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643rd Tank Destroyer Battalion
"1st to the Rhine River, 1st over the
Elbe River"
Activated 15 December 1941
Camp Blanding, Florida
Deactivated 17 November 1945
Camp San Luis Obispo,
California
      
Personal Soldiers Webpages categorized by
Company
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Pioneer Company 643rd TD BN.
Camp Shelby, MS. 1942
(Picture: Paul Stevens)
A. Company 643rd TD BN.
Camp Shelby, MS. 1942
A. Company 643rd TD BN.
Camp San Luis Obispo,
CA. 1945
B. Company 643rd TD BN.
Camp Shelby, MS. 1942
B. Company 643rd TD BN.
Camp San Luis Obispo,
CA. 1945
C. Company 643rd TD BN.
Camp Shelby, MS. 1942
(Picture: Mike
Justin)
C. Company 643rd TD BN.
Camp San Luis Obispo,
CA. 1945
Recon. Company 643rd TD BN.
Camp San Luis Obispo,
CA. 1945
HQ. Company 643rd TD BN. Camp Gruber, Oklahoma
Officers of the 643rd Tank Destroyer Battalion (picture
taken in Muskogee, Oklahoma, August 1944)
(Picture: Bob Postiglione)
First row: Lt. Gaddis, Lt. Byers, Lt. Pulsipher,
Lt. V. Miller, Lt. Orlando, Lt. Sloan, Lt. Stowers, Lt. Larkin, Lt. Sides, Lt.
Gaylord, Lt. Fahlgren
Second row: Lt. Watkins, Lt. Hanagan, Lt.Weikel,
Lt. Jewell, Lt. Skelton, Capt. Fornwalt, Lt. Postiglione, Capt. Peters, Capt.
Ward, Capt. Colt, Lt.Col. Farr, Maj. Gaulke, Wojg Chisamore
Wojg. Littlefield, Lt. Mc Carty, Lt. R. Miller, Lt. Peterson
Third row: Capt.
Burgin, Capt. Gerwig
Officers of the 643rd Tank Destroyer Battalion. Camp San Luis Obispo, 1945
(Picture: Michael Thompson)
643rd TD BN Officers
and Wives/Fiancees. Dance and Dinner at Hotel Severs, Camp
Gruber, April 1944.
Back row:
?, Cpt. Kresge, Cpt. Ward, Lt. Schorn,
Maj. Gaulke, Maj. Pierce, Mrs. Stenger, Lt. Sloan, Mrs. Ward, Mrs. Kresge, Lt.
Watkins, Lt. Roddy, Lt. Norton, Cpt. Trumble, CWO Littlefield
Center
Row: Mrs.
Jackson, Mrs. Taylor, Mrs. Gaulke, Mrs. Burgin, Mrs. Miller, Mrs. Pierce, Mrs.
Sloan, Miss Morris, Mrs. Baier, Mrs. Watkins, Mrs. Will, Mrs. Postiglione, Mrs.
Gerwig,
Mrs. McCarthy, Mrs. Kellogg, Mrs. Roddy, Mrs. Norton, Miss. C. Lowrey, Miss. M.
Lowrey, Mrs. Burgin, Cpt. Burgin
Front row:
CWO. Stenger, Lt. Conrad, Lt. Miller, Lt. Siegal, Cpt. Moorhead, Lt. Baier, Lt.
Will, Miss. Mildred, Cpt. Gerwig, Miss. Lowery and Cpt. Stone
(Picture: Bob Postiglione)
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Received picture and document (Click on Picture for Document) from Ronald
Pellechia his father was Pvt. Salvatore Pelechia, 643rd TD BN Recon. Company
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643rd Tank Destroyer Battalion Attachments en special dates.
