The Chart shows the official Table of Organization 18-10-1 for a Headquarters, Tank Destroyer Group. Although the unit did have two Chaplains and two attached Medical Officers, the number of other personnel doesn't match the After Action Reports for the unit. The original Tank Destroyer philosophy was rarely if ever used in WWII because the German Blitzkreig "lightning war" never materialized. Only a few Tank Destroyer Groups were ever utilized and those that were, weren't used as originally intended. Chart used with Permission from, The Americans in Brittany 1944, The Battle for Brest, by Jonathan Gawne, H+C Publications, copyright 2002.

Soldier in dentist chair with Dental Officer Cpt. Michael Balistrella administering the necessary assistance.

Four medics from a Tank Destroyer unit. The officer on the far left has been identified as Cpt. Robert J. Arendt. The officer on the far right is Cpt. Michael Balistrella.

Officers of the 6th TD Grp at mess time. Location is Binnegar Hall, Wareham, Dorset, England. Soldiers are as follows, starting at far right and then around back. Col. Logan Berry, Lt. Col. Neil Hein, Maj. Russell Newbury, Cpt. Durward Varner, Rodeheffar, Kirkpatrick, Unknown, Pfeilschifter, Richardson, Maj, Truman Alford. Photo identifies that Martin, Balistrella, Arendt and Maj. Maldo Johnson were missing.

Here is another photo of the officers eating in Binnegar Hall. Not sure if this photo was a differnet date or just a different time during the same meal. Photo courtesy of the Robert J. Arendt family.

Soldiers with mother and child.

Officers left to right - Lt. Col. Neil F. Hein, Unknown, Maj. Russell H. Newbury.

Aquitania leaving Southhampton, England on Sept 9th , 1945 with 8000 America troops. The HQ Co. 6th Tank Destroyer Group shipped out from New York on January 29, 1944 and arrived at the Firth of Clyde on February 5, 1944.

Aquatania.

The Aquitania as she would have looked during WWII. Flag Builder was John Brown & Company of Clydebank, Scotland. She was owned by the Cunard Line of Liverpool, England. She was launched on Apr. 21, 1913 and her maiden voyage was on May 30, 1914. Her length was 901 feet and her gross tons were 45,647. Speed was 23 knots and she could carry 3,230 passengers. She was the only four funnel liner to serve in both world wars and the last four funnel ship in service. She was scrapped in 1950. Photo courtesy of MaritimeQuest.com

Aquitania arriving at Southampton, England on September 4, 1945. It was one of the few ships that would make the crossing alone. Most sea crossings were done as a group for safety but the Aquitania’s 23 knot top speed was a match for almost any enemy vessel. You may recognize her two sister ships, the Mauretania and the Lusitania. The Lusitania had been sunk in WWI. All three ships were part of the Canard line of luxury cruise ships. Many such liners were converted during war times to serve as hospital, troop and supply ships. At the end of WWII, the Aquitania was returned to the Canard line having steamed over 500,000 miles and carrying 300,000 troops. Photo courtesy of MaritimeQuest.com

Robert Haldeman at Fort Jackson, SC in his tan uniform.

Leo Levengood some time after the war with his daughter.

Master Sgt. Rudolph "Rudy" J. Metelko. Rudy is listed on the photo as the operations sargent.

Lt. Col. Neil Hein kneeling second from left with Edward G. Chapman next on the right.

11 May 1945 American Generals who helped pave the way to victory in Europe gather at 12th Army Group headquarters, Bad Wildungen, Germany. Seated in front are left to right: LTG William H. Simpson, CG Ninth Army; General George S. Patton, CG Third Army; General Carl A. Spaatz, CG USATAF; General Dwight D. Eisenhower Supreme Allied Commander; General Omar N. Bradley, CG 12th Army Group; General Courtney H. Hodges, CG First Army; and LTG Leonard T. Gerow, CG 15th Army. Standing in the rear are left to right: BG Ralph F. Staarley, CG IX Tactical Air Command; LTG Hoyt S. VanderBerg, CG 9th Air Force; LTG Walter B. Smith, Chief of Staff; SHAEF, MG Otto P. Weiland, CG XIX Tactical Air Command; and BG Richard E. Nugent, CG XXIX Tactical Air Command. Note that Patton, Bradley and Hodges are all sporting four stars now.

Colonel Logan Carroll Berry, first commander of the HQ Co. 6th TD Group with a staff car. The photo was probably taken somewhere in England. Col. Berry was transferred to the 15th Cavalry Group during the Brittany campaign. He would go on to head the Tank Destroyer section of the 3rd Army under George S. Patton Jr.

Robert Haldeman at Fort Jackson, SC.

Hilda and Dwight Morrison. Photo courtesy of the Russell H. Newbury family.

Robert Haldeman at Fort Jackson, SC with brother Chester Haldeman.

Robert Haldeman receives a Bronze Star from his commanding officer. July 9th, 1945.

