1.) He transferred to the HQ Co. 6th TD Group (my father's unit) along with Capt. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for From The Command Car: Untold stories of the 628th Tank Destroyer Battalion witnessed first-hand and told by Charles A. Libby, TEC 5 Official Command Car Driver by Mr. Steve Hunter (2015-10-02) at Amazon.com. 628th Charles Libby in M20 628th Charles Libby in M20 Pfc. During training, in 1943, the battalion provided a cadre to form the nucleus of the 648th Tank Destroyer Battalion. Dec 44, WD GO 31-47, Co. C only Croix De Guerre (French or Belgium "Cross of War"), 1.) The 628th remained in the United States until January 1944, when it was shipped to the United Kin… This book is illustrated with many rarely or never before published photographs . Conducted artillery missions in October. 2.) The division then swung northwards through the Rhineland, reaching the west bank of the Rhine on 10 March. Courtesy of Paul Stevens. The battalion remained on the defensive until the 3rd Armored was withdrawn into reserve, and on 1 January was attached to the 82nd Airborne Division for eleven days to help clear the area west of the Salm River; during this period, the battalion lost four M36s and fourteen men, destroying six tanks – including two Tiger II tanks. In 1959 it joined with elements of the 110th Infantry Regiment and the 108th and 166th Field Artillery Battalions to form the 103rd Armor Regiment, a parent regiment in the Combat Arms Regimental System. Detailed History of the Unit - Official Unit History "Victory TD" done by the unit on June 7, 1945. Slashed through Germany to the Elbe River by 11 April. 25, to Sept. 14, 1944 Rhineland........................Sept. 15, 1944 to Mar. B and C Companies), Section 5.............Pages 148 to 176 (Staff cont. 628th_Tank_Battalion_(United_States) - WikiMili, The Free Encyclopedia Early service. Home 628-TDB – WW-2 – (2020) 628th tank destroyer battalion. Unit History: Established 15 December, 1941, from the 28th Infantry Division Antitank Battalion (Provisional), Indiantown Gap, PA. In May 1946 it was reactivated and redesignated as the 628th Tank Battalion, under which title it saw service in Europe for three years during the 1950s. The 628th Tank Destroyer Battalion was a tank destroyer battalion of the United States Army active during the Second World War.It was redesignated the 628th Tank Battalion after the end of the war, and today exists as the 103rd Armor Regiment.. 3.) At 1700 hours Maj. Gallagher assumed command of the unit. On 7 March 1942, the battalion was redesignated as a National Guard unit and allotted to the Pennsylvania National Guard. The battalion was formed in early 1941 as the 28th Infantry Division Provisional Antitank Battalion, and on 15 December was redesignated as the 628th Tank Destroyer Battalion, in line with the reorganization of the anti-tank force. Fire mission the story of a journey 71st Armored F.A. #59, Lt. Col. Hernandez DSC Award, Sept. 13, 1944, Officers of the 628th Tank Destroyer Battalion. On January 3 1943, the Battalion furnished a complete officer and enlisted cadre of about 85 men who later formed the 648th Tank Destroyer Battalion. The commanding officer, Lt. Col. Hernandez, was killed on 20 August whilst observing indirect fire, and succeeded by his executive officer, Major Gallagher; in the same action, two Panzer V tanks were destroyed for the loss of one M10, the first tank destroyer lost in action by the battalion. In that photo, seated center and center right are the two senior officers. Victory TD: History Of The 628th Tank Destroyer Battalion 1941-1945 1945-06-07 "The history of the 628th Tank Destroyer Bn. 628th Tank Destroyer Battalion . Constituted 3 December 1941 in the Army of the United States as the 628th Tank Destroyer Battalion. Dashed east to the Belgian border, arriving on 2 September. The 628th Tank Destroyer Battalion was a tank destroyer battalion of the United States Army active during the Second World War. On 11 August a Panzer IV was destroyed, the first of the battalion's tank kills, and the same night, the rearguard of Company A encountered a German column, and in a close-range action accounted for eight vehicles and 240 enemy troops; a sergeant of the company received both the Silver Star and the Croix de Guerre for this action, giving the battalion its first tank kill and its first combat decoration on the same day. Committed to battle on 2 August near Perier, France. The unit was commanded by 1st Lt. Charles A. Cocoran who came from the 107th Field Artillery Bn. • 634th Tank Destroyer Battalion - Brief history of the 634th along with unit rosters and After Action Reports for August 1944. The battalion was strafed by Bf 109s on the 3rd; two were downed by anti-aircraft fire, the first aircraft the battalion had destroyed. The battalion headed eastwards on 15 August, briefly crossing the Eure River on the 17th. The unit history indicates that all of the officers came from Field Artillery uinits. In order to co-operate more closely with the 5th Armored, the battalion was split up, with one company going to each of the division's Combat Commands. M10 Wolverine of 628th TDs in Dreux.jpg 723 × 492; 125 KB All Rights Reserved. Thomas M. Cook, while they were stationed in southern England preparing for the D-Day invasion. The force moved south through Avranches and then southwest to Le Mans, before pushing north on 10 August to help close the Falaise Pocket. It was redesignated the 628th Tank Battalion after the end of the war, and today exists as the 103rd Armor Regiment. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. On 2 April, the division bypassed Münster, arriving at the Wesser River shortly thereafter and pausing until 8 April, when the river was crossed at Hamelin. 