Hi everyone; first post. I am researching the 781st Tank Battalion and I am planning my first visit to NARA in a couple of weeks. My "Wish List" includes their AARs for 12/44 and 2/45-6/45, but number one on the list is information pertaining to their activities pre-deployment (11/44) while attached to the Armored Force Board at Fort Knox. Any spare time will be used to find and copy photos. I have requested the Index to the records of the 781st from NARA but have yet to hear back. If anyone has any information or suggestions on how to make this trip a success I'd love to hear from them!
Are you taking laptop, scanner, digital camera or lots of cash for the copy machines? Your first stop should be the Reference Room, Text Records, 2nd Floor, where you will find the Index of Bn records in a 3-ring binder. Then, with the assistance of Archives staff, you will submit the forms for the documents you want (limit 24 boxes per cart). It may take an hour or up to an hour and a half for the records to be pulled and ready for you. I would use that time to go up to the Fifth Floor and copy or photograph the 3x5 index cards of Signal Corps photos of the 781st. While you are there, you can submit the forms for the SC photos. Again, it may take over an hour to pull the boxes of photos for you. While you are waiting, you can check out cartography or use the PCs in Text Records. I am sure you won't be disappointed. The staff is well-trained and eager to help. By the way, when you arrive, you have to register to get your ID and obtain an equipment pass - if you have laptop, camera, scanner - from the security desk. The cashier is where you put cash on your ID card for the copy machines. The cafeteria serves breakfast and lunch. If you need more info, just let us know. Dave
I just checked my Excel worksheet of Armor photos, and I have scanned these SC images of the Bn at the NARA: 197551 Lemberg, France 12/12/1944 202713 Bitche, France 3/16/1945 204118 Betwiller, France 2/22/1945 204119 Betwiller, France 2/22/1945 205923 Schnaritz, Austria 5/1/1945 Dave
Dave, Thanks a bunch for the suggestions! As a rookie, I am looking forward with awe at the thought of going through Uncle Sam's attic, and at the same time I'm terrified that I will assume a "deer in the headlights" pose and come away empty-handed. I am taking two laptops (my wife has generously offered to help in the search so we can cover twice as much ground), a scanner, a digital camera, and lots of cash. No excuses about hardware will be offered, anyway. You mention having scanned a few pics; are they available somewhere? Thanks again! John
I would add: get there early when they open at 9AM. The last morning pull time is 11AM, then they break for lunch, and will not pull again until 1PM. A few times I was caught in the horrible Beltway traffic and arrived at 11AM only to be stuck with no pull for two hours. Also, if you have a research plan, stick to it. You will find yourself consumed in so many interesting documents, that it is easy to get side-tracked. Suddenly you discover you have wasted a couple of hours "browsing." If you see something, jot down the Record Group, Entry, & Box Number for next time, and stay focused on what you came there to find. Finally, jot down the Record Group, Entry, and Box Number (some also record the folder within the box, but I stop at a box number) on ALL documents you copy. This is a practice that scholars and historians use to cite the documents in footnotes. Too many folks just copy or scan a document with no way to locate it again or cross check. It is like someone cutting out a newspaper clipping without worrying about what paper it was printed in, or the date. Even if you do not plan to cite the source of the document, it is a good habit to start, and will certainly add to the thoroughness of your research. Good luck, and good hunting! Greg C.
