U. S. 7th Armored Division Association
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Last updated: July 14, 2008 - What's New?
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NEWComplete Forms, Schedule and Information now available.
62nd Annual Reunion
Holiday Inn Select Opryland Airport
Nashville, TN
September 11-14, 2008

Click here for info on other military reunions.

World War II Veterans Survey
The US Army Military History Institute (Carlisle, PA) has an 18-page survey form for World War II veterans to record important aspects of their personal experiences. Click here to download the form as a PDF file or here to request the PDF form to be e-mailed to you. Print the form out and complete it in writing; do NOT try to complete it online or you will lose all you typed. Make a copy for your family and a copy to mail to Wesley Johnston for 7th Armored Division historical records. Mail the original to the Military History Institute at the address on the form.
7th Armored Division Webmaster Understudy Needed
Volunteer 7th Armored Division Historians Needed

Welcome to the 7th Armored Division Association home page, maintained by Wesley Johnston. I am the son of Walter Johnston (B/38 AIB). Thanks to Ron Charlton (son of Edward Charlton, HQ/CCR) for the core of the book lists. Thanks to Carl Corbin (40th Tank, CCR, and 38 AIB) for the excellent reproduction of the Box Score. Thanks to Niek Hendrix of Ospel, Netherlands for finding many of the web pages by or about 7AD men. And thanks to our dozens of volunteers who have done the tedious work of transcribing thousands of pages for our Document Repository web pages.

WARNING about Wikipedia and other one-page sources of 7AD "information": There is a web page about the US 7th Armored Division on Wikipedia. In the past, this web page has had significant errors about the Division's history. The page was based on the Army's post-war one-page summary done of 7AD's actions in WWII that was woefully inaccurate, very clearly written by someone who knew very little about what 7AD had really done. For example, the Division was shown moving from France to Holland on 8 October 1944 and going into a defensive role. This completely ignored (a) the 25-26 September move to Holland and (b) the 30 September - 7 October attacks and bitter combat by the Division at Overloon -- not at all a defensive role. And this was just one of many errors. I have attempted to correct the Wikipedia page, but because Wikipedia is open to any updater, someone could come along and change what I posted. The bottom line is this: If you really want to know what the Division did, read the history section of this page. If you want to know more, read the many documents on the 7AD Document Repository page, and follow the links on this page to other 7AD pages. And forget about Wikipedia and any other web pages based on the inaccurate one-page summary of what 7AD supposedly did in the war.


Here is what is on this page:
Or you can see an active overview of all pages at the Dad's War web site.
Special Temporary Items
Click here for old temporary items.

NEW B/23 Men in the News:
John Althuizen's visit to Leroy Dawson NEW

In April 2008, John Althuizen and his wife Jeanne traveled from California to Maryland to visit Leroy Dawson, one of John's buddies from their days in Company "B" of 23rd Armored Infantry Battalion. The local news media covered the visit, and the Associated Press picked up the story in May, so that many newspapers carried the story. Here are links to the two versions of the story:

For those wanting to learn more about B/23, see the 7th Armored Division Document Repository, where you will find Gene Jones' memoir and Felix Neff's memoir.


NEW Buried 7th Armored Division Tank Dug Up at Chartres, France NEW

Just in time for the anniversary of D-Day, an M5 Stuart light tank of Company D, 31st Tank Battalion was dug up from under the rue des Perriers in the southern part of Chartres, France. This led me to do a lot of research on this tank and how it had come to be where it was. The results of this research have changed my perception of the first day of the battle at Chartres: it is clear that the northern 7AD force attacking into Chartres penetrated far more deeply into the city than I had previously realized. I have created a web page where I am going to put together what I have found about this tank and its implications for the understanding of that first night of battle at Chartres.

Click here for the web page on the tank that was buried at Chartres.

7th Armored Division Association Awards for 2007

At the 2007 Reunion in Virginia Beach, awards were presented to the following: Gen. David A. Petraeus, Charles Helbig, Jack G. Sanford, William Bell, James E. Hopkins, Niek Hendrix, Hans Wijers, Wilco Krul, Raymond C. Benoy, Robert Montgomery.

Honorable mentions were given to Ruth Montgomery, Gert and Don Ketchum, Neil and Nancy Chapin, George Weidman, Wesley Johnston, Charles Barry, Cheryl Higley, June and Tom Hopkins, Berna Sharp, General Bill Knowlton and Peggy, Ray Duke, the directors of the Association, and the Color Guard from the 11th Transportation Battalion, Ft.Story, VA.

Click here for details.

Netherlands Postage Stamp Honors 7th Armored Division

Netherlands 7th Armd Div Stamp

Hans Jansen was a Dutch volunteer who joined 23 AIB in the Netherlands. His grand-daughter, Laura Zwartele, has designed a beautiful Dutch 44-Euro-cents stamp honoring the 7th Armored Division. The stamp is legal for sending mail in Holland. However, it is a designer stamp, issued under a program that allows people to design their own stamps.


Dedication of New 7AD Monument
at Baraque de Fraiture, Belgium

On Saturday, September 29, 2007 at 11:00 AM at the Baraque de Fraiture, Belgium crossroads there will be a dedication ceremony unveiling a new Memorial Monument honoring the men and their units who helped defend this critical crossroads during the first week of the Battle of Bulge in December 1944. The new Memorial Monument honors the efforts of Troop D/87th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron Mechanized and Battery D/203rd AAA of the 7th Armored Division, and Company F/325th Glider Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division.

The order was to hold this crossroads “at all costs.” Each man knew that this order was a suicide mission and an “Alamo” defense. So, from December 19-23, 1944, this crossroad garrison, comprised of several small units, put up a valiant blocking defense of the crossroads before being eventually overrun by both German armored and infantry divisions, respectively. The battle became known in the military history books as “Parker’s Crossroads.”

