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Unknowns
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Medal Of Honor
Places
Camp Hood, Texas
Elbe Muster
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Gardelegen Massacre**
Dachau 2 **
Various Places 1
Various Places 2
Maps
Things
Axis Armor
Allied TDs
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Links
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Articles
Memorabilia
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TDs In Action
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Battalions 600
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607th TD Battalion
PFC Charles C. Dike on right and his friend "Brownie" at Wadgassen, Germany, January, 1945. Brownie was a T/5 radio repairman. Not sure of Brownie's last name but a T/5 named Robert Brown is listed in the HQ Co. roster. The two were together during training in CA. Photo courtesy of Steve Dike.
Here is Brownie again in his sheep-skin overcoat. Photo courtesy of Steve Dike.
PFC Charles C. Dike poses at the Wadgassen sign. Wadgassen is a few miles SE of present day Saarlouis (Saarlautern). Photo courtesy of Steve Dike.
Personnel from Recon Company at the Wadgassen sign. Brownie is standing second from left. Photo taken in January, 1945, while the 607th was attached to the 95th Inf. Div., during the battles around Saarlauten and against the Siegfried Line. Photo courtesy of Steve Dike.
Units of the 87th Infantry Division, including the 607th TD Bn and the 735th Tank Bn, cross the Rhine river at Boppard, Germany late in March of 1945. Two tanks of Co. B, 735th Tank Bn and two TD's from the 2nd platoon of Co. C, 607th, were the first armor working with the 87th to cross the Rhine. Photo courtesy of Steve Dike.
Rhine river crossing by the 87th Infantry Division taken from the east side at Boppard, Germany around 3/25/45. Note the tree on the west side of the bridge. Photo courtesy Steve Dike.
Same pontoon bridge shown in the previous photo but from the West side of the Rhine at Boppard. Note the weeping tree limbs on the left seen only faintly in the photo from the East side of the river. US Signal Corps photo - March 31, 1945.
Another image of the Rhine crossing at Boppard looking upstream with the west bank at lower left. Pontoon bridge is difficult to see but it does provide a good idea of the terrain. Vehicles are moving from right to left. Photo courtesy of Steve Dike.
An M36 on left and an M8 on right from the 607th TD Bn. Photo taken in late January or early February of 1945. Location possibly in the Houffalize area of Belgium. As you can see, the whitewash is beginning to wear off and some of the chains have been removed and are hanging on the front of the M8. Photo courtesy of Steve Dike.
Crew of the 607th TD Bn. with their whitewashed M36, applied as camouflage during the winter season. Photo courtesy of Steve Dike.
Reconnaissance Company personnel and vehicles of the 607th Tank Destroyer Battalion. Photo courtesy of Steve Dike.
Changing tracks on an M36 tank destroyer. Photo courtesy of Steve Dike.
Command Post of the 607th Tank Destroyer Battalion in an unknown town. Photo courtesy of Steve Dike.
Close-up photo of jeep used by Charles C. Dike who became a radioman when the unit reached Europe. Photo courtesy of Steve Dike.
Two Jeeps from the 607th TD Bn backed into a position far off-road. Photo courtesy of Steve Dike.
Panther #212 of the 9th SS "Hohenstauffen" Panzer Division. Photo courtesy of Steve Dike.
This tank belonged to the 9th SS "Hohenstauffen" Panzer Division, a German Waffen-SS Armoured division. The tactical number 212 identifies it as the 2nd tank of the 1st platoon in the 2nd company. Photo courtesy Steve Dike.
Jeep from the 607th TD Bn. with bazooka laying across hood and bumper mounted wire cutter at front. Photo courtesy of Steve Dike.
Rear counterweight of an M36 of the 607th TD Bn. Note the winter whitewash beginning to wear off. Photo courtesy of Steve Dike.
Tank Destroyer personnel examine a knocked-out German 88mm AA/AT gun. A similar photo can be found on the unit's history book. Photo courtesy of Steve Dike.
