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658th TD Battalion

658th-Amphibian-Tractor-Logo-1871
A handmade picture of the unit's rabbit mascot given to Ken Mallen as a gift by the inmates of the Green Haven Prison during the time he worked there. Photo courtesy of Sue Mallen Disy.
658_Co_A__Hood_1943___Eld002-1919
A company photo believed to be Company A of the 658th Tank Destroyer Battalion at Camp Hood, TX, in 1943. This photo was part of the William F. Eldert collection and is shown here courtesy of the General George Patton Leadership Museum (www.generalpatton.org).
658_D_Day_Luzon_Jan_9_45_Inf_Unloading_LVT_Eld008-1920
D-Day landing, January 9, 1945 on the Island of Luzon, Philippines. Infantry makes their way inland after disembarking from LVTs (Landing Vehicle Tracked). Photo courtesy of the General George Patton Leadership Museum (www.generalpatton.org).
658_Eagle_Theater__Iloilo__Panay_Aug-1921
Photo of the Eagle Theater in Iloila City, Panay Island, Philippines in August of 1945. Photo courtesy of the General George Patton Leadership Museum (www.generalpatton.org).
658_Eldert_w_Star_Eyes_in_the_background__Bob_under_tractor_Eld027-1922
Shown is William Eldert, squatting in front of his LVT (Landing Vehicle Tracked) named “STAR EYES". Bob Penckert is in the background under the vehicle. Photo courtesy of the General George Patton Leadership Museum (www.generalpatton.org).
658_Filipino_bargain_hunters_Eld031-1923
Photo was marked "Filipino bargain hunters". Photo courtesy of the General George Patton Leadership Museum (www.generalpatton.org).
658_Jap_flag_from_Palawan_Eld024-1924
A Japanese flag from the Island province of Palawan, Philippines. Photo courtesy of the General George Patton Leadership Museum (www.generalpatton.org).
658_Jap_sea_plane_harbor_Palawan_D_Day_1945_Eld013-1925
A Japanese sea plane is shown docked in the harbor of Palawan on the first day of the Invasion of the Island. Photo courtesy of the General George Patton Leadership Museum (www.generalpatton.org).
658_Ken_Mallen___I_Eld019-1926
Identified as a photo of Ken Mallen on left with William Eldert, both of the 658th Amphibian Tractor Battalion. I had previously done a full Honoree write-up on Ken with information and photos provided to me by his family. At the time of this posting, Ken was still alive and well at the age of 90. Photo courtesy of the General George Patton Leadership Museum (www.generalpatton.org).
658_New_Britain__Barber_Nov_44_Eld003-1927
Photo of William Eldert in a make-shift wash area. He comments on reverse, "My barber shop. How do you like the wash bowls". Identified as taken in November of 1944 in New Britain, which is the largest island in the Bismarck Archipelago of Papua New Guinea. Photo courtesy of the General George Patton Leadership Museum (www.generalpatton.org).
658_New_Britain__Eldert_Cot_Nov_44_Eld005-1928
Another image of life while on the island of New Britain in November of 1944. William Eldert has used an X to mark the location of his cot. Photo courtesy of the General George Patton Leadership Museum (www.generalpatton.org).
658_New_Britain__Natives_Nov_44_Eld004-1929
Photo identified as "Some of the jungle boys". Shown left to right is Cooley, Lamkin, unknown native and Sieg. Identified as taken in November of 1944 in New Britain. Photo courtesy of the General George Patton Leadership Museum (www.generalpatton.org).
658_New_Britain__No_Date_Eld007-1930
Photo of soldiers L to R, Murphey, Sieg, William Eldert and Butler on the island of New Britain. Date is believed to be November of 1944 as identified on a number of the other images. Photo courtesy of the General George Patton Leadership Museum (www.generalpatton.org).