Some 63 years after the fact, this new Memorial Monument recognizes and honors the memory of these brave men and their units who fought against overwhelming odds to defend this critical crossroads. The dedication ceremony itinerary will include a Color Guard, playing of National Anthems, Laying of Wreaths, speeches from both American and Belgian dignitaries, and presentations. All veterans, family, friends, and interested parties are welcome to attend the dedication ceremony. For further information or details, please feel free to contact Pete Schreiber at (909) 798-6745 or via email at pschreiber@ his virtualaw.com address.

Click here for the web page on 7th Armored Division men at the crossroads in December 1944.
Click here for the text on the monument.


Dedication of 7AD Monument at Ospel, Holland

On May 26, 2007, a new monument was dedicated at Ospel, Holland to those men of 7th Armored Division who lost their lives in combat in 1944 in the immediate vicinity of this small town. The dedication was attended by 7 veterans of 7AD and by their families and the families of 4 of the 48 men whose names are on the monument, as well as a large number of Dutch citizens, the US military attaché to the Netherlands, and other dignitaries. Flowers and notes of gratitude to the men of 7AD continued to be added to the monument for several days after the dedication.

Click here for more about the monument.
Click here for more about the dedication ceremonies.


New Books and Web Pages
by or about
7th Armored Division Veterans

NOTE: Due to space limitations, photos are included only if they cannot be linked to elsewhere.

NEW Henry Lemke (HQ Co/40) HonoredNEW
by citizens of Dormans, France

On June 16, 2007, citizens of Dormans, France honored Henry Lemke, of the Reconnaissance Platoon of Headquarters Company, 40th Tank Battalion. He was one of those killed August 28, 1944, when his halftrack was hit as it moved in a column heading from Dormans to the bridge over the Marne River. His family knew little of what had happened to him, other than that he had been killed somewhere in France. But his nephew John Lemke researched what had happened, so that his Uncle's story can now be told. In June, John followed his Uncle's route through this area of France and was welcomed with ceremonies honoring his Uncle. John is now doing the research that will lead to a permanent plaque at Dormans honoring the 7AD men who died there.

Here are four French web pages (two of them in English) about these important events:

  • Main page, with many photos, both from the ceremonies and from WWII
  • Details about August 28, 1944: Liberation Day for Dormans (in English)
  • Speech at the Ceremonies by Auguste Héry (in English) - Secretary of the Association of the Battles of the Marne Memorial
  • L'Union Newspaper Article about John Lemke's Research on his Uncle

  • NEW Edward W. Wood, Jr. C/48 AIB NEW

    Experience as a soldier in World War II was an important part of the path of a number of writers and artists. These writers examined World War II in personal ways that military history generally ignores. The 106th Infantry Division's late fiction writer Kurt Vonnegut is probably the best known among them. His book "Slaughterhouse Five" is very much about his experiences being captured in the Bulge and held as a POW. In non-fiction literature, Paul Fussell is the best known, with many books about the experience of war. While on the trip for the May 26, 2007 dedication of the new monument at Ospel, Netherlands, I took along Paul Fussell's book "The Boys Crusade" in which I was surprised to read of an author who Fussell regarded highly, Edward W. Wood, Jr., who was a veteran of the 7th Armored Division. Ed Wood was very seriously wounded in action, which led to his first book "On Being Wounded", from which Fussell quoted a very well written passage. Back home, I sought out information about Ed Wood. The C/48 AIB Morning Reports for September 1944 show him wounded (SWA, with his name as Woods) north of Metz on 7 September 1944. I also learned that he has written two other significant books, and I found several articles from the Air Force Academy's journal "War, Literature and the Arts" by and about Ed Wood. (He lives in Denver, close to the Air Force Academy.) So here are links to his three books and to these articles. --- Wesley Johnston


    Screenplay The Stand at St. Vith
    A historically accurate look at military strife, sacrifice and courage.
    Dedicated: "To 'Workshop,' a long-overdue tribute."

    Jeff Hawkins created a full-length screenplay "paying long over-due homage to the 7th Armored Division and the ordinary soldiers who overcame extreme conditions at St. Vith, Belgium, Dec. 1944-Jan. 1945. These men saved the real 'Band of Brothers' from certain annihilation. This stop-action storyline also offers a glimpse of the soldiers' post-war lives through reunion camaraderie."

    Here's hoping a producer or agent discovers this script here.

    The complete text is 131 pages in a 586K Microsoft Word file. Click here to open that file and download the screenplay.


    New Books and Web Pages
    Highly Relevant to 7th Armored Division

    Photos included only if they cannot be linked to elsewhere.

    None right now.


    Wesley Johnston Update

    Health Problems
    Rather than attempt to contact every correspondent with the information about my health, I will post it on the web.
    Click here to see my latest posted health status.


    Mailing Address
    Wesley Johnston
    1865 Herndon Avenue, Suite K-187
    Clovis, CA 93611-6163

    Do not contact me for Association business, such as membership information, putting things into the Association's quarterly "Workshop News", etc. For any Association business, see the Association Secretary and "Workshop News" Editor contact information below.


    7TH ARMORED DIVISION ASSOCIATION
    MEMBERSHIP AND CONTACT INFORMATION

    Membership includes a subscription to the excellent quarterly "Workshop News". Dues are $10 per year or $75 for a life membership. Contact:

    7th Armored Division Association
    292 Scott Swamp Road
    Farmington, CT 06032

    For more information, contact the 7th Armored Division Association Secretary at CMHIG58@aol.com.


    To have a query or announcement posted in the "Workshop News", contact the Newsletter Editor, Charles Barry:

    Charles Barry, Editor
    Workshop News
    947 A Street
    Meadville, PA 16335
    E-mail: cbarry@zoominternet.net

    Return to top of 7th Armored Division page


    7TH ARMORED DIVISION WORLD WAR II HISTORY:
    The 7th Armored Division fought from August 1944 until V-E Day, coming ashore on the Normandy beaches and reaching all the way to the Baltic Sea.

