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.) Miscellaneous Documents – Eighteen re-typed pages from the personal papers of Lt. Wint Smith, which are housed at the Kenneth Spencer Research Library at the University of Kansas. The documents include S.O. (Special Orders) and G.O. (General Orders) as well as memorandums relating to the early organization of the unit. The documents are provided courtesy of Nicholas Tuma, who came across them while doing research for his Master’s Thesis.
8.) Transfer Listing of Personnel (S.O. 297) – An eight page listing of personnel transferred into the 635th T.D. Bn from 35th Infantry Division Units dated December 14, 1941. The document is from the personal papers of Lt. Wint Smith, which are housed at the Kenneth Spencer Research Library at the University of Kansas. Provided courtesy of Nicholas Tuma.
9.) News Article – from the Topeka Capitol-Journal, Kansas, dated June 3, 1984. Courtesy of the Tank Destroyer Association by L. L. Gill, TDA Historian.
10.) 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.
11.) Personal Narrative – This was written by a former veteran of the 635th, during the 1980’s, in response to questions he received 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
12.) 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.
13.) Photo Gallery