658_New_Britain__Six_with_knives_Nov_44_Eld006-1931
Another image from New Britain in November of 1944, with soldiers identified in front row L to R, William Eldert, Murphey, and Sieg. Back row is Baker, Huziner and Butler. Photo courtesy of the General George Patton Leadership Museum (www.generalpatton.org).
658_One_of_our_Flock_Black_A87_Eld012-1932
Marked as "One of our Flock" referring to one of the unit's LVTs (Landing Vehicle Tracked) used by the 658th Amphibian Tractor Battalion. Photo courtesy of the General George Patton Leadership Museum (www.generalpatton.org).
658_Our_Battalion_Insignia_Panay_PI_1945_Eld035-1933
The battalion insignia stands proudly while the unit is stationed at Panay, Philippines, 1945. Photo courtesy of the General George Patton Leadership Museum (www.generalpatton.org).
658_Our_Co._Street_after_rain__Paney_Aug_45_Eld033-1934
Photo is identified as “Our Company Street after the big rain". Location is Paney Island in the Philippines, August, 1945. Photo courtesy of the General George Patton Leadership Museum (www.generalpatton.org).
658_Our_Company_Street__Panya_PI_Eld032-1935
Basically the same image of the Company Street but this time without the rain. Location is Paney Island in the Philippines - 1945. Photo courtesy of the General George Patton Leadership Museum (www.generalpatton.org).
658_Our_favorite_child__Star_Eyes_Eld030-1936
LVT (Landing Vehicle Tracked) named “STAR EYES" which was used by William Eldert and crew. Photo courtesy of the General George Patton Leadership Museum (www.generalpatton.org).
658_Our_tent_at_San_Fabian__Luzon_FEB_1945_Eld014-1937
Marked as "Our tent at San Fabian", which is a town on the island of Luzon of the Philippines. Photo courtesy of the General George Patton Leadership Museum (www.generalpatton.org).
658_Palawan_1_2_waves_41st_Inf_DDay_45_Eld009-1938
1st and 2nd wave of soldiers of the 41st infantry Division land on the beach of Palawan, which is one of the numerous islands of the Philippines. Labelled as D Day 1945, it is believed to be February 28th, 1945 when the invasion of the island began. Photo courtesy of the General George Patton Leadership Museum (www.generalpatton.org).
658_Palawan_LVT_hatches_open_in_the_water_Eld021-1939
One of the LVTs running with hatches open in the waters off Palawan. Photo courtesy of the General George Patton Leadership Museum (www.generalpatton.org).
658_Palawan_LVTs_in_a_jungle_loaded_troops_Eld020-1940
Jungle of Palawan is loaded with U.S. troops. Photo courtesy of the General George Patton Leadership Museum (www.generalpatton.org).
658_Palawan_POW_Camp_main_gate_Eldert_Eld022-1941
William Eldert stands next to the main gate of a POW camp located on Palawan in the Philippines. Photo courtesy of the General George Patton Leadership Museum (www.generalpatton.org).
658_Palawan_POW_Camp_wrecked_barracks_Eld023-1942
Wrecked barracks of a POW camp located on Palawan in the Philippines. Photo courtesy of the General George Patton Leadership Museum (www.generalpatton.org).
658_Part_of_Co._A__Taken_at_camp_at_Iloilo_P-1943
Group photo of 12 members of Company A, taken at our camp at Iloilo, Philippines. Date is June of 1945. Shown in front row, L to R is George Baker, Bob Lamkin and Bob Peuckert. Center row L to R is Charles Kidd, Bill Eldert, Joe Kolman, Leo Revoir and Harold Yetke. Back row L to R is Bill Tsakalos, Bob Davis, Bob Butle and Bob Ostermeier. Photo courtesy of the General George Patton Leadership Museum (www.generalpatton.org).
658_Remains_of_Cath._Church__Tigbaun_PI_Eld017-1944
The remains of a Catholic Church located on Tigbauan. Tigbauan is a municipality in the province of Iloilo, Philippines and was the site where American forces code-named Victorino I, landed on March 18, 1945. Photo courtesy of the General George Patton Leadership Museum (www.generalpatton.org).
