Guenter "Shorty" Kurtz
In 1945 C-Company took in Guenter "Shorty" Kurtz, a 15-year-old boy
"all alone in a destroyed country" after being separated from his family.
He worked as kitchen help & stayed with the men in Weiden, Germany
for 11/2 years. He is looking to contact surviving members or any family
members of the soldiers. He remembers the names Tedrow, Walter
Serzega, Willard Henderson, John Conley, & Jerry Malloy. He would
also like to get more information about C-Company during the time he
was with them. To contact Shorty send email to: StahlKurtz at t-online.de
To contact the webmaster email: piglt at comcast.net.



"Each of us has a story of an incident or happening that should be told.
The 778th Tank Battalion has no official history, no casualty list, or list
of decorations and very little in the archives that houses military history.
We have members of the 778th Tank Battalion interred at Normandy
American Cemetery, Lorraine American Cemetery and Luxembourg
American Cemetery, and yet there is no published history of the
778th on file in the Military History Institute."
George Nicholson
Formerly of The 778th Tank Battalion
Headquarters Company, Assault Gun Platoon
Third Army, Army Of The United States

What follows is my attempt to help alleviate this grievous wrong.
To let the world know of the 778th Tank Battalion . . .
and men like George and my great-uncle Sidney.
Men who fought so people like you and me could be free.

Marker dedicated at Fort Knox, Kentucky
September 24, 1999

778 TANK BATTALION
DEDICATED TO THE MEN OF
THE 778TH TANK BATTALION
WHO SERVED WITH HONOR AND
DIGNITY IN WORLD WAR II.
ENTERED COMBAT NOV. 5, 1944.
350 WOUNDED. 49 KIA AND
176 DAYS CONTINUOUS
CONTACT WITH THE ENEMY.
NORTHERN FRANCE       ARDENNES-ALSACE
RHINELAND                  CENTRAL EUROPE
11TH AD      26 DIV      94 DIV      95 DIV



On September 20, 1943, the 778th Tank Battalion came into existence
after the reorganization plan of the 11th Armored Division.

On September 15, 1944 the 778th TBn arrived on the beaches of Cherbourg, France.
From there they went to join General George S. Patton's Third Army.

They entered combat on November 5, 1944
and engaged in 176 consecutive days on the front lines ...
the second highest number of days served in the European theater.

The 778th TBn were the spearhead for the famed
26th, 94th, and 95th Divisions of the Third Army
in four out of five major European theater campaigns:
Northern France, Ardennes-Alsace, Rhineland, Central Europe.

The 778th played a major role in the capture of Metz,
(Prior to this the city had fallen only once by military attack -
to Atilla the Hun in 451 AD)
and paved the way for the Third Army to sweep the Rhine
by breaking through the Siegfried Switch Line.



778th TANK BATTALION
ACCOLADES

Presidential Unit Citation				A-Co 3rd Platoon
Presidential Unit Citation				B-Co 1st Platoon
Third Army				General George S. Patton
20 Corps Citation				Lt. Gen. Walten H. Walker
94th Infantry Division				Maj. Gen. Harry J. Maloney
95th Infantry Division				Maj. Gen. Harry L. Twaddle
Medaille				de la France Liberee
Medaille				de Metz, France

The men of the 778th received the first two Distinguished Service Crosses
awarded by the 95th Infantry Division.



