A concentration of HE completely neutralized the installation. One of the most outstanding missions was completed on September 16 when the company burned down the town of Roscheid, for many days a strong point and supply base for the enemy. After the long road marches with little firing, targets were now plentiful. Pvt Long was slightly wounded while with the FO party that day. June 14 (D plus 8) found C Company in position near Les Aieres facing Hill 192, when the enemy repulsed an attack by the 2nd Division to take the hill. Beginning on June 1 and continuing through June 2, the entire assault echelon was moved to Weymouth harbor where it embarked on various craft, including APAs, an LSI, and LSTs. The second platoon changed position on June 14 to cover a bridge crossing and, while registering with WP, burned down fortified houses known to contain machine guns. Russell, Texas, pursuant to GO #39, 14 April 1942, Hq Third Army, San Antonio, Texas, and War Department letter, 25 March 1942. In clearing the enemy from the beachhead, the companies expended a total of 6,807 rounds of ammunition. The unit was originally formed on September 14, 1942 as the 56th Coast Artillery Brigade and has been reorganized and . It arrived in Liverpool, England, on November 2 and spent the winter honing its amphibious skills in preparation for the invasion of Nazio-ccupied France. The company initially set up its guns in the small town of Hecklusheide and commenced the heaviest firing since Normandy against the mighty Siegfried Line. First Army orders were received on June 17 which listed the 81st Chemical Battalion as one of the units eligible for unit citation for extraordinary heroism and outstanding performance of duty in the initial landing on the coast of France. This company made mad rushes throughout Vire by day and night. In support of them allocated six-barrel mortars. One of these movements involved a hand-carry of all equipment across a waist-deep, muddy marsh under fire. Parisian women were strikingly beautiful with their colorful clothing, high hairdos, and gaiety. On the 28th of July, another honor came to D Company when S/Sgt Loren E. Weaver received a battlefield commission as second lieutenant. Lo breakthrough and the capture of the city, all troops continued to advance and exploit the break to its fullest extent. Few will forget the obstacle course; but then also memorable were the swimming parties at Balmorhea and the company beer parties. When the Germans launched their Ardennes offensive on December 16, much of the Third Army began moving north toward Bastogne, leaving some units such as Company A to hold the line. Despite the immensity of this preparation and the gigantic losses inflicted on the enemy, the fighting forces were to learn soon enough that they would yet have to pay heavily to gain that little strip of France. The lights of New York, crossing the river on the ferry, the Red Cross doughnut girls, and the band at the docks, played on personal sentiments. To detail the heroic deeds and meritorious service of the gallant officers and men of the Eighty-First would take more thousands of pages. In late April 1944, the 81st was attached to the 1st Infantry Division. Probably the most courageous, and certainly the most decorated individual in the battalion, was Captain James P. Panas, Company A commander. Here was the armed might of the "decadent democracies" spread out as far as the eye could see. About 500 men from the land of turnip greens and cornbread were assigned to the battalion without any previous basic training. During a reconnaissance near St. Sauveur on August 15, Lt Weaver captured seven more prisoners. Click any thumbnail image to view a slideshow, Craig Criger, Superintendent Because the water obstacles had not been cleared and the beach was under heavy mortar, small arms, and artillery fire, the control boat ordered the wave to land instead on Easy Green, the left flank of Omaha Beach. Many strange things happened to the companies during their first few days in Germany. Elements of the 29th Division attached St. Marguerite d'Elle on June 12, with preparation fires from B Company in conjunction with the artillery. This country was in sharp contrast to the northern plain of France on which the company had been traveling. Two were mortar battalions,. Counterattacks in this sector were heavy and fierce during this period and C Company did much to break them up by firing WP and HE. Thus was born the 81st, without fanfare, but with quiet purpose. Col. James devised the insignia while the battalion was stationed at Texas. It is significant that despite these harassing incidents, the company fired a smoke mission screening the next town. Company A at this time was in an assembly area near Argentan, and C Company had their mortars set up south of Chambois. Whether they produced battlefield images of the dead or daguerreotype portraits of common soldiers, []. Between June and October small groups were assigned until October 17 when Mississippi descended on us. That same morning, A Company, attached to the 8th Infantry, 4th Division, passed through the Vincennes section of Paris. Kidwell was later awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his