644TH TANK DESTROYER BATTALION. Throughout this time, it mostly carried out indirect fire missions; Company C, attached to Combat Command B, was deployed for the attack on Aachen, but not committed to combat. Tank Busters 3, the History of the 628th Tank Destroyer Battalion. Crossed Roer River beginning 25 February and reached the Rhine on 10 March. Charles A. Libby, Tankdestroyer.net (Web based United States tank destroyer forces information resource), This page was last edited on 26 February 2020, at 19:54. Second World War. Fought to eliminate Bulge in January 1945. Although edited for clarity, the historical narrative reflects the origi… 100% (1/1) 103rd Armor 3–103rd Armor. 1 to 31, 1945.............10 Pages (Includes casualties, awards & reinforcements), Apr. 22, to May 11, 1945Awards: Distinguished Unit Citation -29 Nov-8 Dec 44, WD GO 31-47, Co. C only Croix De Guerre (French or Belgium "Cross of War"). It was redesignated the 628th Tank Battalion after the end of the war, and today exists as the 103rd Armor Regiment. Crossed the Rhine on 31 March at Wesel. Combat Equipment: 8/44 - M10; 11/44 - M36.Commanding Officers: William M. Hernandez (KIA 8/20/44). Victory TD by United States. Deactivated at Camp Myles Standish, MA on Nov. 14, 1945. The 628th Tank Destroyer Battalion was a tank destroyer battalion of the United States Army active during the Second World War. Capt. Books. This independent tank destroyer battalion served with the 5th Armored Division, the 3rd Armored Division, and the 82nd Airborne Division in World War II Europe. The battalion landed in Normandy on 30 July, equipped … • Millions of unique designs by independent artists. Meet The Squander Bug. Media in category "628th Tank Destroyer Battalion (United States)" This category contains only the following file. A full roster is provided at the top of the photo. After two weeks of mopping-up operations, the region was deemed clear, and the companies reverted to battalion command on 25 April; the following day, the battalion moved to take up occupation duties in the Peine region of Lower Saxony, where it was located at the end of the war. • 630th Tank Destroyer Battalion - Unit history, after action reports, maps and photographs for the 630th. From the Combined Arms Research Library of the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Colonel. What would become the battalion was formed on 10 July 1941 as the 28th Infantry Division Provisional Antitank Battalion, and on 15 December was redesignated as the 628th Tank Destroyer Battalion (constituted 3 December 1941 in the Army of the United States), in line with the reorganization of the anti-tank force. US 5th Armored Division M36 & Personnel near Schriefersmühle, Germany - March/April 1945. The first elements of the battalion crossed onto German soil on the 13th, with the remainder of the battalion crossing on the 15th and establishing a command post six miles inside Germany. Participated in envelopment of Falaise Pocket. You can support MIA Recovery efforts and the … After Action Reports - from the Combined Arms Research Library of the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. in training and combat. It sailed for the United Kingdom later that year, and was deployed into the European theater in February 1945. Oct. 1-31, 1944..................4 Pages (Page 3 is illegible), Feb. 1-28, 1945..................6 Pages (Page 5 missing), 5.) History text from the book The Tank Killers by Harry Yeide. On the 23rd, a Panzer V tank was knocked out, the fifty-sixth and final tank destroyed by the battalion. The 628th Tank Destroyer Battalion was a tank destroyer battalion of the United States Army active during the Second World War. On 11 January the battalion was attached to the 75th Infantry Division, but left them on the 16th, without having made contact with the enemy, and moved into XVIII Airborne Corps Reserve. In this final day of combat, eleven German tanks were definitely destroyed by the battalion, with a further seven probably destroyed but not confirmed. The battalion landed in Normandy on 30 July, equipped with M10 tank destroyers. NOTE: Interestingly, the photo listed above was provided to me by the family of Capt. Officers on the … A and B Companies), Section 4.............Pages 111 to 147 (Staff cont. 1st Lieutenant Herbert A. Pratte is shown sitting, fifth from the right. The battalion was activated at Camp Bowie on 6 March 1943, formed around a cadre drawn from the 628th Tank Destroyer Battalion. Author - Steve Hunter (http://fromthecommandcar.com) (.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:linear-gradient(transparent,transparent),url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:linear-gradient(transparent,transparent),url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:linear-gradient(transparent,transparent),url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:linear-gradient(transparent,transparent),url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}ISBN 9780692512418), Units in italics were formed but later disbanded, redesignated, or did not see overseas service, 628th Tank Destroyer Battalion (United States), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=628th_Tank_Destroyer_Battalion&oldid=942779110, Tank destroyer battalions of the United States Army, Military units and formations disestablished in 1945, Military units and formations established in 1941, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, From The Command Car : Untold stories of the 628th Tank Destroyer Battalion by TEC 5 Sgt. 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