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SEEK * STRIKE * DESTROY

702nd Tank Destroyer Battalion

                                                           

                                                           702nd-DUI

 

Motto:  MEMOR ESTO or “Be Mindful”

Unit History:  The “Seven O Deuce” was activated 15 December, 1941, at Fort Benning, Georgia.  Equipped with T70s (M18’s) before shipping to the United Kingdom, where the battalion arrived on 25 February, 1944, only to be issued M10’s.  Landed at Omaha Beach on 11 June.  Entered line at Livry on 2 July.  Formed part of 2d Armored Division’s spearhead during Cobra breakout in late July.  Fought at Mortain, established first contact with Canadians during encirclement of Falaise Pocket.  Entered Belgium on 5 September and crossed German border near Gangelt. Fought against Siegfried Line along Wurm River in October and November.  Re-equipped with M36’s in late November.  Supported drive on Roer River.  Moved to Ardennes in December.  Crossed Roer River on 28 February, 1945, and Rhine on 28 March.  Participated in encirclement of Ruhr Pocket, reached Weser River on 4 April.  Reached Elbe River near Magdeburg, after which they took on occupation duties.  Attached to: 2d Armored Division.  History text from the book The Tank Killers by Harry Yeide.  Used by permission.

Combat Equipment: 6/44 – M10; 11/44 – M36

Commanding Officers:  Lt. Col. Robert O. Wright (Original CO, 1/5/42);  Lt. Col. John A. Beall (4/15/43)

Code Name/s:  Atlas

Campaign Credits:    Normandy…………………..Jun. 6, to Jul. 24, 1944

                                   Northern France……………Jul. 25, to Sept. 14, 1944

                                 Rhineland……………………Sept. 15, 1944 to Mar. 21, 1945

                                 Ardennes-Alsace…………..Dec. 16, 1944 to Jan 25, 1945

                                 Central Europe……………..Mar. 22, to May 11, 1945

Awards:  Distinguished Unit Citation – 27-30 Jul 44, DA GO 28-48, Co B only 

               Croix De Guerre (French or Belgium “Cross of War”)

Location August 1945:  Glehn, Germany

Additional Information/Materials:

1.)  Photo Gallery

2.)  Unit Photo of the 702nd Tank Destroyer Battalion – This was taken by Rell Clements Jr., who is well known for his panoramic photos.  It was taken at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, in October, 1942, and has been provided courtesy of Richard Sloan, son of Joseph W. Sloan who is shown in the photo.  Joseph is in the third row from the rear, standing fourth (in that row) to the left of the flag, which is almost centered in the image. He’s wearing glasses and has a #1 written on him.  Also identified are a few officers of the unit shown in the fifth row from the rear.  #2 – First Sgt Stone, #3 – Sgt. McGuire, #4 – Maj. McCurdy, and #5 – Lt. Col. Wright (Commanding).  Joseph also listed #6 – Lt. Parks, #7 – Lt. Harper and #8 – Lt. Weiner but we are unable to find these men on the photo.  Since Joseph Sloan was in Company B, these men may have been in Company B also.  We have also identified Sgt. Albert E. Cannuscio, A Company, as standing in the first row, 5th guy (with moustache) to the right of the man with the A Company quidon.  Thanks to his son, Peter, for the ID.  Warning, this is a LARGE file!

3.)  Second Armored Division Booklet Published 1945 – Distributed to the 702nd Tank Destroyer Battalion and 195th Anti-Aircraft Battalion.  Link is to site by Larry Stevens in memory of his father, Pvt. Delbert Stevens, Co. A, 702nd Tank Destroyer Battalion.

4.)  Article Request for Information on Lt. Col. John A. Beall – This article was just recently published in the 2nd Armored Division “Hell on Wheels” Bulletin for July 2010.  I want to personally thank the 2nd AD for their assistance and allowing me to use the bulletin for my research.  I particularly want to thank Jack Slattery, the Bulletin Editor, for his help and for the fine job he is doing on the Bulletin. 

