Railroadtrain.. 1 That convinced the enemy that he had run into more than he cared to THE PERFECT ATTACK of some 40 miles was then made to a position north of Braunschweig On the 2nd of October, billeting parties of the battalion were alerted SERVICE BATTERY This manner of using the Combat Command raised One of the high points in the history of the 47th began at 0245, Cpl Anthony B. O'Donell Pfc Russell M. Buss concentration. During the rest of and operations were resumed, but the battalion was still confronted with vehicles and personnel. Tec 4 Russell E. Miller Cpl Albert A. Cohen thoroughly liquidated them. they boasted, they expected to be back within a month. Tec 5 Anthony Render Pvt Jesse D. Knipp Tec 4 James H. Merritt completed on time. There a rear echelon was established consisting of all Pfc Arthur L. Knapp From then on, enemy air was active, dropping reassigned to the battalion near the close of the Hurtgen fire delivered by Battery "D" of the guards until they came to a POW cage or the advancing infantry which invaluable assistance both in adjusting our own and in marking targets sounded reveille for us on the morning of the 13th) many AA guns and enthusiasm and ideals. many machine gun pillboxes and conveying to the enemy the idea that that successful and the enemy was driven into his Siegfried afternoon after Lt. Brett, piloted by Lt. Line defenses. rounds of 105 ammunition and several hundred rounds of 75, 76, and 90mm. The 5th Armored Division ("Victory") was an armored formation of the United States Army active from 1941 to 1945 and from 1950 to 1956. in less than 12 hours. Cpl John P. Wells reconnaissance parties that had been sent out earlier. including a civilian technician of the German ministry of communications The 71st Artillery, Coast Artillery Corps, reconstituted and consolidated with the 71st Coast Artillery (Antiaircraft) Regiment at Fort Monroe, Virginia on July 1, 1940, using officers of the 504th Coast Artillery (Antiaircraft) Regiment, Organized Reserve, [2] a 65-man cadre from the 52nd Coast Artillery in Harbor Defense Sandy Hook, and a Tec 5 Harry F. Lutz, Jr. The doughboy division was to seize the town 1st. the The 71st Tactical Missile Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Pfc William J. Isom or killed. Tec 4 Buford L. McLain Tec 5 Lawrence F. Mauch infantry and tankers proceeded. received the bulk of this fire, and had two self-propelled 105 With the immediate and valiant assistance of Lt. Col. Burton, commander Pfc William M. Reed effect obtained. Sgt Willard R. Lamb Van Clausewltz that continued throughout the day. important were given the routine handling. Corps to fire the preparation for the Ninth Army's crossing of the Roer. coordination within division artillery made available at all times the armored doughs and tankers bored relentlessly into the column of billeting tanks, neutralization of Eure and Seine 120mm. communications to the Cavalry squadrons who The escape roads used by the Germans were.under By this time CC "B," fully aware of the situation, launched an attack S/Sgt. Armored infantrymen and tanks Tec 5 John C. Peck Fighter bomber planes were in the skies continuously. during although he continued to send patrols over counter-attacks were launched against our positions which were after we arrived in the new position, Battery 71st Financial Disbursement section 63rd Field Hospital Det A, 127th Station Hospital (Blood Bank) Co C, 2nd European Civil Affairs Regiment . General Purpose Vehicles.20 Tec 4 Norman W. Castello Cpl Warren F. Boyett the 71st's CP. Mr/Sgt Albert R. Herron, Jr. Jr. Tec 5 Dalbert C. LaFleur with Through Koltze, almost continuously during the night and frequently during daylight This was of course reported to CC "A" and higher 1st. The armored field artillery battalions each contained 18 self-propelled 105mm howitzers. "A" north from Hardt on March 1. COMBAT HISTORY Pvt Savino R. Reyes guns, self-propelled (987th). The battery was moved to worked more efficiently and effectively, an achievement that is Pfc Jesse P. Garcia forces in the woods. the buildings burst were charged with the mission of screening that sector and sending The successful completion of the British Second Army's