    7th Armored Division Box Score (small)
    Click on the map for a larger version (77K JPG).
    Text of the Box Score
    Written June or July 1945
    ENEMY
    ARMORED VEHICLES DESTROYED 621
    ARMORED VEHICLES CAPTURED 89
    MISCELLANEOUS VEHICLES DESTROYED 2,653
    MISCELLANEOUS VEHICLES CAPTURED 3,517
    ARMAMENT DESTROYED 583 PIECES
    ARMAMENT CAPTURED 361 PIECES
    (Only pieces larger than 50 mm included)
    PRISONERS TAKEN 113,041
    DIVISION
    MILES TRAVELLED 2,260
    GASOLINE CONSUMED 3,127,151 GALLONS
    AMMUNITION EXPENDED:
    105 mm 550,027 ROUNDS
    76 mm 19,209 ROUNDS
    75 mm 48,724 ROUNDS
    .50 cal 1,267,128 ROUNDS
    .45 cal 540,523 ROUNDS
    .30 cal 9,367,966 ROUNDS
    AWARDS
    * - BATTLE OF NORTHERN FRANCE
    (14 AUG -- 14 SEPT 1944)
    * - BATTLE OF GERMANY
    (15 SEPT 1944 -- ?)

    THE ABOVE CAMPAIGNS HAVE BEEN OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED. THE FOLLOWING CAMPAIGNS PARTICIPATED IN BY THE DIVISION HAVE BEEN UNOFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED AS SUPERCEDING THE BATTLE OF GERMANY. NO OFFICIAL REPORT HAS BEEN RECEIVED AT THE TIME OF THIS PRINTING AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THE DIVISION WILL BE GRANTED CREDIT FOR HAVING PARTICIPATED IN THEM.
    * - BATTLE OF THE ARDENNES
    (16 DEC 1944 -- 25 JAN 1945)
    * - BATTLE OF THE RHINELAND
    (15 SEPT 1944 -- 21 MAR 1945)
    * - BATTLE OF CENTRAL EUROPE
    (22 MAR 1945 -- ?)
    DECORATIONS
    (Personnel)
    DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS 9
    SILVER STAR 351
    BRONZE STAR MEDAL: --
    -- HEROIC SERVICE 888
    -- MERITORIOUS SERVICE 1,047
    PURPLE HEARTS 1,211

    (NOTE: ABOVE FIGURE DOES NOT INCLUDE PURPLE HEARTS AWARDED BY NON-DIVISIONAL MEDICAL INSTALLATIONS AND WAR DEPARTMENT)
    A FEW DATES TO REMEMBER
    BEACH LANDINGS -- 10 AUG 1944
    CHARTRES -- 15 AUG 1944
    MELUN -- 24 AUG 1944 (Crossed SEINE River)
    CHATEAU-THIERRY -- 28 AUG 1944
    VERDUN -- 31 AUG 1944
    METZ -- 8 SEPT 1944 (Crossed MOSELLE River)
    OVERLOON -- 1 OCT to 8 OCT 1944
    MEIJEL -- COUNTERATTACK 27 OCT 1944
    ST. VITH -- 17 DEC 1944 and 23 JAN 1945
    REMAGEN (Breakthrough) -- 26 MAR 1945
    EDERSEE DAM -- 30 MAR 1945
    MENDEN -- 16 APR 1945
    BALTIC SEA -- 3 MAY 1945
    Commanding Generals during combat Concentration Camps and POW Camps Liberated
    This section is still under construction, and the following are unverified, unless otherwise noted. If you have additional informations or corrections, please let me know. High Personal Awards to Division Personnel
    If there is a link indicated for a name, click on the link to see the citation and a photograph of the soldier. Return to top of 7th Armored Division page

    7TH ARMORED DIVISION UNITS:
    The 7th Armored Division consisted of the following organic and attached units:

    Organic Units

    Long-Term Attached Units
    Foreign nationals who fought for 7th Armored Division NEW March 2007: New web page
    Short-Term Attached Units
    Other Units
    Return to top of 7th Armored Division page

    7TH ARMORED DIVISION OVERSEAS DEATHS:
    It is surprising to learn that the definitive list of overseas deaths for the 7th Armored Division has yet to be made. The first attempt at such a list was the June 30, 1947 list compiled by the Adjutant General. The list is mostly accurate, but detailed research on 38th Armored Infantry Battalion deaths revealed 12 men who were not included on the 1947 list, as well as several mis-spellings. And subsequent work with other elements of the Division has also found men who were not on the 1947 list. Some of these were non-battle deaths (the 1947 list was only battle deaths), and some were still officially missing in action in 1947, but some were just plain missed by the Adjutant General's list.

    The deaths for each unit of the Division are on separate web pages, accessible from the unit web pages (see above). However, the existing links are duplicated here, so that the units can be placed in order of the number of deaths suffered. The initial entries were from the 1947 Adjutant General's list, except for 38 AIB which includes a great deal of additional research. However, as others -- who were not on the 1947 list -- have been identified, they have been added to the web pages. For this listing, the long-term attached units (see above) are not distinguished from organic units.

    These figures WILL change as more information becomes available for all of the units. This list is the most definitive list there is of 7th Armored Division deaths in World War II, but it WILL change as more men are found who were not included on the initial 1947 list.

    Click here for the alphabetical list of all 7th Armored Division deaths.
    Use the alphabetical list as an index to find what Battalion/Unit a man was in, so that you can then go to the web page for the deaths of that Battalion for further information about him.

    Currently known total: 1,371 deaths (* see note below)

    First Deaths: As best as I can tell, the first overseas death in the Division was the non-combat death in England on June 17, 1944 of Pfc. Alvin W. Thompson (B/38 AIB), and the first combat death in the Division was 2nd Lt. James Earl Newberry, Jr. (48 AIB), who was killed in action at Senonches, France on August 14, 1944.

