Unit History:  Activated 15 December 1941 at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina. Disembarked in France from England on 24 July 1944 with towed guns and entered the line near Colombieres. Advanced across France with the 28th Infantry Division to Luxembourg. Supported operations against the Siegfried Line in September–October. Operated in the Hürtgen Forest in November. Shifted to the Ardennes sector with the 28th Infantry Division in late November, where located at start of German offensive in December. Shifted south to Colmar area in January 1945, where the 28th Infantry Division operated under French control. Returned north in mid-February only to redeploy south to the Saar region in mid-March, after which the battalion converted to the M36. Participated in the elimination of the Ruhr Pocket in April. Took up occupation duties at Zweibrücken on 28 April. Attached to: 17th Airborne Division; 13th Armored Division; 28th Infantry Division. History text from the book The Tank Killers by Harry Yeide. Used by permission.

Combat Equipment: 7/44 - Towed 3" Gun; 4/45 - M36.

Commanding Officers:  Lt. Col. Samuel T. Wallace (12/15/41); Lt. Col. Clyde A. Burcham (12/15/43); Lt. Col. Albert W. Jones (12/6/44); Patrick G. Emmanuel (Acting C.O.).

Code Name/s:  Cossack

Campaign Credits:   Normandy.......................Jun. 6, to Jul. 24, 1944

                                   Northern France...............Jul. 25, to Sept. 14, 1944

                                Rhineland........................Sept. 15, 1944 to Mar. 21, 1945

                                Ardennes-Alsace..............Dec. 16, 1944 to Jan 25, 1945

                                Central Europe.................Mar. 22, to May 11, 1945

Awards:  None

Location August 1945:  Iversheim, Germany

Additional Information/Materials:

1.)   Unit Reports - from the Combined Arms Research Library of the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

            Aug. 1 to 31, 1944..............2 Pages

            Sep. 1 to 30, 1944..............11 Pages

            Oct. 1 to 31, 1944...............14 Pages

            Nov. 1 to 30, 1944..............15 Pages

            Jan. 1 to 31, 1945...............11 Pages

            Feb. 1 to 28, 1945................4 Pages

            February 1945......................3 Pages (March Orders)

            Mar. 1 to 31, 1945................3 Pages

           Apr. 1 to 30, 1945................3 Pages

           May 1 to 31, 1945................2 Pages

            May 1945............................7 Pages (S-1 Journal)

            May 1945...........................31 Pages (S-3 Periodic Report)

            May 1945...........................11 Pages (S-3 Journal)

2.)  Operational Report for The Battle of the Bulge - Covers period Dec. 16, 1944 to Jan. 4, 1945.  Provided courtesy of Jim Moore.

3.)  Detailed Battalion History Document - Written by Patrick Emmanuel shortly after returning home from the war.  He was the former S-3 (Operations Officer) for the unit and as a Major, was the Acting Commander of the Unit, on V-E Day.  Provided courtesy of Beth Wilkinson

4.)  Early Battalion History - Covers activation of unit until stationed at Camp Rucker, AL on Feb. 16, 1944.  Provided courtesy of Jim Moore.

5.)  Letters of Commendation - Provided courtesy of Beth Wilkinson

6.)  Company A Travel Log - Provided courtesy of Jim Moore.

7.)  Battalion Travel Log Map - Provided courtesy of Jim Moore.

8.)  Combat Highlights Listing - Covers period from July 24, 1944 to May 31, 1945.  Provided courtesy of Jim Moore.

9.)  Officer Roster - Compiled on April 30, 1945.  Provided courtesy of Jim Moore.

10.)  Company A Group Photo - Photo is courtesy of Jim Moore whose uncle T.M. Hill is shown in the second row from the top, 13th man in from left.  Ralph Malone is next to him and the 14th man in the row.

11.)  Company B Group Photo - Taken on April 18, 1942 at Fort Jackson, SC.  Identified Officers shown left to right, 2nd Lt. Patrick G. Emmanuel, 1st Lt. Maurice H. Reich, Capt. Gerald D. Albrecht - Commanding, 2nd Lt. Edwin B. Watkins and 2nd Lt. Frank S. Ray.  This list is not in the same order as shown on the photo but has been confirmed by Patrick Emmanuel. Thanks to Jim Moore for his assistance and Beth Wilkinson for providing the photo.

12.)  Commendation from City of Colmar - To Commemorate the Liberation of the City of Colmar, France, the Mayor authorized all members of the Sixth Army Group (including the 630 TD Bn) to wear the Coat of Arms of the city. Courtesy of Jim Moore.  Detail Image of the Colmar Patch provided by Rachel Hill and Jim Moore.

13.)   Photo Gallery