Unit History: Established 15 December, 1941, at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. Arrived at Cherbourg, France, 7 September, 1944, equipped with M18’s. Entered the line near Prummern on 20 November and supported operations against the Siegfried Line. Shifted to the Ardennes sector around Rochefort, Belgium, on 22 December. Fought to reduce the Bulge during January 1945. Supported Roer River crossing in February. Crossed the Rhine River on 1 April. Advanced across Germany and reached the Elbe River, near Wittenberg, on 24 April. Attached to: 84th Infantry Division. History text from the book The Tank Killers by Harry Yeide. Used by permission.
Combat Equipment: 11/44 – M18
Commanding Officers: Lt. Col. Harold L. Davis
Code Name/s: Coachman
Campaign Credits: 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: Ft Benning, GA
Additional Information/Materials:
1.) Small photo gallery of the 638th TD Bn on the 84th Infantry Division website.
2.) 638th Tank Destroyer Battalion in WWII – A book published in January 1992, by “Art” Arthur R. Paulin, who served in HQ Company of the unit. I want to thank Dr. Nancy McDonald, daughter of the unit’s commanding officer, Lt. Col. Harold L. Davis, for providing us with a copy of the book. I want to especially thank the Paulin family for allowing us to post the book on our site. The book was a labor of love for Art with him handling the writing and his wife Anne doing the typing. The text has been scanned with O.C.R. so it is searchable. A unit roster is provided at the end of the book.
3.) Advance Party Shipment Documents – Prior to the battalion moving overseas, advance parties were sent ahead to receive orders for offloading, assembly areas and personnel billets. Courtesy of Henry Anderson.
4.) Troop Movement to the POE Documents – The document provides information relative to a unit’s movement to the port of embarkation. It’s dated for early November, 1944, when the owner probably received orders to ship overseas. Courtesy of Henry Anderson. Note: Large File
5.) Company B Roster – List of personnel while the unit was at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, prior to shipping overseas. Courtesy of Henry Anderson.
6.) Battalion Roster – Dated October 18, 1944. Courtesy of Henry Anderson.
The following documents are 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 (**).
7.) Operational Reports
Nov. 1 – 30, 1944…………..3 Pages
Dec. 1 – 31, 1944……………7 Pages (Includes casualties and awards)
Jan. 1 – 31, 1945……………9 Pages (After Action with casualties)
Feb. 1 – 28, 1945……………4 Pages
Mar. 1 – 31, 1945……………8 Pages
Apr. 1 – 30, 1945……………8 Pages
May 1 – 31, 1945……………3 Pages
June 1 – 21, 1945…………..9 Pages (Includes awards) (**)
8.) Awards and Promotions
December 1944……………..3 Pages
January 1945………………..4 Pages
February 1945……………….8 Pages
March 1945…………………18 Pages
April 1945…………………….3 Pages (Unit and individual)
April (Late) & May 1945…25 Pages
9.) Miscellaneous Documents-from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home, Abilene, Kansas and courtesy of the Tank Destroyer Association by L. L. Gill, TDA Historian.
Basic Load Recommendation………………….1 Page
Various Documents, 1943-1944………………6 Pages
10.) Photo Gallery