    Counts by Unit:

    No deaths in:

    Counts by type of unit: (% based on 1,359 deaths on list as of December 2003)


    7TH ARMORED DIVISION PRE-COMBAT DEATHS:
    The 7th Armored Division men who died in training in the States and in England are not counted in the casualty lists. They have gone almost entirely forgotten. In September 2005, Wesley Johnston spent 2 weeks at the National Archives and scanned the complete General Orders of the 7th Armored Division, for all years (1942-1945). Many of the General Orders during the period of training, prior to combat, are announcements of the deaths of 53 men. Other men learned from the sacrifice of these men, and their deaths probably saved the lives of unknown numbers of others.

    Click here to see the web page that memorializes these 53 men.


    BOOKS AND RESEARCH MATERIALS SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE 7TH ARMORED DIVISION:

    This section has three sub-sections:

    1. Division-wide works
    2. Works on component units
    3. Published Memoirs/Histories/Web Pages by or about 7th Armored Division Men
    1. Division-wide works
      • General Coverage
        • Seventh Armored Division. From the Beaches to the Baltic: The Story of the 7th Armored Division. June, 1945.
        • Seventh Armored Division Association. The Lucky Seventh. Dallas: Taylor Publishing Company, 1982. (out of print)
        • Seventh Armored Division Association. The Lucky Seventh. Vol. II. Dallas: Taylor Publishing Company, 1987. (out of print)
        • 7th Armored Division Auxiliary Web Site: Growing repository of thousands of transcriptions of WWII documents (text-only) of and related to 7th Armored Division that are available for free downloads. This is a treasure trove of information.

      • 7th Armored Division in France (August-September 1944)
        • Hospital Interviews of the 7th Armored Division: France: August-September 1944. (Click here for details and ordering information.)
        • Combat Interviews of the 7th Armored Division: France: August-September 1944. (Click here for details and ordering information.)

      • 7th Armored Division in the Battle of the Bulge (Belgium, December 1944 - January 1945)
        • Combat Interviews of the 7th Armored Division: The St. Vith Salient (December 1944). (Click here for details and ordering information.)
        • Combat Interviews of the 7th Armored Division: The 7th Armored Division Goes Back: St. Vith 20-23 January 1945. (Click here for details and ordering information.)
        • Ellis, William D. and Thomas J. Cunningham, Jr. Clarke of St. Vith: The Sergeants' General. Cleveland: Dillon/Liederbach, 1974.
        • US Army Armor School Research and Evaluation Division. The Defense of St. Vith, Belgium 17-23 December 1944: An historical example of armor in the defense. Fort Knox: Armored School. (Click here for information about this book.)
        • Boyer at St. Vith: Major Donald P. Boyer's "Personal Report: Narrative Account of Action of 38th Armored Infantry Battalion, 7th Armored Division, Battle of St. Vith, 17-22 December 1944" and "Notes - The Battle of St. Vith, 17-22 December 1944" (Click here for information about this book.)
        • Winter, George. Manhay, The Ardennes: Christmas 1944. Winnipeg, Manitoba: J. J. Fedorowicz Publishing, 1990.

      • 7th Armored Division Returns to Germany (March-April 1945: first entry into Germany was in November 1944, prior to move to Belgium)
        • Combat Interviews of the 7th Armored Division: Remagen Bridge and Breakout (March 1945). (Click here for details and ordering information.)
        • Combat Interviews of the 7th Armored Division: Encircling and Reducing the Ruhr Pocket (April 1945). (Click here for details and ordering information.)

    2. Works on component units

    3. Published Memoirs/Histories/Web Pages By/About 7th Armored Division Men
      • Goodwin, Marden Ronald (with 7AD Combat Commands in training, 1942): "Of War and Women"
        Marden Goodwin was drafted in July 1941 and cadréd from 3rd Armored Division to become one of the original members of the 7th Armored Division 1 March 1942. He was with all of the Combat Commands at one time or another, until he was sent to Ft. Knox for radio school, leaving 7th Armored in August 1942. He went on to OCS and then went into France with the 5th Infantry Division, which fought alongside the 7th Armored Division in France in XX Corps of Third US Army in August and September 1944, when 7th Armored was sent up to Holland. Goodwin stayed with the 5th Infantry Division until the end of the Bulge. At that time, Gen. Kilburn, Commanding General of 11th Armored Division, asked for Goodwin's transfer to 11th Armored, since they had been together in 7th Armored's CCA at Camp Polk. So on verbal orders of Gen. Patton, Goodwin went to 11th Armored -- only to have Gen. Kilburn replaced as CG in a few weeks. All in all, he spent 4 1/2 years in the Army during the war. His story "Of War and Women" is now published and available online. "Of War and Women" is available by mail from the publisher (see below) or online at Amazon.com. If you order from the publisher and indicate you are a member of the 7th Armored Division Association (or 3rd or 11th Armd or 5th Inf) and they confirm your name on the list of members, then the author has very generously extended a 50% discount off the retail price of the book to you. Contact the publisher at Minerva Publishing Company; 1001 Brickell Bay Dr., Suite 2310; Miami, FL 33131; Phone: (305) 358-1560; E-mail: minervap@bellsouth.net

      • McCord, Howard "Mutt" (Mortar/HQ Co/38 AIB): Reminiscences
        Sgt. Howard "Mutt" McCord was in the Heavy (81mm) Mortar Platoon of Headquarters Company of the 38th Armored Infantry Battalion, until he was captured at Crombach, Belgium in December 1944. This web site, from Camp Croft, SC recounts his experiences before and with the 7th Armored Division, as well as his experiences as a POW.

      • Moranda, Robert (CO of MG/HQ Co/38 AIB): "Bob's Story: Memories of Love and War"
        2nd Lt. Robert Moranda commanded the Heavy Machine Gun Platoon of Headquarters Company of the 38th Armored Infantry Battalion, until he was captured at St. Vith, Belgium in December 1944. His book about his experiences, "Bob's Story: Memories of Love and War", co-authored with his brother George Moranda, is available at IUniverse.com and Amazon.com.