The 607th, originally equipped with 3" towed-guns was converted to the M-36 Gun Motor Carriage in mid-November 1944, prior to the final battle for Metz, France. This photo was probably taken shortly after the conversion since the unit looks so new. The 607th is credited with being the first unit to fire on Periers, France. On September 13, a C Company, 2nd Platoon gun fired 10 rounds at the church steeple in Perl, Germany. These were the first rounds fired by the 90th Inf. Div., first rounds by the XX Corps and believed to be the first rounds from the Third US Army into Germany. Photo courtesy of Steve Dike.
Five guys from the 607th's Recon Con. From left to right, unknown, unknown, George W. Wright Jr., Ralph W. McCray and Clifford H. Willman Sr. Photo courtesy of Steve Dike.
M36 units in unknown town. Photo courtesy of Steve Dike.
PFC Charles C. Dike with the jeep in which he served with Company C and the unit's Reconnaissance Company. You can just make out 607 TD on the left side of the front bumper. HQ. Co. and Co A landed at Utah beach on June 17, 1944 and Comp's. B and C came ashore on June 23rd. In the early towed gun days, PFC Dike relayed target coordinates from forward observers to the gun crews. He drove a jeep full of radio's most of the time. The Recon. Co. was re-formed on Nov 20th following the groups conversion to self-propelled. Photo courtesy of Steve Dike.
Seeking some extra comfort from a warm fire. Steve's father, Charles Dike, told him that he didn't remember being cold and felt the clothes they were provided worked pretty well. Photo courtesy of Steve Dike.
Another shot of the warming fire and the Jeep with the homemade mud guards. Photo courtesy of Steve Dike.
A distant shot of U.S. armor (on left and center) moving along a road into a town. Note the burning building on the far left. Photo courtesy of Steve Dike.
On a bitter cold January 27th, the 95th Division (with the 607th attached) moved from the Saarlautern area to the vicinity of Houffalize, Belgium, a distance of about 150 miles. On February 2nd, they were relieved from the 95th and attached to the 87th Infantry Div. The unit then continued with efforts to push the Germans from the Ardennes bulge. Photo courtesy of Steve Dike.
Another view of Houffalize, Belgium. Houffalize is on the highway between Bastogne and Leige. In late Dec, 1944, the local American commander had the town bombed several times to destroy the strategic crossroads it represented. At least 189 civilians were killed. Photo courtesy of Steve Dike.
Recon. personnel standing with their jeeps. Note the addition of mud guards around the inside of the front fenders. That's Brownie in his sheepskin coat. Photo courtesy of Steve Dike.
Close-up of the Recon. personnel at the front of a jeep. The upright bar at the front of the jeep was used to cut wire/cable that the Germans would stretch across a road to decapitate unwary personnel. There was a standing order for windshields to be down on jeeps in forward battle zones. Also note the non-issue handgun on the soldier turning around. Looks like Charles Dike's friend Brownie on the right in his sheepskin coat. Photo courtesy of Steve Dike.
Pfc. Dike standing in what seems to be the edge of bomb crater. Note the debris thrown up, in and onto the building. Photo courtesy of Steve Dike.
Browning (M1919A4) .30 Caliber Light Machine Gun positioned just outside the command post. Photo courtesy of Steve Dike.
Personnel of the Recon. Company. Photo courtesy of Steve Dike.
Personnel of the Recon. Company. Photo courtesy of Steve Dike.
Group standing in building debris most likely from the large crater in the foreground. Shown standing L to R: Floyd F. Garrett, Edward B. Wojcik and Victor A. Martelli. Three behind flags are John Degrazia, Paul E. Chastenay and Joseph M. Fisher with hat. Sitting is Sgt. Clarence A. Thomas, Irwin L. Wilson, William M. Robinson and Kenneth Blacktail. Date is Sept. 25, 1944. Photo courtesy of Ball State University.
Robert E. “Bob” Lee, Monongah, West Virginia, at the Parc Palace Hotel. Photo courtesy of Ball State University.