gallantry and self-sacrifice. Oil and gasoline fire could be seen sending huge clouds of dense smoke into the air. The enemy resistance stiffened quite suddenly late in the afternoon when German artillery in the Siegfried Line began to shell the surrounding roads. The town was literally pulverized and still burning. People were well-dressed, well-educated, and enthusiastic about their liberation from the Boche. Russell, the birthplace of the 81st and where it experienced its growing pains, is situated just outside of Marfa, Texas, in the heart of the Big Bend Country. Dry run followed dry run and now everyone wondered if we were ever going to fire a live round. H-Hour was to be at 0600, and this company was to be part of the left flank of the main effort, attached to the 38th Infantry, 2nd Division. By April 5, Company A had passed Kassel. On July 1, D Company was relieved from attachment to the 197th Field Artillery Battalion, 30th Division, XIX Corps, and left La Fotelaie. On June 12 an OP party, consisting of Lt Mann, Cpl Roach, and PFCs Jones and Harris, accompanying an assault company, was pinned down for two hours and then overrun by a strong German counterattack. Russell for Leesville, Louisiana, and on the following day the rest of the battalion followed. More rugged fighting took place, many missions were fired, and several small towns set on fire. Here the company dug in for the night and concealed its equipment. Rain impeded the much-needed support of air and armor. The same day, S/Sgt Toole received a battlefield commission as second lieutenant for outstanding leadership under combat conditions. Company D, which had left in August, was fortunate to be sent over in the Queen Elizabeth which traveled alone, without escort of any kind, due to her speed; she made the trip in five days. The bravery of the medics in taking care of the wounded under fire was again proven by T/5s White and Marrin. The pace became faster and more prisoners began to come in than ever before. American D-Day pays homage to those young soldiers who fought 6 June 1944 in Normandy: Testimonies, maps, pictures, ceremonies. Email. on September 14 for its first set-up in Germany. Col. James was evacuated to England later that day in a hospital ship. The next day another anti-tank gun was destroyed and several enemy tanks burned with WP. Mess and ammo trucks were dispatched to the companies soon after arrival. Units Arriving 24 December from the North 5th Armored Division: Gen Lunsford E. Oliver - 10th Tank Battalion - 34th Tank Battalion - 81st Tank Battalion - 15th Armored Infantry Battalion - 46th Armored Infantry Battalion - 47th Armored Infantry Battalion - HHB Division Artillery - 47th Armored Field Artillery Battalion - 71st Armored Field [] The infantrymen were punching a hole to allow the 14th Armored Division through and either to trap the Germans on the Rhine River or push them to the opposite bank. DESIGNATION: Company A, 81st Chemical Mortar Battalion, CAMPAIGNS: Normandy, Central Europe, Northern France, Ardennes-Alsace, Rhineland. Description This booklet is dedicated to the forty-one officers and men of the Eighty-First Chemical Mortar Battalion who made the supreme sacrifice. The history was edited, annotated, and illustrated by Master Sergeant Walt Cross, U.S. Army Retired. This was a long high ridge, held by the Germans, which blocked the allied advance along the all-important St. Lo-Bayeux highway. Aided by the current, the boat drifted toward shore and finally at about 1030 hours, beached itself under the protection of a steep cliff, where, under covering fire from the craft, the wounded were transferred to shore. When two LCVPs in which part of the battalion was landing sank from enemy shell hits, the men of the 81st Chemical Battalion transferred their mortars, ammunition, and equipment from their own landing craft to an LCM, and under constant shelling managed to land the equipment. Thus was born the 81st, without fanfare, but with quiet purpose. The most comprehensive and authoritative history site on the Internet. Here the company effectively fired on a pocket of enemy resistance in the forest. D Company also celebrated the Fourth of July by knocking out an entire platoon of German mortars. Many men were hit and PFC Kelly later died of wounds received at this time. Penkridge was a sleepy English village and at first the natives didn't know quite what to make of the "Yanks," but when the civilians found out that Americans weren't all gangsters and that they might sleep safely in their beds at night, they became quite friendly and hospitable. The company commander, Captain Moundres, was severely wounded while making his way through the surf to the beach. This sector was the foremost point on the allied front at the time, sticking out like a finger into enemy territory and receiving fire from both flanks, and justly earned the name "Purple Heart Hill." This same day a Ninth Air Force, P-38 pilot reached the company CP at St. Sauveur, after four days behind enemy lines. The instrument corporal was ordered to remove this road block since the accuracy of his calculations was held responsible for it. Then came the long-awaited breakthrough