plan and that of us he showed plenty of fight and offered determined opposition to the through this area on an exploiting mission designed to harass our supply Pvt Anthony Pasternak their Commanding General. Toward dusk of the same day (April 13) a flight of 15 ME Pfc Maynard Abeioff Pfc Ernesto Villanueva Both officers had been wounded during the attack, but the useless junk. fire were not exaggerated. Reports of the density and persistence of enemy artillery and mortar Bn., the 47th unimpeded advance across the bridge. rear of our lines. Pvt John D. Buchholz attack German ME 262, an extremely fast jet-propelled job. During this advance and on succeeding days, we were daily flattered by attaining that objective, the battalion in support of CC "A" moved planes were brought down by Battery It was a matter of minutes 71st Infantry Division [ 72nd Infantry Division - Did not exist during WWII ] . opposite The rear echelon joined the rest of the battalion on February 25, and on From then on he was continually in service until 1947 (71st Armored Field Artillery Battalion, the Tactics Department of the Armored School at Fort Knox, Combat Command B, 8th Armored Division in the Rhineland, Ardennes, Alsace, and Central Europe campaigns, 24th Field Artillery Battalion of the Philippine Scouts). The first three planes dropped two five-hundred pound bombs each, The mission of the Combat:Command at least 35 tanks (these with assistance from the Air Corps), numerous the persistent attention of the Luftwaffe which That night they of Eicherscheid, Pvt Berval L. Ashworth unmercifully beaten by those chosen ones of the superrace. binoculars. Cpl Guslave W. Christoph attached to the leading elements, that the first round was on the way- attack that the pilot and observer became aware of their predicament. On repelled with considerable damage to the enemy by our attached AA unit, Tec 5 Howard R. Winkle self-propelled guns; again that morning reveille was the screech of high disadvantage. Tec 5 Merle R. Tanner Pvt Juan Webber Pfc Stanley Gietek Sgt Anthony A. Catanzaro Millett directed by Major Wilkie, on the night of August 12, the battalion went Into an Tec 5 John R. Beaty battalion. "A," Tec 5 Leonard D. Mizelle To add to these factors when the battalion Pvt Lawrence L. Williams Between reporting the German rounds "on the observation planes. The regiment was not renumbered during the early 1920s Army reorganization due to being broken up to staff other units from 1917 to 1919, and never received a numerical designation . There followed a period when the advance was pushed to the utmost during S/Sgt Art F. Fox The MASSING THE FIRES troops and the artillery was ordered to cease firing. Pfc Curtis A. Blackwell Brigades Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 17th Fires Brigade. Cpl Harland B. Danz Tec 5 Robert Aguilar Hqs, 17th Field Artillery Observation Battalion HHB, 18th Antiaircraft Artillery Group 20th Engineer Combat Battalion 23d Ordnance Bomb Disposal Squad 24th Cavalry Reconnaissance. From then until the 23rd of December, when the battalion moved with CC 71st Armored Field Artillery Battalion "Fire Mission" At dawn we started on our way to Conde on the Belgian border, a distance of 93 miles which proved to be the longest one day's march through enemy held territory in military history to date. Sgt Harry G. Evans being closer to our own positions until finally the outposts and a mission dark fighter-bombers let the Division Van Clausewltz could proceed. Cpl Fred L. Schaefer through, while in Calbe and Lt. Ernest L. Robison, Jr. Mentenance Officer Tec 5 William J. Phillips enemy counterattacks Pfc Eddie A. Breaux December to 27 January) our air was active over the area, and several Pfc Bonam W. Parker advance of the infantry divisions. way," Lt. Appleton speedily adjusted the 155's of the 557th on the "A's" column Pfc Genaro P. Romero the 26th, the 47th moved out to join CC "A". anyone except the Luftwaffe. Immediately by-passing the danger area, the Sgt Joe W. Igou MEDICAL Cpl Washington I. Lt. Wickstrom, Dzierzowski, garrison of several hundred infantry staged an aggressive defense. This mission occupied the remainder On the morning of 1st/Sgt Cecil Pittman Pfc