778th TANK BATTALION
MEN KILLED IN ACTION

RANK	NAME	SERIAL NO	UNIT	DATE KIA	BATTLE
PVT	Bashaw, Wallace P. Jr.		B-CO	11/30/44	Saarlautern / Saarlouis *
	Blessing, Leroy		D-CO
SGT	Bridges, John F.		B-CO	03/07/45
	Butler, Perone W.		A-CO	04/02/45
PFC	Cawthorn, Isaac N.			05/31/45
T/5	Chapelle, Charles. B.		SV-CO	12/14/44	Saarlautern / Saarlouis *
S/SGT	Crandell, Ralph T.		A-CO	03/16/45
PVT	Fazekas, Frank		C-CO	03/15/45
	Fennel, Edward	35715034	C-CO	12/02/44
CPL	Ford, Michael	3257272	A-CO	10/22/44
1st LT	Foy, George T.	01017552	B-CO	02/20/45
SGT	Fulk, Bobby E.	37237644	HDQ-CO	03/07/45
CP	Gates, Virgil V.	33257194	B-CO	12/30/44
CPL	Guttierrez, Gilbert A.	37237644	A-CO	02/27/45
PFC	Hoerth, Harold N.		HDQ-CO	08/01/45
T/5	Hottenstein, William E.		C-CO	12/01/44	Saarlautern / Saarlouis *
PFC	Hudson, John F.	32590819	HDQ-CO	11/23/44	Metz
PVT	Krukowski, Henry S.		HDQ-CO	03/07/45
PFC	Kushner, Ruben		HD-CO	12/14/44	Saarlautern / Saarlouis *
PFC	Lanahan, Charles K.		A-CO	03/28/45
	Maec, George M.	36276039	SV-CO	12/15/44
	Magli, George H. Jr.		SV-CO	11/01/44	Saarlautern / Saarlouis *
PFC	Maloney, Wiliiam P.		D-CO	02/20/45
	McComas, Fred		C-CO	02/15/45
PVT	McMahon, Vivian L.		SV-CO	12/15/45	Saarlautern / Saarlouis *
	Mentz, Charles A.		A-CO	02/15/45
S/SGT	Mitan, Steve		B-CO	11/30/44	Saarlautern / Saarlouis *
T/5	Nicholas, Joseph		D-CO	11/15/44	Metz
T/4	Patino, Tovivo			12/15/44	Saarlautern / Saarlouis *
CPL	Pearrin, Floyd	38328854	HDQ-CO	03/07/45
PFC	Peterson, Robert C.		A-CO	03/27/45
1st LT	Quattromani, H.	010118741	D-CO
PVT	Race, Richard E.			03/15/45
T/5	Richardson, Marion J.		C-CO		Saarlautern / Saarlouis *
T/5	Ryland, Willard C.				Saarlautern / Saarlouis *
	Sutten, Gerald		B-CO	11/30/44
PFC	Taylor, Clyde		HDQ-CO	03/07/45
2nd LT	Tucker, James V.		HDQ-CO	12/14/45
S/SGT	Tull, Harvey B.		C-CO	03/12/45
SGT	Tuski, Henry L.	39399310	HDQ-CO	11/23/44	Metz
T/ 4	Warfel, Robert L.	32480709	C-CO	11/21/44	Metz
S/SGT	Westmoreland, James	14022135	B-CO	12/01/44
T/5	Wittingen, Harvey J.		B-CO	11/30/44	Saarlautern / Saarlouis *

* Saarlouis was called Saarlautern from 1935 - 1945
(to change the French name to German)

INTERRED IN EUROPEAN CEMETARIES

NORMANDY, FRANCE
Ford, Michael

HAMM, LUXEMBOURG
Bridges, John F.
Crandell, Ralph T.
Fazekas, Frank
Foy, George T.
Fulk, Bobby E.
Guttierrez, Gilbert A.
Krukowski, Henry S.
Lanahan, Charles K.
Maloney, William P.
Pearrin, Floyd
Peterson, Robert C.
Race, Richard E.

LORRAINE, FRANCE - SAINT AVOID
Bashaw, Wallace P. Jr.
Cawthorn, Isaac N.
Hoerth, Harold N.
Hottenstein, William E.
Hudson, John F.
McMahon, Vivian L.
Richardson, Marion J.
Ryland, Willard C.
Tuski, Henry L.
Warfel, Robert L.
Westmoreland, James



DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS

MEDAL	RANK	NAME
Silver Star *	1st LT	Araujo, Alfred S.
Silver Star	1st LT	Leonhardt, Harry
Silver Star	1st LT	Phillips, Charles W. Jr.
Silver Star	1st LT	Schelin, Carl
Silver Star	2nd LT	Baresich, John
Silver Star	1st SGT	Riggio, Ricardo
Silver Star	S/SGT	Bell, James, N.
Silver Star	S/SGT	Stephens, William A.
Silver Star *	SGT	Fulk, Bobby E.
Silver Star	SGT	Richard, Ralph
Silver Star	CPL	Brady, James
Silver Star *	CPL	Pearrin, Floyd
Silver Star	T/5	Duffy, Harry
Silver Star *	T/5	Richardson, Marion J.
Bronze Star	LT COL	Bishop, Preston R.
Bronze Star	CAPT	Castle, Wesley W.
Bronze Star	CAPT	Goldman, Philip W.
Bronze Star	CAPT	Griffin, Gerald E.
Bronze Star	CAPT	Kendrick, Herbert E.
Bronze Star	CAPT	Larimer, Charles W.
Bronze Star	LT	Mottilla, Richard
Bronze Star	1st LT	Abernathy, Thomas J.
Bronze Star	1st LT	Araujo, Alfred S.
Bronze Star	1st LT	Dalbey, William C.
Bronze Star	1st LT	Krob, Norbert
Bronze Star	1st LT	Leonhardt, Harry
Bronze Star	1st LT	Rieber, Harold M.
Bronze Star	1st LT	Silbaugh, Walter, R.
Bronze Star	2nd LT	Baresich, John
Bronze Star	2nd LT	Foster, William B.
Bronze Star	2nd LT	Jones, Alfred J.
Bronze Star	2nd LT	Thomas, Alfred F.
Bronze Star	M/SGT	Powell, Frank L.
Bronze Star	1st SGT	Murphy, Joseph H.
Bronze Star	1st SGT	Podbesek, John
Bronze Star	1st SGT	Richards, John T.
Bronze Star	1st SGT	Turner, Lawrence P.
Bronze Star	S/SGT	Burke, George W.
Bronze Star	S/SGT	Charlton, Robert
Bronze Star	S/SGT	Gaston, Harold V.
Bronze Star	S/SGT	Lonzy, Seymore W. Jr.
Bronze Star	S/SGT	Prasil, Charles J.
Bronze Star	S/SGT	Schuman, Donald W.
Bronze Star	S/SGT	Shimek, Tony R.
Bronze Star	S/SGT	West, J.W.
Bronze Star	S/SGT	Wood, Arthur E.
Bronze Star *	SGT	Bounds, Emery
Bronze Star	SGT	Chance, Glenn R.
Bronze Star	SGT	Craney, Paul
Bronze Star	SGT	Reynolds, Robert E.
Bronze Star	SGT	Shaffer, Arthur
Bronze Star	SGT	Szymt, Thadious
Bronze Star	SGT	Thomson, Herbert E.
Bronze Star	SGT	Tull, Harvey B.
Bronze Star	T/SGT	Black, Richard A.
Bronze Star	T/SGT	Leeper, Marion D.
Bronze Star	T/SGT	Tura, George L.
Bronze Star	T/SGT	Wazny, Floyd P.
Bronze Star	CPL	Atillio, Margarita
Bronze Star *	CPL	Barend, Kenneth
Bronze Star	T/5	Friedman, Raymond S.
Bronze Star	T/5	Huffman, Darrell L.
Bronze Star *	T/5	Nicholson, George
Bronze Star	T/4	Bednick, Emil
Bronze Star	T/4	Perry, Harry E.
Bronze Star	T/4	Sanford, Claude
Bronze Star	T/4	Thornberg, Thomas C.
Bronze Star	T/4	Winnebrenner, Ivan R.
Bronze Star	PFC	Bruun, Carl V.
Bronze Star	PFC	Fitzgerald, Richard C.
Bronze Star	PFC	Grover, Lorin A.
Bronze Star	PFC	Knoblock, Oniel L.
Bronze Star	PFC	Lans, Louis
Bronze Star	PFC	Lasco, John
Bronze Star	PFC	Lerro, Angelo
Bronze Star	PFC	Stump, Russell
Bronze Star	PFC	Suydam, Harry L.
Bronze Star	PVT	Smith, Wilbur B.
Bronze Star	PVT	Wolf, Marion W.
Bronze Star		Tregre, Ben
DSC	S/SGT	Rhodes, Wilson B.
DSC	SGT	Semdarek, James T.
DSC	CPL	Smith, Crowell J.

* awarded posthumously
*Oak Leaf Cluster
* received 2 Oak Leaf Clusters (most decorated soldier in battalion)
*With Valor



PURPLE HEART RECIPIENTS

Under the provisions of Army regulation 600-45
the Purple Heart was awarded to the following men
for wounds received in action on the dates indicated.