5.)  Official “Brief” History of the 702nd – Covering Dec. 1941 to April 1945…..5 Pages

6.)  Official History of the 702nd for 1944 – Includes stations, battalion personnel strength, Campaigns, WIA, MIA and KIA listings as well as Awards listing…….13 Pages. 

7.)  Official History of the 702nd for 1945 – Includes stations, battalion personnel strength, Campaigns, WIA, MIA and KIA listings as well as Awards listing………9 Pages.

8.)  After Action Reports – Courtesy of Richard Sloan and the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home, Abilene, Kansas (**).

            June 1944………………………………3 Pages

            July 1944……………………………….2 Page

            Aug. 1-31, 1944………………………5 Pages

            Sep. 1-30, 1944……………………….5 Pages

            Oct. 1-31, 1944……………………….5 Pages

            Oct. 31-Nov. 30, 1944………………6 Pages

            Nov. 30-Dec. 31, 1944………………5 Pages

            Dec. 31, 1944-Jan. 31, 1945………6 Pages

            Jan. 31-Feb. 28, 1945………………4 Pages

            Feb. 28-Mar. 31, 1945……………..5 Pages

            Mar. 31-Apr. 30, 1945……………..7 Pages

            Apr. 30-May 30, 1945………………2 Pages

            May 30-June 30, 1945……………..2 Pages (**)

9.)  S-3 Reports – Courtesy of Richard Sloan and the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home, Abilene, Kansas (**).

            June 7-Sept. 1, 1944………………13 Pages (Consolidated Report-**)

            June 30-July 31 1944……………….2 Pages (**)

            Jul. 31 to Aug. 31, 1944…………..3 Pages

            Aug. 31 to Sept. 30, 1944…………5 Pages

            Sept. 2-Dec 31, 1944……………..16 Pages (Consolidated Report-**)

            Sept. 30 to Oct. 31, 1944………….3 Pages

            Oct. 31-Nov. 30, 1944……………..4 Pages (**)

            Dec. 31, 1944 to Jan. 31, 1945…..4 Pages

            Jan. 1-April 21, 1945……………..16 Pages (Consolidated Report-**)

            Jan. 31 to Feb. 28, 1945…………..3 Pages

            Feb. 28, to Mar. 31, 1945………….4 Pages

            Mar. 31 to Apr. 30, 1945…………..5 Pages

            Apr. 22-June 19, 1945……………..8 Pages (Consolidated Report-**)

            Apr. 30 to May 30, 1945……………2 Pages

            May 30-June 30, 1945………………2 Pages (**)

10.)  Operational Reports – Courtesy of Richard Sloan and the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home, Abilene, Kansas (**).

            July 1-30, 1945……………………..30 Pages

            June 19-30, 1945…………………..11 Pages (**)

11.)  Miscellaneous Documents-from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home, Abilene, Kansas and courtesy of the Tank Destroyer Association by L. L. Gill, TDA Historian (*).

            Enemy Material Destroyed………….1 Page (*)

            Unit Journal, Jan 1 – Feb 7, 1945…5 Pages (*)

            Various Combat Reports, 1944…..11 Pages

            Various Documents, 1943-1944….25 Pages

12.)  ASR Score records – These documents provide a listing of each company’s personnel along with their ASR score (Adjusted Service Rating Score) in July, 1945.  The Army used this number to determine who was to ship home first following the end of the war.  Courtesy of Tom Hubred.  This link provides a short, concise description of how this process worked.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adjusted_Service_Rating_Score

                  Company A…………………………….7 Pages

                  Company B…………………………….8 Pages

             Company C…………………………….7 Pages

             Hq & Hq Company……………………7 Pages

             Medical Detachment…………………2 Pages

             Reconaissance Company……………6 Pages

13.)  Unit Roster Company B – Enlisted personnel, dated Feb. 28, 1942, while the unit was stationed at Fort Benning, GA.  Courtesy of Richard Sloan.

14.)  News Media Press Release for the 1982 Reunion –  Written by Cecil Hunnicutt, it contains a brief history of Company B’s war timeline.

15.)  Newspaper Article on 1982 Reunion – Found in “The Leader” newspaper dated June 10, 1982.  Photos and story by Marcena M. Eby.