      • Rutledge, Robert (48 AIB, KIA 29 Oct 1944) A Daughter Lovingly Remembers Her Dad: 5 web pages
        This is a World War II Stories ... Their Stories Told in Their Own Words" web site.

      • Silvester, Lindsay McDonald (Div CG): "Stars Saves Bars!"
        An Opelika, AL newspaper article about how Gen. Silvester rescued downed fighter pilot 1st Lt. Ike Dorsey near Amanvilliers, France on September 11, 1944

      • Triplett, William S. (CO of CCA): "A Colonel in the Armored Divisions"
        Col. William S. Triplet assumed command of Combat Command "A" of 7th Armored Division after the defense of St. Vith. He wrote a frank personal memoir, which was found and edited and published by Robert H. Ferrell (this is just one of several volumes, starting with his World War I service). "A Colonel in the Armored Divisions" is available at University of Missouri Press and Amazon.com.

      • Varney, Maynard (40 Tank, KIA 12 Apr 1945) honored by Saratoga County, NY (May 2002)
        Maynard Varney was killed in action April 12, 1945, while serving as a tank gunner with 40th Tank Battalion, during the reduction of the Ruhr Pocket in Germany. Saratoga County, NY recently honored him and presented a Conspicuous Service Cross to him in a presentation to his son, James Varney. Click here to see the newspaper article and photo. (Thanks to Frederick R. Miller, PH1, USN Retired for sending this information.) You can find a bit more on Maynard Varney on the web page of 40th Tank Battalion Deaths.

      • Wampers, Peter (Belgian Underground and D/17 Tank): "True Heroes, True Friends"
        Peter's web pages on his wartime experiences, created by his sons and carried on by his son since his death June 22, 2000.

    Return to top of 7th Armored Division page


    BOOKS THAT MENTION THE 7TH ARMORED DIVISION:
    Note that books that mention specific organic or attached units are also under the links to those units.

    The official US Army history books can be ordered from the US Government Printing Office's online bookstore: click on this link and scroll down to "United States Army in World War II Series".

    • 106th Infantry Division. Combat Interviews of the 106th Infantry Division. (Click here for details and ordering information.).
    • Allen, Robert S. Lucky Forward: The History of Patton's Third U.S. Army. New York: Vanguard Press, 1947.
    • Altes, A. Korthals and N.K.C.A. in't Veld. The Forgotten Battle: Overloon and the Mass Salient 1944-45. New York: Sarpedon Publishers, 1995.
    • Astor, Gerald. A Blood-Dimmed Tide: The Battle of the Bulge by the Men who Fought It. New York: Donald I. Fine, Inc., 1992 and New York: Dell Publishing, 1994.
    • Bauserman, John M. The Malmédy Massacre. Shippensburg, PA: White Mane Publishing, 1995.
    • Blair, Clay. Ridgway's Paratroopers. Garden City, NY: The Dial Press, 1985.
    • Blumenson, Martin. Breakout and Pursuit. Washington: Office of the Chief of Military History, United States Army, 1989.
    • Pascal Bulois - Marboué Bulois, Pascal. Marboué, 15 Août 1944 ("Marboué, 15 August 1944: History of the tragic ambush of an American column of the 7th Armored Division, 15 August 1944") -- NOTE: This book is in French.
      Pascal Bulois has done a great deal of research to establish the names of American soldiers who were killed in the Chartres-Châteaudun area, so that they could be permanently inscribed on monuments. This book relates the story of the ambush by the Germans of the column of Company "B" of 23rd Armored Infantry Battalion at the town of Marboué on the evening of August 15, 1944, including interveiws with B/23 veterans and with local French citizens. The very deadly ambush destroyed seven half-tracks and a jeep and killed the men whose names are inscribed on the monument, which you can see in the Monuments section of the 7th Armored Division web page. If you were there at the ambush, Pascal Bulois wants to hear from you to include your account in future editions of the book. You can contact him about contributing your information to the book or about obtaining a copy, via e-mail at PASCAL.BULOISMVAL@wanadoo.fr or by postal mail at Pascal Bulois; Boite Postal 44; 28160 BROU, France.