Donald D. Farmer standing in a field in Europe. Photo courtesy of Ball State University.
Donald Farmer on right with three unknown U.S. soldiers and two local children all posing in front of a Jeep. Photo courtesy of Ball State University.
Joseph M. Fisher at rear right with Robert E. Lee and two other friends in Europe. Photo courtesy of Ball State University.
Joseph M. Fisher, second from left and Don Farmer, fourth from left pose with two unknown soldiers and nine local children while in Europe. Photo courtesy of Ball State University.
Joseph M. Fisher standing at right with Kenneth C. Blacktail, Wolf Point, Montana, while in France. Photo courtesy of Ball State University.
Second Platoon of "C" Company in France on Sept. 25, 1944. Kneeling L to R, Floyd Garrett with statue, Kenneth Blacktail and Victor Lee. Standing L to R, Cpl. Jack T. Wilson, unknown with rabbit, William M. Robinson, Victor A. Martelli, Edward B. Wojcik, John Degrazia, Paul E. Chastenay and Sgt. Clarence Thomas. Photo courtesy of Ball State University.
M36 Tank Destroyer of the 607th in 1945. Photo courtesy of Ball State University.
Pfc. David C. Yaden, Liberty, Kentucky, & Joseph M. Fisher in Adorf, Germany, May 1945. Fisher comments on the back of the photo that he didn't have much of a tan. Photo courtesy of Ball State University.
Entrance to the Buchenwald concentration camp in Germany, June 1945. The sign says that press correspondents can get assistance from any of the prisoners. The main camp along with its sub-camps had been liberated in April 1945. Photo courtesy of Ball State University.
Cpl. Jack T. Wilson, Eminence, Kentucky, Joseph M. Fisher, and Pfc. Marvin M. Lutz, Portland, Oregon, in Wiesbaum, Germany, in March 1945 just before leaving to cross the Rhine River. The gun is in a very muddy front yard of a home. Photo courtesy of Ball State University.
Don Farmer on left with Joseph Fisher eating chow in Duren, Germany in April 1945. Photo courtesy of Ball State University.
Taken near Butzbach, Germany in March of 1945. Front row L to R, Cpl. Wilbert R. Evans, Lt. Chester J. Handler and T/5 Marvin Lee. Second row standing, Cpl. Jack T. Wilson, Pfc. Lovett, Sgt. Irwin L. Wilson, Pfc. and Dwight C. Daniels. On Tank Destroyer L to R, Pfc. Paul E. Chastenay, Cpl. Armand J. Moresette, T/5 Donald D. Farmer, Pfc. Charles O. Slaven and Joseph M. Fisher. Photo courtesy of Ball State University.
This was the place we, Joseph Fisher and his unit, first pitched pup tents after the war. About thirty miles from Rodewisch, Germany in May of 1945. Photo courtesy of Ball State University.
Bicycle troops of the German Army march into Rodewisch, Germany, May 9, 1945. A tank destroyer is stationed across the road guarding the procession along with ours. You can see our barrel in the lower left of the photo. Photo courtesy of Ball State University.
Fraulautern, Germany in January of 1945. Standing L to R, Sgt. Clarence A. Thomas, Cpl. Jack T. Wilson, Sgt. Joseph M. Fisher, T/4 William M. Robinson and Pfc. Marvin M. Lutz. Photo courtesy of Ball State University.
Don Farmer and Joseph Fisher at rear the Rittersturz. The Resort was under observation to the front. Notice there's a tank destroyer positioned just behind the bushes on the left. March, 1945 in Germany. Photo courtesy of Ball State University.
An M3 half-track being used as an ammo carrier on a street in Koblenz. Photo courtesy of Ball State University.
Cpl. Melvin O. Hardwick, Mintonville, KY, T/5 James M. Carmicle, Liberty, KY, and Joseph Fisher (at rear) sitting on the steps of the house they stayed in Aldersbach, Germany, July of 1945. Notice Joe's brass collar device reflecting the sun. Photo courtesy of Ball State University.
