Unit History: Redesignated from the 44th Antitank Battalion (Provisional) at Fort Dix, New Jersey, on 15 December, 1941. The unit shipped out on January 2, 1944, and arrived at Gourock, Scotland, in January, 1944. Landed at Utah Beach on 11 and 12 July equipped with M10’s. Committed to battle south of Le Haye Du Puits with the 8th Infantry Division on 15 July. Participated in Cobra breakout beginning 26 July. Advanced into Brittany in August and helped capture Brest in early September. Moved to Luxembourg in late September. Fought in the Hürtgen Forest in November. Companies A and C moved to the northern Ardennes sector by early December and participated in the Battle of the Bulge, with Company B arriving late in the game. Joined in elimination of the Bulge in early 1945 and the Roer River offensive in February. Reached the Rhine south of Cologne in March. Crossed river at Remagen and supported the reduction of the Ruhr Pocket in April. Swung eastward to the Elbe River and rolled toward the Baltic coast with the 82d Airborne Division, stopping in Schwerin. Attached to: 82d Airborne Division; 3d Armored Division; 1st, 2d, 8th, 9th, 86th, 99th, 104th Infantry divisions; 102d Cavalry Group. History text from the book The Tank Killers by Harry Yeide. Used by permission.
Combat Equipment: 7/44 – M10.
Commanding Officers: Major John Lemp (Original CO, 7/2/41, later Lt. Col.); Lt. Col. Ephraim F. Graham Jr. (8/42); Major Edward R. Garton (9/20/45)
Code Name/s: Hazard
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: Distinguished Unit Citation – 21-28 Nov 44, WD GO 21-47, Less Co. B
Croix De Guerre (French or Belgium “Cross of War”)
Location August 1945: Bergerhausen, Germany
Additional Information/Materials:
1.) 644th History “Fortune Favors the Brave” – Printed by Muster-Schmidt, Ltd., Gottingen, Germany on July 11, 1945. Book has 92 pages and is 10-1/2″ x 8″ in size. Includes roster along with awards and decorations. From the U.S. Military History Institute, courtesy of Barry Tindall.
2.) Website dedicated to the men of the 644th TD Bn – Authored by Bill Walker
3.) After Action Reports – from the Combined Arms Research Library of the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home, Abilene, Kansas (**).
Oct. 1-31, 1944………………4 Pages (**)
Nov. 1-30, 1944……………..4 Pages (poor quality)
Dec. 1-31, 1944……………..4 Pages
Jan. 1-31, 1945…………….19 Pages
Feb. 1-28, 1945…………….13 Pages
Apr. 1-30, 1945……………10 Pages
4.) Operational Reports – from the Combined Arms Research Library of the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home, Abilene, Kansas (**).
Jul. 11-31, 1944………………2 Pages
Aug. 1-31, 1944…………….26 Pages (includes one map overlay)
Sep. 1-30, 1944………………6 Pages (poor quality)
Oct. 1-31, 1944……………..12 Pages (portions poor quality) (**)
Mar. 1-31, 1945………………7 Pages (portions poor quality)
May 1-9, 1945………………..2 Pages
May 11-Aug. 1, 1945……..12 Pages (Includes officer roster) (**)
May 8-Sept. 30, 1945……..17 Pages (Includes officer roster and awards) (**)
Sept. 1-30, 1945…………….2 Pages (**)
5.) Unit Histories – Courtesy of the Tank Destroyer Association by L. L. Gill, TDA Historian.
July, 1944…………………….5 Pages
August……………………….15 Pages
September………………….17 Pages
October……………………….6 Pages
November…………………… 9 Pages
December, 1944…………….7 Pages (pgs missing)
January, 1945……………….4 Pages (pgs missing)
February…………………….18 Pages
March………………………..22 Pages
April………………………….22 Pages
May, 1945………………….13 Pages
6.) Miscellaneous Documents-from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home, Abilene, Kansas.
Various Documents, 1945-1945…………………………………21 Pages
TD Destruction of German Armor, Dec. 17-19, 1944………6 Pages (Includes crew
personnel names)
Rpt. on start of BoB, By Harold L. Hoffer, Rcn, Co. CO…..2 Pages
Awards & Citations………………………………………………..2 Pages
7.) Battalion Photo – Showing the full battalion on display, the photo is dated April 13, 1943. The unit’s history indicates they were stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington, during that time period. It was over a year later before the unit received their M10s. Provided courtesy of Paul Stevens.
8.) “Letters from my Uncle” – A book authored by Barry Tindall about his uncle Allan Croshaw and the men of the 644th. The book contains 162 pages. Sadly, Barry passed away in 2020, so the book is not longer available from the author.
9.) Photo Gallery