Search

TankDestroyer.net

SEEK * STRIKE * DESTROY

811th TD Battalion

Albert-R.-Brownfield---Lg-1102
Albert "Ray" Brownfield Jr. became the commanding officer of the 811th in 1943 and continued with the unit till the end of the war. He would later command units in Japan, Alaska and North Carolina. He was promoted to Brigadier. General in 1966 and served more than two years in the Vietnam War as Chief of Operations, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam and later Assistant Division Commander of the 4th Infantry Division.
811-M-Cycle-Soldier-1467
The barbed wire fence in the distance, the terrain and the look on the Corporal's face make me think this was taken during training while still in the U.S.A. The unit identified on the bumper is probably one that ends in "11", such as the 611th or the 811th TD Battalion rather than the 11th TD Group. TD Groups had no Company A as identified in the last line of information. The first line kinda looks like 4th Army but I can't be sure.
811th_Eddie_Jordan_and_Clarence_Curtis-2625
A photo of Eddie Jordan on left with Clarence Curtis on right. Probably taken just before the men left for Europe. Provided courtesy of Melissa DiLillo.
811th_Group_of_3_men_crowd_behind-2626
Three unknown soldiers of the 811th, pose for a photo. Provided courtesy of Melissa DiLillo.
811th_Group_of_5_men_at_M20-2627
Clarence E. Curtis is shown on left with three unknown soldiers, in front of one of the unit's M20 Armored Personnel Cars. Provided courtesy of Melissa DiLillo.
811th_Pvt_Hozak_and_Clarence_Curtis-2628
A photo of a Pvt. Hozak on left and Clarence Curtis on right. Provided courtesy of Melissa DiLillo.
811th_Single_soldier_with_M20-2629
Clarence E. Curtis stands in front of an M20 Armored Car. Provided courtesy of Melissa DiLillo.
811th_U.S.S._General_J.R._Brooke_Ship-3422
On September 4, 1944, the 811th set sail for Europe in two groups. The first group included Headquarters Platoon, Headquarters Company and Reconnaissance Company, which boarded the U.S.S. General J. R. Brooke, shown above. The rest of the unit sailed aboard the U.S.S. General William H. Gordon. The battalion debarked in Cherbourg Harbor on September 15, 1944, and moved to a staging area near Valognes, France. The photo identifies that it was taken in the Navy Yard at Mare Island, California, on January 29, 1944. Photo courtesy of Jerry Jordan.
811th_Arthur_Art_J._Cameron___Richard_C._Chapman-3429
Here we can see Art Cameron and Richard C. Chapman in their M8, light armored car. The M8 was a 6x6 built by Ford, which was used for a number of purposes, including reconnaissance, personnel transportation and limited offensive actions. It was lightly armored and featured an M6, 37mm main gun and a .30 or .50 Browning machine gun. This particular unit was is marked as #20 of Recon. Company. Photo courtesy of Jerry Jordan.
811th_Berry__Jordan_and_Ash_in_Europe-3430
Pictured is Roy F. Berry, George M. Jordan and Joseph V. Ash. Berry and Jordan were from Indiana and Ash was from Pennsylvania. All three had served initally served in Recon., but by the end of the war, both Berry and Jordan had been moved to B Company. Photo courtesy of Jerry Jordan.
811th_Buford_W._Tooney_in_Europe-3431
A nice shot of a happy Buford W. Tooney, who was from Kentucky and served in recon. company. The shot was probably taken after the war had ended since he is wearing his Good Conduct ribbon as well as what looks like his EAME Campaign ribbon. Photo courtesy of Jerry Jordan.
811th_Clyde_R._Canfield-3432
A photo of reconnaissance company member Clyde R. Canfield, who entered the service from Ohio, and attained the rank of Sergeant. He passed away on August 31, 2000, and was buried in the Ashland Cemetery in Ashland, Ohio. Courtesy of Jerry Jordan.
811th_Elbert_Stepp_and_George_Jordan-3433