Rpbert Haldeman in theater portrait.

Robert Haldeman with girl.

Russell and Sandy Newbury with friend Dwight Morrison on left. Sadly, Major Dwight Morrison perished in the Winecoff Hotel fire, which took the lives of 119 guests. He was staying in room 1026 at the Winecoff, in Atlanta, GA while waiting for Russell to arrive home for a visit the next day. Dwight had survived sixty-five bombing missions over Europe only to die in a fire. He left behind a wife, Hilda, and a son born in February 1947, two months after the fire. Dwight Morrison was 26 and from Lumpkin, Ga. Pilot of B-26 nicknamed "Tobacco Road" during World War II. Photo courtesy of the Russell H. Newbury family.

Two enlisted men with some native girls.

Four soldiers on path. Photo courtesy of the Russell H. Newbury family.

Pioneer Company, 608th Tank Destroyer Battalion, Fort Jackson, SC. Taken May 5th, 1942. 1st Lt. Curtis H. Adams commanding. 2nd Lt. Charles B Herrington, 2nd in command. The 608th was deactivated and all members were transferred to one of the following units - 607th, 610th, 643rd and the 807th. My father, Robert Haldeman is standing in the 3rd row from the front, 8th from the left.

Here is a joke poster of two bums sitting on a bench which Kirkpatrick has labeled Johnson and Newbury who were the Intelligence (S2) and Operations (S3) personnel respectively. Photo courtesy of the Russell H. Newbury family.

Here are Johnson and Newbury sitting in the same pose as the poster. Photo courtesy of the Russell H. Newbury family.

Maj. Maldo Johnson standing on Brecon Beacon's Ridge, South Wales in March of 1944. This location was identified by Harry H. Morgan in his history of the 773rd TD Battalion as the place they had practiced indirect firing. Photo courtesy of the Russell H. Newbury family.

Maj. Russell Newbury standing on hill before an unknown city. Photo courtesy of the Russell H. Newbury family.

Maj. Russell Newbury standing at an unknown location with a monument labeled "Brennero Brenner". This monument is probably located on the Austrian end of the Brenner Pass. Brenner Pass (Italian: Passo del Brennero; German: Brennerpass) is a mountain pass through the Alps along the border between Italy and Austria, and is one of the principal passes of the Alps. It is the lowest (1,370 m) and easiest of the Alpine passes, and one of the few in the area. For that reason possession of the pass has long been coveted. Photo courtesy of the Russell H. Newbury family.

Maj. Russell Newbury and Maj. Maldo Johnson standing at an unknown location with a monument labeled "Brennero Brenner" marking some point along the Brenner Pass which runs between Austria and Italy. Photo courtesy of the Russell H. Newbury family.

Sgt. Robert Haldeman (nearest to bottom) looking up at the camera.

Portrait of now Colonel Neil F. Hein while he was stationed at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin. He was commander of that facility from Dec. 17, 1961 to April 29, 1963. Special thanks to Ft McCoy for providing me with this photo.

Portrait of Durward Belmont Varner in 1975.

Maj. Gen. Alvan Gillem, commander of the XIII Corps in WWII.

Group of soldiers holding 6th Tank Destroyer Group Headquarters sign.

Edward "Eddie" Chapman on right. Unkown soldier on left.

Lt. Col. Hein on right with Dutch woman. Maj. Newbury had commented that she had fed them fresh eggs, which they hadn't had in months.

Unknown soldier sleep on couch.

Theater taken portrait of Maj. Truman Alford. Photo courtesy of the Truman Alford family.

Truman Alford in 1996. Photo courtesy of the Truman Alford family.

Brig. Gen. Herbert L. Earnest speaking with the troops of Task Force A, at the completion of their mission. The operation was to capture the railroad bridges on a path west toward Brest, France alnog the northern Brittany roads. A similar and clearer photo of the scene can be found in Jonathan Gawne's book Americans in Brittany - The Battle for Brest.

Honorable Discharge - T4 Sgt. Robert Haldeman.

Separation Record - T4 Sgt. Robert Haldeman.

Newspaper clipping in XIII Corps History book refering to Rest Center in Heerlen area of Holland. Truman Alford of the 6th TD Group was responsible for set-up of the facilities and is mention in the article.

Bronze Star Citation to T4 Robert Haldeman for his Meritorious Service in connection with military operations against the enemy August 1944 to April 30th, 1945.

Note written in the diary of Celine Ramaekers from December of 1944, by William "Bill" Qualters of the 6th TD Grp. The note was sent to me by her son in Holland, now known as the Netherlands. Celine had notes from a few other soldiers in her diary also. The soldiers stayed at both the Hoensbroek and Heerlen areas of Holland. The Heerlen area was also the site of the Control Rest Center.

Col. Berry's response to requests from a John Baron in regard to his duties during WWII, his opinion of General Patton and for photographs of Patton. Dated April 22nd, 1983.