Joseph M. Fisher on left with friend posing by a tank destroyer. Two similar shots in this series are identified as being taken in Koblenz, Germany in March of 1945 on the same day it fell to allied forces. Photo courtesy of Ball State University.
Sgt. Joseph M. Fisher and Cpl. Jack T. Wilson standing behind the Rittersturz Resort in March of 1945. Photo courtesy of Ball State University.
Taken in Privat, France on Sept. 28, 1944. Standing L to R, Floyd F. Garrett, Cpl. Jack T. Wilson, T/5 William M. Robinson, Victor A. Martelli, Edward B. Wojcik and Kenneth Blacktail. Sitting L to R, Sgt. Clarence A. Thomas, John Degrazia, Joseph M. Fisher, T/5 Victor Lee and Paul E. Chastenay. Photo courtesy of Ball State University.
Joseph M. Fisher in center with friends while taking part in maneuvers at Patton's DTC (Desert Training Center) of southern California, southern Nevada and western Arizona in 1943. All these areas are part of the Mojave Desert and were considered a perfect training area for what would be encountered in fighting in Northern Africa. Photo courtesy of Ball State University.
Joseph M. Fisher training in the Mojave Desert in 1943 with what looks like a Thompson M1 Sub Machine Gun. Photo courtesy of Ball State University.
Joseph M. Fisher training in the Mojave Desert in 1943 with a Browning .30 Cal machine gun. Tank Destroyer soldiers received training in all areas of combat and weapons use. Photo courtesy of Ball State University.
Group photo taken with half-track on September 25, 1944. Shown are kneeling L to R, Edward B. Wojcik, Victor Lee, Victor A. Martelli. Standing L to R, Floyd F. Garrett, Cpl. Jack T. Wilson and Kenneth Blacktail. Sitting on hood L to R, William M. Robinson, Joseph M. Fisher, John Degrazia, Paul E. Chastenay. Leaning against bumper, Sgt. Clarence A. Thomas. Photo courtesy of Ball State University.
Photo taken Sept. 25, 1944 somewhere in France. Shown L to R, Irwin. L. Wilson, Edward B. Wojcik and Joseph M. Fisher. Fisher writes home "How do you like the tophats, honey? This is what's left of a house. Pretty badly damaged. There are lots of places like this one over here." Photo courtesy of Ball State University.
Joseph M. Fisher on left and the section Sergeant is on the right leaning on some sort of french feed-grinder. Photo taken on Sept 27, 1944 in France. Photo courtesy of Ball State University.
T/4 William M. Robinson on left with Joseph M. Fisher standing in rear of a Tank Destroyer in Koblenz, Germany. The photo was taken in March, 1945, the same day the city fell to allied forces. Photo courtesy of Ball State University.
Photo taken at the Riviera in Nice, France on Sept. 6, 1945. Standing L to R are Joseph M. Fisher, Robert E. Lee, Cramer and John Cattafesta along the Promenade des Anglais with the Luxembourg Hotel in the background. Fisher mentions how much the trees remind him of Califormia. Photo courtesy of Ball State University.
Joseph Fisher's tank destroyer waits for a division of German troops to come down the road into Rodewisch, Germany on May 9, 1945. In the turret, L to R, Sgt. Joseph M. Fisher Gun Commander, Gunner Cpl. Armand J. Moresette, Pfc. Virdel Patterson and sitting by the barrel is R.E. Johnson. Photo courtesy of Ball State University.
T/4 Vernie Druin, Sheperdsville, Kentucky, and Joseph M. Fisher standing in front of a tank destroyer in Koblenz, Germany, in March, 1945. This was the same day the city fell to allied forces. Photo courtesy of Ball State University.
Joseph Fisher's crew in Fraulautern, Germany, Jan, 1945. Shown L to R, Cpl. Jack. T. Wilson, Sgt. Clarence A. Thomas, Sgt. Joseph M. Fisher, T/4 William M. Robinson (driver) and Pfc. Marvn M. Lutz. Photo courtesy of Ball State University.
