Unit History: Unit was activated at Fort Sam Houston, TX, on Mar. 15, 1942. The unit moved to Camp Hood, TX, on July 1, 1942, and then to Camp Claiborne, LA, on Apr. 9, 1943. Prepared for overseas shipment at Camp Kilmer, NJ, on Dec. 15, 1943, and shipped from the New York Port of Embarkation on Dec. 29, 1943. The unit arrived in England on Jan. 8, 1944, and landed in France on Jun. 26, 1944. Supported the XIX Corps and acted as their Anti-Tank Section. Moved into Belgium on Sep. 3, 1944, and then into Holland on Sep. 20, 1944. They moved back into Belgium on Sep. 28, and then back into Holland on Nov. 3, 1944. Moved into Germany where there would eventually be deactivated on Nov. 5, 1945. Attached/Supported: XIX Corps. Information gathered from WWII Order of Battle by Shelby L. Stanton.
Combat Equipment: N/A
Commanding Officers: Col. George G. Elms; Lt. Col. Paul B. Bell (1/22/45)
Code Name/s: Azure
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
Central Europe…………….Mar. 22, to May 11, 1945
Awards: None
Location August 1945: Korschenborich, Germany
Additional Information/Materials:
The following documents were obtained 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 (*).
1.) Unit Reports
June 16-30, 1944…….2 Pages (*)
Aug. 1-31, 1944………3 Pages
Dec. 1-31, 1944………2 Pages (*) (last page missing)
Jan. 1-31, 1945……….3 Pages
Feb. 1-28, 1945……….4 Pages
Apr. 1-30, 1945……….3 Pages
May 1-9, 1945…………2 Pages
2.) Unit Histories
Year 1944……………..23 Pages (includes Awards, Transfers and Campaign Credits)
Jan. 1-31, 1945………..4 Pages
Feb. 1-28, 1945………10 Pages (includes Promotions, Transfers & Awards)
Mar. 1-31, 1945……….5 Pages (includes Promotions, Transfers, Casualties & Awards)
3.) Operations Reports
Jun. 25 to Jul. 30, 1944………….10 Pages
Jul. 30 to Sep. 3, 1944……………13 Pages
Sep. 3 to Oct 1, 1944……………..10 Pages
Oct. 1-29, 1944…………………….12 Pages
Oct. 30 to Nov 26, 1944………….13 Pages
Nov. 26 to Dec 31, 1944………….12 Pages
Dec. 31, 1944 to Feb 4, 1945……10 Pages
Feb. 4-25, 1945…………………….10 Pages
Feb. 25 to Mar. 25, 1945…………17 Pages
Mar. 25 to Apr. 29, 1945…………18 Pages
Apr. 29 to May 6, 1945…………….3 Pages
4.) Historical Narratives
Apr. 1-30, 1945……………………..3 Pages (includes Promotions)
May 1-8, 1945……………………….1 Page (includes an Award)
May 8-31, 1945……………………..1 Page (includes Transfers)
Jun. 1-30, 1945……………………..1 Page (includes Transfers)
Jul. 1-31, 1945………………………1 Page
Aug. 1-31, 1945…………………….1 Page (includes Transfers)
5.) Daily TD Reports
Feb. 23-28, 1945……………………9 Pages
March 1-31, 1945, Pt. 1………….17 Pages
March 1-31, 1945, Pt. 2………….18 Pages
April 1-30, 1945, Pt. 1……………24 Pages
April 1-30, 1945, Pt. 2……………25 Pages
May 1-5, 1945……………………….5 Pages
6.) Miscellaneous Documents
Unit Assignments, 1942…………………………….2 Pages
Orders and Troop Assignments 1943-45………23 Pages
Status Report, Nov 6, 1944………………………..1 Page
Records of Awards, 1945…………………………..3 Pages
Personnel Assignments……………………………..7 Pages
Organizational History, Feb 1, 1945……………..3 Pages
Records of Events, 1945……………………………6 Pages
7.) Personal Narrative – This was written by a former veteran of the 2nd, during the 1980’s, in response to questions he recieved 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.
Paul B. Bell, former Battalion Commanding Officer………..6 Pages
8.) Photo Gallery