Unit History:  The New York National Guard’s 102d Antitank Battalion was federalized on 13 January 1941 and converted into the 802d Tank Destroyer Battalion on 15 December at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. Disembarked in France on 1 July 1944 as a towed battalion. Entered battle near Carentan on 4 July. Advanced into Brittany in August and supported attack on St. Malo in August. Crossed France and entered Luxembourg on 23 September. Supported operations against Siegfried Line through November. Participated in Battle of the Bulge in Luxembourg in late December. Converted to M36s in February–March 1945. Crossed Rhine River at Wessel on 2 April. Joined elimination of Ruhr Pocket, after which took on occupation duties. Attached to: 4th, 80th, 83d, 95th Infantry divisions. History text from the book The Tank Killers by Harry Yeide. Used by permission.

Combat Equipment: 6/44 - Towed 3" Gun; 3-4/45 - M36

Commanding Officers:  John H. Montgomery

Code Name/s:  Black Joe

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:  Wadersloh, 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.........13 Pages (Unit Journal)

                 August 1944....................3 Pages (After Action Report - Normandy & St. Malo-Dinard Ops)

                 Sep. 1 to 30, 1944..........11 Pages (Unit Journal)

                 Oct. 1 to 31, 1944..........25 Pages (Unit Journal)

                 Nov. 1 to 30, 1944.........31 Pages (Unit Journal)

                 Dec. 1 to 31, 1944.........18 Pages (Unit Journal)

                 Dec. 1 to 31, 1944...........3 Pages (After Action Report - includes casualty and awards listing)

                 Jan. 1 to 31, 1945..........17 Pages (Unit Journal)

                 Jan. 1 to 31, 1945............3 Pages (After Action Report - includes casualty and awards listing)

                 Feb. 1 to 28, 1945............8 Pages (Unit Journal)

                 Feb. 1 to 28, 1945............3 Pages (After Action Report - includes awards listing)

                 Mar. 1 to 31, 1945..........10 Pages (Unit Journal)

                 Mar. 1 to 31, 1945............3 Pages (After Action Report - includes casualty and awards listing)

                 Apr. 1 to 30, 1945..........14 Pages (Unit Journal)

                 Apr. 1 to 30, 1945............4 Pages (After Action Report - includes casualty and awards listing)

2.)  Photo Gallery

3.)  Christmas Menu 1941 - Although the menu lists the unit Company C of the 102nd Anti-Tank Battalion, the unit had already been redesignated as the 802nd Tank Destroyer Battalion on Dec. 15, 1941 at Camp Shelby, MI.  Menu provided courtesy of Tom Grannis.

4.)  802nd Fought in Four Wars - Article describing the unit's long history beginning back in 1839 in Flushing, NY as the Hamilton Rifles. The unit would change titles a number of times, fighting in the Civil War, Spanish American War, WWI and now WWII as the 802nd TD Bn.  Courtesy of Robert Bernard.

5.)  802nd Roll through Julich, Germany - Article describing the unit's movements through Europe and their actions with the new 90mm M36 Tank Destroyers.  It was published in The Tomahawk on April 1, 1945.  The newspaper is identified as from "Somewhere in Germany" and written for the "The men Who Make the News". Courtesy of Robert Bernard.

6.)  802nd Veterans return to France - Article on 18 members of the 802nd that returned to France to visit some of the French towns they liberated during the war.  A few of the men were Fred Dissinger, Rupert MacPherson, Carl Arnott and Ed Herman. Courtesy of Robert Bernard.

7.)  Family receives Distinguished Service Cross - The family of Edward Stannard's were presented with the Distinguished Service Cross in recognition of their son's extraordinary heroism in action.  Stannard was wounded twice and continued to fight before finally being killed in France on Aug. 8, 1944.  Courtesy of Robert Bernard.

8.)  Combat Record of the 802nd - 11 Page official record created by the 802nd Tank Destroyer Battalion Veterans Association.  Courtesy of Jean M. Varda.

9.)  Chronicle of the 802nd - 23 pages created by the 802nd Tank Destroyer Battalion Veterans Association.  Includes locations of some of the reunions, war dead, unit roster, campaign credits and lineage.  Courtesy of Jean M. Varda.