614th Tank Destroyer Battalion (AA)

Unit History: Activated on 25 July, 1942 at Camp Carson, Colorado. Reorganized as a towed battalion in May 1943. Arrived in England on 7 September, 1944, landed at Utah beachhead beginning 8 October. Deployed to Metz and supported operations against the Siegfried Line nearby in November and December. Shifted to Hagenau Forest area. Continued to support operations against Siegfried Line fortifications until late March, 1945. Performed occupation duties in early April, then joined race to Innsbruck, Austria, and Brenner Pass. Attached to: 95th, 103d Infantry divisions. History text from the book The Tank Killers by Harry Yeide. Used by permission. The 614th was one of the few African-American TD units.

Combat Equipment: 11/44 – Towed 3″ Gun.

Commanding Officers: Lt. Col. Blaisdell C. Kenon; Lt. Col. Frank S. Pritchard (10/16/43); Major Richard K. James (11/6/45); Major Floyd E. Rees (11/30/45); Lt. Col. Delmer P. Anderson (6/30/46); Lt. Col. Henry W. Allard (8/20/46)

Code Name/s: Handbag, Warrior

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 – 14 Dec 44, WD GO 37-45, 3rd Platoon, Company C only

Location August 1945: Bouxwiller, France

Additional Information/Materials:

1.) 614th Tank Destroyer Battalion Unit History – Titled “Three Inch Fury”, includes detailed unit history, awards and casualties as well as a full roster.

2.) History of 614th Tank Destroyer Battalion on Wikipedia site

3.) Wikipedia article on 1st Lt. Charles Leroy Thomas– He was the Commander of Company C and received the Distinguished Service Cross, which was later upgraded to the Medal of Honor in 1997, 17 years after his death.

4.) Portion of text from the Special Studies “The Employment of Negro Troops” – by Ulysses Lee, for the Center of Military History. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 66-60003 First Printed 1966-CMH Pub 11-4. The article includes a number of references to actions of the 614th and the 827th Tank Destroyer Battalions, which were both predominantly comprised of African-American soldiers.

5.) Task Force Blackshear – Article on the 614th’s actions in the Vosges Mountains campaign in France in late 1944. Also includes additional information on Lt. Charles Thomas, written by Warren Cohen, which was printed in the Michigan History Magazine in 1997.

6.) Photo Gallery

7.) Company B Group Photo – A group photo taken during the men’s training in the U.S. At the time, Company B was commanded by Cpt. Robert L. Finley with officers 1st Lt. Raymond H. Powell, 1st Lt. Ulysses W. Watkins, Charles J. Nelson, and 2nd Lt. Forrest A. Walker. The photo was taken by C. Ekmark, Box 72 Grayson St. Station, San Antonio, which was 2 hours south of Camp Hood, Texas and probably where the photo was taken. A great find since each soldier’s name is written with him. Photo is courtesy of Henry Anderson.

8.) Unit Journals and Historical Reports from the National Archives, College Park, MD. Courtesy of Samuel de Korte (*).

Journals
    Nov. 19 to 30, 1944…………..6 Pages (*)
    Dec. 1 to 31, 1944…………..20 Pages
    Jan. 1 to 31, 1945…………..11 Pages
    Feb. 1 to 28. 1945…………..14 Pages
    Mar. 1 to 31, 1945…………..12 Pages
    Apr. 1 to 30, 1945…………….6 Pages
    May 1 to 10, 1945…………….2 Pages

Histories with Officer and NCO Rosters

    1942-1944……………………..4 Pages
    December 1944……………….4 Pages
January 1945…………………..4 Pages-No rosters
February 1945…………………5 Pages
    March 1945…………………….4 Pages
    April 1945………………………7 Pages
    May 1945……………………….8 Pages