T/4 Eugene Blanton, Liberty, Kentucky, during an inspection at the unit's camp in Aldersbach, Germany, August 18, 1945. Photo courtesy of Ball State University.
Second section, 2nd platoon of the 607th (attached to 3rd Army) firing the first rounds from Luxembourg into Perl, Germany on September 13, 1944. Shown in photo are L to R, Sgt. Clarence A. Thomas, Victor Martelli, Joseph M. Fisher, Verdel Patterson, Joseph Aloi and Major Solomon. Photo courtesy of Ball State University.
Members of C Company set up in front of the Notary's house in Le Bourg St. Leonard, France. Personnel shown L to R, Sgt. Ross E. Gudbaur, Pfc. William J. Pierson and Cpl. John J. Blair. NARA photo courtesy of Vincent Orriere and the http://mayenneww2.jimdo.com/ website.
Photo of Pfc. Paul F. Bonito taken on July 13, 1943 while a member of the 608th TD Bn. He would later serve in the 607th TD Bn and be Killed in Action on Dec. 5, 1944 when his TD was hit by an enemy shell. Just four months earlier Paul had won the Silver Star on Aug. 17, 1944. He was buried in the Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial in St. Avold France. Photo courtesy of William Jackson.
This photo is identified as the Command Post for the unit in October of 1945 while they were still in Germany. I had seen a very similar photo, which I have placed next in this photo gallery, showing basically the same shot with a few people and a vehicle in view. On that shot, the sign below the Camp Herman sign clearly identifies that this was also the Command Post for the 7th TD Group. The officers quarters are on the right. Photo courtesy of Jan Eby Barnett.
Here is the other photo of the Camp Herman entrance. Difficult to see but identified as 7th TD Group on the sign. The photo originally came from a group of items belonging to a Pfc. Richard K. Marcum who served in B Company of the 607th. This photo was then provided to me courtesy of Brendan Meyer.
Name plates for the individual company commanders mounted on an office building at their command post, which overlooked the Danube River. Possibly taken at the Camp Herman location. The fact that Harold Eby is listed as a Captain leads me to believe this was taken after the war had ended and Eby had received his promotion. Photo courtesy of Jan Eby Barnett.
Soldiers repairing a track of an M10 tank destroyer during the summer of 1942. At the time they were stationed at the Desert Training Center located in the Mojave Desert of Southern California and Western Arizona. Photo courtesy of Jan Eby Barnett.
Another image from the Desert Training Center in the summer of 1942, with tank destroyers lined up for maneuvers. Photo courtesy of Jan Eby Barnett.
A platoon of the 607th and some others waiting to return to the states at the French Palace of Versailles. Photo courtesy of Jan Eby Barnett.
An M20 Scout Car testing its .50 caliber machine gun on the firing range. Photo courtesy of Jan Eby Barnett.
Another elevated view of an M36, which you can clearly identify by the huge counterweight at the rear of the turret. The M36 was equipped with a 90mm gun, which leveled the playing field between American TDs and German Tanks. Photo courtesy of Jan Eby Barnett.
A group of M36s wait along a road in the vicinity of Vacha, Germany. Photo courtesy of Jan Eby Barnett.
Top view of an M36, which the unit received in November of 1944. Photo courtesy of Jan Eby Barnett.
Motor pool of the unit. Photo courtesy of Jan Eby Barnett.
Ship returning to the Newport News Harbor. Photo courtesy of Jan Eby Barnett.
Football game between a field artillery unit and a hospital team in October of 1945. Also possibly taken at the Camp Herman location. Photo courtesy of Jan Eby Barnett.
View from air of a damaged building. Photo courtesy of Jan Eby Barnett.
Another view from the air of some damaged vehicles behind one of Europe's hedgerows. Photo courtesy of Jan Eby Barnett.
