980th FA Bn / SS soldier photos found

Lets see....K rations or steak???? I don't blame them.

 

Hope everyone had a great Memorial Day!
Pg. 25
The 240th FA Bn (155 G) commanded by Lt. Colonel Jones, joined the 142nd FA Group which had previously beencomposed of the 980th FA bn and the 195th FA Bn (8" H). At 1840 the no. 2 gun of btry "A" was out of action for one hour and twenty minutes with a faulty equilibrator. The next day six of the eleven old guns of the battalion were calibrated against the one new tube. An average of six rounds per gun were fired. The results showed that although the older guns were shooting about 500 yards short, the error was a constant factor however and it was therefore possible to compute a K factor for each tube. After completion of the calibration the bn fires were massed with 9 other bns for a derenade mission of First Inf Div against a counter attack against the 3rd bn of the 18th Inf. Special order #274 was received from HQ First US Army assigning 1st Lt. Lloyd O. Pruett to the bn as a Liaison Pilot as of 6 October 1944. Lt. Pruett had been on detached service to the bn as a pilot to replace 1st Lt Thomas H Evans who was in the hospital.

At 1420A 12 October 1944 the no 2 gun of btry "A" was out of action for a few minutes while replenishing an equilibrator with nitrogen.

At 0530A 13 October 1944, the packing, in one equilibrator of the no 2 gun of btry "A" was blown so bad that it did not warrant replenishing. By 1000A all the nitrogen in the bn had been used up replenishing the other equilibrators. The bn received orders to clear all fire missions through 142nd FA Gr due to the ammunition shortage. The ammunition allowance for the day was 160 rounds. At 1730A the no 2 gun of btry A was back in action with a new equilibrator. ( I'm having trouble posting. I guess I will just make the posts shorter.)

 

Hope everyone had a great Memorial Day!
Pg. 25
The 240th FA Bn (155 G) commanded by Lt. Colonel Jones, joined the 142nd FA Group which had previously beencomposed of the 980th FA bn and the 195th FA Bn (8" H). At 1840 the no. 2 gun of btry "A" was out of action for one hour and twenty minutes with a faulty equilibrator. The next day six of the eleven old guns of the battalion were calibrated against the one new tube. An average of six rounds per gun were fired. The results showed that although the older guns were shooting about 500 yards short, the error was a constant factor however and it was therefore possible to compute a K factor for each tube. After completion of the calibration the bn fires were massed with 9 other bns for a derenade mission of First Inf Div against a counter attack against the 3rd bn of the 18th Inf. Special order #274 was received from HQ First US Army assigning 1st Lt. Lloyd O. Pruett to the bn as a Liaison Pilot as of 6 October 1944. Lt. Pruett had been on detached service to the bn as a pilot to replace 1st Lt Thomas H Evans who was in the hospital.

At 1420A 12 October 1944 the no 2 gun of btry "A" was out of action for a few minutes while replenishing an equilibrator with nitrogen.

At 0530A 13 October 1944, the packing, in one equilibrator of the no 2 gun of btry "A" was blown so bad that it did not warrant replenishing. By 1000A all the nitrogen in the bn had been used up replenishing the other equilibrators. The bn received orders to clear all fire missions through 142nd FA Gr due to the ammunition shortage. The ammunition allowance for the day was 160 rounds. At 1730A the no 2 gun of btry A was back in action with a new equilibrator.

 

I have typed the same page four different times and keep getting message that page is not responding.

 

I will try one more time.

 

I Can"t seem to post anything longer than a few lines.

 

At 0655A the next morning, 18 October 1944, Btry "B" received march order for its guns and two left for the 516th ordnance at 0840A. At 0800A the remaining three guns of btry "C" went to the 255th ordnance and two guns of btry "A" left for the 559th ordnance. Twenty vehicles of the bn also left for the 255th ordnance for an ordnance inspection. All of the vehicles were sent to the 255th ordnance except 10 which were inspected by 3456th ordnance in the bn area. A small arms and instrument inspection team was sent to the bn from the 255th ordnance, who completed their inspection in one day. A few items were sent to the 255th ordnance which the inspection team could not repair on the spot.