| 15 December '41 |
643rd TD BN. Activated and Attached to 43rd
infantry Division. |
| 15 February '42 |
Departed from Camp Blanding, Florida by motor
convoy. |
| 17 February '42 |
Arrived at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. |
| 1 September '42 |
Attached to IV Corps for adminstration and
training. |
| 11 November '42 |
Attached to 1st HQ-Detachement
special troops 3rd Army for administration and training. |
| 11 December '42 |
Departed from Camp Shelby, Mississippi by train. |
| 13 December '42 |
Arrived at Camp Hood, Texas. Attached to AUTC Camp Hood, Texas. |
| 10 April '43 |
Departed from Camp Hood, Texas by train. |
| 12 April '43 |
Arrived at Camp Ibis, California. |
| 13 April '43 |
Attached to 5th TD GR. for training
and tactical control, Desert Training Center. |
| 17 April '43 |
Attached to 8th Motorized Division, Desert
Training Center. |
| 1 May '43 |
Departed from Camp Ibis, California
by motor convoy, arrived at Camp Laguna, Arizona. |
| 29 May '43 |
Attached to 5th TD GR.
for training and tactical control, Desert Training Center. |
| 7 June '43 |
Attached to 4th HQ and HQ
Detachement Special Troops, Desert Training Center. |
| 21 August '43 |
Attached to 5th TD GR. for training
and tactical control, Desert Training Center. |
| 24 November '43 |
Departed from Camp Laguna, Arizona by train Left Desert Training Center.
|
| 26 November '43 |
Arrived at Camp Gruber, Oklahoma, Attached to X Corps. |
| 30 December '43 |
Attached to 11th TD GP. |
| 2 January '44 |
Departed from Camp Gruber, Oklahoma by motor
convoy and train. |
| 3 January '44 |
Arrived Camp Swift, Texas. |
| 7 January '44 |
Attached to 3rd Army, XVIII Corps. |
| 11 February '44 |
Departed from Camp Swift,Texas by motor convoy
and train. |
| 12 February '44
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Arrived at Camp Gruber,
Oklahoma Attached to 11th TD GR. |
| 23 March '44 |
Attached to 15th TD GR. Camp Gruber,
Oklahoma. |
| 16 July '44 |
Attached to XXXVI Corps. |
| 24 August '44 |
Departed from Camp Gruber, Oklahoma by motor
convoy and train |
| 26 August '44 |
Arrived at Fort Myles Standish, Massashusetts. |
| 4 September '44 |
Departed from Fort Myles Standish, Massashusetts
by train arrived at POE Boston Massaschusetts enroute overseas on Ship
the "Robin Sherwood" |
| 15 September '44 |
643rd TD BN Arrived in Cherbourg, France,
Occupied bivouac area 2 miles southeast of Valognes. Assigned to Ninth Army. |
| 26 September '44 |
Relieved from assignment Ninth Army and
assigned to European Theater of Operations. |
| 15 November '44 |
Departed from Valognes, France by motor
convoy, Arrived at Jullouville, France. |
| 27 November '44
|
Less 2 platoons A and Rcn. Co. and HQ Co.
Departed Jullouville, France by motor convoy, Arrived Fontainebleau,
France Assigned advance section, communications zone, atchd. to HQ, Ground
Force Replacement System, further atchd. to 9th Replacement Depot. |
| 8 December '44 |
Less 2 platoons A and Rcn. Co.and HQ Co.
Attached to Det. HQ, 6th Engr. Special Brigade. |
| 11 December '44
|
Less 2 platoons A and Rcn. Co.and HQ Co.
Ground Force Replacement System, further atchd. to 9th Replacement
Depot. |
| 19 December '44 |
Less 2 platoons A. Co. and 2 Rcn. platoons
Hq. Co. Departed from Fontainebleau, France by motor convoy. Arrived at
Fluery, France. |
| 20 December '44 |
Less 2 platoons A and Rcn. Co.and HQ Co.
Attached to XVIII Corps. Arrived at Manhay, Belgium |
| 23 December '44 |
2 platoons A and 2 Rcn. platoons and HQ Co.
relieved from attachment 6th Engr. Brigade and attached to 156 Infantry
Regiment for Operations, Administration and Supply. Arrived at Noiseaux,
Belgium. |
| 24 December '44 |
Less A,B,C, Co. departed from Noiseaux,
Belgium. Arrived at Ville St. Gertrude, Belgium. |
| 25 December '44
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Less 2 platoons A and Rcn. Co.and HQ Co.
attached to VII Corps and further attached to 3rd Armored Division.