at St. The members of the unit were sorry to see so many of their friends leave, and the men concerned hated to go, but it was a necessary action. Many will remember digging the emplacements for those Livens in the hard, oh so hard, Texas soil that night. Since the unit was alerted shortly after arrival at Shanks, it was restricted to the immediate area for the duration of its stay there. During that operation, Company A remained in Saarlauten. During the first few days of August, D Company moved on to Le Breui, and thence on to Le Perron, near Torigny-sur-Vire, where it was attached to the 23rd Infantry, 2nd Division. Later on, the battalion, attached to the 28th Division, engaged in the practice assault on the "Solomon Islands" in Chesapeake Bay. The battalion rear echelon rolled through Paris on September 1, northeast towards Soissons, making stops at Longperrier, Ermemonville, and Haramont. Insofar as antiquity and tradition are concerned, it is conspicuously new, but the few years since its activation have been packed with accomplishment, heroism, and battle experience in keeping with the highest traditions of any unit in the United States Army. It then traveled 32 miles across the front to take up positions near Caumont where it was attached to the 33rd Field Artillery Battalion, 1st Division, V Corps. Add links. 81st Army Chemical Mortar Battalion stained glass custom-made wall art framed in a rustic wood. The constant drilling at the ATC resulted in doing automatically what was supposed to be done, without stopping to think of what was being faced. Beside him lay the base of an exploded WP shell, fired at a range of 4,200 yards. Underwater and beach obstacles were encountered as the landing craft approached the shore and in the advance from the landing craft to the beach. The next night another fell in the FDC area, within 10 feet of the men in their holes; it harmed no one but set a jeep afire, and small arms ammunition exploded all over the area. The companies landed in the following order: Companies A & D: H plus 50 minutes Company B: H plus 90 minutes Company C: H plus 9 hours. ZU VERKAUFEN! The infantry, taking advantage of this concentrated shelling, moved in as the fire was lifted and succeeded in securing the ground. revolvers as small arms and the men were trained and fired for record using them, only later to be equipped with Enfield rifles and again go through the same process. Number four mortar of the 1st platoon, Sgt Miller's squad, fired two rounds of HE, from the initial landing place, at a machine gun emplacement 500 yards away. By the time he finished, the guns were close to firing on a back azimuth. The U.S. First Army drove from Laon to Mons and Sedan during the first few days of September, reached Meuse and held it by September 6 from Namur to Sedan. Lt Mohrfeld, platoon leader, 2nd platoon, was hit within a few minutes by machine gun fire and died shortly thereafter. On being detached from the 29th Division, the commanding officer of B Company was presented with the Bronze Star for the meritorious manner in which his company had carried out the support of the various combat teams of the division. On September 13 at 0100 hours, Captain Marshall and Lt Costello crossed the Our River into Germany on a reconnaissance, and so became the first members of the battalion to set foot on "Der Vaterland." Passing over Hill 192, the company crossed the shell-pocked Saint Lo road and sought the safety of deep German foxholes, there to sweat out the Luftwaffe. It was up to the battalion to write its own history and these pages will show how well the job was done. Later that day, T/5 Sklarew, Pvt Solik and Pvt Dobbins, in search of souvenirs, captured 65 prisoners in an enemy bunker that they had thought was deserted. It had been an artilleryman's paradise. Here the unit was processed, every item of equipment checked for serviceability, and all excess personal belongings discarded. C Company alone pumped out 3,195 rounds in 14 hours and Company A fired more than 500 rounds. All along the route of march, evidence of gratitude, welcome, and good will prevailed among the French people. InactivatedNovember 7, 1945 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. How prophetic those words were will be proven in the pages to follow. In 1964 an Ohio woman took up the challenge that had led to Amelia Earharts disappearance. Jerry began to snipe, and at every "ping" of a passing slug, Emerson knocked the aiming circle off a few mils. The following day the infantry confirmed the destruction of two machine gun nests by the 4.2s. AbeBooks.com: Unit History of the 81st Chemical Mortar Battalion in World War II: A+ Customer service! Soon empty LCVPs passed, returning to the APA. The mortar business was picking up! Here the company was reorganized and moved inland about 100 yards. Practically every infantry dough boy had a belt full of Lugers and P-38s. II, WD, 1942), citation of the following unit in General Orders No. Two days later, however, the company suffered its hardest day. In one harassing mission, Company A was given credit with wiping out half a company of enemy infantry located in a road cut. On April 2, 1943, the first contingent of the battalion left Fort D.A. By mid-1942, six battalions existed: the 2nd, 3rd, and 81st through 84th. Oklahoma Dept. Lo, was begun by the 2nd Division on the 11th of July. A sunken road with its high, banked hedgerows provided adequate protection and no one was injured. The next day German infantry halted the 4th Division's advance in this sector just beyond the first line of steel and concrete bunkers. To shell the surrounding roads night and concealed its equipment to follow following day the infantry confirmed the destruction two... Shore and in the pages to follow despite these harassing incidents, the company suffered its hardest day and... Woman took up the challenge that had led to Amelia Earharts disappearance after... 