Brigadier (later Major) General Herbert L. Earnest, commanding officer of the 1st Tank Destroyer Brigade and Task Force A in the Brittany Campaign. He was tasked to move along the northern Brittany roads and capture the railroad bridges.

XIII Corps patch and Certificate of service sent to me by R. John Bitting who at the time I contacted him was the XIII (13th) Corps Association contact. The back of the card includes a short history of the unit as well as a list of the units that were attached to them during WWII. That list includes the 6th TD Group.

Back side of the XIII Corps Certificate of Service Card. It includes a short history of the unit and a listing of the units that were attached to them during WWII. Note the "TD:6Gp" is listed on the right, about 5 lines from the bottom.

Envelope for letter sent from Lt. Co. Neil F. Hein of the HQ 6th TD Group to his wife Mrs. Marion Hein of 410 Garfield Street, Denver, Colorado. Return address says New York while cancellation stamp says 1944. This may have been one of the last letters he sent before he and the unit left for England. Unit shipped out January 29th, 1944.

Knife made by my father, Robert Haldeman during some of his down-time in England. Knife blade was a file; handle guard was a door-knocker. Handle features components from a German Stuka fighter. Scabbard was once the cavalry boot of one of the unit's officers.

Cover of Life Magazine - March 12, 1945 with Lt. Gen Willaim H. Simpson. It describes him as an "Old Soldier", tough-minded, dependable and confident. Tall, lean and immaculately dressed. It makes note of his remarkable head. It reminds people of biblical prophets, medieval ascetics and ancient Egyptian kings. "At first glance it seems so bony, so cadaverously lean that you think of it as a friendly skull." The article inside focuses on the U.S. Breakthrough starting with the Roer.

American Campaign Medal - Criteria: Service outside the U.S. in the American theater for 30 days, or within the continental U.S. for one year. Dates: 1941 - 1946 Devices: Bronze Star

American Defense Medal - Criteria: Army: 12 months of active duty service during 1939-41.

WWII Victory Medal - Criteria: Awarded for service in the U.S. Armed Forces during 1941 -1946.

European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal - Criteria: Service in the European-African-Middle Eastern theater for 30 days or receipt of any combat decoration. Dates: 1941 - 1945 Devices: Bronze arrowhead; bronze, silver star.

Good Conduct Medal - Criteria: Exemplary conduct, efficiency and fidelity during three years of active enlisted service with the U.S. Army. Dates: 1941 to present Devices: Bronze, silver, gold clasps (knots)

Purple Heart Medal - Criteria: Awarded to any member of the U.S. Armed Forces killed or wounded in an armed conflict. Instituted: 1932 Devices: Bronze, silver oak leaf cluster; gold, silver star.

Bronze Star Medal - Criteria: Heroic or Meritorious Achievement or Service not involving participation in aerial flight. Instituted: 1944 Devices: "V" for Valor; bronze, silver oak leaf cluster; gold, silver star.

Silver Star Medal - Criteria: Awarded for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States not justifying a higher award. It may be awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the U.S Armed Forces, distinguishes him or herself by extraordinary heroism involving one of the following actions: in action against an enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. The required gallantry, while of a lesser degree than that required for award of the Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross or Air Force Cross, must nevertheless have been performed with marked distinction. The Silver Star Medal is the third highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Armed Forces. Instituted July 9, 1918. Devices: Bronze Oak Leaf, Silver Oak Leaf

The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed on members of the United States armed forces who distinguish themselves "conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States. Due to the nature of its criteria, it is often awarded posthumously. It was established on July 12, 1862 and has been awarded to only five Tank Destroyer soldiers. They are S/Sgt Clyde L. Choate (601st), 1st Lt. Turney W. Leonard (893rd), S/Sgt Herschel F. Briles (899th), 1st Lt. Charles L. Thomas (614th) and Sgt Arthur O. Beyer (603rd).

Glenn T. Coup (on right) standing in front of the PWE-29 (prisoner of war enclosure #29) sign. The sign is located along the road to the Camp Entrance, just to the left of the Eicke Platz (Eicke Square) and in front of the furniture and clothing works. Photo courtesy of the Glenn T. Coup family.

This is a post card postdated 1942, sent by my father, Corporal Robert Haldeman, H.Q. 6th T.D. Group Camp Hood, Texas to Miss Arwilda Lied of Stevens, PA. It reads as follows: Dear Arwilda, Just a few lines to let you know I am still living. You must forgive me for not writing any sooner. But you see I have very little time. How is every body especially the Humbuck? Your Cousin...

Photo courtesy of the Robert J. Arendt family.

Photo courtesy of the Robert J. Arendt family.

Photo courtesy of the Robert J. Arendt family.

Photo courtesy of the Robert J. Arendt family.

Photo courtesy of the Robert J. Arendt family.

Photo courtesy of the Robert J. Arendt family.

Photo courtesy of the Robert J. Arendt family.