John, Is this a one day trip or several days? I travel down to College Park early Friday, stay overnight at the Marriott UMD, and go back to the Archives Saturday morning since it will hold your records for three days. I recommend taking the scanner first to Still Pictures for scanning any 781st photos you find. Be sure you scan the reverse of the prints as well. I suggest you use 600 dpi as a minimum; I use 800 dpi, sometimes 1200. I will be glad to send my raw scans of my five SC photos to you. Drop me a PM with your email address. Dave
Greg, Dave, Excellent information about conducting research at NARA. You each deserve a salute, which have been duly awarded. Thanks, Duckbill
Dave, Multi-day; Tuesday 26th all-day, Weds 27th all day, Thurs 28th PM, and Friday 29th all day. Travelling back Saturday but can postpone if things are going really well or really badly. ;-) If you wear a white carnation I can recognize you! Thanks again for the help. I will try to find your PM. John
John, I know it's been several months since your original post. I trust that your trip to NARA went well. I did some research on the Combined Arms Research Library (CARL) website and came across the following documents related to the 781st Tank Battalion: Unit history, 781st Tank Battalion (47 pages, 3.07 MB, Covers period 1 Jan - 30 Apr 45) After action report, 781st Tank Battalion: January 43 thru December 45 (92 pages, 6.33 MB, Covers period Jan 43 - 19 Feb 46. The early periods are very thin but the Jan-Apr 45 write-ups are fairly thorough. Reports for periods after May 45 include significant detail for wartime events, especially with regards to medal awards.) "Up From Marseille" (34 pages, 4.87 MB) Based on your USERID, I suspect you already have a copy of this To access these documents, go to the CARL Digital Library website (CARL's ContentDM Digital Library Welcome page) Click on the "World War II Operational Documents" icon Click on "Advanced Search" at the top of the screen I ran my search using "781st" as my search term and it returned the above three pubs (along with 11 others that weren't related) Hope this helps your efforts. Very respectfully John Wolfe
John, Thanks for your help. My trip to NARA went very well; I came back with 1,500 pages of written material and maybe one hundred pictures. Among the material are After Action Reports for Dec 44 through June 45, unit histories for Jan 43-October 45, and a copy of a diary kept by one of the members of the 781st that covers most of their overseas deployment. One of the neatest things that happened during my research was that I figured out who had written the diary and was able to tell the author's daughter that her dad's diary was in the National Archives! I sent her a copy and she immediately confirmed that it was in her dad's handwriting. Her father had lent the diary to another person after the war and the person failed to return it. I was also able to uncover details of the Million Dollar Tank Test that took place in early 1943 and got a copy of the Project File. Altogether a very productive trip, and I again thank Dave and Greg for their hints. John
Hello! I was googling the 781st Tank Bn because it was on an envelope of my grandfathers and I believe this is the unit he was a part of during WWII and was wondering if you found anybody else posting about this particular division with information. I pulled the AAR's from Combined Arms library, but didn't find any information about him in it. Any thoughts on how I can confirm this? Thank you!!!
AB77, What was your Grandfather's name? I have the unit rosters and may be able to help. I have a book about the unit in draft and have tons of background information about the 781st. John
John, Somehow my response ended up on your profile page. When are you publishing your book? Sounds great! - L
"L", Wow. Adolph Hoppi - I feel I know him well! Don't even have to look. He was indeed in the 781st, and was the Driver of a Sherman tank in the Headquarters Assault Gun Platoon. His tank was named "Hot Box" and his tank commander was named Homer Turner, with whom I have spoken on several occasions. Homer spoke highly of Adolph. There are many stories about "Hot Box" and the crew in my book. The book is in final stages of editing and then I have to shop it around for a publisher. Drop me a PM - I'd like to find out if you have any stories or info or pics to trade. Very cool! John
My dad, Jim Heath, was also with the 781st. He served as a gunner during the winter of 1944 and up through the liberation in May 1945. His tank commander's name was Earl Brownwell. If anyone has any information on my dad or stories to share, I would love to hear them. I would particularly like to hear the story of how he won the Bronze Star. He's told me the story before, but not in any great detail.
Sgt. Earl Brownell was tank commander in Company "B" of the 781st. Your dad was gunner in his tank and Ron O'Donnell was the driver. This tank played an important role during the battle of Wingen-sur-Moder, supporting attacking US troops by getting really "up close and personal" with the German defenders. Sgt Brownell wan a Bronze Star for his role that day. Later, near Heilbronne, Germany, Earl and crew all volunteered for what was described as a "suicide mission" and took their tank to rescue a troop of soldiers that were hopelessly pinned down by machine gun fire. Earl and crew inserted the tank between the troops and the guns and made a shield that the troops could hide behind so they could get to safety. I believe all the crew got Bronze Stars, but I only have a copy of the award letter for Earl. John