RANK	NAME	UNIT	DATE
1st LT	Abernathy, Thomas J.		12/01/44
CPL	Andrews, Mason K.		02/15/45
1st LT	Anderson, Arnold V.		02/20/45
PFC	Argento, John L.	D-CO	11/18/44
CPL	Baranko, Michael	HDQ-CO	03/07/45
CPL	Barend, Kenneth		03/15/45
PVT	Bashaw, Wallace P. Jr. *	B-CO	11/30/44
T/4	Belford, George G.		02/22/45
SGT	Bell, Donald	C-CO	11/14/44
PVT	Bell, J.R.	C-CO	11/18/44
S/SGT	Bell, James N.		02/15/45
T/5	Bellenoit, Joseph R.		12/15/44
PFC	Blackwell, Charles J.		12/24/44
	Blessing, Leroy *	D-CO
SGT	Bradley, Noel D.		11/14/44
SGT	Bridges, John F. *	B-CO	03/07/45
SGT	Bruno, Russell L.*	D-CO	05/04/45
S/SGT	Burke, George W.	B-CO	11/18/44
2nd LT	Butlep, Walter		11/17/44
	Butler, Perone W. *	A-CO	04/02/45
T/4	Cascoli, Americo	A-CO	03/25/45
SGT	Chance, Glenn R. *
T/5	Chapelle, Charles B. *	SV-CO	12/14/44
CPL	Condinizo, Salvatore	HDQ-CO	03/07/45
CPL	Crain, Howard J.		02/28/45
S/SGT	Crandell, Ralph T. *	A-CO	03/16/45
SGT	Craney, Paul R.
PFC	Cawthorn, Isaac N. *		05/31/45
PVT	DiPietro, Angelo	C-CO	11/19/44
PVT	Fazekas, Frank *	C-CO	03/15/45
	Fennel, Edward *	C-CO	12/02/44
CPL	Ford, Michael *	A-CO	10/22/44
T/5	Fox, Harry S.		03/13/45
1st LT	Foy, George T. *	B-CO	02/20/45
SGT	Fulk, Bobby E. *	HDQ-CO	03/07/45
CPL	Gates, Virgil V. *	B-CO	12/30/44
SGT	Graffagnino, Vincent P.		11/14/44
PVT	Grindley, Howard B.	C-CO	11/18/44
2nd LT	Grubbs, Irvin A.	B-CO	12/01/44
CPL	Guttierrez, Gilbert A. *	A-CO	02/27/45
T/5	Hanson, Julius H.		02/22/45
PVT	Hellar, Morton I.		01/02/45
PFC	Hoerth, Harold N. *	HDQ-CO	08/01/45
PVT	Hoffman, Darrel W.		02/03/45
PFC	Horn, Maxwell, M.		02/27/45
T/5	Hottenstein, William E. *	C-CO	12/01/44
CAPT	Howard, Willard F.	SERV	12/15/44
CPL	Hudak, Matthew Jr.		03/15/45
PFC	Hudson, John E. *	HDQ-CO	11/23/44
PFC	Ingram, Alfred L.		02/28/45
PFC	Jansen, George A.		02/28/45
CPT	Jaszczor, Edward		11/17/44
1st LT	Jones, Alfred H.	D-CO	12/22/44
CPL	Kendzierski, Raymond	HDQ-CO	11/21/44
1st LT	Krob, Norbert	A-CO
PVT	Krukowski, Henry S. *	HDQ-CO	03/07/45
PFC	Kushner, Ruben *	HDQ-CO	12/14/44
PFC	Lanahan, Charles K. *	A-CO	03/28/45
T/5	Lane, Louis E.		04/22/45
PFC	Lanier, Elliott E.		12/24/44
T/4	Lantis, Richard L.		01/20/44
T/4	Lotic		03/22/45
2nd LT	Ludes, Bernard J.		11/16/44
	Maec, George M. *	SV-CO	12/15/44
	Magli, George W. Jr. *	SV-CO	11/01/44
PFC	Maloney, William P. *	D-CO	02/20/45
SGT	Margarita, Attillio		02/15/45
	McComas, Fred *	C-CO	02/15/45
SGT	McGriff, Curtis H.		03/07/45
PVT	McMahon, Vivian L. *	SV-CO	12/15/45
	Mentz, Charles A. *	A-CO	02/15/45
S/SGT	Mentz, Charles F.		04/18/45
T/4	Miller, Arthur D.		12/15/44
	Mitan, Steve *	B-CO	11/30/44
PVT	Moore, Wallace D.	C-CO	11/27/44
1st LT	Mottilla, Richard	KOREA	1950
T/4	Musitano, Matale N.		12/24/44
T/5	Nicholas, Joseph *	D-CO	11/15/44
T/5	Nicholson, George C.	HDQ-CO	03/07/45
PVT	Palmer, Edward Ray Sr.	A-CO	03/31/45
T/4	Patino, Tovivo *		12/15/44
T/5	Patterson, Joseph Jr.		12/15/44
CPL	Pearrin, Floyd *	HDQ-CO	03/07/45
T/4	Perry, Harry R.		12/18/44
PFC	Peterson, Robert C. *	A-CO	03/27/45
SGT	Pollet, Delbert F.	D-CO	11/18/44
PFC	Poorto, John R.		02/22/45
S/SGT	Prasil, Charles J.	A-CO	02/15/45
PVT	Presley, William
S/SGT	Prieur, William T. *	A-CO	04/08/45
1st LT	Quattromani, H. *	D-CO
PVT	Race, Richard E. *		03/15/45
T/5	Richardson, Marion J. *	C-CO
S/SGT	Rhodes	C-CO	11/15/45
PFC	Ropwe, Alvin C.		12/15/44
CPL	Rossi, James		03/07/45
T/5	Ryland, Willard C. *
1st LT	Savage, Thomas	C-CO	12/03/44
1st LT	Schelin, Carl	HDQ-CO	03/07/45
PVT	Schroeder, William J.		03/02/45
S/SGT	Schuman, Donald W.
SGT	Semradok, James T.		02/17/45
SGT	Shaffer, Arthur	HDQ-CO	03/07/45
PFC	Shulver, Richmond F.		01/05/45
2nd LT	Singer, Milton	HDQ-CO MED	12/15/44
S/SGT	Squires, Alfred F.		03/20/45
1st LT	Strittmater, Carl E.
	Sutten, Gerald *	B-CO	11/30/44
CPL	Szmyt, Thaddeus	A-CO	01/01/45
PFC	Taylor, Clyde *	HDQ-CO	03/07/45
2nd LT	Thomas, Alfred F.
	Tregre, Ben	A-CO
PFC	Tromer, Fred L. Jr.		11/14/44
2nd LT	Tucker, James V. *	HDQ-CO	02/14/45
S/SGT	Tull, Harvey B. *	C-CO	03/12/45
SGT	Tuski, Henry L. *	HDQ-CO	11/23/44
T/4	Ubl, Paul R.		12/03/44
PVT	Vadeboncouer, Philip L.		05/07/45
T/4	Warfel, Robert L. *	C-CO	11/21/44
2nd LT	West, J.W.
S/SGT	Westmoreland, James *	B-CO	12/01/44
SGT	Wichowski, Joseph S.		03/15/45
	Wittingen, harvey J. *	B-CO	11/30/44