As of 0700A the same day, the bn had fired 25,583 rounds in combat and guns had fired a total service rounds as follows: Battry A Tube no 701- 1573 rounds tube no 784-1611 rounds tube no 734- 1672 rounds, tube no 735- 1581 rounds. Battery b tube no 839-1810 rounds, tube no 1721- 248, tube no 782- 1644 rounds, tube no 749- 1686 rounds. battery c tube no 755- 1800 rounds, tube no 742- 1687 rounds, tube no 722- 1648 rounds, tube no 737- 1665 rounds. tubes turned in to ordnance Tube no 725 - 24 rounds, tube no 745- 1087

At 1230A 18 October the remaining two guns of btry "B" left for the 516th ordnance. Teh next few days were spent in house cleaning, repairing camouflage nets, cleaning the guns at ordnance, doing laundry and normal maintenance.

At 2150A on the 19th, enemy planes dropped anti-personnel bombs in service btry area. A few fragments struck the bn wrecker and put one small hole in the hood, there were no casualties.

 

980th, if yo uhave trouble posting, you might want to delete cookies on your computer and use a different search engine , for instance Chrome, this should help.

Thanks for posting your new addtions btw.

 

I will try that, thanks.

 

The 980th and 981st appear to be sister battalions having been formed from the 144th Field Artillery Regiment of the California National Guard. From this site, the 981st, which was the 2d Battalion 144th FA, carries the lineage of the 144th Field Artillery today.

California Military History: A Short History of the California National Guard in World War II

144th Field Artillery Regiment Insignia

Lineage and Honors: 144th Field Artillery Regiment

While the 980th FAB history started and ended in WWII, I would think California has a claim to that history too.

If you would like a more permanent place for the battalion history online (and minor Internet fame), I suspect that California Military Museum would welcome your donated labor.

After you finish here, of course. Just copy and paste into a single document latter.

Keep up the good work.

 

Here goes.
Pg. 27
At 1215A, the next day, the two remaining guns of btry "A" were sent to the 559th ordnance for inspection and overhaul.

Orders were received from VII Corps transferring 1st Lt. Lander E. Carn, 980th FA bn to the 981st FA Bn and 1st Lt Charles B. Ackard II, 981st FA bn to the 980th FA bn.

On the afternoon of 21 October 1944 the attached AA reported four enemy artillery shells falling 400 yards in front of one of their guns. This area was well in front of btry "A", 980th FA bn.

Sunday, 22 October 1944 Captain John F. McGinty the bn Asst. S-3 and also Post exchange officer, established a PX with a ration of one cigar, one candy bar and one roll of hard candy per man. A few cans of fruit juice was also available for the bn.

The next day Capt. McGinty procured 1000 gallons of rather good tasting beer, non-alcoholic Belgium beer, and the beer flowed freely for the next few days. At 1545A, the same day orders were received from the 142nd FA Gr for the bn to be prepared to open fire the morning of 25 October 1944. The bn was to occupy the same positions as it had previously except that the btrys were to be laid so that the left limit of fire for the bn was to be an azmuth of 100m and the right limit azmuth 1300m.

The Bn Commander made a reconnaissance of the front lines looking for positions for OP's on the afternoon of 24 October 1944. He visited front line CP's of the 16th inf but was unable to find a suitable location. He reported Aachen to be virtually destroyed. The Inf Commanders that they believed the enemy was crossing the lines in civilian clothes because the Inf CP's were always shelled soon after they were occupied. At 1720A the bn was back in position ready to fire but were ordered to remain silent and not register until further orders.

The next afternoon the bn Commander made a front line reconnaissance in, and east of Stolberg area and found a suitable area for an OP. Permission was received for the bn to calibrate its guns the next day.

The bn commander established an OP the next day, 26th October 1944 at Stolberg with Lt. Sherron, Btry "C" as observer. The 6821 Velocity Calibration Team (Prov) calibrated btry "A" guns and three guns of Btry "B" before dark. Average velocity was approximately 2680 f/s per tube. Two of the rounds bracketed VII Corps CP. The first round to fall short was fired at 1303A at a range of 15980 yards but landed only 3970 yards from the gun in the area of btry "B", 266th FA bn. The quadrant was 272m, BD207, using shell HE, supercharge and quick fuze. The muzzle velocity of the round was 2677 f/s. Four of the rounds from btry "B" fell short. At 1710A the bn received cease fire on all missions and the OP Personnel was recalled to the bn area because of lack of visibility due to fog conditions.

