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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
Units
Brigades
Groups
Battalions 600
Battalions 700
Battalions 800
Training Battalions
Unit Photo Galleries
Research
773rd TD Battalion
Front of a reunion mug from the 773rd TD Bn showing veteran's name and crest.
Rear of a reunion mug from the 773rd TD Bn showing unit's campaign credits.
Ash tray marked for the 773rd TD Bn. Also has markings identifying that it was made in Bavaria.
A Bavarian made plate, with the unit's Distinctive Unit Insignia. This may have been done for one of the unit's reunions.
A rectangular tray with the unit's DUI (Distinctive Unit Insignia) on it. These items were probably made for one of the reunions.
A rectangular tray with the Tank Destroyer logo on it. The logo matches the logo seen on the stein. Each of these items were probably made for one of the reunions.
Photo of Company C, 773rd Tank Destroyer Battalion taken by Irvin V. Matloff of Palm Springs, CA. The only identified soldier is Ernest "Ernie" Rabe who is in the first standing row, 5th from the right. Photo courtesy of Dan Rabe.
Capt. George I. Blomquist the Battalion S-3 officer stands on left with Lt. John O. Sharp, center and Lt. Thomas M. Michaels on right, both of Recon. Company. The location is probably the battalion CP (Command Post). Photo courtesy of Tom Michaels.
Shown L to R are Lts. Benjamin W. Phillips of HQ Co., William J. Maus of Recon., McKenna and Thomas M. Michaels of Recon. Photo taken while in the men were in England between June and August of 1945. Photo courtesy of Tom Michaels.
A front shot of a TD crew and their destroyer. Note the RH mounting of the Machine Gun on the turret. Photo courtesy of Tom Michaels.
Shown is Lt. Walter "Walt" E. Schewe of Recon. Company on left with Lt. Thomas M. Michaels on right, also of recon. Photo courtesy of Tom Michaels.
Shown is Lt. Walter E. Schewe of Recon. Company. Photo courtesy of Tom Michaels.
Taken in June of 1945 in Tirschenreuth, Germany, Lt. Thomas M. Michaels on right, stands with Lt. William "Bill" R. Zheutlin of HQ Company in what could easily be the town square. Photo courtesy of Tom Michaels.
Here you can see Cpl. Judge Clayton Hellums manning the M10's 50 caliber machine gun, which seems to be mounted at the non-standard right, mid-turret position. Photo courtesy of Harriet Wright.
In this photo, you can see Cpl. Judge Clayton Hellums in the Assistant Driver's position, which is left on the photo but on the M10's right. Note that the turret is actually facing rearward because you can see the underside of the turret rear weights. This was also the unit's travel position. Photo courtesy of Harriet Wright.
It is difficult to be sure but I believe Cpl. Judge Clayton Hellums is sitting third from the right with other members of his crew. Photo courtesy of Harriet Wright.
Seen here posing with what was probably other members of his crew and platoon, Cpl. Judge Clayton Hellums is seen centered in front row. Photo courtesy of Harriet Wright.
A group of men from the 773rd enjoys some food in what was certainly a relaxed time for the unit. Shown standing with the Thompson Machine Gun is Albert Lepro, of Company C. Photo courtesy of Harriet Wright.
A photo of a soldier relaxing with his Thompson machine gun, during the unit's manuvers around Camp Atterbury, in June of 1943. Photo courtesy of Harriet Wright.
A single tent with what looks like clothes hanging from nearby trees awaits the men after a long day of training. Photo courtesy of Harriet Wright.
Two tired soldiers take a moment to pose for a photo. Photo courtesy of Harriet Wright.
A couple more soldiers taking some time to rest. Photo courtesy of Harriet Wright.
Tow soldiers take some time to have a little fun in the snow. Photo courtesy of Harriet Wright.
Two soldiers trying to get a good bite out of what looks like an apple. Photo courtesy of Harriet Wright.
Cpl. Judge Clayton Hellums on left makes friends with the natives. Photo courtesy of Harriet Wright.
A photo of Crawford, who is identified as the Company A, clerk. Photo courtesy of David Clark.
Shown is Crawford, sitting and Wilken Clark standing. Photo courtesy of David Clark.
Shown is Freschette, who is identified as the Company B, clerk. Photo courtesy of David Clark.
