Unit History: Activated on 25 June 1942 at Camp Swift, Texas, as a towed battalion. Arrived at Greenock, Scotland, on 15 April, 1944. Landed in France beginning 14 June and committed in the vicinity of Cerisy. Fought at Vire during breakout in July and early August. Moved to Brittany and supported siege and capture of Brest in late August and September. Shifted to Belgium in October and supported operations against the Siegfried Line until December. Engaged Germans in Honsfeld, Belgium, area at outbreak of Battle of the Bulge. Converted to self-propelled battalion (M18’s) beginning 29 December, 1944. Joined attack through Monschau Forest in February 1945. Crossed Rhine River in March, participated in race through central Germany to Leipzig in April. Attached to: 9th Armored Division; 1st, 2nd, 9th, 99th Infantry divisions. History text from the book The Tank Killers by Harry Yeide. Used by permission.
Combat Equipment: 6/44 – Towed 3″ Gun; 1/45 – M18.
Commanding Officers: Lt. Col. Willis A. Hedden (6/25/42); Lt. Col. Joseph M. Deeley (12/4/42); Exec. Maj. James B. Kemp
Code Name/s: Vertex
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: Croix De Guerre (French or Belgium “Cross of War”)
Location August 1945: Bonn, Germany
Additional Information/Materials:
1.) 612th Tank Destroyer Battalion website – Very detailed site with a lot of information on the unit and the unit’s Association.
2.) History of the 612th Tank Destroyer Battalion – Written by members of the unit and printed by Novy Vsetisk of Pizen, Czechoslovakia in 1945. This version has been re-typed and includes listings of Commendations, Decorations, Wounded, MIA and KIA personnel. Used by permission of the 612th Tank Destroyer Battalion Association.
3.) Camp Kilmer to Victory – Expanded History of the 612th TD Bn. written by Sergeant S. E. Mestrezat. Used by permission of the 612th Tank Destroyer Battalion Association.
5.) Roster of Company A – Taken from reports and provides only last names, rank and assignments. Used by permission of the 612th Tank Destroyer Battalion Association.
6.) Complete Roster from Voyage Home – The ship’s roster from the USAT George Washington on the voyage home from Marseille, France. The date is listed as October 26, 1945, which was long after the war had ended. The roster includes 674 personnel including Headquarters, Reconnaissance, A, B, C, and Medical Companies. This list would probably not include many of the men that shipped home due to their higher points totals. Provided courtesy of George Panik.
7.) Operations of 612th TD Bn in the Battle of the Bulge – This Advanced Infantry Officers Course document was written by Maj. James B. Kemp (Exec. Officer) and pulls from his personal experience during the action, which took place from December 16 – 31, 1944, in the vicinity of Elsenborn Corner, Belgium.
June 14-30, 1944…………….3 Pages
Jul. 1 – 31, 1944………………1 Page
Aug. 1 – 31, 1944…………….2 Pages
Sep. 1 – 30, 1944……………..2 Pages
Oct. 1 – 31, 1944……………..2 Pages
Nov. 1 – 30, 1944…………….1 Page
Dec. 1 – 31, 1944…………….2 Pages
Jan. 1-31, 1945………………2 Pages
Feb. 1 – 28, 1945…………….2 Pages
Mar. 1-31, 1945………………3 Pages
Apr. 1 – 30, 1945…………….2 Pages
May 1 – 8, 1945………………1 Pages
9.) Unit Journals – from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home, Abilene, Knasas. NOTE: These documents contain information on awards, combat casualties, personnel losses for medical reasons and personnel transfers after the end of combat.
Nov. 1-30, 1944…………….30 Pages
Dec. 1-31, 1944……………..39 Pages
Jan. 1-31, 1945……………..36 Pages
Feb. 1-28, 1945……………..36 Pages
Mar. 1-31, 1945……………..49 Pages
Apr. 1-30, 1945……………..41 Pages
May, 1-31, 1945…………….32 Pages
June 1-30, 1945…………….30 Pages
10.) Unit Histories – from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home, Abilene, Kansas.
June 25, 1942-Dec. 31, 1944..17 Pages
Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 1944…………..21 Pages (Includes awards)
Dec. 1-31, 1944………………….4 Pages
Jan. 1-31, 1945………………….3 Pages (Includes casualties & promotions)
Feb. 1-28, 1945………………….5 Pages (Includes awards, casualties & promotions)
Mar. 1-31, 1945………………….7 Pages (Includes awards, casualties & promotions)
Apr. 1-30, 1945………………….6 Pages (Includes awards, casualties & promotions)
May 1-31, 1945…………………..3 Pages (Includes awards & casualties)
June 1-30, 1945………………….2 Pages (Includes awards)
July 1-31, 1945…………………..2 Pages (Includes awards)
Aug. 1-31, 1945………………….2 Pages (Includes awards)
11.) Miscellaneous Documents – from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home, Abilene, Kansas. Courtesy of Tom Hubred. (*)
Various Files, 1942, 1944……………………………………3 Pages
Various Orders, 1942-45…………………………………..52 Pages (Includes awards & transfers)
Enlisted men shown as MIA, 12-17-44…………………..2 Pages (*)
Co. C promotions, 12-26-44………………………………..1 Page (*)
Transfers to Recon Co., 12-30-44………………………….2 Pages (*)
Coat of Arms Correspondence, 1944……………………..2 Pages
Commendation Ltr, Co. B, Nov. 15, 1944……………….2 Pages
Warburg Narrative, Mar. 31, 1945………………………..3 Pages
Distinguished Unit Citation Recommendation, 1945…16 Pages
Medical Detachment Rpt., Sept. 20, 1945………………14 Pages
General Order #89, Deactivation, Oct. 26, 1945……….1 Page
612th Newsletter, 1987…………………………………….14 Pages
12.) Actions of B Company at Honsfeld – A 14 page document written by Don Smart about B Company’s experiences in and around Honsfeld, Belgum. The account draws not only from historical documents but also from interviews with a number of B Company’s personnel.
12.) Index to Unit Records – These are the unit files available from the National Archives in College Park, Maryland. If you are interested in purchasing copies, please contact us and we can help you with the process.