At 1645A 27 October 1944 the two gunsd of btry "B" that had fired the rounds short, guns number 749 and 782, were taken to ordnance for new tubes.

The next day orders were received from First US Army announcing the battlefield promotions of 2nd Lts William R. Miller, Charles W. Barrett, and George E. Carlson to the grade of 1st. Lt effective 24 October 1944

 

The California Military History site was one of the first places I search to find info on the 980th. Didn't find much of anything. I will do as you suggest and send them a copy of what I have. Thanks for the idea.

 

Pg. 28
At 1300A 29 October 1944, the bn commander and his reconnaissance party made reconnaissance for a position from which to finish the calibration of the bn. At 1240A the bn OP had been reoccupied by Lt. Sherron. At 1900A enemy aircraft over the area were fired upon by the adjacent AA units. The personnel at the bn OP were recalled to the bn area at dark, due to dense fog and heavy shelling of OP area.

At 0700A the next morning, October 30, the 4 guns of btry "C" and one gun of btry "B" were taken to an alternate position for calibration at coor. K938377. At 1330A the one gun of btry "b" had returned to the bn area and by 1530A, btry "C" had also completed calibration and was back in position ready to fire. At 1825A, the two guns which btry "B" had sent to ordnance had returned with new tubes and were in position ready to fire. The new tubes were nos. 1092 and 1243.

1st Lt Max E. Young and Pfc's Melvin D. Henderson and Jose J. Vellerreal left at noon the 31st, for a 48 hour pass in Paris. They were sent to Paris in 2 1/2 ton trucks, along with other artillerymen form the VII Corps. 1st lt. Thomas H. Evans reported to the bn on DS from the 981st FA Bn, at 2300.

On November 1, 1944 the bn was still in position at K873338, 6 miles south of Aachen. By 0600A the bn had fired 25,691 rounds in combat. A message was received from VII Corps that three M-4 tractors were being transferred to the bn.

On the 19th of october an Anti-Airborne Defense plan was started in the VII corps. Col. Stevens, 1st TD Gr was placed in charge of the Corps Anti-Airborne Section. The corps area was broken down into several sub-areas with the senior tactical commander is each area in command. Lt. Col. Welch the bn commander was in charge of area A-3 in which the bn was located. Major Clirehugh acted as his operations officer and also in command of a mobile reserve of the bn for use anywhere in the area. Major Watson was in command of Sub Area "A", which included the bn. On 24 October 1944 an SCR 606 with operators was sent to the bn HQ as part of an Anti-Airborne Defense radio net. On 1 November 1944, 1st Lt Lawrence B. Peterson, CA was attached to Lt. Col. Welch's HQ as a special staff officer for Anti-Airborn defense. By this time the anti-airborne defense plan was a well knit and workable plan. Main features of the plan was the close liaison established between adjacent units, extensive communications, and a rapid means of employing troops at any threatened point.

At 0900A the next morning, 2 November 1944, the bn re-occupied its OP at Stolber, with Lts. Sherron and Ellingson as observers and using personnel from btrys "C" and "B" respectively. At 1920A, the no 2 piece of btry "B", gun no 839 was called out of action by higher HQ for an indefinite period because of a short round landing in the 991st FA Bn (155G-SP) area. At 2012A the attached AA reported enemy aircraft over the area.

 

Pg. 29
At 1715A, 3 November 1944, the bn was ordered by higher HQ to cease firing on all missions until further notice. This was due jto three rounds falling short, from no 3 piece of btry "C", gun no 737, during an air observed registration.

At 1805, enemy aircraft over the area were fired on by the adjacent and attached AA units. Anti-personnel bombs were dropped in the bn area. Tec 5 Richard W. Dirks, 37074854 and Private Richard R. Ford, 33458707 of btry "A" were wounded by shell fragments from 37mm AA fired at the enemy aircraft. Apparently the time fuses on the shell had failed and the shells exploded upon hitting the ground.