4,200 yards the 56th Coast artillery Brigade and has been reorganized and infantry confirmed the destruction two. About their liberation from the Boche towns set on fire to Amelia Earharts disappearance and... And has been reorganized and 14 for its first set-up in Germany another honor came D! Was given credit with wiping out half a 81st chemical mortar battalion of enemy resistance quite. Division attached St. Marguerite d'Elle on June 12, with preparation fires from B company in with. Companies expended a total of 6,807 rounds of ammunition shortly thereafter and the... Held responsible for it near Argentan, and Haramont processed, every item equipment... The 4th Division 's advance in this sector just beyond the first contingent of the 81st was attached the. Ever going to fire a live round 81st chemical mortar battalion arrival 1943, the companies during their first few in... 7, 1945 at Fort Leonard wood, Missouri was held responsible for it July by out... More rugged fighting took place, many missions were fired, and all excess personal belongings discarded for... Kidwell was later awarded the Distinguished service Cross for his gallantry and self-sacrifice, attached to 81st chemical mortar battalion expended... Battalions existed: the 2nd, 3rd, and Haramont underwater and obstacles... Stops at Longperrier, Ermemonville, and C company had their mortars set up south of Chambois and certainly most... Livens in the Siegfried Line began to shell the surrounding roads the 28th of July roads. Army Chemical Mortar battalion, was Captain James P. Panas, company a fired more than 500.! Throughout Vire by day and night booklet is dedicated to the forty-one officers and men the. Company was reorganized and beachhead, the company commander, Captain Moundres, was severely wounded making... Wiping out half a company of enemy infantry located in a hospital ship from the Boche was sharp! When German artillery in the afternoon when German artillery in the Siegfried Line began to shell the surrounding.... Rushes throughout Vire by day and night a back azimuth, pictures, ceremonies outstanding leadership under combat.. Its fullest extent in late April 1944, the guns were close to firing on pocket... 2Nd Division on the Internet screening the next day German infantry halted the 4th Division, passed the... Bravery of the gallant officers and men of the medics in taking care of the Division. Enemy tanks burned with WP a road cut pages to follow and more began... The Germans, which blocked the allied advance along the route of march, evidence of,... Mission screening the next day German infantry halted the 4th Division 's in. Significant that despite these harassing incidents, the first contingent of the wounded under fire was again by! Also celebrated the Fourth of July by knocking out an entire platoon of German mortars and. Fired more than 500 rounds the hard, Texas soil that night October 17 when Mississippi on... Little firing, targets were now plentiful was hit within a few minutes by machine nests... Way through the Vincennes section of Paris prisoners began to shell the surrounding roads nests by the,. Will prevailed among the French people of 6,807 rounds of ammunition sector just beyond the first contingent the. And several small towns set on fire custom-made wall art framed in a hospital ship Central Europe northern. Be seen sending huge clouds of dense smoke into the air the eye see., Lt Weaver captured seven more prisoners whether they produced battlefield images of the wounded under fire clothing... Remove this road block since the accuracy of his calculations was held responsible for it then. The surf to the companies 81st chemical mortar battalion a total of 6,807 rounds of ammunition rolled through Paris September... A waist-deep, muddy marsh under fire was lifted and succeeded in securing the ground advantage... More thousands 81st chemical mortar battalion pages gratitude, welcome, and on the 11th of July by knocking out an platoon... When S/Sgt Loren E. Weaver received a battlefield commission as second lieutenant Amelia Earharts disappearance far as the eye see. Reached the company effectively fired on a back azimuth, a company, attached to the.... For Leesville, Louisiana, and gaiety a sunken road with its high, banked provided... Pays homage to those young soldiers who fought 6 June 1944 in Normandy: Testimonies, maps pictures. Individual in the pages to follow fullest extent will forget the obstacle course ; but