16.)  Reunion Photos from 1983 – Group photos of the Company B reunion held in Branson, MO.  Courtesy of Richard Sloan.

         Photo #1

         Photo #2

17.)  Reunion Article from 1985 – A newspaper clipping from “The Mountain Press” which covers the Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville areas of Tennesse.  The article is dated Monday, June 10, 1985.

18.)  Reunion Photo from 1994 – Page one is the color photo.  Page two is a black and white version with numbers on each person.  Page three is a list of people as identified by Mike Leumer, who chaired reunions from 2004-2009 and is the son of 702nd veteran William (Bill) F. Leumer.  He was only able to identify a few of the attendees so if anyone out there can identify any of the people, please contact me.  Photo courtesy of Richard Sloan.

19.)  Reunion Location List – Rather than create a special document, I have listed them here:  1978, 1979, 1980, Pigeon Forge, TN; 1981, Nashville, TN; 1982 Columbia, SC; 1983, Branson, MO; 1984, Lancaster, PA; 1985, Pigeon Forge, TN; 1986, Burlington, NC; 1987, Cave City, KY; 1988, Nashville, TN; 1989, Chattanooga, TN; 1990, Gatlinburg, TN; 1991, Ft. Knox, KY; 1992, 1993, 1994, Nashville, TN; 1995 – 2003, Erlanger, KY; 2004, Louisville, KY; 2005, Indianapolis, IN; 2006, Nashville, TN; 2007, 2008, Fort Mitchell, KY (Combined 701st and 702nd reunion); 2009, Elkhart, IN (Last reunion. Only three 702nd and one 701st member attended).  Reunion list courtesy of Mike Leumer.

20.)  2nd Armored Division Photo – Taken on October 25, 1941, during a speech by their commanding officer, Major General George S. Patton Jr., who is shown more clearly in one of the two small detail images.  The other small image looks like it was taken during the prayer for the troops.  This photo was provided by the niece of James “Jimmy” Blanton, of B Company, and then scanned in parts by Richard Sloan….a pretty nice job!  This shot was taken prior to the 702nd’s activation and “official” connection to the 2nd Armored but because the 702nd was formed mostly from personnel of the 2nd Armored, we can safely assume that many of the 702nd’s future members were on hand for the speech.

21.)  Company B Photo – Taken in March of 1942 while the unit was still at Fort Benning, GA.  Joseph Sloan is sitting in front, seventh from the right.  There are a couple of guy’s bodies missing but you can still see the tops of their heads.  The four officers sitting behind the unit banner are L to R, 1st. Lt. Barnard or Bernard – Commanding, 2nd Lt. Wilson, 2nd Lt. Rodahaven or Rodahauer and 2nd Lt. Weiner.  Joseph also noted on the photo that there were now 165 men.  Photo is courtesy of Richard Sloan.

22.)  Recon Company Photo – Another image from Fort Benning but this one is labeled May, 1942. Capt. A.W. Jones is the Commanding Officer with Lt. Flemming, Lt. Mauro and Lt. Taylor as platoon leaders. Looking at the officer roster from early in 1943, none of these men are listed as being with the unit anymore. Robert W. Hurst can be seen in third row from the front, second from left. Photo courtesy of Robert W. Hurst Jr.

23.)  Letter from former 702nd Commander, John Beall Jr. – Written on June 10, 1985 to Francis and Jim (members of Company B) thanking them for inviting him and for the planning they did.  It is signed “Tiger” Beall.  By this time, Beall had gone on to receive his doctorate in Management from Georgia State University.

24.)  2nd Armored Campaign Map – Very detailed map providing a short history covering 1942 through 1945; Commanding Officers; Important Actions; List of Cities; Attached Units; Enemy Units encountered; and Campaign Credits.  Map courtesy of Richard Sloan.

25.)  Officer Roster 1943 – Compiled while the unit was stationed at Camp Hood, TX, on February 9, 1943. Courtesy of Joe Wallace.

26.)  1st Platoon Roster, Co. B – Listing of personnel from the First Platoon of Company B.  The list was not dated but was probably from when the unit was still in the U.S.  Courtesy of Joe Wallace.