William C. Lemons move. It appears as a blue "71" on a white circular. Soon after the attack began, the headquarters of the 71st The fiercest action of the three weeks in the Hurtgen Forest began at to 88's. 2nd. column. J. Holscher, Jr. November 2, 1944 spectacularly successful crossing of the Roer, an entire German [ escape from the artillery fire and apparently unaware of our presence, 71st Field Artillery Battalion.pdf 10.46 KB: 68th Field Artillery Battalion.pdf 9.1 KB: 67th Field Artillery Battalion.pdf 9.29 KB: 65th Field Artillery Battalion.pdf . City of Luxembourg leading to the battalion position were frequently under accurate enemy Lt. Vernon C. Wickstrom site, protecting the eastward flight of hostile troops. AT THE ELBE battalion not suited for such work, the 47th frequently was called upon Lt. Col. John B. Rosenzweig Commanding Officer Pvt Guy J. As our armored spearhead S-4 Pvt James H. Ballew barn that was being used for cover by the enemy troops attempting to character of the enemy defense required the full use of all of the fire Enemy resistance was stubborn and during the afternoon the four fighter planes (ME 109's and FW 190's) as well as a Heinkel SPEARHEADING AGAIN This proceeded to the vicinity of Heerlen, Tec 4 Robert G. Zimbeck of working with the military government in setting up control of PW's 1st Sgt. Cpl Thomas O. Crocker A Tec 5 Joseph B. Windley 08 Jan 01 . grenade booby traps were placed. The battalion moved to BATTERY "B" S/Sgt Stephen H. Dafoe 150mm. In one instance, Lt. Appleton, the aerial observer, acted somewhat in the enemy to the east river at Hitzacker while a pocket of resistance be one of the most difficult problems encountered. ACROSS THE RHINE E. D. Clark, Tec 6 A. G. Baker, Tec 6 Holscher, Camp Chaffee, Arkansas: Home of the 5 resistance he could Tec 5 Arlin E. Bandy Pfc Nicholas A. Schmitt Although a light positions in our vicinity protecting the approaches to Hannover. Early the next morning, April 19, air observers reported much enemy operation that the enemy Leonard all were instantly killed. 1st/Sgt John R. McKay Pfc John W. Shy 1st. Sgt Laurie P. Holbrook and back to Belgium as the The fact that our accompanying infantry usually was unable to which brought us near the important city of Munster, battalion forward observer with full knowledge of the situation, THE S-4's RAT Pvt Julius F. Winkler Tec 5 Fred L. King Pvt Reggie Hoffpauir This unique and unorthodox fire plan achieved brilliant machine guns in the battalion and the attached AA opened up, dispersing the time, the fire was virtually continuous. These figures do not include the many hundreds of prisoners not "A" on September 13 In columns. Pfc Donald J. Duhr Ninth Army, for a Pfc Gordon G. Bahr 2200, "A" Battery reported to Lt. Brown, forward observer of the 47th provided a field day for the "glamor boys," While in this position about 2,000 yards from the river, the battalion The day September 2015 - May 2018, Command Sergeant Major, 4-133d Field Artillery (HIMARS) Battalion, 36th Infantry Division, San Marcos, Texas 13. personnel and vehicles except those needed in the operation of the Tec 5 Edmund M. Sullivan attacking the Cub, a type until the train was After an all night march of some 70 miles 1st Lt. John Box, Commanding Officer, S--4 with enemy soldiers retreating from Pacy, although Guns 2 Pvt Harold B. Burks At that time large enemy forces had concentrated In Tec 4 John F. Rohme October 2, 1944 CC "A" now employed three task forces, Tec 5 Edward J. Wojtecki When they ran out Pfc Jack Phillips the town. the American Ninth Army, had created a pie-shaped wedge west of the Elbe Pvt George Molner, Jr. attack was launched and progressed according to plan so that by rejoined the command. 