Unit History: Activated by 1 May, 1942, at Camp Polk, Louisiana. Arrived at Greenock, Scotland, in February, 1944. Landed at Utah Beach beginning 8 August equipped with M10’s. Raced across France in August and participated in fighting around Metz in September. Transferred to Peel Marshes in Holland in late September. Began re-equipping with M36’s in October, then supported Ninth Army’s drive toward the Roer River in November. Transferred with 7th Armored Division to the Ardennes on 17 December and participated in the defense of St. Vith. Supported operations against the West Wall in February, 1945. Crossed the Rhine River at Remagen on 23 March. Helped reduce the Ruhr Pocket in April. Drove east to the Elbe River and crossed, reaching the Baltic coast on 3 May. Attached: 7th Armored Division; 113th Cavalry Group. History text from the book The Tank Killers by Harry Yeide. Used by permission.
Combat Equipment: 8/44 – M10; 10/44 – M36
Commanding Officers: Lt. Col. Severn T. Wallis (Original CO, 5/4/42); Lt. Col. Robert Bruce Jones (6/43)
Code Name/s: Herald
Campaign Credits: 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 – 17-23 Dec 44, WD GO 48-48, Co A only
Croix De Guerre (French or Belgium “Cross of War”)
Location August 1945: Esch, Germany
Additional Information/Materials:
1.) Gare la Bête: A History of the 814th Tank Destroyer Battalion, 1942-1945 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. Boykin, Jr. First published in 1995, it is now in its fourth printing. Unfortunately with the death of Calvin Boykin in 2008 (see the Honoree section of this site) I’m not sure of the availability of the book. It can probably still be purchased through booksellers dealing in rare, collectible and/or military books.
2.) After Action Reports – from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home, Abilene, Kansas. Also courtesy of the Tank Destroyer Association by L. L. Gill, TDA Historian. (*)
Oct. 1-31, 1944…………………………………..12 Pages
Nov. 1-30, 1944……………………………………3 Pages
Dec. 1-31, 1944……………………………………6 Pages
Jan. 1-31, 1945……………………………………4 Pages
Feb. 1-28, 1945……………………………………4 Pages
March 1-31, 1945…………………………………6 Pages
April 1-30, 1945…………………………………..5 Pages
June 1-30, 1945…………………………………..1 Page
May 1-31, 1945……………………………………2 Pages (*)
3.) Reports of TD Operations – from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home, Abilene, Kansas.
Nov. 13-Dec. 3, 1944…………………………….8 Pages
Dec. 4-31, 1944………………………………….13 Pages
Jan. 1-Feb. 3, 1945……………………………..11 Pages
Feb. 4-March 3, 1945……………………………10 Pages
March 4-31, 1945………………………………..12 Pages
April 1-28, 1945…………………………………13 Pages
April 29-May 26, 1945…………………………..6 Pages
4.) Summary of Battalion Operations Reports – from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home, Abilene, Kansas.
Aug. 8-Sept. 16, 1944…………………………..6 Pages
Sept. 17-23, 1944………………………………..3 Pages
Sept. 24-30, 1944………………………………..3 Pages
Oct. 1-7, 1944…………………………………….4 Pages
Oct. 8-21, 1944…………………………………..4 Pages
Oct. 22-31, 1944………………………………..16 Pages (Includes TF Chappuis and TF Wemple narratives with overlays)
Oct. 29-Nov. 4, 1944……………………………2 Pages
5.) Miscellaneous Documents – from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home, Abilene, Kansas. Also courtesy of the Tank Destroyer Association by L. L. Gill, TDA Historian. (*)
Unit Activation, April 6-8, 1942………………………………………..4 Pages
Short History and training records, June 15, 1943………………15 Pages
Brief award listing…………………………………………………………3 Pages (*)
Awards & Citations, Sept.-Dec. 1944, Pt. 1………………………..36 Pages
Awards & Citations, Sept.-Dec. 1944, Pt. 2………………………..36 Pages
Silver Star award for Sgt. Glen E. Hoop………………………………1 Page (*)
Distinguished Service Cross Award, Victor P. Funk…………………1 Page
Enemy Equip. Destroyed-Personnel Losses, 44-45………………..6 Pages
Various Docs., March 25, 1942-June 12, 1945, Pt. 1…………….39 Pages
Various Docs., March 25, 1942-June 12, 1945, Pt. 2…………….40 Pages
Various Docs., March 25, 1942-June 12, 1945, Pt. 3…………….35 Pages
General Orders, 7th Armd Div. #1-155, June-Sept #89-155…211 Pages
6.) Short narratives by two 814th veterans. Courtesy of the Tank Destroyer Association by L. L. Gill, TDA Historian.
Glen E. Hoop……………………………………………………..5 Pages
Calvin C. Boykin………………………………………………….3 Pages
Calvin C. Boykin, 2nd Rcn Plat at St. Vith, BE……………10 Pages
Calvin C. Boykin, questionaire completed for 7th ADA…20 Pages
7.) Lieutenant Will Rogers Jr.’s Service in World War II. This article is located on the Historynet website and provides some information on Will Roger’s Jr. and his time with the 814th.
8.) Alphabetical list of soldiers from the 814th who died in Europe. From the 7th Armored Division website.
9.) Photo Page of 814th Deaths Overseas – Page from the 7th Armored Division website with a few men that died overseas.
10.) After Action Reports – Sept 1944 to June 1945 while the unit was attached to the 7th Armored Division. This document was transcribed by Barry A. Wells and edited by Wesley Johnston, Webmaster and Historian for the 7th Armored Division. This is a link to the 7th Armored Division website and provides the report as a Word document.
11.) Ambushed Troops of the 814th – Extensive work by 7th Armored Historian Wesley Johnston regarding actions Southwest of Sommerain, Belgium, on December 19, 1944. His work includes AARs, survivor, later and published post-war accounts, individual deceased personnel files and prisoner of war records. The link is to the 7th Armored Division site.
12.) Roster of Personnel
13.) Photo Gallery