    • Cole, Hugh M. The Lorraine Campaign. Washington: Office of the Chief of Military History, United States Army, 1950.
    • Cole, Hugh M. The Ardennes: Battle of the Bulge. Washington: Office of the Chief of Military History, United States Army, 1965.
    • D'Este, Carlo. Patton: A Genius for War. New York: Harper Collins, 1995.
    • Delaval, Maurice. Saint-Vith au cours de l'ultime Blitzkrieg de Hitler: Témoignages non conformistes recueillis. Vielsalm, Belg.: Editions J. A. C., 1984.
    • Dupuy, R. Ernest. St. Vith: Lion in the Way: The 106th Infantry Division in World War II. Nashville: Battery Press, 1986 reprint of original from late 1940's.
    • Dupuy, Trevor N, David L. Bongard, & Richard C. Anderson, Jr. Hitler's Last Gamble: The Battle of the Bulge, December 1944 - January 1945. Harper Collins, 1994.
    • Eisenhower, John S. D. The Bitter Woods: The Dramatic Story, Told at All Echelons - from Supreme Command to Squad Leader - of the Crisis that Shook the Western Coalition: Hitler's Surprise Ardennes Offensive. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1969 and Da Capo, 1995.
    • Gavin, James. On to Berlin: Battles of an Airborne Commander 1943-1946. Viking Press, 1978.
    • Giles, Janice Holt. The Damned Engineers. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1970.
    • Goldstein, Donald M., Katherine V. Dillon, & J. Michael Wenger. Nuts!: The Battle of the Bulge, the Story and Photographs. Washington: Brassey's, 1994.
    • Goolrick, William K. and Tanner, Ogden. The Battle of the Bulge. Alexandria, VA: Time-Life Books, 1979.
    • Hamilton, Nigel. Monty. New York: Random House, 1994.
    • Kemp, Anthony. The Unknown Battle: Metz, 1944. New York: Stein and Day, 1981.
    • MacDonald, Charles B. The Last Offensive. Washington: Office of the Chief of Military History, United States Army, 1973.
    • MacDonald, Charles B. Three Battles: Arnaville, Altuzzo and Schmidt. Washington: Office of the Chief of Military History, United States Army, 1952.
    • MacDonald, Charles B. A Time for Trumpets: The Untold Story of the Battle of the Bulge. New York: William Morrow and Company, 1984 and Bantam Books, 1985.
    • MacDonald, Charles B. The Siegfried Line Campaign. Washington: Office of the Chief of Military History, United States Army, 1990.
    • Merriam, Robert E. Dark December: The Full Account of the Battle of the Bulge. Chicago: Ziff Davis Publishing, 1947. (republished as The Battle of the Bulge. New York: Ballantine Books, 1957.)
    • Morelock, J. D. Generals of the Ardennes: American Leadership in the Battle of the Bulge. National Defense University Press, 1994.
    • Pallud, Jean-Paul. The Battle of the Bulge: Then and Now. London: Battle of Britain Prints International Limited, 1984.
    • Pallud, Jean-Paul. Ardennes 1944: Peiper and Skorzeny. London: Osprey Publishing, 1987.
    • Parker, Danny S. Battle of the Bulge: Hitler's Ardennes Offensive, 1944-1945. Philadelphia: Combined Books, 1991.
    • Patton, George S. Jr. War As I Knew It. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1947.
    • Pergrin, Col. David E. First Across the Rhine: The Story of the 291st Engineer Combat Battalion. New York: Ivy Books, 1989.
    • Perret, Geoffrey. There's a War to Be Won: The United States Army in World War II. New York: Random House, 1991.
    • Reynolds, Michael. The Devil's Adjutant: Jochen Peiper, Panzer Leader. New York: Sarpedon, 1995.
    • Eric Santin - Derniers Combats Santin, Eric. Derniers Combats ("Final Battles: 1944 Eure-et-Loir: Chartres, Châteaudun, Nogent-le-Rotrou") -- NOTE: This book is in French.
      Eric Santin's book is a treasure trove of photographs, a great many taken by French citizens and not seen in American publications. But the research behind the text is just as valuable. His research is excellent -- which is quite a challenge for his outstanding new history "Derniers Combats: 1944 Eure-et-Loir" about the battles in and around Chartres, Nogent-le-Rotrou and Châteuadun, France. To order the book, send a money order for US $42 to ERIC SANTIN; 9 chemin Lacave; 65220 PUYDARRIEUX, FRANCE. (ericsantin@net-up.com)

    • Stanton, Shelby L. Order of Battle U.S. Army. World War II. Novato, CA: Presidio Press, 1984.
    • Toland, John. Battle: The Story of the Bulge. New York: Random House, 1959 and Signet (New American Library), 1960.
    • Toland, John. The Last 100 Days. New York: Random House, 1965.
    • Whiting, Charles. Decision at St.-Vith: The Story of the U. S. 106th, the Division Hitler Smashed in the Battle of the Bulge. New York: Ballantine Books, 1969.
    • Whiting, Charles. The End of the War: Europe: April 15 - May 23, 1945. New York: Stein and Day, 1973.
    • Whiting, Charles. Siegfried: The Nazis' Last Stand. New York: Stein and Day, 1982.
    • Whiting, Charles. Ardennes The Secret War. New York: Stein and Day, 1985.
    • Whiting, Charles. The Last Assault: The Battle of the Bulge Reassessed. New York: Sarpedon, 1994.
    • Françoise Winieska - August 1944: The Liberation of Rambouillet, France Winieska, Françoise. August 1944: The Liberation of Rambouillet, France. Rambouillet, France: Société Historique et Archéologique de Rambouillet et de l'Yveline (SHARY), 1999. -- NOTE: This book is in identical sections in both French and English. The French title is "Août 1944: La Libération de Rambouillet, France".
      Françoise Winieska's extraordinarily well-done book has photos, detailed maps, and very detailed accounts. For 7th Armored Division readers, this book is especially relevant to 7th Armored Division's 17th Tank Battalion and 814th Tank Destroyer Battalion.

    • Zaloga, Steven J. Tanks Illustrated No. 2: Battle of the Bulge. London: Arms and Armour Press, 1983.

    Return to top of 7th Armored Division page

    MONUMENTS TO THE 7TH ARMORED DIVISION:
    This list is probably not complete nor entirely accurate. Please let me know of errors or omissions. I have visited almost all of the monuments in Europe and the ones at Ft. Knox. So if you need more detailed instructions for finding them, please contact me (see bottom of this web page for contact information link). Unless otherwise noted, the photos are my own.

    Belgium | France | Holland | United States | Temporary

    BELGIUM
    NEW
    Baraque de Fraiture
    (Parker's Crossroads)

    Dedicated 29 Sep 2007
    Click here for photos of the ceremony.

    In Memory of
    D Troop 87th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (Mcnz)
    7th Armored Division
    D Battery, 203rd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion
    7th Armored Division
    F Company 325th Glider Infantry Regiment
    82nd Airborne Division
    who defended this critical crossroads
    against overwhelming forces
    during the period 19-23 December, 1944
    Their courageous defense against repeated attacks
    bought vital time for the defense of the Ardennes.
    Their bravery in fierce battle when heavily outnumbered
    continues to inspire the allies and their countrymen.

    Thanks to Peter Schreiber, son of D/87 crossroads defender Justus Schreiber for his years of work to make this monument a reality.

    (photo thanks to Henri Rogister)

    Click here for detailed information on these men's efforts there.

