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Home
People
Honorees
Honor A Veteran
Unknowns
TD Association
TD Society
Contributors
Research
Medal Of Honor
Places
Camp Hood, Texas
Elbe Muster
Dachau 1
Gardelegen Massacre**
Dachau 2 **
Various Places 1
Various Places 2
Maps
Things
Axis Armor
Allied TDs
References
Links
Manuals
Videos
Articles
Memorabilia
Militaria
TDs In Action
Classifieds
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Battalions 600
Battalions 700
Battalions 800
Training Battalions
Unit Photo Galleries
Research
702nd TD Battalion
Envelope addressed to Miss Sally K. Stapko of Milwaukee, WI from Staff Sergeant John J. Stapko (Serial #36220796) of HQ Co. 702nd Tank Destroyer Battalion. Date stamp seems to be Feb. 10, 1945. NARA has John Stapko being born in 1911 and enlisting in the Army on Mar. 31, 1942 in Milwaukee, WI.
The following newspaper clipping identifies Sgt. Sloan as the Gun Commander, dug in with his Tank Destroyer near Geilenkirchen, Germany and the Seigfried line. Geilenkirchen is just a few miles from the Holland-Germany border. If you notice, the date on the clipping's edge is November of 1944. The photo was published just days before or possibly after Sgt. Sloan would be seriously wounded. Photo courtesy of Richard Sloan.
A somewhat recent keepsake bandanna or scarf. Possibly printed for the 1991 reunion, which was held at Fort Knox, KY. Not sure of the relevance of the 1st Armored insignia or the M-16s printed on it. Photo courtesy of Richard Sloan.
A pair of keepsake pins from the 1990 Reunion, which was held in Gatlinburg, TN. Photo courtesy of Richard Sloan.
Shown L to R is an unknown soldier, Capt. Louis Nawrocky (B Company Commander) and Russell Shepherd. Photo courtesy of Tony Shepherd.
Company B of the 702nd Tank Destroyer Battalion while stationed in Scheid, Germany. Photo courtesy of Tony Shepherd.
Shown is Russell Shepherd making sure the Company B banner was clearly visible for a parade. Photo courtesy of Tony Shepherd.
Russell Shepherd (center) celebrates with some other men from his unit. Also shown in the photo is Ewel T. Blakely on left, who was later killed in action on October 8, 1944, while serving in Holland. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for Extraordinary Heroism. Photo courtesy of Tony Shepherd.
Lined up for a drive-by inspection by Winston Churchill and General Marshall. Russell Shepherd is shown on far left. Photo courtesy of Tony Shepherd.
A few fellows from the Company B, 702nd Tank Destroyer Battalion reunion held in Branson, MO in 1983. Shown standing L to R is Robert Posch and Thomas Rigdon. Seated is Joseph Sloan. Photo courtesy of Richard Sloan.
A few fellows from the 702nd, Company B reunion held in Pigeon Forge, TN. Shown L to R is Jimmy Blanton, John Shortell and Jim Ridenhour. Photo courtesy of Richard Sloan.
A few fellows from the 702nd, Company B reunion held in Pigeon Forge, TN. Shown L to R is Harry James, Jimmy Blanton and Noah Wood. Photo courtesy of Richard Sloan.
Group photo from the 702nd, Company B reunion held in Pigeon Forge, TN. Shown L to R is Russell Shepherd, James Jones, John Redman, James Ridenhour, Cecil Hunnicutt, Harry Hart and James Blanton. Photo courtesy of Richard Sloan.
Group photo from the 702nd, Company B reunion held in Pigeon Forge, TN. Shown front row L to R is F.S. "Buster" Summers, Bill Leumer, Brisco Depriest, Cecil Hunnicutt, James Blanton, John Redman and Harry Hart. Left-center is James "dodge-um" Jones in gold shirt, Clinton Brooks in blue shirt, Winfield Schmitt in figured shirt. Standing in back row, Algie Green, Henry "chicken" Jones, Ben Myers, Jim Ridenhour, Russell Shepherd and Robert Posch. Photo courtesy of Richard Sloan.
A few fellows from the Company B, 702nd Tank Destroyer Battalion reunion held in Branson, MO in 1983. Shown L to R is Jimmy Blanton, Joseph Sloan and John Shortell. Photo courtesy of Richard Sloan.
Shown is the grave marker of Corporal Armer M. Watson of the 702nd Tank Destroyer Battalion. He died on November 17, 1944 and was buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Holland, Plot A Row 19 Grave 29. Armer wasn born in Pennsylvania and was living in Philadelphia County when he entered the service at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland on October 30, 1941. He was born in 1915 and his enlistment record indicates that he had a grammar school education with some experience in the manufacture of knit goods. He is also listed as being single. I want to thank Jo Bonné of Holland who adopted Armer's grave 20 years ago and has been caring for it and placing flowers there.
A Signal Corps photo, taken near the community of Lonlay-L'Abbaye, which is in north-western, France. Although there is a Sherman Tank moving toward the camera, an M10 from the 702nd has taken a position or coverage for the intersection. You can see that the M10 still has its wading trunk, at the rear. Photo is dated around August 14-15, 1944. Photo courtesy of Joe Wallace.
A Signal Corps photo, taken near the community of Lonlay-l'Abbaye, France. An M10 of the 702nd approaches what looks like the town square. The statue is a memorial to the soldiers of WWI. Date is around August 14-15, 1944. Photo courtesy of Joe Wallace.
Another M10 of the 702nd, guards an intersection in the town of Tessy-sur-Vire, which is in the Normandy area of France. You can see that the M10 still has its wading trunk at the rear, which provides air to the engine. During the initial shore landings or going through deep water the engine would flood without this attachment. Photo courtesy of Joe Wallace.
A small group photo, probably taken after the war, at one of the many displaced persons fenced containment areas. Sgt. Robert "Bob" W. Hurst is shown in back row, center. This might be Bob's TD crew with an extra person, possibly the man front center, who has Staff Sergeant stripes. The men were probably from B Company where Bob served at the end of the war. Courtesy of Robert Hurst Jr.