Neat Website

Hello,

My name is Anthony, I am a Frenchman passionate about the Second World War, which honors the memory of 30 American soldiers who died during the Second World War and buried in Normandy by blooming their graves (or the memorial bearing their names if they did not not found). One of his soldiers was a soldier of the 823nd Tank Destroyer Battalion, Sergeant John W. Vye was born in Washington State in 1921 and died on August 9, 1944. my research he would have died in a prison camp (in France or Germany I do not know), he was decorated with a purple heart and a bronze star. I have the details of his nephew and his niece but they never responded to my requests. If anyone has any information or pictures about this soldier you can send me an email.

Regards,
Anthony

My Dad, 1st Lt. James E Leahy, while in the 429th FS, 474th FG, 9th AF, was in an air battle near Mouy, Oise, in northern France. Following a mid-air collision with a German BF-109 behind German lines he was hidden by a French family for 5 days. On August 30,1944 he was picked up by a reconnaissance patrol from the 813th TDB. I have no idea how long he was with the 813th. I have a letter from the commander of the 813 to the commander of the 429th FS commending him for his service. (See transcription below.) I have an 813th unit patch that was given to my Dad by someone in the unit.

If there is anyone who has access to the morning reports for the 813th TDB, I would appreciate seeing if there is a notation about my Dad.


Respectfully,
Jim
Leahy.474thFG@gmail.com


*************
HEADQUARTERS
813TH TANK DESTROYER BATTALION
A.P.0. # 405 U.S. ARMY

6 September 1944.

SUBJECT: JAMES E. LEAHY, 1ST Lieut., AC. 0735971.

TO : Commanding Officer, 429th Fighter Bomber Sq., APO 595, U.S. Army.

1. On 30 August 1944, in vicinity of MOUY, FRANCE, subject officer
was contacted aand picked up by one of our reconnaissance patrols as he was
proceeding from German lines onto the USA, 79th Inf. Div front lines.

2. At the time, this unit was actively engaged with the enemy and
moving rapidly North and so was unable to transfer officert to another head-
quarters until arrival at present assembly area this date.

3. Subject officer was picked up in Morning Report of 30 August
and placed on duty from which time he rendered valuable servbice to date.


Clymer A. Jeffries, Jr.
Lieut. Col., Cav.,
Commanding.

My grandfather, Noble Midkiff, served in N. Africa and Italy with the 701st Tank Destroyer battalion. He drove a half track & often drove jeep for higher ranking officials. I’ve heard him say many times, “I wasn’t a HERO, the true HEROES are the ones that didnt make it back home.” I love to hear him tell stories about The Greatest Generation. He is still alive, and alert and about to turn 100 this August!!!! Still living on the 55 acre farm in Western Kentucky he was born and raised on. He loves to do interviews so if anyone is interested please contact me. God bless you all and long live the 701st TD Battalion!!!!

A second cousin, I never had the honor of meeting as he passed 3 years prior to my birth. My family holds him in very high regard. His name is Sgt. Melvin L. Farris and he was with the 823rd company B&C I have read. With Melvin being a Purple Heart recipient, I would sure like to learn more about him and his service. I have been told he never spoke of his service and sadly, those that knew him are dwindling. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thank You

My Father (Arnold Layer) is third to the right in the back row..He has passed away. I do have a patch and his ribbons..

My Dad, Mitchell Dabrowski, is shown on page #2. Sadly, his first name is spelled wrong, shown as "Jitchell". Thr J And The M are in close proximity on the keyboard
*Thank You LORD Jesus for all of these brave soldiers*

My Dad, James F. Andrew, served in Company C of the 807th Tank Destroyer Battalion. Summer of 1944 - May of 1945. Anyone out there with information about the experiences shared by these men would be appreciated. This website is an excellent resource for remaining veterans and descendants of these great soldiers.

My Dad, 1st Lt Bert Joyce, served with the 644th TD Btn from 1942 to 1945. He was a tank commander with Co B.
I would be glad to share what information I have regarding the unit and the men who served alongside Dad.
Norm Joyce
847 804 5271

My dad was PFC Donald H Cooley. He was from central NYS and served with the 661st TD Battalion.
After I left Vietnam I had a choice of going to England or Germany for my next duty station. I chose Germany and visited some of the places Dad told me about.