Shown is Joe DeCredico who was from Cleveland, OH. Photo courtesy of David Clark
Shown is Kunka, who was from Brooklyn, NY. Photo courtesy of David Clark
A great small group shot featuring McMahon, standing left, Shumaker, Johnson, Wilken Clark standing second from right, Crawford, Floyd, standing third from left, Freshette, nealing in center, Tom Kane, nealing on right and a dog they called Kraut. The location of the shot os Maven, Germany, in March of 1945. Photo courtesy of David Clark
Shown is McMahon who was from New Orleans, LA. Photo courtesy of David Clark
A shot of Mike Vitantonio, who was from Cleveland, OH. Looks like he was going to or coming back from the showers. Photo courtesy of David Clark
A shot of what is identified as Second Platoon. Unfortunately no company is identified. Photo courtesy of David Clark
A shot of what is identified as Third Platoon. Unfortunately no company is identified. Photo courtesy of David Clark
Tom Kane, shown posing at a window ledge. Photo courtesy of David Clark
Another shot identified as Tom Kane. Photo courtesy of David Clark
A shot for four unknown soldiers. Photo courtesy of David Clark
A shot of Wilken Clark who was from Bluefield, West Virginia. Looks like is dressed for a night out. Photo courtesy of David Clark
A more casual photo of Wilken Clark. Photo courtesy of David Clark
Shown is Wilken Clark on left and Tom Dearth who was from Chillocothe, Ohio. Photo courtesy of David Clark
A shot of Winger, who was also from Cleveland, Ohio. Photo courtesy of David Clark
Although this official description of this photo says that it was the 733rd, I will believe it is really the 773rd since no 733rd existed. It was taken December 13, 1944, in Wallerfangen, Germany while stopped to reload 3" ammunition into their M10, Tank Destroyer. Shown L to R is Pfc. Milton Yass of New York City, Tech. 4, Russell Gulick of Barnesboro, PA, Sgt. Julius J. Tomaszewski of Clifton heights, PA and Pfc. Ermido Valdrini, Jerome, AZ. At the time they were attached to the 90th Infantry Division. Credit for the image goes to Pfc. W.J. Rothenberger, who was a Army Signal Corps photographer.
A panoramic shot of the 773rd's vehicles, staged for transportation across the English Channel. The history of the unit identifies that the 773rd operated Sub Area W, of Marshaling Area D, which is in the vicinity of Dorchester, England. While there, they were responsible for the processing of over 25,000 troops for the invasion. Their activities in Dorchester, delayed the unit's landing in France, until August 7 or 8th. It's interesting that they did not receive credit for the Normandy Invasion, although their work helped make it possible.
Sgt. Aubrey M. Rayburn is shown on left with another soldier. Photo courtesy of Donna Morgan.
TD Commander, Aubrey M. Rayburn is shown speaking to what may be his crew. Aubrey was wounded on August 18, 1944, but still guided his men to destroy 5 enemy tanks, a self-propelled gun and capture twenty-five enemy infantrymen, two days later. He was awarded the Silver Star for his actions. Photo courtesy of Donna Morgan.
This German flag was brought home by T4 Jerry Joe Tucker of Wabash, Indiana. He had a group of friends from the 773rd, sign the flag as a keepsake of their time together. Although some of the names couldn't be recognize, a few of the names could be made out. Bruce Lefebvre - Florence, Wisconsin; Lee R. Lewis - Mountain Home, Arkansas; Irvin J. Pontiff - Donner, Louisiana; John Lukacik - Akron, Ohio; Stephen E. Tingley - Washburn, Maine; Howard Flowers - Parkerburg, West Virgina; Richard Leonard - 1717 Stanley Place, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Victor L. Crowder - Sweet Springs, Missouri; George P. Laezz - Brooklyn; Ernest Fragulia - San Francisco, California; Otho Stone - St. Ann, Nebraska. Photo courtesy of Jonathan Tucker.
This flag was given to T/5 Crithon D. Clayton, probably when he left the unit, in late March or early April 1945. The flag contains the names of 52 men of B Company, including the Commanding Officer, Captain William B. Patterson. Additional names are 1st. Lt. Benjamin Phillips, Sgt. Leiterstein, Pfc. Anderson, T/5 Hall, Pvt. Ornelas, Pfc. Roy O. King, Cpl. Dymek, Pfc. Artale, Pvt. Knechtges, Pfc. Conger, 1st Sgt. Joseph B. McIntosh, 1st. Lt. Leon Wood, 1st. Lt. Kenneth Sutters, 1st. Sgt. Michael Pitcher, Sgt. Sarafim, Spl. Decicco, T/5 Jarrell, Pfc. Wagner, Pfc. Little, Sgt. Lasher, Cpl. Vandeden, Pfc. Sowh, T/5 Lynch, Sgt. Lalish, T/5 Wraner. Pvt. Gibson, Cpl. Flenard, Pfc. O'Hara, SSgt. Whiskey Dodds, Sgt. Karas, Cpl. Russell, T/5 Hawn, Pvt. Frutada, Pvt. Griffin, T/5 Massongill, Sgt. Swift, Cpl. Ebel, T/4 IapaLucci, Pvt. Goquen, Sgt. Robinson, Cpl. Reed, T/5 Speaks, Pfc. Broning, Pvt. Karas, Sgt. Zingraff, T/4 Kaetchrk, Cpl. Elstrott, Pfc. Lajewnesse, Pvt. Joyce, SSgt. Bras, Cpt. Goryanes. Photo and names provided courtesy of Geneva Clayton.
Identified as Jay C. Reagle, who was a member of the Medical Detachment of the 773rd TD Battalion. The photo was taken by Jack E. Brown Sr. (823rd) on August 20, 1945, who recognized Jay from back home in East Palestine, Ohio. The photo was identified as "Jay" and his pipe. As you can see, Jay was a Technician Third Grade who crossed paths with Jack somewhere in Europe. Photo courtesy of Jack Brown Jr.
John A. Muzikar is shown on far right, at a restaurant with a few other members of the 773rd. This shot was probably taken just prior to the unit shipping overseas. John was seriously injured in August of 1944, and would be shipped home. Provided courtesy of Anthony Muzikar.