    Bastogne

    Monument to all units in the Battle of the Bulge
    7th Armored Division in Middle
    (photo thanks to Ernie Gallet, AG/HQ/48 AIB)
    Note that while 7AD passed through Bastogne in September 1944 and a few officers stopped there briefly on 17 December 1944, the Division did not see any combat at Bastogne.
    Malempré

    Plaque in church yard wall, at town square
    Top inscription reads:
    Aux Combatants de Decembre 1944
    Poteau

    7th Armored Division on plaque on wall of museum at Poteau
    Inscription reads:
    18-23 Dec. 1944
    The longest tank battle of American history took place around Poteau during the Battle of the Bulge
    7th Armored Division
    1 - 9 SS Panzer Division
    (photo thanks to Lando Mulleneers of Cadier en Keer, Netherlands)
    St. Vith

    7th Armored Division plaque at Police Station on west side of Hauptstrasse
    Inscription reads:
    NOUS AVONS ARRÊTÉ ET ARRÉTONS
    During the crucial period of the German Offensive of the Ardennes in 1944, the American 7th Armored Division held the important center of St. Vith, preventing any advance and any exploitation of this main line, thus frustrating the German Offensive by its sacrifice, permitting the launching of the Allied counter offensive.
    St. Vith, Belgium 17-23 Dec. 1944
    Vielsalm

    7th Armored Division tank on northeast side of town, along road to St. Vith (erected thanks to Maurice Delaval)
    Inscription on plaque reads:
    LE CHAR INVINCIBLE
    LE COURAGE INVINCIBLE
    The American 7th Armored Division and attached units headquartered in Vielsalm during the crucial period of the German Offensive of the Ardennes in 1944 held the important center of St. Vith preventing any advance and any exploitation on this main line, thus frustrating the German offensive by its sacrifice, permitting the launching of the Allied counter offensive.
    St. Vith, Belgium 17-23 Dec. 1944
    Vielsalm

    Bruce Clarke Square at main road junction in south part of town, just south of library
    Inscription on monument reads:
    A la 7 (US) Division Blindée du General Robert W. Hasbrouck

    FRANCE
    Ballancourt-sur-Essonne

    Inscription reads:
    ICI LE 22 AOUT 1944
    Deux soldats américains
    sont tombés pour la libération de Ballancourt
    JOHN DELANEY
    MICHAEL DURDAN

    [Both men were in the 440th Armored Field Artillery Battalion.
    NOTE however that the official date of death for both Delaney and Durdan is August 23 and not August 22. The date of August 23 is also what is reported in the 440 AFAB After Action Report, which shows them killed by counter-battery fire. The reason for the erroneous date on the monument is not yet known.]


    (See also the temporary memorial to John Delaney, below.)

    (photo thanks to Al Wilderspin, nephew of John Delaney)
    Chartres

    Plaque at Station 6 of the Chemin de Memoire (Road of Memory), near the cathedral at the Esplanade de Resistance, adjacent to the Place du Chatelet
    (moved there in 2006 from behind the cathedral)
    Inscription reads:
    VIVE L'AMERIQUE-VIVE LA FRANCE-VIVE LA LIBERTE
    Chartres, France 16-18 Aug. 1944

    [The plaque in center is a copy of the commendatory letter from XX Corps.]
    La Ferté-Gaucher

    Inscription reads:
    Libération de La Ferté-Gaucher par les Troupes Américaines le 27 Août 1944 à 19H. 20
    Ici a été incendiée par un obus Allemand la 3ème voiture estafette.
    Cap. Chef THOMAS George / Américain
    Soldat LA CHANCE Ernest / Américain
    Soldat Inconnu / Américain
    Morts au Champ d'Honneur
    Soldat PRIOL Jean 18 Ans / Français Blessé

    [T/5 Thomas & Pvt. La Chance were D/87 Recon men. My research has found that the unknown man was probably Pvt. Stanley Zuber, also of D/87 who was killed the same day, apparently at Montry, France (see monument at Montry below), and that Pfc. Lester W. Tibbets, also of D/87, suffered broken ribs in this action but was not sent to the 59th Field Hospital until 2 days later (29 Aug 44).]
    (photo thanks to Ernie Gallet, AG/HQ/48 AIB)
    Marboué

    7th Armored Division monument, at the cemetery east of the road at the north end of town - with names of B/23 AIB men killed in ambushed column
    Inscription reads:
    7th Armored Division
    23rd Armored Infantry Battalion Co. B
    Pvt. Justine De Simone, Pfc. Joseph A. Guido, Pfc. Clyde H. Haney, S/Sgt. John J. Hobel, Pvt. Clinton W. Jenkins, Pvt. Louis R. A. Lemay, 2nd Lt. Robert T. Lemmon, Jr., Tec/5 Francis J. McCartney, Pfc. Nathan H. Sanford, Pfc. Jacob Stern, Pvt. Bennie L. Sutton

    NOTE: It has subsequently been learned that Joseph Guido was not killed at Marboué and in fact survived and was later injured in action on 21 Aug 44.

    Melun

    Avenue de la 7ème Division Blindée Américaine, west from the Seine River, a few blocks south of the south bridge
    Montry

    At Place Stanley Zuber

    Inscription reads:
    A LA MEMOIRE DU SOLDAT AMERICAIN
    Tombé le 27 Août 1944
    Stanley ZUBER
    (photo thanks to Mairie of Montry website)
    Rambouillet

    Eagle Monument, by the Château on road D-906 out west side of town, towards Epernon
    Inscription reads:
    A la mémoire des soldats américains tombés pour la libération de notre région en août 1944
    Inscription on rightmost plaque:
    7th Armored Division
    2nd Lt. Charles E. Fairweather
    17th Tank Battalion
    K.I.A. 17th August 1944 Rambouillet
    La Villette (Saint-Prest)

    Plaque with names of C/38 AIB men killed in the Liberation - in traffic circle south of town on road heading toward Chartres
    Inscription reads:
    A la mémoire des Soldats Américains tués au combat le 16 août 1944 pour la libération de Saint-Prest
    7th Armored Division
    38th Armored Infantry Battalion Co. C
    Pvt. Gayther O. Adams, Pvt. Harry H. Retort, Tec/5 Andrew J. Slavik, Pfc. Edward A. Swanson
    Killed in action
    Verdun

    Rue de la 7ème Division Blindée U.S.A.
    Libération de Verdun
    31 Août 1944
    (photo thanks to Ernie Gallet, AG/HQ/48 AIB)

    HOLLAND / NETHERLANDS
    Ospel


    Inscription reads:
    OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 1944
    IN MEMORY
    of the soldiers of the US 7th Armored Division who gave their lives during the liberation of Ospel

    A separate web page is necessary to describe it and to list the names.
    Click here to go to that web page.

