Unit History: Activated on 15 December, 1941, at Camp Blanding, Florida. Converted to a towed battalion before arriving at Gourock, Scotland, on 12 June, 1944. Debarked at Utah Beach on 7 August. Joined fighting around Argentan. Ran eastward across France to Lorraine as part of a cavalry screen and the 7th Armored Division. Participated in fighting around Metz starting in September. Fought along the Saar in December and then joined rush north to the Ardennes. Converted to the M36 in late February 1945. Drove to the Rhine in March. Held Rhine west of the Ruhr Pocket in April, then took on military government duties. Attached to: 7th Armored Division; 5th, 80th, 90th, 94th, 95th Infantry divisions; 43d Cavalry Group. History text from the book The Tank Killers by Harry Yeide. Used by permission.
Combat Equipment: 8/44 – Towed 3″ Gun; 3/45 – M36
Commanding Officers: Lt. Col. William L. Mattox (Original CO); Major John C. Hooker (6/21/42); Lt. Col. Conrad B. Sturges (7/10/42)
Code Name/s: Convex
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: None
Location August 1945: Thionville, France
Additional Information/Materials:
1.) Seek – Strike – Destroy, The Story of the 774th Tank Destroyer Battalion – Book published by Zimmermann in Nürnberg, Germany, 1945. The following sections were scanned from a copy of the book graciously provided by Art Pelkey.
Introduction – Includes Memorium and Staff Officer pages
Pages 1-30 – Early history to Oct. 1944
Pages 31-48 – History Oct. 1944 to Jan. 1945 (Includes Route Map)
Pages 49-70 – History Jan. 1945 to May 1945
Pages 71-100 – Headquarters, Comm., Transportation, Maint. and Recon
Pages 101-130 – Recon. cont., Company A and Company B
Pages 131-160 – Comp. C, Med. Detach., Battlefield Commissions & Sports
Pages 161-183 – Sports cont., Awards and Distinctive Unit Insignia “Crest”
Pages 184-199 – Roster and book staff
2.) After Battle/After Action Reports-from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home, Abilene, Kansas.
Sept. 1-30, 1944………………………………5 Pages (Difficult to read)
Oct. 1-31, 1944……………………………….4 Pages
Nov. 1-30, 1944………………………………4 Pages
Dec. 1-31, 1944………………………………3 Pages
Jan. 1-31, 1945………………………………2 Pages
Feb. 1-28, 1945………………………………4 Pages (Includes 2 awards)
Mar. 1-31, 1945………………………………7 Pages (Includes awards)
Apr. 1-30, 1945………………………………7 Pages
May 1-9, 1945………………………………..2 Pages (Includes officers & awards)
3.) Various Histories-from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home, Abilene, Kansas.
Post-Maneuver, Dec. 15, 1941-Dec. 3, 1942…43 Pages
Summary, Dec. 16, 1941-Aug. 1944………….11 Pages (Includes officer roster)
Aug. 1-31, 1944…………………………………….3 Pages
Battle Participation, Dec. 10, 1944………………2 Pages (Includes awards)
June, 1-Oct. 25, 1945……………………………..8 Pages (Includes transfers & awards)
4.) Miscellaneous Documents-from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home, Abilene, Kansas.
Commendations, 1942-1945…………………..11 Pages
Various Documents, 1941………………………54 Pages
Various Documents, 1942………………………31 Pages
Various Documents, 1943………………………31 Pages
Various Documents, 1944………………………37 Pages
Various Documents, 1945………………………39 Pages
Unit Deactivation, Oct. 28, 1945………………..1 Page
5.) 774th Reunion Placemat – This placemat was sent to me by 774th Tank Destroyer Battalion member Art Pelkey. It identifies each of the unit’s credited campaigns of WWII, the places the unit was stationed and the locations of their reunions since 1984. The unit had their 69th Anniversary Reunion in October of 2010, at Myrtle Beach, SC. Forty people attended, including six of the unit’s veterans.
6.) 774th Tank Destroyer Battalion Association Newsletters – Courtesy of Larry Potter
7.) Photo Gallery