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SEEK * STRIKE * DESTROY

637th Tank Destroyer Battalion

Unit History:  Established December 19, 1941, at Camp Shelby, MS, from personnel of the 37nd Infantry Division.  Originally a Light Towed Battalion, they shipped from the San Francisco port of embarkation on May 12, 1942 and arrived in Australia on May 26, 1942.  Arrived Fiji Islands on June 28, 1942.  Unit was attached to the 11th Airborne Div., 1st Cavalry and 37th Infantry Div.  Inactivated in Japan on Jan. 25, 1946.

Combat Equipment:  8/44 – M18.

Commanding Officers:  Lt. Col. Carlos Fish (Original CO);  Lt. Col. Gilmore (1942);  Lt. Col. Russell Ramsey (7/42);  Lt. Col. Richard L. McNelly (1942 – 6/11/45);  Major Allison D. Holmes Jr. (6/11/45);  Lt. Col. Nathaniel P. Ward III (7/28/45)

Code Name/s:  Unknown

Campaign Credits:   Luzon…………………………Jan. 9, to Jul. 4, 1945

Awards:  Distinguished Unit Citation – 6 Feb-2 Mar 45, WD GO 13-46

Location August 1945:  Philippine Islands

Additional Information/Materials:

The following documents are from the Combined Arms Research Library of the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.  Also courtesy of the Tank Destroyer Association by L. L. Gill, TDA Historian (*).

1.)  Battalion History from Jan. 1, 1945 – Jan. 25, 1946 – Includes casualties and awards listing.  14 Pages.

2.)  Unit History, 1941-1945………………………..4 Pages (*)

3.)  Operational Reports

              Jan. 9 – Jun. 30, 1945 – Part 1……….17 Pages (S3 Report on Luzon Campaign)

              Jan. 9 – Jun. 30, 1945 – Part 2……….18 Pages (S3 Report on Luzon Campaign)

4.)  Field Orders

              #8 – Nov. 29, 1944

              #10 – Jun. 11, 1945

              #11 – Aug. 29, 1945

              #12 – Oct. 3, 1945

5.)  Commendations for 1945……….8 Pages

6.)  General Order #13 – Distinguished Unit Citation, Feb. 1946………………1 Page (*) 

7.)  Group Photo of HQ Company – Taken at Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, on March 29th, 1942. Provided courtesy of Paul Stevens.

8.)  News articles about, or that mention, the 637th.  Courtesy of the Tank Destroyer Association by L. L. Gill, TDA Historian.

                    City’s ‘Tigers’, Cleveland News, Nov 21, 1944………………………..2 Pages
               Los Banos’ Freedom Day, V.F.W. Magazine, Feb, 1979…………….1 Page

9.)  Personal Narrative – This was written by a former veteran of the 637th, during the 1980’s, in response to questions he recieved from the author doing research for an upcoming book on U. S. tank destroyer forces.  Courtesy of the Tank Destroyer Association by L. L. Gill, TDA Historian.

                Glenn M. Poe, Feb 17, 1983………………………………………………1 Page

10.)  Photo Gallery