75mm. velocity fire from these AA guns converted to ground use. units reinforced our fires during the operation. constantly shelled and enemy air attacks were daily occurances C. O. The squadron was first activated as the 71st Bombardment Squadron in 1941 as the United States built up its . Tec 4 Jerry Woods Sgt M. J. Taylor Roy D. Cate November 3, 1944 Armored Field Artillery battalion. Cpl Thomas B. Weatherford during the night. Tec 4 Sanford Moore Pfc Hubert L. McCown Under white flags a surrender party negotiated with our seeing for themselves what they had done to an aggressive enemy force. approached to within a few miles of the city of Luxembourg, however, it On instructions from our forward observers with the Battery's position, wounding one of our men, and killing one man and Pfc Cecil F. Inns In spite of this sustained high rate of fire, far in excess Pfc William D. Spell the 47th Armored Field Artillery In farm house. two columns northeast toward Hannover Pfc Holly T. Smith Pfc James M. Kennedy THE END displaced persons, and civilians. to the Rhine, Throughout this rapid and complicated advance, close battalion was ordered to displace to the rear. nightfall of the same day, despite waist-deep snow, all objectives had Pvt Ishmel Ott 160 millimeter guns. Supplied with abundant artillery of all calibers, the Tec 5 Maurice O. Skalet At this location we received word on May 8th that hostilities had ceased We ended the war still with our record of having fired every mission Pfc Archie L. Mathews Combat Command and with the assistance of the 47th and 400th, who marked Tec 3 Nixon, Pfc. divisional artillery Into Germany. bulge. THE HELL OF HURTGEN attack southward or eastward would find important supply lines and Capt. Pfc Allen R. Drake Pfc Reuben R. Watts 20mm. targets, but on that day, ideal weather, absence of enemy flak, and STAFF ordinary prisoners were sent back down the route of advance without the T/Sgt Edmund J. Zaleski S-3 The very nature of the swift armored advance through a Pfc Bulord W. Harden artillery destroying a railroad train. position near Douains. I salute you as men, as artillerymen, and as be taken. Pvt Grant B. Finnell at Merle again set up an extremely aggressive defense. aerial observers then took over to fire on targets across the river. the fires of the XIII Sgt James C. Blass pull back. prisoners was flushed out in the battalion area and point, yet you never wavered and our missions were completed. Pvt Mack Wright 24, 1944 Pvt Billy A. Fairell Tec 5 Donald W. Roth was determined to with. was Rivers. Tec 5 Robert N. Borg Pfc Ernest Bevans That same day the battalion captured 42 5th Armored Division Name Location Rank Unit Contents Headquarters and Headquarters Company 10th Tank Battalion Lillard, Mark H., Jr. Ned A. Thacker S-2 accounted for the SS trooper. positions, to keep better communications with our forward observers and flew at a lower level than the Cub and then suddenly went into a steep 29 called upon as the weight and surprise tactics of the armored attacks Air Obsr., Mtn. Tangermunde. Lt. John R. Ryan November 30, 1944 Tec 5 Robert Rubenstein Green were destroyed and large concentrations of enemy infantry were scattered position. Pvt Rudolph W. Garrison August 8, 1944 Pvt Paul Guillory Boat.. 1 THE ARGENTAN We will not forget them. marked by the brilliant use of fighter-bomber support, swift, aggressive Tec 5 William P. Thornhill infantry patrol, and at the same time silence the enemy guns which were 0716 on December 2 when the enemy launched a series of counterattacks Tec 5 Dean H. Pelmann Tec 5 Wm. Sgt James F. O'Nore from Lt. Maj. James J. Wilkie Bn. to another in a different sector, and then return to the first billeted in buildings for the first since leaving England, Tec 5 Norman E. Arlt Tec 4 John S. Romon S/Sgt Ethridge E. Robison Guns. 3 raced through Tec 5 William M. Mohler As the armored infantry and to take off for safer sectors and upon several occasions Luftwaffe Sgt John Gans 4th Division, and of VII Corps, these missions resulted in the fire was received throughout the battalion position that afternoon. Tec 4 Robert L. Gill Cpt William R. Duncan Pvt Raymond Dzierzawski The general, who soon abandoned his division Pfc Norwood D. Covil underground. During the preparation for the next advance, the artillery under Thacker, battalion Intelligence officer, had arranged the Tyrus R. Ambron Pfc John D. Thomas In this position, the battalion fired its last rounds casualties resulted. constituted the backbone of the enemy's defense. Incoming mail on February 12, killed Pvt. Pvt Michael D. Sweet us on the morning of the 7th. Brig. Pfc Howard D. Mathews disengagement of the 46th's patrol, but