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772nd TD Battalion

772---Ninth-Annual-Reunion--864
Front of plate created for Ninth Annual Reunion of the 772nd Tank Destroyer Battalion which took place on Oct, 7th-9th of 1977. Plate has images of the TD's used - M3, M10 and M36 and also shows commanding officers - Lt. Col. H.W. McClellan, Lt. Col. G.B. Ely and Lt. Col. E.L. Moegle.
772-Plate-front-Close-up-865
Detail image of front of plate.
Back-of-plate---Unit-Histor-866
Short basic history of the unit.
Back-of-Plate-USA-Letters-863
Guess that back in 1977, a few things were still in the U.S.A.
772nd_TD_Battalion01_Feature
Michael Danich is shown kneeling on far left with a few other members of the 772nd. This would have been early in their training since the 772nd converted to towed 3-inch guns during training and while still in the U.S. Their experience with the M10 would help them later when they received M36 tank destroyers, which were also based on the modified M4 Sherman tank (M4A2 variant) chassis. Photo courtesy of Dennis Danich.
772-TD-003-4164
Michael Danich is shown on right with his friend Milton Mattson on right in front of an M10 tank destroyer. This would have been while still in the U.S. and before the unit was converted to towed 3-inch guns. Photo courtesy of Dennis Danich. Photo courtesy of Dennis Danich.
772-TD-005-4165
A front view of an M10 tank destroyer. Photo courtesy of Dennis Danich.
772-Michael-Danich--001-4166
Michael Danich is shown manning a .50 caliber Browning M2 machine gun mounted on one of the units' M3A1E1 Scout Cars. This would have been while the unit was training and still in the U.S. Photo courtesy of Dennis Danich.
772-Michael-Danich-1-4167
Michael Danich is shown posing with a line of tank destroyers. We are not sure of the first unit but the rest are M36s sitting in the driving position with the rear facing the camera and the barrel in its cradle. Photo courtesy of Dennis Danich.
772nd-at-Odriment--Belgium-during-Bulge-1-13-45--4168
The men of the 772nd enjoy the heat from a small fire during a brake in the action. One of the unit's towed 3-inch guns is parked in the midst of the camp, which is covered in snow. The location is identified as being near Ordriment, Belgium on January 13, 1945, which would have been during the Battle of the Bulge.
772nd-Donald-Stombaugh-and-friend-4169
Donald Stombaugh on left, sits with Elbert Basham, who is identified as Donald's gunner from North Madison, Indiana. The photo was probably taken after the war and hostilities had ceased. Photo courtesy of Kristi Carpenter.
772nd-Donald-Stombaugh-with-TD-4170
Donald Stombaugh stands with his M36 tank destroyer, which the unit received starting in March of 1945. The 772nd was originally equipped with towed 3-inch guns but this was one of the unit's M18 tank destroyers. Interestingly, the crew equipped the unit with a secondary level of frontal protection with a grouping of logs strapped to the front of the TD. Photo courtesy of Kristi Carpenter.
772nd-Donald-Stombaugh-with-TD-crew-4171
Donald Stombaugh sits at the barrel tip of his M36 tank destroyer. With him are three of his crew members. Not sure if they were running with only four but the normal fifth member may have been taking the photo. Photo courtesy of Kristi Carpenter.