Unit History: Unit was activated at Camp Bowie, TX, on Mar. 30, 1942. The unit moved to Camp Pickett, VA, on June 18, 1943, and then to Fort Dix, NJ, on Sept. 2, 1943. The unit was prepared for overseas shipment at Camp Shanks, NY, on Oct. 14, 1943, and shipped from the New York Port of Embarkation on Oct. 21, 1943. Arrived in England on Nov. 2, 1943, and later shipped to France, landing on Jun. 8, 1944. Supported the V Corps and acted as their Anti-Tank Section. The unit moved into Belgium on Sep. 9, 1944, and then into Luxembourg on Sep. 16, 1944. They moved back into Belgium on Oct. 4, 1944, and then into Germany on Feb. 26, 1945. They then moved into Czechoslovakia on May 8, 1945. The unit shipped back to the U.S., arriving in New York on Feb. 21, 1946. Unit was deactivated on Feb. 22, 1946, at Camp Kilmer, NJ. Attached/Supported: V Corps. Information gathered from WWII Order of Battle by Shelby L. Stanton.
Combat Equipment: N/A
Commanding Officers: 1st Lt. Frank L. Dougherty (3/12/42); Col. Henry B. Curtis (7/29/42); Lt. Col. Church M. Matthews (5/1/44); Lt. Col. George C. Warner (11/4/44); Lt. Col. Samuel E. Mays (11/24/44)
Code Name/s: Venue
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: Volkmarsen, Germany
Additional Information/Materials:
The following documents were obtained from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home, Abilene, Kansas.
1.) Unit Histories
Year – 1942…………………2 Pages (Includes Officer assignments)
May 25 to Jul. 1, 1944……3 Pages
Jul. 1 to Aug. 1, 1944…….2 Pages (Sections 9 & 10 very poor)
Aug. 1 – 31, 1944………….4 Pages
Sep. 1 – 30, 1944………….5 Pages
Oct. 1 – 31, 1944…………..2 Pages
Nov 1 – 30, 1944…………..1 Page
Dec 1 – 31, 1944…………..3 Pages
Year 1944……………………2 Pages (Route of Unit Travels)
Jan. 1-31, 1945…………….2 Pages
Feb. 1-28, 1945…………….3 Pages
Mar. 1-31, 1945…………….2 Pages
Apr. 1 to May 8, 1945……..2 Pages Includes transfers & one replacement)
May 21, 1945………………..2 Pages (Covers 1942 to 1945)
2.) Combat Reports
Jul. 1 – 31, 1944…………..2 Pages
Aug. 1 – 31, 1944…………2 Pages
Sep. 1 – 30, 1944…………2 Pages
Oct. 1 – 31, 1944…………2 Pages
Nov. 1 – 30, 1944…………2 Pages
Dec. 1 – 31, 1944…………3 Pages
Jan. 1 – 31, 1945………….3 Pages
Feb. 1 – 28, 1945………….3 Pages
Mar. 1 – 31, 1945………….2 Pages
May 1 – 8, 1945……………2 Pages
3.) PMGP (Provisional Military Government Police Force Battalion) Historical and After Action Reports – On September 11, 1944, the 3rd Tank Destroyer Group was assigned the duties of organizing, administering and furnishing the Headquarters organization for the V Corps PMGP Force. Lt. Colonel Matthews, CO, 3rd TD Gp, was designated as Corps Security Officer. He was charged with responsibility for the enforcement of all orders and regulations of the Corps Commander imposed by the Military Government in areas specifically assigned to him by Corps orders. Authority for this was GO No. 51, Hq V Corps, APO 305, dated Sept. 10, 1944.
PMGP Force Historical Reports:
Sep. 11 – 30, 1944………….6 Pages
Oct. 1 – 31, 1944……………2 Pages
Nov. 1 – 30, 1944…………..3 Pages
Dec. 1 – 31, 1944…………..6 Pages
Jan. 1 – 31, 1945……………4 Pages
Feb. 1 – 28, 1945……………3 Pages
PMGP Force AARs:
Sep. 11 – 30, 1944………….5 Pages
Oct. 1 – 31, 1944…………….3 Pages
Nov. 1 – 30, 1944……………2 Pages
Dec. 1 – 31, 1944……………5 Pages
Jan. 1 – 31, 1945…………….5 Pages
Feb. 1 – 28, 1945…………….6 Pages
4.) Rear Area Security – The Commanding Officer, 3rd Tank Destroyer Group, was appointed Corps Security Commander on December 3, 1944, in accordance with Letters, Hq V Corps, subject “Internal Security of Corps Area” dated Dec. 3, 1944.
Rear Area Security Histories:
Jan. 1 – 31, 1945…………….2 Pages
Feb. 1 – 28, 1945…………….1 Page
Mar. 1 – 31, 1945…………….3 Pages
May 1 – 31, 1945……………10 Pages
Rear Area Security After Action Reports:
Dec. 1 – 31, 1944…………….2 Pages
Feb. 1 – 28, 1945…………….1 Page
Apr. 1 – 30, 1945…………..19 Pages