TankDestroyer.net

SEEK * STRIKE * DESTROY

808th Tank Destroyer Battalion

Unit History:  Activated 27 March, 1942, at Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Arkansas.  Reorganized as a towed battalion in May, 1943.  Disembarked at Utah Beach on 19 September, 1944.  Entered the line east of the Moselle River six days later, where it remained until transferring to the Ardennes on 21 December.  Protected XII Corps flank through January 1945.  Converted to the M36 in February.  Supported drive to the Rhine in March and the river crossings south of Boppard late in the month.  Joined Third Army’s drive through Erfurt, Nürnberg, and south into Bavaria. Advanced to Linz, Austria, in early May.  Attached to: 5th, 65th, 76th, 80th Infantry divisions; 2d, 6th Cavalry groups.  History text from the book The Tank Killers by Harry Yeide.  Used by permission.

Combat Equipment: 9/44 – Towed 3″ Gun; 2/45 – M36

Commanding Officers:  Lt. Col. Robert C. McDonald Jr.

Code Name/s:  Height

Campaign Credits:   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:  Camp Howze, TX

Additional Information/Materials:

1.)  808th Tank Destroyer Battalion website – This link is not working. We unfortunately have not been able to contact the owner of the site. I am sorry for the inconvenience.

2.)  After Action Reports – from the Combined Arms Research Library of the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

                  Sep. 25-Oct. 31, 1944……….10 Pages

                  Nov. 1-30, 1944………………..9 Pages

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

                  Feb. 1-28, 1945……………….11 Pages (Page 5 missing)

                  Feb. 1-28, 1945……………….31 Pages (S-3 Reports, some pages difficult to read)

                  May 1-31, 1945……………….11 Pages (Some areas difficult to read)

                  May 1-4, 1945………………….4 Pages

                  May 1-8, 1945………………….7 Pages (S-3 Reports)

3.)  Miscellaneous Documents – Courtesy of the Tank Destroyer Association by L. L. Gill, TDA Historian.

                      Summary of Action in the ETO…1 Page

                News articles……………………….1 Page

4.)  Personnal Narrative – This was written by a former veteran of the 808th, 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.

                John Fondale, 6-17-1984………..3 Pages

5.)  A Company Route Map – Identified as being created by Captain Chjarles J. Seitz who was A Company Commander. The map image was provided courtesy of Charles Barnhouse.

6.)  808th Veterans Reminisce – An article by Jennie Jones Giles, a Times-News Staff Writer, which was posted on Aug 2, 2004, at 12:01 AM on the BlueRidgeNow.com news site. Two veterans of the 808th, George Lyde and Foy Isreal discuss their experiences. A PDF copy of the article is also available here. Thank you to Marsha Pense for sharing the article.

6.) Photo Gallery