* awarded posthumously
*Oak Leaf Cluster (award of second citation of same medal)



SOME MEN OF THE 778th TBN



TOP ROW
Peter Sosenko, William Foster*, Angelo Lerro,
Jesus Gomez, Bobby Fulk**, Raymond Kenderski
BOTTOM ROW
Harry Hoerth**, Raymond Friedman, Russell Stump,
George Nicholson, Ralph Westrich

* Received Battlefield Commission
** Killed in Action



Photo taken around December 10, 1944
at Wadgassen, Germany on the Siegfried Line.
Tanks were used as Artillery pieces as the men fired
into Saarlouis (then Saarlautern), Germany on the Saar River.



THE FALL OF METZ

November 14th, 1944
The 778th Tank Battalion arrived at Briey, France, where most of the tanks
changed their tracks from steel to rubber and added flotation wedges to the
new tracks. While doing this they were visited by General George S. Patton,
Commanding General of The Third Army - contact had been established
with the 95th Infantry Division. Each tank platoon of every Company was
attached to different Infantry Regiments and Battalions of the 95th Infantry.
This included the Assault Gun, Mortar and Reconnaissance Platoons.

Colonel Robert L. Bacon was given the command of the 1st Battalion, 377th
Infantry Regiment, Second Battalion, 378th Infantry Regiment, two Companies
from the 807 Tank Destroyer Battalion, and D Company 778th Tank Battalion.
The mission - to drive into the outskirts of Metz in three days, sweep south,
clear the East bank of the Moselle, and attack.

November 15th, 1944
At 08:00 hours the First Battalion of the 378 Infantry Regiment and B Company
778th Tank Battalion moved forward to attack Fort le Feves (the northern most
fort line). At 10:00 hours the main effort was launched by the 95th Infantry
Division when the 377th Infantry Regiment drove south of Maizieres les Metz.
The infantry attack spearheaded by medium tanks of the 778th Tank Battalion
made steady progress. By 11:00 hours the approaches to Metz from the
North and Northwest were commanded by Americans. When night fell
the regimental objective had been reached.

At twilight the forces were fighting hard in the town of Woippy (less than three
miles from Metz). The battle for Woippy continued until the afternoon of the
following day when the last Germans were captured or driven from the town.
Corporal CJ Smith of C Company 778th Tank Battalion was awarded the
Distinguished Service Cross for his part in the fight at Woippy. Smith's tank
received a direct hit while inside the village. He continued to fire the tank gun
while his crew left the tank. He dismounted the 30-caliber machine gun
and fought alone until help arrived.

November 19th, 1944
The 95th Infantry Division crossed the last barrier which lay between it
and the heart of Metz. The crossing was supported by the fires of two
battalions of artillery, a company of 778th Tanks, two platoons of
81MM mortars and three platoons of heavy machine guns.

November 20th, 1944
The Assault Gun Platoon (led by First Lieutenant Walter Silbaugh) moved
south from Maizieres-les-Metz to Su-La-Reviere. This city was at a heavy
pontoon bridge across from Chambiere Island and the Kaserine. Their flank
was protected by Private Henry L. Tuski, a tank commander (he had been
reduced in rank at Camp Miles Standish but was still the tank commander),
who had won this "least hazardous" task by drawing straws.

After crossing river on the pontoon bridge they headed to the gates of the
Kaserine. They lined up along a heavy iron fence and proceeded to fire
at the barracks. Private Tuski's tank was parked in front of a shed in the
yard of the barracks. In the shed was a 75MM Antitank gun and he was
hit three times. One of the shells penetrated the turret. PFC John Hudson
and Pvt. Tuski were killed in the turret. Pvt. Tuski was promoted to
Sergeant the next day. They were the first men from
Headquarters Company to be killed in action.

The Assault Gun Platoon lined up five Assault Gun Tanks with 105MM guns
and fired a lasting barrage on the Kaserine. Their sixth tank was covering
their flank and was knocked out by a pac-40 75MM anti tank gun.

After a short time a tank was requested for more action across the
courtyard to help secure the upper part of the Kaserine. The crew of
this tank was Sgt. Bobby E. Fulk, Cpl. Floyd Pearrin, Tech 5
George Nicholson, PFC Russell Stump and PFC Ralph Westrich.
They moved in between the barracks and started firing - they fired
every round of ammunition they had in the tank. When the
smoke and dust cleared, the Germans decided to surrender. It was
in the next barracks that General Kittle, Commander of Metz,
was captured later that same day.

