Unit History: Activated on 15 December at Camp Polk, Louisiana. Landed in France on 1 July, 1944. Saw first action near Hautes Vents on 13 July. Participated in Cobra breakout at end of month. Held in reserve during Mortain battle in August. Crossed the River Seine on 26 August, reached the Siegfried Line in the vicinity of Eschweiler, Germany, by 12 September. First battalion converted to M36’s beginning 30 September. Fought along West Wall until mid-December, then transferred to Ardennes after launch of German offensive. Fought to reduce the Bulge in January, 1945 and joined drive to Cologne in February and early March. Crossed Rhine River on 23 March near Honnef and participated in envelopment of the Ruhr. Slashed east to stop line at Dessau by 14 April. Attached to: 82d Airborne Division; 3d Armored Division; 1st Infantry Division. History text from the book The Tank Killers by Harry Yeide. Used by permission.
Combat Equipment: 7/44 – M10; 10/44 – M36
Commanding Officers: Maj. John Meade (Original CO, later Lt. Col.); Maj. Prentice E. Yeoman (1/22/42) promoted to Lt. Col. on 2/23/42; Lt. Col. Wilbur E. Showalter
Code Name/s: Amber
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: Cologne, Germany
Additional Information/Materials:
2.) Short History of the 703rd – From the book, Spearhead in the West, the 3rd Armored Division’s 260 page WWII History.
The following documents are from the Combined Arms Research Library of the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
3.) Operational Reports
Jul. 1-31, 1944…………….7 Pages (Includes casualties & awards. Some areas poor)
Aug. 1-31, 1944…………..6 Pages (Includes casualties & awards. Some areas poor)
Sep. 1-30, 1944………….11 Pages (Includes casualties & awards. Some areas poor)
Oct. 1-31, 1944……………5 Pages (Summary. Some areas poor)
Nov. 1-30, 1944…………..6 Pages (Includes casualties & awards. Some areas poor)
Dec. 1-31, 1944…………11 Pages (Includes casualties & awards. Some areas poor)
Dec. 20, 1944-Jan. 1, 1945…..5 Pages (Oper. w/82nd Airborne)
Jan. 1-31, 1945…………10 Pages (Includes casualties & awards. Some areas poor)
Jan. 18, 1945……………..7 Pages (Tank Destroyer Ops)
January 1945………………5 Pages (A Company)
January 1945………………3 Pages (B Company)
January 1945………………4 Pages (C Company)
Feb. 1-28, 1945…………10 Pages (Includes casualties & awards. Some areas poor)
Feb. 26-Mar. 7, 1945……..7 Pages (A. B & C Companies. Some areas poor)
Mar. 1-31, 1945…………20 Pages (Includes casualties & awards. Some areas poor)
Apr. 1-30, 1945…………..3 Pages (Includes casualties & awards)
Apr. 1-30, 1945………….20 Pages (Some areas poor)
4.) Miscellaneous Documents-from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home, Abilene, Kansas. Courtesy of the Tank Destroyer Association by L. L. Gill, TDA Historian. (*)
Medical Detachment, Annual Rpt, June 15, 1945……………………14 Pages
Troop Assignment #147, June 12, 1945………………………………18 Pages
After Combat Discussion, Oct 9, 1944…………………………………..4 Pages (*)
Equipment Pick-up, Feb 15, 1945………………………………………..1 Page (*)
Review of new M36, Oct 27, 1944……………………………………….4 Pages (*)
5.) 703rd TD Association Newsletters – These newsletters contain many personal rememberances, short stories, photos, happenings at reunions and many names of unit personnel. Courtesy of the Tank Destroyer Association by L. L. Gill, TDA Historian.
March, 1990………………………………8 Pages
June, ” “………………………………..8 Pages
Sept, ” “………………………………..8 Pages
Dec, ” “………………………………..9 Pages
March, 1991……………………………..16 Pages
June, ” “……………………………….8 Pages
Sept, ” “………………………………12 Pages
Dec, ” “………………………………..8 Pages
March, 1992……………………………….8 Pages
June, ” “………………………………12 Pages
Sept, ” “……………………………….12 Pages
Dec, ” “……………………………….12 Pages
March, 1993………………………………12 Pages
Sept, ” “……………………………….12 Pages
Dec, ” “……………………………….12 Pages
March, 1994……………………………….12 Pages
June, ” “……………………………….12 Pages
Sept, ” “……………………………….12 Pages
Dec, ” “……………………………….12 Pages
March, 1995……………………………….12 Pages
June, ” “………………………………..12 Pages
Sept, ” “………………………………..13 Pages
Dec, ” “………………………………..12 Pages
March, 1996……………………………….12 Pages
Sept, ” “………………………………..12 Pages
Dec, ” “………………………………..12 Pages
March, 1997………………………………..12 Pages
June, ” “………………………………..13 Pages
Sept, ” “………………………………..12 Pages
March, 1998……………………………….12 Pages
June, 1999…………………………………..8 Pages
Sept, ” “……………………………………8 Pages
6.) Photo Gallery
7.) Commendation – A three page commendation to the 703rd from the Commanding Generals of the XVIII Corps (Airborne), VII Corps and the Third Armored Division. The last page includes a list of enemy material that was destroyed during the period of July 9, 1944 to May 1, 1945. Provided courtesy of Charles Czajkowski.
8.) Christmas Card from 1944 – A 3rd Armored, “the Spearhead Division”, Christmas card sent home to the family of Andrew Phillips. Although the card is not marked, it appears to have been from Christmas of 1944 since it indicates “New York 1945” inside.
9.) Company A Group Photo – Taken while the unit was stationed at Fort Indiantown Gap Military Reservation, Pennsylvania, in the spring and summer of 1943. They were there for over 7 months, which was their last training stop before heading to Camp Kilmer, New Jersey and final preparations before shipping to Europe. Commanding the unit is Cpt. Sydney Strother Smith Jr., who had a number of nicknames, including “S.S.”, “The Ol Man”, “Old Man” and “Captain Infidelity”. He is sitting in the front row, 15th from the right side with the glasses. Also shown is SSgt. George Toma of Youngstown Ohio, who is in the first row, 6th from the right (with the mustache). T5 Nathan Goldberg of Boston Massachusetts is in the second row from the bottom and 7th from the right. Photo is provided courtesy of Preston White.
10.) Company B Group Photo – Taken while the unit was stationed at Fort Indiantown Gap Military Reservation, Pennsylvania, in the spring and summer of 1943. They were there for over 7 months, which was their last training stop before heading to Camp Kilmer, New Jersey and final preparations before shipping to Europe. The Commanding Officer, Captain Merle Goodrich is seated 14th from the left in the first row. A second page containing many of the names was provided by Carol Misiaszek and her father, John Misiazek ,who served in the unit. The photo was provided courtesy of Karen O. Bray.
11.) Unit Pictorial from Camp Polk, LA – A 16 page pictorial and history from 1942, of the 703rd TD Bn. These pages are just a section of a much larger book containing all the 3rd Armored Division units. The scans are courtesy of Erwin Verholen and contain a few extra detail scans, to better show some of the personnel.