2nd Armored Division

The movie "Fury" is set to be released October 17th. It is about the 2nd Armored Division. We'll have to wait and see if it's accurate or a piece of Hollywood crap.

 

Does somebody know the location of the 3rd Bn, 66th AR on 15, 16, 17 and 18 September 1944?

 

I've got the AAR, but there is no exact location of the 3rd Bn in it. But I have found the Hq locations in another document.

 

67AR,
The only source I have on the 66th AR is "Iron Knights" by Gordon A. Blaker. The following is taken from that source.

The 3rd Battalion of the 66th was commanded by Colonel Stokes and was in the left column. The 2nd Bn was in the right column, and the 1st was in reserve. On the 6th of Sept the regiment advanced 50 miles and reached Stoquois, south of Brussles. On the 7th they went another 50 miles and halted near Reutenbeek. The 8th the left column (with 3rd Bn) halted at Diest/Kerpt, near Hasselt, another 50 miles.

The next date listed is the 14 and 15 of September when the Regiment's two columns cleared the west bank of the Williams-Vaart Canal.
On Sept. 16th the left column with the 3rd Bn was given the mission of crossing the Williams -Vaart Canal and clearing all the enemy forces between the canal and the Meuse River. Task Force Stokes (left column) secured the near bank and engineers began constructing a bridge near Reckheim. On the 17th and 18th of Sept. task force Stokes secured Vucht at 0745 (the 18th) and continued to attack south. At 1735 on the 18th the task force had taken their final objective of Lanklaer-Stockheim and then went into Division Reserve near Beek, seven miles northeast of the city of Maastricht.

That's about as near as I can locate the 3rd without having the map to overlay the sketches on the AAR's that Jeff gave a link for.
Dave

 

Thanks for that link Richard, cool stuff!

 

From the morning report of Hq & Hq Co, 3rd Bn, 66th AR:
16 sept '44: location K545660 = west of Rekem (Belgium) (near the Heidestraat)
17 sept '44: location K553662 = west of Maasmechelen (Belgium) (along the Joseph Smeetslaan)

 

The 2nd Armored Division's radio call sign all began with P


POWERHOUSE (2nd Armored)
PYRAMID (Combat Command “A”)
PREMIUM (Combat Command “B”)

POINTER (82nd Recon Bn.)
POLAR BEAR (66th Armored Rgt.)
PYTHON (67th Armored Rgt.)
PRINCESS (41st Armored Infantry Rgt.)
PRIMER (14th Armored Field Artillery Bn.)
POWDER (78th Armored Field Artillery Bn.)
PROJECTILE (92nd Armored Field Artillery Bn.)
PYROTECHNICS (142nd Armored Signal Co.)
PONTTOON (17th Engineer Bn.)
PREVENTION (48th Medical Bn.)
PRODUCE (Supply Bn.)
PNEUMATIQUE (Maintenance Bn

 

"During World War II, the Second Armored Division as well as the 16th, 18th and 26th Infantry Regiments U.S., the 5th and 7th Field Artillery Battalions U.S., the 1st Engineer Battalion U.S. and the 1st Signal Company U.S. were awarded the fourragère aux couleurs du ruban de la médaille militaire."

For some reason, none of the histories I've read on the 2nd Armored ever mentioned the French unit award of the Fourragere aux colors Rubin de la Medille Militaire. This unit award was only given to ten unit (although only eight are listed). There is always the mention of the Belgian Fourregere probably because the 2nd AD was the only unit to earn this award.

 

Any information regarding the 78th armored field artillery service battery .. trying to learn more about my grandfather. I have read the after action reports and other various documents but i want to know more about my grandfather and none of what I've read has helped.. I can share whatever information needed to help gather information ..

 

Hey all, I am trying to find information about my great uncle. He served in the 2nd armored for the entire deployment from Africa to Germany and then latet in Korea. His name is Kell Odin Walker, he received a bronze star in ww2 and I would like to learn more about his military career. He passed away about 7 years ago and records have been hard to find from other family members. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

You'll probably get some answers here but posting a request for this specific info in the information request sub forum may get it for you faster and not get it mixed in with other stuff. Noting the unit and his name in the title will help.

 

"Hey all, I am trying to find information about my great uncle. He served in the 2nd armored for the entire deployment from Africa to Germany and then latet in Korea. His name is Kell Odin Walker, he received a bronze star in ww2 and I would like to learn more about his military career. He passed away about 7 years ago and records have been hard to find from other family members. Any help would be greatly appreciated!"

Travis, I checked the roster for the 67th Armored Regiment for your uncle without success. If you Have a copy of his separation paper it would really help, or his unit.
If you know his service number you might be able to get his records from NARA. If you don't have his Separation paper, there are ways you might acquire a copy.
Keep us informed.

 

This may be nothing, but I found his obit on the "In Memory" page of the 13th Armored Division website. The website has a lot of documents and histories on line. If there is a possibility that he spend some time with the 13th AD, it may be worth checking into.

 

Anyone have info on the 78th afa? my grandfather fought in the 78th from Africa to Germany but he passed before i was born. I don't know much about what him or his regiment did beside he drove a t19 half track with the 105 in Africa fighting the French and that before they took the harbor to land the t19s he had to help fight with the infantry.

 

Here are a few items that you can download and read:

After Action Report, 24 Jun 43 thru 31 Aug 43, 78th AFA Bn

After Action Report Jun 44 thru May 45, 78th AFA Bn

The Field Artillery Journal, May-June 1948 Issue -- See article, "From Morocco to Berlin"

 

My Pop, (94 years old at this time) was in the 67th 3rd Bn. I heard many stories, and have the book he was sent home with....

 

My Pop, now 94, was in the 67th!!!

 

My Pop, now 94, was in the 67th 3rd Bn