My grandfather's cousin was Joseph J. Palmieri who was part of B Company, 610th Tank Battalion. He was killed Sept 6, 1944.

Thank you all for your service and keeping these fine men's memories alive.

v/r

CPT Alex Mirando
US Army

My Dad Lawrence Gaudiomonte was in the 771st tank division. WWll. Does anyone know about the specialized group they were called? The Gypsies?

Enjoyed this site. My Dad Stephen M. Latza served with the 806 TD both at Camp Shelby and Ft Hood and went to the Philippines with them. Tonight I looked at a photo of him in front of a Japanese cave along with two others named L.S. Smith and Hrinda. Thanks for this great site

Hi my father Dayton Shell was in the 803rd TD battalion and he still talk's about that day today landing on Omaha Beach. I am so proud of him.

HI, My Uncle Pete Kopcsak was the Commander of the 602nd Tank Destroyer Battalion. His dress blue uniform and medals including the silver star have been donated to the General MacArthur Museum in Norfolk, VA. I am about to publish a book about him and his German wife. It will detail some of the accomplishments of the 602nd as well as the black 761st Tank Battalion. Please let me know if I can provide you any info. Thanks, Bill Kopcsak

Ladies and gentlemen. My father was S/Sgt. Leonard W. "Pappy" Haar who was in the Army Medical Corps as a medic and was stationed at Fort Hood, before he shipped out of New York to join a Tank Destroyer Battalion in France and then on to Germany. My dad mentioned that he was in the Battle of the Bulge. I believe he said he was in the 609th ten the 612th. Not really sure. He passed away 20 years ago, but just wanted to say "Thanks" to all his army buddies who took of him while he was over there. I;m proud of his service.

Hello,

My grandmother passed away last year and while sorting through her affairs, I found the American Flag, the dispatch and several affects of my great uncle John Solomos who was a member of the 704th TD BNI and died on Sept 18, 1944. I also served in the US Army for 20 years and had the privilege to visit his grave sight at the Lorraine Cemetary in St. Avold along with another great uncle that is buried there while stationed there in the 90’s.

I am building a shadow box for him and am looking for where I could purchase a patch, his unit crest and the unit citations so I may add them in the shadow box so my children can appreciate the sacrifice all these brave men made for our country.

I am honored to know my Great Uncle served with such an esteemed military unit.

My grandfather also was part of one of the tank destroyer battalions. I cant remember what number but he was in the battle of the bulge and the hurtgen forest. I brought over a movie for him one time called when trumpets fade. He could not believe how accurate most of the movie was. He couldn't finish it. He was staff sergeant John F. Johnson. He passed several years ago. These were definitely the bravest and toughest men to walk this earth.

Good afternoon,

My name is Warren Johnson, and I’m researching the role my grandfather and his 5 brothers played in WW2 (they are all long since passed away). I’ve obtained a copy of my granduncle’s discharge papers Alfred V. Johnson, serial number 17106636.

I would have sent you an email but your “contact” tab isn’t working.

Alfred’s discharge papers state his unit was the HQ company of the 774th tank destroyer battalion.

I looked through a roster link on your page for the 774th and didn’t see his name.... I know that a lot of times guys were transferred to HQ units just prior to discharge for admin reasons, so I’m thinking is was probably somewhere else within the destroyer group, but not sure.

I really have no other info on this granduncle, so any help or information you may have would be greatly appreciated.

One of my other granduncles was a paratrooper on D-day, and I happen to be heading over to France this June for the 75th anniversary. If I can learn more about where my granduncle Alfred was as wel, I’d really like to visit some of the places he was..

Thanks so much for your time,

Anybody with any info please contact me at Johnson.mpds@gmail.com

Warren

Hi,
I live 5 miles away from Climbach, France. Ashamed to say I only just learned about what happened there with the 614th TD attached to 411th infantry on 12/14/1944
What's worse is there is no memorial or anything in the whole area. Would like to use the contact page but it seems to be broken. Anyone want any information, feel free to contact me.

sam richards, my father was Eli N. Richards , 823rd TDB

My Father, Chester M. Greczkowski,served in the 636th Tank Destroyer Battalion. Anyone out there with information about the experiences shared by these men would be appreciated.

