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692nd Tank Destroyer Battalion

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The 692nd Tank Destroyer Battalion is gearing up for their 52st Annual Reunion. We are holding the reunion on June 24th, 25th and 26th in Jack & Mary Jo’s hometown of Hagerstown, Maryland this year. We will have a healthy dose of fun, history and memory making at this reunion. Hotel and itinerary information is forthcoming. Looking forward to seeing you! An itinerary will be released in the weeks leading up to the reunion. Please, contact Greg McQuade for reunion information: gmcquade@wtvr.com

Unit History:  Activated on 10 April, 1942, at Camp Gordon, Georgia.  Converted to a towed battalion in March, 1944.  Arrived at Cherbourg, France, on 23 September, 1944.  Entered the line near Wustwezel, Belgium, circa 28 October.  Fought along the Siegfried Line in the vicinity of Stolberg beginning in November.  Occupied defensive positions along the Roer River during the Battle of the Bulge.  Converted to the M36 in February 1945, supported the drive from the Roer to the Rhine River in late February and early March, and helped capture Cologne.  After clearing more Siegfried Line fortifications, crossed the Rhine at Worms on 31 March.  Raced across Germany in April and participated in the capture of Furth.  Advanced to Munich by 30 April.  Attached to: 42d, 63d, 104th Infantry divisions.  History text from the book The Tank Killers by Harry Yeide.  Used by permission.

Combat Equipment:  10/44 – Towed 3″ Gun; 2/45 – M36

Commanding Officers:  Lt. Col. Harvey Shelton;  Major John S. Hafer (2/44);  Lt. Col. Samuel S. Morse (7/44);  Lt. Col. Charles A. Corcoran (11/11/45)

Code Name/s:  Chico

Campaign Credits:    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 – 23-25 Feb 45, DA GO 64-48, 1st Platoon,                                                                        Co B only

Location August 1945:  Brauweiler, Germany

Additional Information/Materials:

1.)  Short History of the 692nd Tank Destroyer Battalion – Courtesy of Greg McQuade

2.)  History Outline of the 692nd Tank Destroyer Battalion, 1942-1945 – by Maj. Richard T. Knowles, FA (TD) Commanding

3.)  Unit Histories – Courtesy of the Tank Destroyer Association by L. L. Gill, TDA Historian.

                   Nov 1, 1943 – Dec 31, 1944……………24 Pages (Incl. awards)
Jan 1, 1945 – June 30, 1945……………27 Pages (Incl. awards, March missing)
May 10, 1945 – Dec 31, 1945………….24 Pages (Incl. awards)

4.)  Unit Roster of the 692nd Tank Destroyer Battalion – Courtesy of Greg McQuade.

     Note:  I have been informed by the family of Leo J. Zyskowski of C Company, that his name is spelled incorrectly with an “L” in the roster as Lyskowski, instead of with a “Z” for Zyskowski.

5.)  Unit Route Map – Courtesy of the Tank Destroyer Association by L. L. Gill, TDA Historian.

6.)  Miscellaneous Documents-from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home, Aiblene, Kansas. Courtesy of Ross Crawford, son of Don Crawford, Co. Company B (*).  Also courtesy of the Tank Destroyer Association by L. L. Gill, TDA Historian (+).

     After Action Report, Nov 1-30, 1944…………………………………..4 Pages

      After Action Report, Dec 1-31, 1944…………………………………..8 Pages (*)

     Combat Report, Jan 1-31, 1945………………………………………..4 Pages

      Unit History, April 1-30, 1945……………………………………………9 Pages (*)

Star Shell Info, Dec 6, 1944……………………………………………..1 Page (+)

     Various Documents, 1943-1945…………………………………………7 Pages

7.)  Photo Gallery 1

8.)  Photo Gallery 2

9.)  Photo Gallery 3

10.)  Company B, Group Photo – Taken at Camp Campbell, Kentucky, on March 16, 1944.  Captain J. H. West is identified as the Commanding Officer.  Capt. John H. West was the CO throughout the war.  Photo courtesy of Ross Crawford, son of Ssgt. Donald K. Crawford of Co. B.

11.)  Company C, Group Photo – Taken at Camp Campbell, Kentucky, on March 17, 1944. Captain K.J. Laverty is listed as the Commanding Officer. I checked the unit documentation and did not find any mention of him outside of the U.S. Photo courtesy of Mary Taylor Willams.

12.)  692nd on Video – M36B1 tank destroyers are received and test fired on February 18, 1945, by the men of the 692nd, while in Germany.  At the time, the unit was attached to the 104th Infantry Division.

13.)  Interview with Jack Myers – A short interview with 692nd veteran Wilbur “Jack” Myers. Jack served in B Company and was the only veteran of the unit that was able to attend their 2019 reunion.

14.)  B Company Campaign Map – An interesting, and probably very rare, map of the path the unit took through Europe.  Provided courtesy of Jerry Imperio.

15.)  Transfer Orders – Personnel from Camp Gordon, GA to Fort Hood, TX for the Enlisted Pioneer Course at the Tank Destroyer School, dated September 3, 1942. Documents courtesy of Chip Hank.