Departed from Ville St. Gertrude, Belgium by motor convoy. Arrived at
Tours, Belgium. |
| 26 December '44 |
Less C. Co Departed from Tours, Belgium.
Arrived at Les Avins, Belgium. A,B, Co. Joined. |
| 31 December '44 |
Less 2 platoons A Co. and 2 Rcn. platoons HQ Co.
attached to First US Army. |
| 2 January '45 |
Departed from Les Avins, Belgium. Arrived
at Paradis, Belgium. All Companies joined, Less 2 platoons A and Rcn. Co.and HQ Co.
Attached to XVIII Corps. |
| 3 January '45 |
Attached to 82nd Airborne Division. |
| 11 January '45 |
Relieved from 82nd Airborne
Division and reverted to XVIII Corps.
Company A, Attached to 106
Infantry Division. |
| 14 January '45 |
Departed from Paradis, Belgium. by motor
convoy, Arrived at Sart, Belgium. |
| 17 January '45 |
Departed from Sart, Belgium. by motor
convoy, Arrived at Andrimont, Belgium. |
| 19 January '45
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Company A, Relieved from 106th Infantry
Division, 1 gun platoon remained attached to 30th Infantry Division.(relieved
20 January '45). |
| 24 January '45 |
643rd TD BN Attached to 82nd Airborne
Division, less Company B, was attached to 30th Infantry Division. |
| 27 January '45 |
Departed from Andrimont, Belgium. by motor
convoy, Arrived at Malmedy, Belgium. |
| 29 January '45 |
Company B, relieved from 30th Infantry
Division and attached to 82nd Airborne Division. |
| 1 February '45 |
A,B,C, Co. Still in action, Attached to
82nd Airborne Division. A Co. in battle at Wereth, Belgium. B and C Co.
at Medell, Belgium, Advance CP at Medell, Belgium and Rear CP at
Malmedy, Belgium. |
| 2 February '45
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Departed from Malmedy, Belgium. by motor
convoy, Arrived at Deux-Rys, Belgium. Relieved from 82nd Airborne
Division. |
| 3 February '45 |
643rd TD BN relieved from
First US Army and attached to Ninth US Army.
Attached to 83rd Infantry
Division Artillery. |
| 6 February '45 |
Departed from Deux-Rys, Belgium. by motor
convoy. Arrived at Neufchateau, Belgium. |
| 7 February '45 |
Attached to 83rd Infantry Division. |
| 22 February '45 |
643rd TD BN reorganized
from a Towed Battalion to a Self-Propelled Battalion (M18). |
| 26 February '45 |
Less B,C, Co. Departed from Neufchateau,
Belgium. by motor comvoy. Arrived at Alsdorf, Germany. |
| 28 February '45 |
Less A,B,C, Co. Departed from Alsdorf,
Germany by motor convoy. Arrived at Hasselsweiler, Germany. |
| 2 March '45 |
2nd Platoon C. Co. (T) was ambushed near
Kapellen, Germany losing most of their equipment and 38 men killed,
wounded or missing. (6 KIA - 10 WIA - 22 MIA) |
| 4 March '45 |
Less A,B,C, Co. Departed from Hasselsweile,
Germany. by motor convoy. Arrived at Neuss, Germany. |
| 5-20 March '45 |
A,B, and C, Co. Fired long range
interdictory and harrassing fire into Dusseldorf, Germany from Positions
in Neuss, Germany |
| 21 March '45 |
Departed from Neuss, Germany by motor
convoy, under artillery fire moved to Gangelt, Germany. (1 KIA - 5 WIA) |
| 26 March '45 |
Departed from Gangelt, Germany by motor
convoy Arrived at Anrath, Germany. |
| 29 March '45 |
Departed From Anrath, Germany
by motor convoy Arrived at Friedrichsfeld, Germany.
