TankDestroyer.net

SEEK * STRIKE * DESTROY

654th Tank Destroyer Battalion

Unit History:  Activated on 15 December, 1941, at Fort Benning, Georgia.  Disembarked at Omaha Beach on 11 July, 1944, with M10’s.  Committed to battle on 12 July near Fallot, France.  Fought at Mortain in August, then advanced across France toward Nancy.  Fought along border and crossed the Saar River in early December.  Deployed to the Ardennes sector on 21 December.  Shifted back south to the Metz region in January, 1945.  Returned to Belgium in February and converted to the M36.  Participated in the offensive across the Roer River and then across the Rhine on 24 March.  Advanced to Tangerhutte and remained there until taking on military government duties in early May.  Attached to: 5th, 30th, 35th, 75th Infantry divisions.  History text from the book The Tank Killers by Harry Yeide. Used by permission.

Combat Equipment: 7/44 – M10; 2/45 – M36B1

Commanding Officers:  Lt. Col. Lansing McVicker (3/42);  Lt. Col. William V. Martz (MIA);  John H. Minton (8/8/44)

Code Name/s:  Highroad

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:  Meritorious Service Unit Plaque (Section V GO 32, Hq. 35th Inf. Div. – 13 May 45)

Location August 1945:  Venlo, Holland

Additional Information/Materials:

1.)  Detailed website on the 654th TD Bn.  Created by Andy Graves and Rose Marie Boarman.  Andy is the nephew of Frederick G. Easley, a TD Commander from the 654th.  Site includes an overview of the unit’s history plus a very detailed day by day history derived from the unit’s After Action Reports and misc. other documents.  Also has a number of photos.  Andy tells me they have much more to add in the future.

2.)  Company B Platoon Photo  – Taken at an unknown location but probably while the unit was training in the U.S.

3.)  Group Photo HQ Company – Taken while stationed in England but sources identify it as being at Welford Park in the county of Berkshire.

4.)  Brief History, 1943-1945.………..1 Page.  Courtesy of the Tank Destroyer Association by L. L. Gill, TDA Historian.

5.)  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 (**).

            Jul. 12 to 31, 1944…………..6 Pages (**)

            Aug. 1 to 31, 1944…………..2 Pages

            Sep. 1 to 30, 1944……………6 Pages

            Oct. 1 to 31, 1944……………6 Pages

            Nov. 1 to 30, 1944…………..6 Pages (some portions illegible)

            Dec. 1 to 31, 1944……………9 Pages

            Jan. 1 to 31, 1945……………5 Pages

            Feb. 1 to 28, 1945……………6 Pages

            Mar. 1 to 31, 1945……………7 Pages

            Apr. 1 to 30, 1945……………6 Pages (poor quality)

            May 1 to 31, 1945……………3 Pages (**)

6.)  Photo Gallery