A fine grouping of China from the Camp Hood facility. Imprint on bottom reads: Sterling, Vitrified China, East Liverpool, Ohio, USA.
Eight point OSS (Office of Strategic Services) compass identical to the one my father brought home after the war. I picked this one up from the Island of Cyprus in the Mediterranean. We believe his was used behind enemy lines for reconnaissance. It is actually smaller then a dime so it could be easily swallowed if necessary.
Camp Hood TD pennant detail.
Camp Hood Pennant.
A very nice Camp Hood Pennant in burgandy with yellow lettering. Courtesy of Larry Stevens.
Camp Hood Texas post card.
M-3 Halftrack Decal, Camp Hood, Texas.
Tank Destroyer metal plate. Text says M-10 but it's really an M-36. Note the large rear counterweight on the rear of the turret.
Tank Destroyer Panther shoulder patch. Later four wheel version.
Tank Destroyer Panther shoulder patch. Early eight wheel version.
Regimental Officer's Party program. Camp Hood, Texas. Dated October 17th, 1942
Genuine JACO-LAC Decal sheet No. 191
"This Is Camp Hood" brochure cover. Describes itself as a Camera Trip Through the Army's Tank Destroyer Center. Approximately 14 two-sided pages plus the cover. No date that I could find.
Small 11 page booklet actually put out by the Southwestern Bell Telephone Company who handled the phone service on the base. The back of the book has two pages for names and phone numbers as well as a phone rates chart when calling from Camp Hood.
Cover from the October 1943 issue of Popular Science magazine. Five page article within - "I Am A Tank-Destroyer Commander" describes the life of Sergeant Thurman Horton of Clarkton, NC and his crew in their hard-hitting M-10 "panther".
Sweetheart Pin made by the Galawood-Roth company of New York. Note that the item is made from "Non-Essential War Material".
Official Tank Destroyer Center safety match box with matches. Matches made by the Universal Match Corp. of St. Louis.
Back of the match box promoting the sale of War Bonds. Matches made by the Universal Match Corp. of St. Louis.
Officer's Tank Destroyer Collar devise. Note that in this set, both point left, which is correct. Newer fake versions often point left and right. Originals can have threaded or pin backs.
Enlisted men's collar devise.
M-10 Tank Destroyer post card. Statement says they were designed to knock out the heaviest enemy tank, unfortunately the 3" gun they came equipped with was no match against the German Panther and Tiger Tanks. It was only the resourcefulness and tenacity of the U.S. crews that ultimately helped them win many head-on conflicts.
One of many variations of fringed pillow cases from Camp Hood.
Buick M-18 Tank Destroyer Ad.
Embroidery Template for the Tank Destroyer emblem. Die-cut template to guide a seamstress to hand embroider the sleeve patch. Measures 2.75" in diameter.
1945 advertisement for the United States Rubber Company touting the use of their tires on the farms of Iowa and tank destroyers.
One of 18 post card sized images packaged in a mailable fold-old package telling the story of the Tank Destroyer Force and showing some of the activities around Camp Hood. This one shows the Headquarters of the Tank Destroyer Center in Camp Hood, TX. There is a film crew and a band in the image...their may have been high-ranking officers or dignitaries there for the day. Could possibly have been opening day for the new facility.
Main Entrance, Camp Hood Texas the Home of the Tank Destroyers - Image from the Picture Story of Camp Hood card collection.
Wedding at chapel - Image from the Picture Story of Camp Hood card collection.
One of the Tank Destroyer Bands - Image from the Picture Story of Camp Hood card collection.
Close Combat Fire developed by the Tank Destroyers, Camp Hood Texas - Image from the Picture Story of Camp Hood card collection.
A Company of Tank Destroyers in Line - Image from the Picture Story of Camp Hood card collection.
A Company of Tank Destroyer WACS - Image from the Picture Story of Camp Hood card collection.
Over 150,000 women served in the WAC (Women's Army Corps) and WAAC (Women's Army Auxiliary Corps) during WWII. General Douglas MacArthur called the WACs "my best soldiers", adding that they worked harder, complained less, and were better disciplined than men.
Dismounted Review of Soldiers - Image from the Picture Story of Camp Hood card collection.
Front View, Tank Destroyer and Crew - Image from the Picture Story of Camp Hood card collection.
Inside View of Tank Destroyer Gun Crew in Action - Image from the Picture Story of Camp Hood card collection.
Hellzapoppin at the Home of the Tank Destroyers with Joan Blondell - Image from the Picture Story of Camp Hood card collection.
Miss America of 1942 (Jo-Carroll Dennison of Tyler, Texas) visits The Tank Destroyers at the Soldiers' Service Club - Image from the Picture Story of Camp Hood card collection.
Mounted Review of Tank Destroyers - Image from the Picture Story of Camp Hood card collection.
Portion of Nazi Village used in Teaching Village Fighting - Image from the Picture Story of Camp Hood card collection.
Realism in Tank Destroyer Training - Image from the Picture Story of Camp Hood card collection.
And yes, that is live machine gun fire being used to train the men.
Rope Climbing on the Tank Destroyer Obstacle Course - Image from the Picture Story of Camp Hood card collection.
The Tank Destroyer, the Paramount Weapon of the T.D.'s - Image from the Picture Story of Camp Hood card collection.
Water Hazard, Tank Destroyer Obstacle Course - Image from the Picture Story of Camp Hood card collection.
The ring shown was purchased from a local antique shop along with a copy of the 774th Tank Destroyer Battalion History. The original owner is thought to be a Joseph E. Thibault, who was a member of B Company, and possibly from the Bristol County Massachusetts area. Thank you to Mike Coffey for sharing your excellent find with the site.
An Officer's Candidate School Ring from Camp Hood. I am not sure how many of these were produced or if everyone was given one or not. Definitely one of the rarer pieces of Tank Destroyer history.
A grouping of printer's stamps used by The Mines Press Inc., of New York. They were sent back to Walter Schraeter who lived in Brooklyn and was the Chairman & Secretary of the 771st Tank Destroyer Battalion Association in 1961, and I assume served in the unit. These stamps include full image stamps (small and large) of the tank destroyer logo and there are also stamps for each individual color of the logo. Included with this collection was a set of stamps for the DUI (distinctive unit insignia) for the 771st TD Bn. Items provided by Daniel Pinnavaia.
A package of self-sealing letterheads, which could be used by the men to write home.
An open package of self-sealing letterheads.
A detail photo of one of the Camp Hood self-sealing letterheads. The men could write a letter and fold it into an envelope for mailing. Courtesy of Jeff Williams.
A set of salt and pepper shakers from Camp Hood.