My grandfather Henry C. Phillips served 813th

My father Leo Larsen Sr. served in CO. "C" 894th.

Greetings, my father, Homer Glenn Rackley served with the 636th TD Battalion. I would be honored to hear from anybody who might have known him.

My dad, Clinton T. Walker, Jr., was a member of the 614th Tank Destroyer Battalion... Today, 15 February 2019, is the 36th anniversary of his death. Daddy was born in 1913. I truly appreciate this website, and want to learn as much as I can. Thank you.
Eletha V. Hamilton

I found a 1988 Reunion shirt of the 804th tank destroyer battalion, and a quick google search led me to this site. Very interesting to read about the history I am wearing!

My name is Gray Abbott, my father Wade P. Abbott served in company C , of the 801st tank destroyer battalion and I am trying to find a photo of him, can you help? I am also a veteran

Thanks for call today, Rob.


Good Luck with finding a 'Jeffreys'

My father, Albert Bachelder, was a member of the Tank Destroyers during WW2. He never spoke of his time in it so I know next to nothing other than he was a T-Sgt. In the 50s he held yearly reunions in the Lansing, MI area.

Dear Sirs/Madams:
Thank you so very much for your dedication to preserve the records of our military personnel of WWII.
The records of my father, Pvt. George W Russell, of the 644th Tank Destroyer Bn, Headquarters Co, roster pg 70, were destroyed in the ''73 fire.
The only information the VA could send is a shell of a discharge and a statement acknowledging my father as being in the military. When I was a child, 3 purple hearts were stolen from me while playing with them.
If this email is read by anyone who can tell me how to view, or obtain group pictures, I certainly would appreciate it. I would also appreciate contact from anyone whose father was in this company and has any additional information that can be shared with me.
Sincerely,
Patrick Russell

Gentlemen, thank you for diligent efforts and commitment to preserving the history of the Tank Destroyer Force. I am a retired Armor officer serving on both active duty with 3rd Battalion 35th Armored Regiment, 1st Armored Division in Germany from 1984 through 1987 and with the 1st Battalion 103rd Armored Regiment, 28th Infantry Division from 1988 through 2006. The 1/103rd Armor is the successor to the 628th Tank Destroyer Battalion and has carrier forward its lineage. I am very humble to have had the opportunity to serve in the shadows to these fine soldiers and I hope that my service lived up to their sacrifice. It is only through sights such as yours that the histories of these gallant men remain alive. Your sight has been invaluable to me as I search for details of the actions of the 628th during the European Campaign. My goal is to document and the 628th's coming of age and combat experiences in a complete history that will do justice to the service of the men of the Victory TD. Your sight has pointed me toward available sources which will supplement and strength those I have already obtained.

My father George E Englund
is listed in the Company C Roster for 819th battalion. He never talked much about his war experiences, now that he's gone, was nice to find this piece of history to connect with.

I am trying to find anyone that might of served with my dad-Garland Taylor Graham (Fuzzy) in the 630th Tank Destroyer unit in WWII. Dad was at the Battle of the Bulge-in a fox hole for 14 days. He enlisted in 1942 and I believe he did his training at Ft Hood. I don't have much information. Deb Stageberg

Just found this site today. My dad was with the 692nd tank destroyers in Germany between 1941-1943. He was a Tech Sgt. All I have from his service is one photo taken at Ft. Knox with the 692nd sign. I also have his shoulder patch & stripes. He was awarded a Purple Heart & Bronze Star, but I have no records except the basics. Would love to know more. He was from Louisville, KY --Frank Edward Bowles

Hi Tank Destroyer friends! We are very close to HALF way to the fundraising goal of $5000.00 necessary to allow creation of a plaque commemorating the 643rd TDB and all its men at the National Museum of the United States Army in Washington DC. Please reach out to your friends and family with memory of a relative who served with the 643rd and ask them to make a modest contribution. Even $20 multiplied a hundred times will get us to the finish line! Learn more here: https://armyhistory.causevox.com/643rdTDB#main

Someone contracted me recently about Howard Redfern. I deleted your email by mistake. Please write back.