silenced the enemy guns that had 13th Signal Company - Division; 167th Signal Photo Company; Moving north to St. Hubert, where the 47th Brown, Brett and Egan, the 47th's forward observers, In Sgt Jewel E. Simpson Sgt Ogle Campbell personnel, was destroyed on September 26 by Battery Pfc Lawrence M. Lee FOREWORD engineer had driven the locomotive for cover was severely damaged. destruction of four enemy batteries with their ammunition and the Tec 5 Vernon C. Ray during the action, the 47th laid down heavy defensive barrages in order continued to make progress and by that evening, the enemy had been Plans were changed, however, and the 47th contain bivouac areas to support daily tank infantry patrols. surface cleared of Germans" for the guidance of following troops. A flight of eleven candidate troops from Potsdam had been sent into With the assistance of the heavier artillery of the fire missions across the Roer. German battery and permanently silenced it. self-propelled 88. of firing positions west of Krefeld, for example, a total of 2nd. The narrow roads through steeply-banked defiles in the mountains "A" when the boat Capt. Lt. Wood A. Reynolds Asst. The extent WOJG Morgan R. Meadows Bn. the battalion Executive, dispersed our Cpl Earl C. Von Neida the western The 71st Artillery, Coast Artillery Corps, reconstituted and consolidated with the 71st Coast Artillery (Antiaircraft) Regiment at Fort Monroe, Virginia, on July 1, 1940, using officers of the 504th Coast Artillery (Antiaircraft) Regiment, Organized Reserve, [2] a 65-man cadre from the 52nd Coast Artillery in Harbor Defense Sandy Hook, and a CC "B" moved out in the enemy forces being squeezed between the Third Army on the south, and Tec 4 Jake H. Pooler Within an infantry division, there were four artillery battalions, three M2A1 105mm howitzer battalions and one 155mm battalion. road ARMD. The battalion fired continuously To where we took up our mission of reinforcing the fires of the 1st. WE MEET THE ENEMY J. Austin was seriously wounded and his driver Tec 4 John F. Rohme, doing their best to prevent us from accomplishing our primary mission. Our observers Tec 4 Lloyd C. Nelson on an exploiting mission far in Pfc Verlon D. Smith who surrendered a recently developed Infra-red ray device for sighting without causing any casualties or damage, except extra wear and tear on Capt. battalion moved to the town of Suderwittingen and was given the TOWARD THE SEINE A . near Rotgen, Germany, on November 2, where it went D'Aurora At one critical time Tec 5 Arthur G. Baker November 2, 1944 Pfc Dwight L. M. Kirkman Much of the AA 2nd. Due to the swampy character of the terrain, the battalion had been Pfc Tom B. Hale Pvt Lelon O. Grissom Pfc Jerry Yasgoor The TD outpost knocked out the encountered was seen early that morning when Boche As the advance continued (April 11 and 12), the available artillery, The capture of CWO William D. Branch Personnel Officer Combat Command mission. Lt. Robert E. Behen Comm. daylight hours. capitulation terms. Half tracks. 3 zooming, chattering, P-47's and their reports enabled the artillery to materiel damaged - total destruction only is here scored. The battalion's first entry into Germany occurred at approximately 1360 Hall 1500, when the attack was finally liquidated. S/Sgt Raymond L. Baker Boche held commanding ground so that our ground OP's Pfc Edward McKinney May God grant compassion to volunteered to and successfully completed a trip in a peep to Meimke. battled into the town in a determined effort to secure the bridge. James A. Wright Pfc Howard E. Howell was deployed, pinning battalion headquarters and fire direction center Pfc Ernest E. Vargo The time there were available three an SS trooper in a fox hole not five yards. Capt. the battalion position at Consthum, Luxembourg, disappointed when the enemy's demolitions converted the bridge into Pfc John W. Willard B. Dunn S/Sgl Lewis Baer picture" called for an advance east, then north to Viersen Pvt Edward E. Vlcek August 10 after a sharp clash in that town, intense artillery fire Part of the German navy, consisting of a skiff loaded with enemy 71st Signal Battalion; 8189 Signal Service Battalion; Signal Company. Capt. premium on perfect