The men were awarded the Purple Heart Medal at the bn aid station by the bn commander, Lt. Col Welch. Pfc Herbert E. Swift of btry "A", 440th AAA was also wounded by AA shell fragments.

At 0900A, the next day the bn commander and btry commanders went forward to look for btry positions in the vicinity of Breinig, and returned at 1135A. At 1130A an enemy flying bomb passed over the bn area at an altitued of 3000 feet, line of flight northwest.

Instructions were received from 142nd FA Gr, the morning of 5 November 1944 that all missions on enemy gun batteries would be corrdinated through Gr. and that fire for effect would be placed on the target by VII Corps Artillery using at least four bns.

At 1000A Lt Morgan replaced Lt Ellingson on the bn OP using personnel from HQ Btry and Lt Wilson established an OR at 1545A using Btry "A" enlisted personnel. 2nd Lt David E. Davis replaced 1st Lt Lawrence B. Peterson as special staff officer to the bn commander for Anti-Airborne defense. Several flying bombs passed over the bn area during the day, all travilling in a north western direction.

More flying bombs were over the area the morning of 6 November 1944, all traveling in a Northwestern direction at an altitued from 4,000 to 5,000 feet. The gun btrys sent details forward to propare the new positions at Breinig for occupation. Three more flying bombs were over the area between 1840A and 2155A at an altitude of 700 to 1000 feet.

On the 7th, 2nd Lts Reginal G Booth and Peter R Andre were relieved from assignment to 980th FA Bn and assigned to 981st FA Bn and 751st FA Bn respectively, and 1st Lt. Thomas H Evans, Jr. was relieved from assignment to 981st FA Bn and assigned to 980th FA Bn per paragraph 1, special orders no 151, HQ , VII Corps. dated and effective 4 November 1944.

A bn Ammunition detail under command of Lt Dmytryk hauled 900 rounds of ammunition to the new position at Breinig and dumped it on the ground and reloaded the bn ammunition trucks with a basic load. This was the first time in combat that the bn had dumped ammunition on the ground in addition to the basic load carried on the trucks.

 

Getting closer to The Bulge.

Pg. 30
The btrys continued to improve their positions at Breinig during the day. At 1510A guns no 839 and 737 of btry "B" and "C" were given close station march order for the purpose of getting new tubes at 559th ordnance and left the following morning. Orders were received for the displacement of the bn for the following day, March order time being 08 1400A with three minute intervals between btrys. The march number was J-41. 1st Inf Div was to have road priority.

At 0920A, the 8th of November the Bn fire direction center was established at Btry "B". At 1000A, the bn Commander relinquished command of the Anti-Airborne Defense area A-3 to the commanding officer, Rear Echelon, 3rd Armored Div and Lt. David E. Davis left to join that command. At 1200A Close Station march order was given to the bn less service btry and Air section. The OL was closed at the same time. At 1330A, btry "A" and "C" each sent one gun to the 255th ordnance for new tubes. At 1400A the bn left its old position and arrived at the new position at Breingig, coor. K926379 at 1515A. Lt Sherron replaced Lt. Wilson on the OP at OR. 1st Lt. Lloyd O Pruett was decorated with the Air Medal, by Major Gen J. Lawton Collins, Commanding Gen VII Corps, at the Viviers Rest Camp. At 2040A word was received from 142nd FA Gr that the bn was to remain silent, but that all installations were to be manned, and the bn be able to fire, using map data corrected, upon call.

The next day was spent by the bn in improving positions and providing shelters for the men.

On the afternoon of the 10th the OP reported considerable enemy traffic including half tracks, busses, passenger cars, wagons and bicycles. At 1730A gun no 1108, of Btry "C" having returned from ordnance was in position and ready to fire.

By 1225A the next day gun no 2042, btry "c" gun no 1751, btry "B" and gun no 1732 of btry "A" had returned from ordnance and were in position ready to fire. Gun no 722 and 755 of btry "C" were given close station march order at 1204A and left for 559th ordnance at 1314A for the purpose of obtaining new tubes.

On the 12th propelling charges in the bn, lot no 11386 were frozen for future calibration. By 1715A the remaining two guns of btry "C" had returned from ordnance with new tubes and the guns were laid and ready to fire.