November 21st, 1944
The Casein was assaulted with the help of Assault Gun Platoon of the
778th Tank Battalion. Control was gained of the first floor, however,
the Germans resisted stubbornly in the second and third floors.
A tank was brought up and its accurate fire quickly destroyed the
upper part of the Kaserine - which led the defenders to surrender.

Company L 377th Infantry Regiment's initial objective for the day was to
take a church that the Germans were using as an observation post for
the artillery firing on the bridges. They had little difficulty in capturing the
church - with the assistance of the Assault Gun Platoon. Initially grenades
were thrown into the open doorway. Then the door was slammed shut.
There was an S curve in the street and a ten inch field of fire - Sgt. Fulk
sighted the gun through the breach to the door of the church. Thanks to
10 rounds fired at point blank range the Germans in the church
surrendered and the men rushed in to secure the church. Company L
continued to clear the eastern part of Chambiere Island.
PFC Stump and Cpl. Pearrin received the Bronze Star for their actions.

November 22nd, 1944
At 14:35 hours the Commanding Officer of the 377th Infantry Regiment
notified Division that the last resistance of the city was over come.
At 14:38 hours he informed XX Corps that all resistance
in the City of Metz was at an end.

Ammunition expended by the Assault Gun Platoon in eight days:
105MM HE (High explosive) - 1700 rounds
105MM HEAT (High Explosive Anti Tank) - 300 rounds
Cal .30 - 20000 rounds
Cal .50 - 500 rounds
Fragmentary Grenades - 9 rounds



778th TANK BATTALION
HISTORICAL SUMMARY

ORGANIZED				Camp Berkeley, Texas; Sept 21, 1943
TRAINED				Camp Berkeley, Texas
				Camp Howze, Texas
EMBARKED				Boston, Mass; Sept 2, 1944
				(SS Monticello)
DOCKED				Cherbourg, France; Sept 15, 1944
EQUIPPED				Valognes, France
TRIED/FIRST BATTLE				Metz, France; Nov 15, 1944
ATTACHED				26th, 94th, 95th Infantry Divisions
				(THIRD ARMY)
CITED				95th Inf Div, XX Corps, Third Army
RESTED				NEVER -
				176 days of continuous contact with enemy
HALTED				V-E Day
COMMANDED BY				Lieutenant Colonel Reston R. Bishop

HEADQUARTERS
THIRD STATES ARMY
APO 403
GENERAL ORDERS
9 MAY 1945
NUMBER 98
SOLDIERS OF THE THIRD ARMY PAST AND PRESENT

During the 281 days of incessant and victorious combat, your penetration
have advanced farther in less time than any other army in history. You have
fought your way across 24 major rivers and innumerable lesser streams. You
have liberated or conquered more than 80,000 square miles of territory, including
1500 cities and towns, and some 12,000 inhabited places. Prior to the termination of
active hostilities, you had captured in battle 965,000 enemy soldiers and killed
or wounded at least 500,000 others. France, Belgium, Luxembourg,
Germany, Austria and Czechoslovakia bear witness to your exploits.

All the men and women of the six corps and thirty-nine divisions that have at
different times been members of this Army have done their duty. Each deserves
credit. The enduring valor of the combat troops has been paralleled and made
possible by the often unpublished activities of the supply,administrative,
and medical services of the Army and the Communication Zone troops
supporting it. Nor should we forget our comrades of the other Armies and
the Air Force, particularly of the XIX Tactical Air Command,
by whose aide or under whose wings we have the honor to fight with.

In proudly contemplating our achievements, let us never forget our heroic dead
whose graves mark the course of our victorious advances, nor our wounded
whose sacrifices aided so much to our success.

I should be both ungrateful and wanting in candor if I failed to acknowledge the
debt we owe to our Chiefs of Staff, Generals Gaffey and Gay, and to the officers
and men of the General Staff Sections of the Army Headquarters.

The termination of fighting in Europe does not remove the opportunities for other
outstanding and equally difficult achievements in the days which are to come.
In some ways the immediate future will demand of you more fortitude than has the
past because, without the inspiration of combat you must maintain - by your
dress, deportment, and efficiency - not only the prestige of Third Army but also
the honor of the United States. I have complete confidence that you will not fail.

During the course of this war I have received promotions and decorations
far above and beyond my individual merit. You won them; I as your representative
wear them. The one honor which is mine and mine alone is that of having
commanded such an incomparable group of Americans, the record of whose
forttitude, audacity, and valor will endure as long as history lasts.

/s/ G.S. Patton Jr.
/t/ G.S. Patton Jr.
General
Reproduced by Headquarters 26Th Infantry Division, 20 May 1945





Nuremberg, Germany in front of the Sportz Plaza.
Photo taken on July 25, 1945, after VEL day.