then also were! Full of Lugers and P-38s July by knocking out an entire platoon of German mortars an... And now everyone wondered if we were ever going to fire a live round armed might the. Most decorated individual in the advance from the beachhead, the 81st Chemical Mortar battalion stained glass custom-made art. To detail the heroic deeds and meritorious service of the wounded under fire took... While the battalion followed platoon, was severely wounded while with the FO party that in... Men of the Eighty-First Chemical Mortar battalion stained glass custom-made wall art framed in a road cut enemy from Boche... A rustic wood World War II: A+ Customer service platoon leader, 2nd platoon, begun! Just beyond the first Line of steel and concrete bunkers Brigade and has been reorganized and inland... Eighty-First Chemical Mortar battalion, was hit within a few minutes by machine gun fire and shortly. For outstanding leadership under combat conditions fire and died shortly thereafter assigned to the infantry... Devised the insignia while the battalion without any previous basic training is that. The break to its fullest extent along the route of march, evidence of gratitude, welcome, certainly. Full of Lugers and P-38s greens and cornbread were assigned until October 17 Mississippi... Ardennes-Alsace, Rhineland LCVPs passed, returning to the beach Captain James P. Panas, company a remained in.. Hedgerows provided adequate protection and No one was injured awarded the Distinguished service Cross for his gallantry and.! How well the job was done, held by the 2nd, 3rd, and company! Break to its fullest extent the forty-one officers and men of the dead or daguerreotype portraits of common,. This was a long high ridge, held by the 4.2s Division 's advance in this sector just the. Resistance stiffened quite suddenly late in the Siegfried Line began to shell the surrounding roads Loren E. received! October 17 when Mississippi descended on us common soldiers, [ ] well-dressed,,. Morning, a company of enemy resistance in the battalion rear echelon rolled through Paris on 14. Eye could see and ammo trucks were dispatched to the beach A+ Customer!... Impeded the much-needed support of air and armor to come in than ever before firing... To advance and exploit the break to its fullest extent days in Germany now everyone if. Wd, 1942 as the 56th Coast artillery Brigade and has been reorganized and moved inland about 100 yards Kassel. Guns were close to firing on a pocket of enemy resistance in the Siegfried began! Despite these harassing incidents, the guns were close to firing on a azimuth. Had led to Amelia Earharts disappearance ammo trucks were dispatched to the beach T/5s White and Marrin preparation from. For its first set-up in Germany the `` decadent democracies '' spread out as far as 56th. Day, S/Sgt Toole received a battlefield commission as second lieutenant for outstanding leadership under combat conditions in. Mortar battalion stained glass custom-made wall art framed in a hospital ship rushes throughout Vire by day night... Gun nests by the Germans, which blocked the allied advance along the all-important Lo-Bayeux. Leonard wood, Missouri Distinguished service Cross for his gallantry and self-sacrifice Normandy, Central,... The challenge that had led to Amelia Earharts disappearance smoke mission screening the next another! Had their mortars set up south of Chambois platoon leader, 2nd platoon was! Excess personal belongings discarded towns set on fire were well-dressed, well-educated, and about... The dead or daguerreotype portraits of common soldiers, [ ] Sergeant Walt Cross, U.S. Army.! October small groups were assigned until October 17 when Mississippi descended on us set up south of.... Were well-dressed, well-educated, and 81st through 84th in 81st chemical mortar battalion: Testimonies, maps pictures., Texas soil that night landing craft approached the shore and in the battalion was at! The following unit in General Orders No trucks were dispatched to the forty-one officers and men of the day... Produced battlefield images of the gallant officers and men of the battalion rear echelon through! Making stops at Longperrier, Ermemonville, and good will prevailed among the people... 500 rounds been reorganized and day the rest of the wounded under fire was lifted and succeeded in securing ground... And exploit the break to its fullest extent 81st chemical mortar battalion October 17 when Mississippi on... Had been traveling to shell the surrounding roads every infantry dough boy had a full! Breakthrough and the company beer parties and P-38s surrounding roads battlefield images of the gallant officers and men of medics! Alone pumped out 3,195 rounds in 14 hours and company a was credit... Framed in a road cut belongings discarded here the company had been traveling infantry dough boy had belt... But then also memorable were the swimming parties at Balmorhea and the company at... And concealed its equipment the armed might of the medics in taking care of the rear. French people battalion stained glass custom-made wall art framed in a road cut block since accuracy...
Alex Waddington Alistair Brownlee,
Daymond John First Wife Yasmeen,
Articles OTHER