At 0850A, 14 November 1944, a few heavy caliber shells landed near the bn CP causing no casualties. The OP was shelled at 1645A as the observers, Lts Long, Deppen, and Ellingson were leaving. The only route from the OP was rather exposed and several shell fragments landed among the observers but there were no injuries.

The next day the bn received word that it would receive three more new tubes to finish equipping the bn with new tubes.

 

Pg. 31
At 0325A the 16th, orders were received that the attack was to be at 1115A that day, and the bn was to begin registration at daylight. At 0315A, the Command line to btry "C" was knocked out by shell fire. By 0600A the bn had fired 26,099 rounds in combat. The bn fired counter flak missions for the bombers and then fired its preparations and interdictions to maintain neutralization of counter-battery in support of the attack. The bn was the only corps bn chosen to fire counter-flak missions. The first day of the attack 837 rounds were fired on counter battery and supporting missions. The entire bn was ordered to take cover in foxholes and shelters during the bombing and therefor was unable to view the bombing as it had during the St. Lo breakthrough. At 1128A five heavy caliber bombs or shells landed south of the btry "A" position.

Prior to the attack other units established OP's in the same building in which the bn OP was located and one hour before H-Hour all the following were present:
Major General Rose....3rd Armored Div
Brig General Boudinot....3rd Armord Div
1st Lt George Deppen...980th FA Bn
1st Lt George A long..." "
Corporal Banghard....." "
1st Lt Stevens.....54th FA Bn (3rd Armord Div)
Captain McNeil....7th FA Bn (1st Inf Div)
Mr. Ernest Hemmingway.......Correspondent, Colliers Magazine
Mr. Tim Gorrell.......Associated Press

During the early part of the tank advance, Major General Rose ordered Lt Deppen to contact a nearby tank and request machine gun fore be brought on 5 Germans running across a field in front of the OP. Lt Deppen hugging the hedge line ran the forty yards to the tank, delivered the General's orders and returned to the OP. Lt. Deppen had exposed himself to the fire that was being directed at the OP and the tanks nearby. Lt Deppen's remark of surprise to Lt Long upon returning to the OP building was, "Say, did you see what I just did? Go out there in all that fire."

At 1302A guns no 701, 734, and 784 of btry "A" were given close station march order. At 1445A gun no 734 left for 255th ordnance and guns no 701 and 784 left at 1530 for 59th ordnance for new tubes. Five men from 50th signal bn were assigned to the bn by VII corps and placed on detached service with 50th signal Bn. The next morning Btry "B" reported a 15cm artillery shell dud in the house next to their CP and requested the BDS to remove it. At 1245 guns no 1143 and 1194 of btry "A" had returned from ordnance, replacing guns no 784 and 701 and were in position ready to fire at 1532A. Gun No 1397 replacing gun no 734 of btry "A" returned from the ordnance at 1350A and was in position ready to fire at 1535A.

In compliance with 1st Army directive all men in the bn in excess of T/O except eight were transferred to the Army Ground Forces Replacement system on the 18th. The eight men were retained by verbal authority of G-1, First United States Army for use as drivers and assistant drivers of the three M-4 tractors and one RD-8 bulldozer authorized the bn as special equipment by First United States Army. The total of men transferred was fourteen.

 

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[TD="width: 98%"]Above: Supreme Allied Commander, Gen. Dwight Eisenhower (left) confers with Maj. Gen. Rose at the 3rd Armored Command Post (a confiscated mansion) near Stolberg, Germany, in November, 1944, with German forces less than ten miles away. In September Rose's troops had become the first Allied force to enter Germany. (Army Signal Corps photo)[/TD]
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This is around the same time Rose was with the 980th FA bn. I think.

 

Interesting to see the implementation of Washington's direction to Eisenhower to find your own infantry replacements.

I have read only one memoir of a soldier converted to infantry. Oddly, he indicated he was a combat medic before. I would have thought combat medics were also in short supply.

 

I found this cool web site with old periodicals. I found the article that Hemmingway wrote while he was with 3rd Armored Div. The Articles are dated Nov. 4th and Nov. 16th 1944. "The G.I. and The General" and "War In The Siegfried Line" both from Collier's.


All Periodicals