HEADQUARTERS 778TH TANK BATTALION
OFFICE OF THE BATTALION COMMANDER

CAMP BARKLEY, TEXAS
27 SEPTEMBER 1943

SPECIAL ORDER NUMBER 4


1. The following named Officers having been assigned to this Battalion, per Par. 39, 80 235,
HEADQUARTERS 11TH ARMOURED DIVISION dated 20 September 1943 are
assigned to Companies indicated above their respective names effective 20 Sept. 1943.

HEADQUARTERS

LT COL	Frank J. Spettel	014613	INF
MAJ	Arthur I. Davenport	0234348	CAV
MAJ	Fredrick B. Judson	0301120	INF
CAPT	Henry Bachrach	01010264	INF
CAPT	Philip W. Goldman	0456110	INF
CAPT	Robert C. Roffey	0296881	CAV
1ST LT	John M. Markel	01013167	INF
2ND LT	Anthony R. Dambrauskas	01015022	INF
2ND LT	John W. Holly	01016296	INF

HEADQUARTERS COMPANY

1ST LT	Samuel J. Atkins, Jr.	01012803	INF
1ST LT	Carter B. Fuller, Jr.	01014324	INF
1ST LT	Thomas B. Savage	01012915	INF
2ND LT	J.M. Tucker	01017115	INF
2ND LT	Gustave Steiner	01017349	INF
2ND LT	Walter R. Silbaugh	01018733	CAV
2ND LT	Charles W. Waddey, III	0525501	INF
2ND LT	David Mittelman	01017656	INF

COMPANY "A"

1ST LT	Wesley W. Castle	01013362	INF
1ST LT	Norbert F. Krob	01015298	CAV
2ND LT	John M. Besser	01015893	INF
2ND LT	Walter F. Baird	01015410	CAV
2ND LT	Harry A. Leonhardt	01018758	INF
2ND LT	Arnold V. Anderson	0518866	INF
2ND LT	Walter L. Precourt	01017560	CAV
2ND LT	Selwyn Goodman	01017645	INF

COMPANY "B"

CAPT	Gerald B. Griffin	0101283	CAV
1ST LT	Alex E. Roth	01015058	INF
1ST LT	Carl A. Schelin	01014320	INF
1ST LT	William O. Smith	0330363	CAV
2ND LT	Irvin A. Grubbs	01017872	INF
2ND LT	Marcus E. Kennedy	01018806	INF
2ND LT	David J. Wolper	01018739	INF
2ND LT	Tony A. Pivato	01018830	CAV

COMPANY "C"

CAPT	Charles Larimer	01010184	INF
1ST LT	Alfred S. Araujo	01013191	INF
1ST LT	Charles A. Summers	01011620	CAV
2ND LT	Eugene I. Kresh	01017827	INF
2ND LT	Richard A. Mottila	01017986	CAV
2ND LT	Harold M. Rieber	01018719	INF
2ND LT	Claude J. Smith	01018750	INF

COMPANY "D"

CAPT	William S. Rice	0450348	INF
1ST LT	George T. Foy	01017552	INF
1ST LT	Herbert E. Kendrick	0446450	INF
2ND LT	Norman L. Fiero	01017444	INF
2ND LT	Ernest L. Howell	01011892	INF
2ND LT	Harry Quattromanx	01018741	INF
2ND LT	Daniel J. Scott	01018823	CAV

SERVICE COMPANY

1ST LT	Willard F. Howard	01012743	INF
1ST LT	John W. Kershner	01016227	INF
2ND LT	Henry P. Blaksney	01018764	INF
2ND LT	Richard B. Bushman	01018810	INF
2ND LT	Milton Singer	01017959	CAV
2ND LT	Carl E. Strittmater	01018771	CAV
WOJG	Max E. Campbell	W-2121148	USA

2. Having been assigned to this BATTALION per Par. 19 S0 240 HEADQUARTERS
11TH ARMOURED DIVISION, dated 25 September 1943 1st. LT. THEODORE
N. ADAMS 0361740 MC is assigned to Med. Dst. effective 25 September 1943.

3. UP AR 605-115 leave of absence for fifteen (15) days effective as of 4 October
1943 is granted 2nd. Lt. Anthony Dambrauskas 01015022 Inf.

By Order of Lt. Col. Frank J Spettel:

JOHN W. HOLLY
2ND.LT. 778TH TK. BN
ADJUTANT OFFICIAL

/S/ JOHN W. HOLLY
/T/ JOHN W. HOLLY
2ND. LT. 778TH TANK BATTALION



SOME MEN OF HEADQUARTERS COMPANY



Camp Barkley, Texas (September 1943)
Taken after separation from the 11th Armored Division