Taken at what is identified as Camp Laguna in 1943, Elbert Stepp (left) had just received a hair cut from his friend George Jordan. This was the first time Jordan had ever cut anyone's hair. Courtesy of Jerry Jordan.
811th_Elbert_Stepp_in_Germany__March_1945-3434
A photo of Technical Sergeant Elbert Stepp, who was from Kentucky but had been born in West Virginia. He passed away on February 1, 1986. Courtesy of Jerry Jordan.
811th_George_M_Jordan__Buford_W._Tooney__Leslie_H-3435
A photo of reconnaissance company buddies George M. Jordan, Buford W. Tooney and Leslie H. Westling. Tooney entered the service from Kentucky and Westling entered from Minnesota. The unit history lists Jordan as serving in B Company later in the war so this may have been a mini reunion of the men. Courtesy of Jerry Jordan.
811th_George_M_Jordan_and_Arthur_T-3436
A photo of George M. Jordan on left with Arthur T. Mahn. It looks like Mahn is holding some type of souvenir pistol. Courtesy of Jerry Jordan.
811th_Johnny_L._Boyd__Jr_Mar_1945_Germ-3437
Another member of the reconnaissance company, Johnny Lee Boyd Jr., who entered the service from Missouri. The photo was taken in March of 1945, while they were stationed in Germany. Photo courtesy of Jerry Jordan.
811th_Leslie_H._Westling-3438
A photo of Technician 3rd Grade, Leslie H. Westling, holding what looks like a Walther P38. The P38 was the service pistol of the Wehrmacht during WWII. Items like this were treasured keepsakes, brought home by many U.S. soldiers. Courtesy of Jerry Jordan.
811th_Merrill_V_Marsh-3439
A photo of Merrill V. Marsh is standing near a river with a bridge in the background. Courtesy of Jerry Jordan.
811th_Parmeter__Jordan__Steep_and_Eilrich_1943-3440
A photo of L to R, Kenneth Parmeter, George M. Jordan, Elbert Stepp and Elrich which we believe to be Herman J. Eilrich. It was taken in 1943, and the surroundings look like it was while the unit was stationed at the Desert Training Center. Courtesy of Jerry Jordan.
811th_Ralph_J_Brendel-3441
A photo of Technician 3rd Grade, Ralph Joseph Brendel, who was born in Evansville, Indiana, and entered the service on December 23, 1942. He passed away on January 26, 2011, and was buried in the Zionsville Cemetery in Zionsville, Indiana.
811th_Robert_Bob_Morgan_in_Europe-3442
Another reconnaissance member from Indiana, Pvt. Robert Dean Morgan, "Bob" is shown holding the standard rifle of the tank destroyer soldiers, the M1 Carbine. The M1 Carbine was shorter than the M1 Garand used by many infantry soldiers and worked better for the TD soldier due to its more compact design and lighter weight, 3 lbs less than the Garand. He left the service at the rank of Technician 5th Grade, returning to Indiana and working for a Dodge dealership for 31 years. Bob passed away in 2011, and was buried in the Highland Park Cemetery in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Photo courtesy of Jerry Jordan.
811th_William_G._Bertsch__Jr-3443
A photo of William G. Bertsch, Jr. who is relaxing at what looks like an outdoor cafe. Courtesy of Jerry Jordan.
811th_William_Willsea_at_Camp_Gruber-3444
A posed photo of William Willsea at what is believed to be Camp Gruber, Oklahoma. The photo is dated as being taken on December 31, 1943. Courtesy of Jerry Jordan.
811th-2nd-Plt--Richard-Chapman-and-recon-crew-4173
An M8 Armored Car crew, commanded by 1st Lt. Gordon R. Harris (standing in front), and consisting of T/4 Arthur J. Cameron (back left) who was the radio operator, T/5 Richard C. Chapman (hand on main gun), who was the driver and T/5 Ralph J. Brendel (back right), who was the gunner. The men named their unit "The War Betsy". This looks to be a Signal Corps photo since the editing marks are evident on the left of the image. Photo courtesy of Zoe Johnson, granddaughter of Richard Chapman.