(Crosses Rhine River 22:00) |
| 31 March '45 |
Less B, Co. Departed from Friedrichfeld,
Germany by motor convoy Arrived at Haltern, Germany. later that day
Arrived at Lüdinghausen, Germany less B,C, Co. |
| 1 April '45 |
Less C, Co departed from Lüdinghausen,
Germany by Motor convoy Arrived at Walstedde, Germany, later that day
Arrived at Beckum, Germany. |
| 3 April '45 |
Less A,B,C, Co. Departed from Beckum,
Germany by motor convoy Arrived at Delbrück, Germany. |
| 4 April '45 |
Less A,B,C, Co. Departed from Delbrück,
Germany by motor convoy Arrived at Bad Lippspringe, Germany. |
| 5 April '45 |
Less A,B,C, Co. Departed from Bad
Lippspringe, Germany by motor convoy Arrived at Horn, Germany. later that
day arrived at Steinheim, Germany. |
| 7 April '45 |
Less A,B,C, Co. Departed from Steinheim,
Germany by motor convoy Arrived at Elbrinxen, Germany. |
| 8 April '45 |
Less A,B,C, Co. Departed from Elbrinxen,
Germany by Motor Convoy Arrived at Scharfoldendorf, Germany. |
| 10 April '45 |
Less A,B,C, Co. Departed from
Scharfoldendorf, Germany by motor convoy Arrived at Freden, Germany
later that day Arrived at Langelsheim, Germany. |
| 11 April '45 |
Less A,B,C, Co. Departed from Langelsheim,
Germany by motor convoy Arrived at Heudeber, Germany. |
| 12 April '45 |
Less A,B,C, Co. Departed from
heudeber, Germany by motor convoy Arrived at Cochstedt, Germany.
1st platoon Recon. Co. ambushed
near Barby, Germany. (5 KIA) |
| 13 April '45 |
Less A,B,C, Co. Departed from Cochstedt,
Germany by motor convoy Arrived at Calbe, Germany. |
| 1-4 May '45 |
A,B,and C, Co. Held defensive positions
east of the Elbe river Bridgehead. |
| 6 May |
Departed from Calbe, Germany by motor
convoy Arrived at Braunlage, Germany. |
| 8 May '45 |
Attached to 453AAA BN. |
| 18 May '45 |
Relieved from 453AAA BN, remains attached
to 83rd Infantry Division. |
| 19 May '45 |
Departed from Braunlage, Germany by motor
convoy Arrived at Vienenburg, Germany. |
| 27 May '45 |
Attached to XIX Corps. |
| 28 May '45 |
Departed from Vienenburg, Germany by motor
convoy Arrived at Borsdorf, Germany. |
| 15 June '45 |
Departed from Borsdorf, Germany by motor
convoy. 392 EM&Off. Departed by rail from Bad Nauheim, Germany. |
| 17 June '45 |
643rd Arrived at Camp Lucky Strike, Le
Havre, France. |
| 26 June '45 |
Relieved from XIX Corps, Battalion
departed for United States from Le Havre on the"Sea Robin", with 36
Officers and 620 Enlisted men. |
| 5 July '45 |
643rd Arrived at
Hampton Roads, Virginia,
36 Off. & 620 EM sent to Separation Centers for 30 days rest, Recuperation and
Recovery furloughs. |
| 21 August '45 |
643rd assembled at Camp San Luis Obispo,
California, after 30 days rest, Recuperation and Recovery, 619 EM 36
officers assigned to XXXVI Corps and 104 Infantry Division for training
only. |
| 1 September '45 |
Relieved from 104th Infantry Division. |
| 16 September '45 |
Relieved from XXXVI Corps and Attached to
VII Corps. |
| 17 November '45 |
643rd Tank Destroyer Battalion Inactivated |
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TWENTY SEVEN 643rd
TANK DESTROYER BATTALION MEN WERE KILLED.
The following information has been gathered from appendix II
of the BN History, recollections of men of the 643rd, and from copies of
morning reports received from the National Personnel Records
Center in St. Louis, MO.
