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802nd Tank Destroyer Battalion

Unit History:  The New York National Guard’s 102d Antitank Battalion was federalized on 13 January, 1941, and converted into the 802d Tank Destroyer Battalion on 15 December at Camp Shelby, Mississippi.  Disembarked in France on 1 July, 1944, as a towed battalion.  Entered battle near Carentan on 4 July.  Advanced into Brittany in August and supported attack on St. Malo in August.  Crossed France and entered Luxembourg on 23 September. Supported operations against Siegfried Line through November.  Participated in Battle of the Bulge in Luxembourg in late December.  Converted to M36’s in February–March 1945.  Crossed Rhine River at Wessel on 2 April.  Joined elimination of Ruhr Pocket, after which they took on occupation duties.  Attached to: 4th, 80th, 83d, 95th Infantry divisions.  History text from the book The Tank Killers by Harry Yeide.  Used by permission.

Combat Equipment: 6/44 – Towed 3″ Gun; 2-3/45 – M36

Commanding Officers:  Lt. Col. John H. Montgomery

Code Name/s:  Black Joe

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:  None

Location August 1945:  Wadersloh, Germany

Additional Information/Materials:

1.)   Unit Reports – from the Combined Arms Research Library of the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

                 June 1-30, 1944……………1 Page (After Action Report/AAR)

                 July 1-31, 1944…………..11 Pages (After Action Report/AAR)

                 Aug. 1-31, 1944………….13 Pages (Unit Journal)

                 August 1944………………..3 Pages (AAR – Normandy & St. Malo-Dinard Ops)

                 Sep. 1-30, 1944………….11 Pages (Unit Journal)

                 Oct. 1-31, 1944…………..25 Pages (Unit Journal)

                 Nov. 1-30, 1944………….31 Pages (Unit Journal)

                 Dec. 1-31, 1944………….18 Pages (Unit Journal)

                 Dec. 1-31, 1944…………..3 Pages (AAR – includes casualties & awards)

                 Jan. 1-31, 1945………….17 Pages (Unit Journal)

                 Jan. 1-31, 1945……………3 Pages (AAR – includes casualties & awards)

                 Feb. 1-28, 1945……………8 Pages (Unit Journal)

                 Feb. 1-28, 1945……………3 Pages (AAR – includes awards)

                 Mar. 1-31, 1945………….10 Pages (Unit Journal)

                 Mar. 1-31, 1945…………..3 Pages (AAR – includes casualties & awards)

                 Apr. 1-30, 1945………….14 Pages (Unit Journal)

Apr. 1-30, 1945…………..4 Pages (AAR – includes casualties & awards)

2.)  Miscellaneous Documents-from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home, Abilene, Kansas.

Historical Narrative, Co. B, Sept. 3, 1942-June 7, 1943…..28 Pages (includes personnel listings)

Personnel Transfers, March 16, 1945…………………………..2 Pages

Various Documents, 1941-1945……………………………….18 Pages

3.)  Photo Gallery

4.)  Christmas Menu 1941 – Although the menu lists the unit as Company C of the 102nd Anti-Tank Battalion, they had already been redesignated as the 802nd Tank Destroyer Battalion on Dec. 15, 1941, at Camp Shelby, MI.  Menu provided courtesy of Tom Grannis.

5.)  802nd Fought in Four Wars – Article describing the unit’s long history beginning in 1839 in Flushing, NY as the Hamilton Rifles.  The unit would change titles a number of times, fighting in the Civil War, Spanish American War, WWI and now WWII as the 802nd TD Bn.  Courtesy of Robert Bernard.

6.)  802nd Roll through Julich, Germany – Article describing the unit’s movements through Europe and their actions with the new 90mm M36 Tank Destroyers.  It was published in The Tomahawk on April 1, 1945.  The newspaper is identified as from “Somewhere in Germany” and written for the “The men Who Make the News”.  Courtesy of Robert Bernard.

7.)  802nd Veterans return to France – Article on 18 members of the 802nd that returned to France to visit some of the French towns they liberated during the war.  A few of the men were Fred Dissinger, Rupert MacPherson, Carl Arnott and Ed Herman.  Courtesy of Robert Bernard.

8.)  Family receives Distinguished Service Cross – The family of Edward Stannard’s were presented with the Distinguished Service Cross in recognition of their son’s extraordinary heroism in action.  Stannard was wounded twice and continued to fight before finally being killed in France on Aug. 8, 1944.  Courtesy of Robert Bernard.

9.)  Combat Record of the 802nd – 11 Page official record created by the 802nd Tank Destroyer Battalion Veterans Association.  Courtesy of Jean M. Varda.

10.)  Chronicle of the 802nd – 23 pages created by the 802nd Tank Destroyer Battalion Veterans Association.  Includes locations of some of the reunions, war dead, unit roster, campaign credits and lineage.  Courtesy of Jean M. Varda.

11.)  Roster of HQ Co., 102nd Anti-tank Bn. – Taken from a July 1941 document and retyped for clarity.

12.)  102nd Anti-Tank, Co. C Group Photo – As mentioned in the brief history above, the 102nd would ultimately become the 802nd. This image is of C Company, taken at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, in August of 1941. Shown in the photo is Robert Grannis, standing in 3rd row from front, 3rd from the right. It’s difficult to figure out since that row starts in a bit from the side. Robert’s brother Bill Grannis standing in the back row, 14th from the right. Photo courtesy of Tom Grannis.

13.)  The Apple Knocker – Newsletter printed by the 802nd in Germany.

……………..Volume 1, No. 3, dated Friday August 24, 1945 (Courtesy of the Tank Destroyer Association by L. L. Gill, TDA Historian)

……………..Volume 1. No. 7, dated Friday September 14, 1945

14.)  Souvenir Edition of the Crow’s Nest – Distributed to troops returning home on the Edmund B. Alexander Troop Ship.  Dated November 28, 1945, the troops on board included the 771st TD Bn, and the 802nd TD Bn. along with many others totalling 5,240 on board.  Courtesy of Steve Dike.