778th TANK BATTALION
1944 ITINERARY

Left Camp Houze				August 25
Arrived Camp Myles Standish				August 28
Arrived Boston Port				September 4
Arrived Cherbourg, France				September 15
Arrived Valognes				September 16
Arrived Bricquebec				September 28
Left for Front				November 6
Arrived Villedieu				November 6
Arrived La Ferte Mace				November 7
Arrived La Ferte Vidame				November 8
Through Paris				November 9
Arrived Clichy s. Bois				November 9
Arrived La Ferte S S J				November 10
Arrived Chalons s. Marne				November 11
Arrived Briey				November 12
Arrived Cite d'Hagondange				November 14
Arrived Metz				November 23
Arrived Glatigny				November 26
Arrived Boulay				November 28
Arrived Altforweiler, Germany				December 5
Arrived Ober Perl				February 17
Arrived Trassem				February 26
Arrived Beurig				March 6
Arrived Tawern				March 9
Arrived Schillingen				March 16
Arrived Hermeskeil				March 17
Arrived Birkenfeld				March 18
Arrived Aussem				March 19
Arrived Niederlinxweiler				March 20
Arrived Molschbach				March 21
Arrived Gau Odernheim				March 23
Crossed Rhine River				March 25
Arrived Erfelden				March 25
Arrived Darmstadt				March 26
Arrived Jugesheim				March 27
Arrived Langendiebach				March 30
Arrived Wittgenborn				March 31
Arrived Schletzenhausen				April 1
Arrived Fulda				April 3
Arrived Schleid				April 4
Arrived Rosa				April 5
Arrived Suhl				April 7
Arrived Schleusingen				April 10
Arrived Schalkau				April 12
Arrived Sonneberg				April 13
Arrived Helmbrechts				April 15
Arrived Streitau				April 19
Arrived Kemnath				April 20
Arrived Kaltenbrunn				April 22
Arrived Habburg				April 23
Arrived Bruck id Opf				April 24
Arrived Falkenstein				April 25
Arrived Schwarzach				April 26
Arrived Berg				April 28
Arrived Ob-Eging				April 29
Arrived Aicha v. W.				April 30
Arrived Bulchberg				May 1
Arrived Putzleinsdorf, Austria				May 3
Arrived Ulrichsberg				May 6
V-E Day Ulrichsberg				May 8
Arrived Bahnhof Salnau, Czechoslovakia				May 23

Many questions have been posed about the 778th . . .
Here are a few with answers:

WHAT WAS IT LIKE IN 1941 TO 1945 DURING WWII?

Most all able bodied men from 18 to 38 were in the service. There was very
little dissension about going into the military,in fact a lot of young enlisted
on there 18th birthday, and finished school when they returned. There was
a lot of patriotism evident, even flag raising. Everyone was in the service,
even those who had religious objections were there as cooks, medics, office
and other non-combat rolls. The young men who were on the street were
all in uniform. It was against the law to be in the service and out of uniform.

WHERE DID YOU SLEEP IN THE WINTER?

When we were in France we slept outside.
If we slept in the barns the French would charge the U.S. Government rent for each soldier.
When we were in Germany we occupied the houses that we captured.
When we were on the outskirts of the Seigfried Line we stayed in one house for a month.
We fixed up the house with electricity, running water, & toilets.
We had beer on tap, Schnapps, real potatoes, beef from wounded cows, and hot water.
This was on the front lines.

HOW MANY TANKS IN THE BATTALION?

There were about 80 Tanks in the Battalion.

A-Co: 3 platoons of five 76mm M4 Sherman Tanks,
one 105mm M4a3 Assault Gun Sherman Tank, one 76mm M4 Sherman Tank
for the Company Comander, 17 MediumTanks (30 Tons).

B-Co: Same as above but 75MM M4 Sherman Tanks and 1 Assault Gun. 17 MediumTanks.

C-Co: Same as above 75MM M4 Shermans and 1 Assault Gun. 17 Medium Tanks.

D-Company: Same as above except they had a 37MM cannon in the turret. 17 Light Tanks (18 Tons).

Service Co: Tank retrivers, Tanks with dozer blades spikes, (for hedge rows and other obstacles),
Tanks with flails with chains (for land mines to clear our paths.

Hdq- Co: One Platoon of 3 Assault guns with 105mm M4A3 Shermans
and three M4 Shermand with 75mm Cannons. The assault guns
were for support and street fighting - they had larger guns
and inflicted more damage that the 76mm & 75mm guns.

There were three other tanks of Hdq-Co: one for the Battalion Commander,
one for the Battalion Adjudicant, and one for the Artillary Observer.
They never used these tanks and they were used as needed by other companies
or the men as temporary replacments.

George Nicholson was an Assault gun driver in Headquarters Company.



RELATED LINKS

11th Armored Division Association "778th Tank Battalion, the Route to Battle"
Written by George Nicholson
95th Infantry Division The Iron Men of Metz
The Virtual Museum



In Memory
A special thanks to George Nicholson (8/9/20-3/21/08),
unofficial unit historian and veteran of the 778th,
for sharing the above information with me -
and allowing me to share it with the world.

Without his efforts the story of these valiant
men may have remained untold.



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