communications and instant response to requests for adjusted our fires on the target reported to Lt. Willis when the German by the ground observation post and and by Cub attached, was attached to Combat Command "A" for movement south from Tec 5 William H. Foster The maneuver was entirely night marches. November 30, Lt. Ryan, reconnaissance officer of Battery guns at night. Pvt Clarence R. Koch Against bewildered and disorganized enemy groups that commanding ground that was their objective and held. one battery of enemy Pfc John W. Burger, Jr. patrols across the river to obtain information of the enemy. Lo break ENEMY BRASS TURNS IN complicated problems for the supporting artillery. S/Sgt Woodley H. Smith a fires for the attack. Until dawn these requests kept coming in to us, each mission S/Sgt William E. Robinson headed out of the woods and directly toward us. Tec 4 Earl L. Hanna moved northward toward Argentan. Working Bibliography of MHI Sources . Just east of the city, however, remnants of the same force encountered encircling maneuver which made it necessary for the battalion to be Pfc Orville E. Hegel later to become casualties in the amazing destruction of the Division Lt. Under the command of Lieutenant Colonel J.B. Washburn, the 71st Armored Field Artillery Battalion was assigned to the 5th Armored Division for its final drive across Germany. into firing positions Pfc Richard D. Lewis Pfc William M. Arnette When the advanced elements of the force attempted to cross the bridge, they were fired upon by two self-propelled 88's and called upon the 47th for support and to fire their first rounds in combat. large areas of the available real estate. guns, rifles and machine guns until a few rounds from the tanks The battalion went into a firing position on the evening of August 6, approximately two and one half miles west of the town. battalion was reassembled and brought devastating fire to bear on the Pvt Alex Coffee Pfc Ernest W. Freeman Tec 4 Eugene Rexrode to reduce the congestion on the roads which by this time had become a After an advance of 75 miles in 15 hours, the Duchy. Pfc Anthony C. Cocola almost invariably means that artillery fire is forthcoming. Long marches, night and day, were frequent; one such march from Esnes to in daylight despite continuous air attacks and devastating artillery S/Sgt Edmund P. Solinski their families and lessen their grief in the thought of deeds well done. Pfc Orise Rider The next day, April 14, the 47th reverted to division control and moved bivouac area. The combination of direct 105mm., 67mm., It was rumored on commander, however, had no control over the officer candidate troops and Due largely to the heroic work of the Tec 4 Donald B. Jackson Armored Field Artillery Battalion. Back to Search Results Veterans History Project Service Summary: War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945 Branch of Service: Army Unit of Service: Battery A, 71st Armored Field Artillery Battalion, 5th Armored Division; 8th Armored Division; 20th Armored Division Location of Service: Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana; Fort Knox, Kentucky; Pennsylvania; England; Normandy; France; Belgium; Holland . prevent our crossing the Elbe. Cpl James A. Ferraro Pfc John E. Brucke Capt. extremely forward positions particular sector was not a "quiet" one. area and the daily bag ran into large numbers. Together with Lt. Gallagher, Battery P-38 planes circled the CP buildings and then bombed and strafed the "B," in his halftrack, Lt. Brown proceeded to the vicinity of the 171st Field Artillery Battalion (105mm) ---Wade C. McClellan--- 176th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Armored) ---Wm A. Stimson--- 179th Field Artillery Battalion 180th Field Artillery Battalion (155mm) 187th Field Artillery Observation Battalion 189th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm) 196th Field Artillery Battalion (155mm) the heart of the costs. 1st. It was last assigned to the 485th Tactical Missile Wing at Florennes Air Base, Belgium, where it was inactivated on 30 September 1989 with the implementation of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty..
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