Tom Hyslop

Very interesting to come across a photo of my uncle Lt. John O. Sharp on this great site. He died in the waning months of the war, years before I was born. His younger brother Dan, my father, graduated from West Point in 1951 and had told me about John being in the 773rd. That number, his name, and a Google search led me to the photo.

My father was Thompson L. (Tom) Raney. His best friend during and after WWII was Joe Henry Bruton, Jr. of Houston, TX. They served in the 823rd Tank Destroyer Btn together. I have Bruton family photos I'd like to send to the Bruton family.

Thank you for the story of Frank N. Aten.

My father Henry O. Lucas was in Company C 636 tank destroyer. Really enjoyed this site. Would love to see more photos that anyone might have. Many years ago I actually had the pleasure of meeting one person my Dad served with, Clell King and saw many photos in his personal collection.

Hi!! My grandfather Joseph F. Martyn was in the 820th during WWii. He was a POW. I never got to meet him because he died when my mother was 3, in 1958. After my uncle (his son) passed away we found a foot locker of my grandpas things in his basement. We had to put a lot of the pieces together through research to find out anything about his time in the army since no one knew much about him.

I wanted to say thank you for putting this website together as it has been very helpful!

Something was brought to my attention by my nephew when we discussed my fathers campaign.
He suffered the concussion at the battle of the bulge. He actually woke up lying with dead bodies in a barn, bleeding from his eyes, ears, and nose. A black man was collecting dog tags. When he saw my father get up and start walking, he ran out of the barn screaming. Medics then came and helped him. After he came back to the states, he spent a lot of time recovering. Approximately a year later, he would just pass out while walking or talking. Doctors performed surgery on his back, and he went into a 6-9 month coma. They thought he would die, but he was one tough bad-ass! His life was lived with physical pain, mental scars, and the love of his wife and 7 children till the age of 91.

My beloved father Nicholas Waskul was a modest man. He was never one to brag or boast about his accomplishments. I only knew about his WWII experiences from when he would mention them from time to time. As a child I would crawl into bed to snuggle daddy and wonder why there was sand in his bed, not realizing it was shrapnel leaching from his body years after the war. On occasion, he would tell me a story, and they were branded into my brain. It is only now that I have been researching his war time experiences, as he passed in 2017, and they were not stories he savored. I used to joke with him, "you may be old for a man, but you are young for a mountain"! But he was a mountain, strong, proud, and loved his family with all his heart.
Thank you so much for the wonderful display you created in his honor. I cried when I saw it, and will shed a tear for all men who sacrificed so much. Truly the greatest generation.

My dad Harold Bowling landed on Day 4 at Normandy, along with his brothers Arnold Bowling and William Bowling. News clippings from 1944-45 say they were in a tank destroyer unit, but it's not named. I have many pictures I'm willing to share, but for now looking for information. My family had five members included, two were killed, one buried at Henri Chappelle(Roy C. Webster), and three, including my dad, came home to Ohio. The fifth family member is named William Turner. All from Hamilton Ohio. I'm currently living in the Netherlands doing research.

My father, Ray E McLaughlin, served with the 706th Tank Battalion.

My father Lester H. Fox was company clerk for B company 636 TD battalion. He and four men from our community were drafted into the army and sent directly to the battalion without boot training. Three came home unmarked, one was killed and one badly wounded.

My father, Ernest R. Hines, and Uncle, Robert C. Hines, both served in the 776th Tank Destroyer Battalion.

The information provided on this website filled in many of the blanks in their WWII history.

Thank you so much

I submitted my uncle's name and picture (Arthur J Curry) because I was hoping someone might remember him and be able to shed some light on what experiences he had with Company A, 817th Tank Destroyer Battalion. He was never the same person after he returned from the war. Only now do I understand what he might have experienced to render him in that state. I was hoping someone might be able to shed some light on him.

Great grandfather was James E Young, can’t find info on him. Charles Brown died May 5th 1944 great uncle