    (photo thanks to Niek Hendrix of Ospel, Netherlands)

    Overloon

    Gen. Hasbroucklaan (General Hasbrouck Lane)
    near the Overloon War Museum
    (photo thanks to the Henckens family of Overloon and Niek Hendrix of Ospel, Netherlands)

    UNITED STATES
    California
    Camp Coxcomb


    Multi-unit Plaque at the Desert Training Center
    (7th Armored Division Patch at Upper Right)
    Click here for full text and for information on finding the monument.
    (photo thanks to artwilson@earthlink.net)
    Georgia
    Fort Benning


    7th Armored Division Monument
    (photo thanks to Niek Hendrix of Ospel, Netherlands)
    Kentucky
    Fort Knox


    7th Armored Division Monument and individual unit monuments, just left of the path as you come south from the parking lot to the Patton Museum
    Kentucky
    Fort Knox


    -- NO PHOTO YET --

    Housing complex named for Medal of Honor winner Robert Dietz (Company "A", 38th Armored Infantry Battalion)
    Louisiana
    Fort Polk


    7th Armored Division Monument
    The Division was activated at Ft. Polk on 1 March 1942
    (photo thanks to Ray Duke 77th Med Bn)
    Minnesota
    Appleton

    -- NO PHOTO YET --
    Paul Street
    In 1947, the town of Appleton, MN named their streets after the men of the town who had died in WWII. Paul Street is named for T/4 Norbert W. Paul of 814th Tank Destroyer Battalion, who was killed 23 November 1944.
    (information thanks to Jan Bardoul of Heerlen, Netherlands, volunteer caretaker for Norbert Paul's grave at the Netherlands US Military at Margraten)
    Missouri
    Fort Leonard Wood


    St. Vith Training Area
    The 48th Armored Infantry Regiment, parent of 23 AIB, 38 AIB, and 48 AIB, was reactivated as the 48th Infantry Regiment in 1989 and the 1st Battalion is now at Ft. Leonard Wood.
    (photo thanks to Wesley Crawford, son of Paul Crawford of 1/A/23)
    New York
    Kingston




    Dietz Memorial Stadium
    Named for Medal of Honor winner Robert Dietz (Company "A", 38th Armored Infantry Battalion)
    (photos thanks to Peter Gorman of 2/2/A/38, who was Dietz's first squad leader)
    And remember the US National World War II Memorial


    TEMPORARY MARKERS
    These temporary memorials were set up after the war, at places where the U. S. Army remained. The temporary monuments were usually parade grounds or recreational fields, named for men who had died in the war. These temporary monuments are really hard to nail down now. So if you have any information on any temporary monuments, please contact me (see bottom of this web page for contact information link).
    FRANCE
    Ballancourt




    Pvt. John F. Delaney Field

    Pvt. John Delaney of the 440th Armored Field Artillery Battalion was killed in action at or near Ballancourt, France (see the Ballancourt monument above). This baseball field of the 106th Reinforcment Battalion was dedicated to his memory.

    Inscription on Sign over Entrance:
    In loving and grateful memory of Pvt. John F. Delaney U.S. Army 7th Armored Division
    He gave his life. He gave his soul. Be blest that freedom loving people may rest.
    To him we dedicate this field. For liberty and freedom he was our shield.

    (Photo taken August 11, 1945 By Albert Fisher; supplied by Al Wilderspin, nephew of John Delaney)
    GERMANY
    Gadebusch




    Company "B"
    31st Tank Battalion


    IN MEMORY OF OUR GALLANT BUDDIES WHO GAVE THEIR LIFE FOR THEIR COUNTRY
    Lt. Robert L. Casey - Lt. Henry T. Hahn
    S/Sgt. Johnnie A. Meade - S/Sgt. Jack O. Nye
    Sgt. Daniel G. Wood - Sgt. Harmon T. Jess
    Tec. 4 George Hawkins - Cpl. Theodore Majka
    Pfc. Lawton T. Gay - Pfc. Fred H. Bradburn
    Pfc. Andrew J. Krisak - Pfc. Nickles Steinlander Jr.
    Pvt. Thurman Meeks - Pvt. Bert La Combe
    Pvt. Frank Barley

    (1945 photo owned by Marx Bledsoe, B/31; provided by his daughter Elaine Wischnowsky)
    GERMANY
    Osterburken


    -- NO PHOTO YET --

    2nd Lt. James E. Newberry, Jr. Parade Ground

    Lt. Newberry, a member of the 48th Armored Infantry Battalion appears to have been the first combat death in the 7th Armored Division. He was killed when his jeep was hit by a screeming mimi (nebelwerfer) at Senonches, France, probably on August 14, 1944.

    (Thanks to Sam Sharp, CO/AG/HQ/48, for this information.)

    Return to top of 7th Armored Division page


    MUSEUMS WITH SIGNIFICANT EXHIBITS ON OR RELEVANCE TO THE 7TH ARMORED DIVISION:
    • World War II Era 7th Armored Division
      • Belgium
      • France
        • Fleville, France
      • Netherlands
        • Overloon: Liberty Park: (formerly the National War and Resistance Museum (Nationaal Oorlogs- en Verzetsmuseum)) many vehicles, no longer including a 31st Tank Battalion tank (nicknamed "Cookie")
      • U. S. A.
        • Camp Polk, LA
    • Korean War Era 7th Armored Division
    Please let me know of any others that meet the criteria of having significant exhibits about 7th Armored Division.


    Click here for information about contacting me.
    Copyright © 2008 by Wesley Johnston
    All rights reserved

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