A burning German armored car with American soldier cautiously moving around it. Photo courtesy of Jan Eby Barnett.
A photo of Cpl. Tom Rohland of the 607th, standing with his M36. Courtesy of his daughter Carol.
Tom R. Rohland pulls some KP duty (kitchen patrol) and scrubs a pan during the 607th's time at Camp Cooke, CA. Photo courtesy of his daughter Carol.
Shown is Victor Martelli on left with a friend in front of one of the unit's M36 TDs. The 607th converted to the new units in November of 1944, but the photo was probably taken after the war was over, when hostilities had subsided. Photo courtesy of Bill Martelli.
Photo of the 3rd section of the 2nd Platoon, Company C of the 607th. It was taken in September of 1944, while the unit was in France. Pfc. Raymond Alexander is standing in the back row, far right. Joseph Aloi is kneeling at right and it is thought that the soldier sitting in front is John DeGrazia. Photo courtesy of Raymond's grandson Jesse.
Michael Mlay, sitting second from left, and a small group of soldiers, probably taken before the unit left the states. Photo courtesy of Robert Malay.
Michael Mlay, shown sitting at the rear of a 37mm anti-tank gun, with a few others from the unit. Photo courtesy of Robert Malay.
Here stands Norbert Titzer of the 607th in the town of Tettingen, Germany. Tettingen is near the western border of Germany, near Luxembourg. Photo courtesty of Donna Titzer.
Norbert Titzer, holding the flag on the right, with six others from Company B of the 607th and their captured German flag. Photo courtesy of Donna Titzer.
Shown are some damaged buildings along the route of the 607th. Photo courtesy of Donna Titzer.
A shot of four comrades of the 607th. Photo courtesy of Donna Titzer.
This photo was labeled "Old Faithful" and crew beside the Recon. men. Sgt Norbert Titzer is standing on far left. Cpl. Eddie A. Scott, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is kneeling at lower left, Pfc. Woodrow W. Payton, Pleasureville, Kentucky, Pfc. George A. Doscher, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and T/4 Orville C. Zink, Fort Wayne, Indiana, are the only other names listed. The photo was taken at Metz, France. Photo courtesy of Donna Titzer.
Unknown with puppy, Herbert E. Hess, center, and Nelmer A. Halsa at Camp Ibis, Desert Training Center, California, sometime in mid to late 1943. Photo courtesy of Steve Dike.
Left to right: S/Sgt. Lester M. Dissinger, Akron, Pennsylvania, T/5 Carl Osborn, Thorp, Washington, T/4 John H. Edminston, Petersburg, Pennsylvania, T/4 Frank C. Kovacsic, Oberlin, Ohio, and T/5 Nelmer A. Halsa, Radium, Minnesota. It's known that Edminston, Kovacsic and Halsa were Recon Company mechanics. Photo courtesy of Steve Dike.
Identified as Chester B. Salyers dressed in his desert gear with his bedroll on his back. Chester served in C Company and was a best buddie to Paul E. Morgan also of C Company. This shot looks as if he was still at the barracks. Provided courtesy of Brian Lanham.
Provided courtesy of Brian Lanham.
Identified as Chester B. Salyers on far left. Provided courtesy of Brian Lanham.
Chester B. Salyers stands in center with his arms around Green and Louie. Provided courtesy of Brian Lanham.
Taking a break from training. Provided courtesy of Brian Lanham.
Provided courtesy of Brian Lanham.
Provided courtesy of Brian Lanham.
This photo is identified as being taken in August of 1944. At the time, the 607th was stationed at Avranches, France. The photo is of the Personnel Section of the unit and Technical Sergeant Chester F. Gantz is shown, third from the right. Photo courtesy of Ken Gantz.
A studio photo from September 1944, while stationed in France. Friends T/Sgt Bruce W. LaLanne on left and T/5 Charles F. Scanlon on right, both of HQ Company of the 607th Tank Destroyer Battalion, take a moment to create a memory. Photo is from the Stanley D. Pierson Collection.
