TankDestroyer.net

SEEK * STRIKE * DESTROY

635th Tank Destroyer Battalion

Unit History:  Established 15 December, 1941, at Camp Robertson, Arkansas, from the 35th Infantry Division Antitank Battalion (Provisional).  Arrived Liverpool, England, on 19 February, 1944.  Landed at Omaha Beach on 8 June.  Advanced through northern France and Belgium.  Operated in Roetgen-Aachen sector and Hürtgen Forest during autumn.  Transferred to Belgium on 22 December during Battle of the Bulge.  Returned to Aachen area in January and supported drive toward Rhine River near Cologne.  Transferred to Seventh Army and almost immediately to Third Army on 1 April, 1945.  Crossed Rhine at Mannheim and advanced through central Germany to Austria.  Supported: 1st, 71st Infantry divisions; 4th Cavalry Group.  History text from the book The Tank Killers by Harry Yeide.  Used by permission.

Combat Equipment:  6/6/44 – Towed 3″ Gun

Commanding Officers:  Lt. Col. Wint Smith

Code Name/s:  Vicksburg

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:  Leipzig, Germany

Additional Information/Materials:

1.)  635th Early History – Covers the unit from inception to their time in England (Feb 19, 1944). This was originally a link to the Kansas National Guard Museum site but they changed their link address so I copied it and made it into a document.

2.)  Short Unit History by Col. Wint Smith – Courtesy of the Tank Destroyer Association by L. L. Gill, TDA Historian.  Last page missing.

3.)  After Action Reports – Although labeled as A Company of the 635th, this link to the Kansas National Guard Museum site is the typed out text from the unit’s AAR’s and Journal’s, covering January 1944 through October 1945.

4.)  The 635th Tank Destroyer Battalion during the Battle of the Bulge – Link to C.R.I.B.A.  (Centre de Recherches et d’Informations sur la Bataille des Ardennes) website.

5.)  After Action Reports – from the Combined Arms Research Library of the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home, Abilene, Kansas (**).

           Jun. 8 to 26, 1944…………..3 Pages

Jul. 2 to 31, 1944……………4 Pages

Aug. 1 to 31, 1944………….2 Pages

Sep. 1 to 30, 1944…………..2 Pages

Oct. 1 to 31, 1944…………..3 Pages (**)

Nov. 1 to 30, 1944………….3 Pages

Dec. 1 to 31, 1944…………18 Pages (includes casualties and awards listing)

Jan. 1 to 31, 1945………….12 Pages (includes awards listing)

Feb. 1 to 28, 1945…………..6 Pages

Mar. 1 to 31, 1945…………20 Pages (includes awards listing)

Apr. 1 to 30, 1945…………26 Pages

May 1 to 31, 1945………….12 Pages

6.)  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 Assignments, Dec. 31, 1943…………………………………….3 Pages

Movements of Company B……………………………………………..3 Pages (*)

Basic Load Recommendation………………………………………….1 Page (*)

Combat, Bare Existence & Roller Coaster Emotions, by Bob…..9 Pages (*)

7.)  News Article – from the Topeka Capitol-Journal, Kansas, dated June 3, 1984.  Courtesy of the Tank Destroyer Association by L. L. Gill, TDA Historian.

8.)  Reunion Booklet – Not dated, but possibly handed out at the unit’s 1987 reunion in Denver, CO.  The booklet contains information on each of the unit’s previous reunions plus a roster of over 300 men.  Also provides a little information of their Commanding Officer.  Courtesy of the Tank Destroyer Association by L. L. Gill, TDA Historian.

9.)  Personal Narrative – This was written by a former veteran of the 635th, during the 1980’s, in response to questions he recieved from the author doing research for an upcoming book on U. S. tank destroyer forces.  Courtesy of the Tank Destroyer Association by L. L. Gill, TDA Historian.

Harold Ganz…………………………………………2 Pages

10.)  635th Troops in La Roche, Belgium – Document outlines the meeting between the 635th Tank Destroyer battalion servicemen as part of the 84th Infantry Division and members of the 1st Battalion Black Watch of the British 51st Highland Division in La Roche in January 1945. Men from the 635th included Sgt. Ray Stangler, Cpl. Harlem Mathis and Sgt. Max Beal. Document courtesy of Leslie Johnstone.

11.)  Photo Gallery