|
Name |
Rank |
Us-Number |
Comp. |
Date KIA |
Place KIA |
Buriel-Place |
|
Sidney Auriemma |
Pfc |
32641151 |
C |
2 Mar 45 |
Hemmerden |
St. Mary's Cemetery
Staten Island,
New York (USA) |
|
Eugene V. Call |
Cpl |
31040198 |
C |
2 Mar 45 |
Hemmerden |
Henniker Cemetery
Henniker
Merrimack County,
NH (USA) |
|
Wilson W. Carpenter |
Tec5 |
37073465 |
A |
12 Apr 45 |
Barby |
Margraten (NL) |
|
Michael DeFebio |
Sgt |
20154302 |
RCN |
12 Apr 45 |
Barby |
Margraten (NL) |
|
Anthony J. DeFoster |
Tec5 |
32038173 |
A |
24 Dec 44 |
Baraque de Fraiture |
Henri-Chapelle
(B) |
|
Gerald K. Duncan |
Tec5 |
20152748 |
C |
9 Jan 45 |
Reharmont |
Henri-Chapelle
(B) |
|
Alexander J. Gadomski |
Tec5 |
31086480 |
C |
8 Apr 45 |
Polle |
St. Mary's
Cemetery
New Bedford
Bristol County, MA
(USA) |
|
Charles H. Gebauer |
Cpl |
31095730 |
C |
8 Apr 45 |
Polle |
Bellevue Cemetery
Adams
Berkshire County,
MA (USA) |
|
Henry L. Gendron |
Pvt |
31073569 |
A |
23 Dec 44 |
Lamormenil |
Henri-Chapelle
(B) |
|
Joseph A. Giordano |
Sgt |
20133245 |
A |
24 Dec 44 |
Baraque de Fraiture |
Henri-Chapelle
(B) |
|
Theodore Guss |
Pfc |
32640248 |
C |
2 Mar 45 |
Hemmerden |
Beth David
Cemetery
Elmond, Long
Island
New York (USA) |
|
Paul J. Hirner |
Sgt |
32038296 |
C |
28 Feb 45 |
Gustorf |
Margraten (NL) |
|
John J. Janton |
Sgt |
31042791 |
C |
2 Mar 45 |
Hemmerden |
Saint Bernard's Cemetery
Rockville,
Tolland County, CT (USA) |
|
Lawrence A. Killion |
Pfc |
33163622 |
B |
16 Apr 45 |
Gutergluck |
Fairview Cemetery
Clearfield County, PA (USA) |
|
Boleslaw Korona |
Pfc |
31073577 |
RCN |
12 Apr 45 |
Barby |
Margraten (NL) |
|
Joseph F. Lorenti |
Pvt |
20132413 |
B |
25 Dec 44 |
Soy |
Saint John Cemetery
Darien, CT (USA) |
|
Robert C. Lucas |
Pfc |
33163748 |
B |
2 Apr 45 |
Wadersloh |
Oakland Cemetery
Indiana County, PA (USA) |
|
Charles M. Nini |
Tec5 |
34150263 |
A |
14 Jan 45 |
Derrierre-Spai |
Henri-Chapelle
(B) |
|
Roy M. Reynolds |
Pfc |
35745761 |
C |
3 Mar 45 |
Hemmerden |
Margraten (NL) |
|
William T. Ropple jr. |
Sgt |
11049218 |
RCN |
12 Apr 45 |
Barby |
Margraten (NL) |
|
Thomas Ryan |
Pfc |
11048960 |
RCN |
12 Apr 45 |
Barby |
Margraten (NL) |
|
Andrew M. Rymer |
Pfc |
34778305 |
A |
13 Apr 45 |
Zerbst |
Margraten (NL) |
|
Carlton E. Schafer |
Pvt |
35537416 |
C |
9 Jan 45 |
Reharmont |
Association
Cemetery
Sylvania, OH (USA) |
|
Burl L. Sloan |
1Lt |
O-1822470 |
RCN |
12 Apr 45 |
Barby |
Brandon Cemetery, Buchanan County, IA (USA) |
|
William G.
Stowers
|
1Lt |
O-1822922 |
B |
12 Mar 45 |
Neuss |
Margraten (NL) |
|
Henry A. Syswerda |
Tec5 |
36455931 |
RCN |
12 Apr 45 |
Wernigerode |
Grandville
Cemetery
Grandville, MI
(USA) |
|
Leverett L. Young |
Sgt |
20416529 |
C |
2 Mar 45 |
Hemmerden |
Margraten (NL) |
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thomas F. Levangie
(Transferred 702nd TD
BN) |
Pvt |
11048894 |
A |
24 Aug 44 |
|
Normandy (F) |
|
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