658_Remains_of_school__Lingayen_Luzon__D_Day_9_JAN_45_Eld010-1945
The remains of a school in Lingayen, Luzon on D Day, January 9, 1945. Photo courtesy of the General George Patton Leadership Museum (www.generalpatton.org).
658_STAR_EYES__Mike_Jandegian__Bob_Penckert__Bill_Eldert_Eld029-1946
Marked as "Star Eyes and Family". The LVT of William "Bill" Eldert, who is shown on far right along with Bob Penckert in center and Mike Jandegian on right. Photo courtesy of the General George Patton Leadership Museum (www.generalpatton.org).
658_Stern_of_USS_Albemarle__Jan_1946_Eld039-1947
Stern of the USS Albemarle, taken in January of 1946. The Albemarle was used to ship the unit back to the states from Leyte. The ship was a sea plane tender and left Leyte in the Philippines on December 27, 1945. The unit historical documents note the the weatther was fair, seas were rough and morale was excellent. The ship arrived in San Francisco on January 13th and the unit was deactivated 2 days later on the 15th. Photo courtesy of the General George Patton Leadership Museum (www.generalpatton.org).
658_view_of_Florio_top_of_the_City_Hall_Eld018-1948
An image identified as "A view of Florio from the top of City Hall". Not sure of the actual location but possibly a shot from the Iloilo City Hall shown in one of the other photos. Photo courtesy of the General George Patton Leadership Museum (www.generalpatton.org).
658_Villa_Beach_Club_Panay_Eld038-1949
The Villa Beach Club of Panay, Philippines. Photo courtesy of the General George Patton Leadership Museum (www.generalpatton.org).
658_We_Two_PI_1945_on_one_and_Panay_1945_Eld028-1950
One of two image of the men's LVT, which they named Star Eyes. Note the references to Waukegan and Evanston, Illinois. Identified as taken on Panay, Philippines in 1945. Photo courtesy of the General George Patton Leadership Museum (www.generalpatton.org).
658_William_Eldert_Eld015-1951
Photo of William Eldert at somepoint during his time in the Pacific. Photo courtesy of the General George Patton Leadership Museum (www.generalpatton.org).
658_William_Eldert_My_Guard_Uniform_Eld037-1952
William Eldert dressed in what he calls his "Guard Uniform". Photo courtesy of the General George Patton Leadership Museum (www.generalpatton.org).
658_A____Co_ldg_Parang__Mindanao__PI__4_17_45_Eld025-1953
A Company loading on a ship at Parang, Mindanao, Philippines on April 17, 1945 . Photo courtesy of the General George Patton Leadership Museum (www.generalpatton.org).
658_back_San_Fran__Eld040-1954
A docked photo of the USS Albemarle after it had brought them home to the San Francisco Port. Probably taken in January of 1946 also. You can see the tips of the bi-plane wings on the rear deck, directly below the main body of the crane. Photo courtesy of the General George Patton Leadership Museum (www.generalpatton.org).
658_base_in_Iloilo_Philippine_Is__6_45_Eld026-1955
Another image of the battalion insignia stands with William Eldert at its side. This one was located at the unit's base in Iloilo, Philippines. Photo courtesy of the General George Patton Leadership Museum (www.generalpatton.org)
658_City_Hall_Iloilo_Eld016-1956
Identified as the City Hall of Iloilo, which is a province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Photo courtesy of the General George Patton Leadership Museum (www.generalpatton.org).
658_City_Plaza__Lingayen_D_Day_1945_JAN_9_Eld011-1957
Image of the "City Plaza" of Lingayen on D Day (January 9, 1945). Lingayen is a municipality in the province of Pangasinan on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. Photo courtesy of the General George Patton Leadership Museum (www.generalpatton.org).