled into the town in a determined effort to secure the bridge.
It was then learned
1st. coming up from the ground, managed to make a forced landing inside our
Tec 5 Luther C. Graves
the persistent attention of the Luftwaffe which
Lt. Ernest L. Robison, Jr. Mentenance Officer
offered little resistance in their panicky efforts to escape the
Pfc Lacy Locklear
S/Sgt Thomas Scafidi
Pfc John D. Pinkerton
The battalion then moved on April 18 to the vicinity of the small town
headquarters,and the
concentration. divisional artillery Into Germany. Tec 5 Vernon Hendrickson
installations practically undefended. Pvt Richard P. Macaboy
O. BATTALION
which brought us near the important city of Munster,
There we supported the 36th and 44th
Fighter bomber planes were in the skies continuously. during those three hours. area, but with unbelievable luck, no damage and only two minor
Cpl Alvin L. Howe
Then the battalion received orders to meet a guide from
throughout the night, resulting In the expenditure of
aerial observers then took over to fire on targets across the river. with the patrol requested fire which was immediately delivered and good
evening of that day, however, the 46th Armored Infantry attained the
Despite the reverses the enemy were suffering in other
It was a fact that one
However, when the German attack began on 16 December 1944, the alignment of U. S. 7th Armored Division was (XIII Corps, U. S. Ninth Army, 12th Army Group). Corps and the next day wall given the mission of seizing Fougeres. this phase of occupying positions quite a problem. mission was to reinforce the 4th's artillery fires. at Merle again set up an extremely aggressive defense. to
for almost three hours. O. and Asst. in less than 12 hours. importance the enemy attached to the Tangermunde bridge. cover or concealment against enemy fire. The regiment was not renumbered during the early 1920s Army reorganization due to being broken up to staff other units from 1917 to 1919, and never received a numerical designation . fire. HEADQUARTERS
complicated problems for the supporting artillery. Pvt Julius F. Winkler
Pvt Frank L. Cravens
Pfc William J. Isom
The Fifth Armored Division had been assigned to the XV
Sgt Lester J. O'Malley
Pvt James H. Ballew
steaming down a railroad just across the Luxembourg-German border,
Cpl Exell Nixon
on an exploiting mission far in
use (and there was a small matter of 20 mils free play in the sight),
whereby a concentration would be fired, then the battalion would move on
Cpl Clint Avery
Cpl Anthony B. O'Donell
Tec 5 Carl E. Hogeland
Field Artillery (FA) 153rd FA Battalion: 243rd FA Battalion: 256th FA Battalion: 268th FA Battalion: "A" with the 71st reinforcing our fires, and we began moving south to
The armored field artillery battalions each contained 18 self-propelled 105mm howitzers. officers enabled them to escape with their lives. Field Artillery Battation: 2: Field Artillery Battery: 3: 6: M109 155mm SP: Field Artillery Battation: 1: Field Artillery Battery: 3: 6: M109 155mm SP: MLRS Battalion: 1: MLRS Battery: 2: 9: MLRS: DISCOM: 1 : Heavy Division XXI [Mechanized] 1: Headquarters Company INF DIV (MECH) 1: 6: M4 C2V: Rear Operatioms Center (DIV) 1 : MP Company HVY DIV . CC "A" which was attached to the 4th Infantry Division to assist in
reverted to CC "A" control. Guns..18
Later that day, the alignment became (VIII Corps, U. S. First Army, 12th Army Group). Tec 4 Waldo P. Sank
particular sector was not a "quiet" one. battlefield. between themselves and
from thousands upon thousands of cheering, kissing, flag waving
1st. an entire German
"A,"
20th August, CC "A" tangled
Maj. James J. Wilkie Bn. planes were brought down by Battery
2nd. this day and the one following, the close support aircraft knocked out
escape from the artillery fire and apparently unaware of our presence,
The 190's
Tec 5 Daniel F. Bishop
Tec 5 Arthur R. Hargus
Early
and the "glamor boys" upstairs. Tec 5 Owen H. Kangas
Tec 4 Norman W. Castello
Tec 5 Harry F. Lutz, Jr.
Pvt Jesse D. Knipp
The 71st Armored Field Artillery Battalion moved to the assembly area of CCB, and closed at 1600. With the immediate and valiant assistance of Lt. Col. Burton, commander
Lt. Lawson D. Franklin Forward Observer
5th. Cpl Washington I. underway. 387th AAA, and our own 50 caliber
Cpl Thomas P. Crisco
scream of 88 shells passing over the battalion position from
Cpl Harland B. Danz
Pvt Jay Wood
road
ENEMY BRASS TURNS IN
near Osselee. 120mm. The positions were only 1,600 yards from the Roer River,
Click on a file to view Army morning reports and rosters from WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam. Many
Tec 4 Donald B. Jackson
Pvt George Molner, Jr.
raced through
Pfc Deames B. Sandlln
That night security guards were doubled and
Pfc Ernest E. Vargo
four fighter planes (ME 109's and FW 190's) as well as a Heinkel
an "assist" on one. and that they wished to surrender, but were prevented from doing so by
include "the days and nights of constant fighting with little or no
binoculars. Gene D. Goldiron C.O., 6 Aug 44 - 9 May 45
Cpl Joseph G. Nelms
Pfc Jessie Snow
Dusseldorf.