803rd TD Battalion

Home Units Unit Photo Galleries803rd TD Battalion

An 803rd TD Bn M-10 fires on a German pillbox on the other side of the Sauer River, near Echternach, Luxembourg, in support of an 11th IR, 5th ID drive. Feb 7, 1945. Signal Corps Photo #200040 from the National Archives.
200040 803rd 200040 803rd
This photo is thought to be Camp Roberts, which is near San Luis Obispo in California. Felix Swehla was sent there for his early military training. The Camp comprises 42,784 acres and at its peak and could house 30,000 trainees at one time. It was named after Medal of Honor recipient Corporal Harold W. Roberts, who sacrificed his life to save the gunner of his tank from drowning. Photo courtesy of Ron Swehla.
803rd Swehla Desert Tent Camp 803rd Swehla Desert Tent Camp
Here you can see Felix Swehla and an unknown soldier on right at what we believe is Camp Roberts. This would have been initial training for Felix's and others that would eventually be part of the 803rd Tank Destroyer Battalion as well as other units. Photo courtesy of Rob Swehla.
803rd Felix Swehla and friend at tent 803rd Felix Swehla and friend at tent
Felix Swehla sits straddling the 75mm gun of one of the unit's M3 Tank Destroyers. The 803rd only used the M3s during training. After shipping to Europe, they first saw action in June of 1944 using M10s and later converted to M36s in March of 1945. Photo courtesy of Rob Swehla.
803rd Felix Swehla sitting on M3 75mm 803rd Felix Swehla sitting on M3 75mm
Felix Swehla stands on right with an unidentified solider at a line of M3 Half-tracks. These units were obviously equipped as transports rather than gun carriages. Photo courtesy of Rob Swehla.
803rd Swehla 2 guys at M3 transport 803rd Swehla 2 guys at M3 transport
An unknown soldier sits with Felix Swehla on left at what is probably their M3 75mm GMC (Gun Motor Carriage). The comments on the reverse mention there were many people there for a parade, which may have been in connection with maneuvers that the unit had participated in. Photo courtesy of Ron Swehla.
803rd Swehla 2 sitting at M3 tracks 803rd Swehla 2 sitting at M3 tracks
Here Technician 5th Grade Felix Swehla stands in center with what is identified as his assistant driver ( in undershirt) and two other soldiers that just wanted to be in the picture. Photo courtesy of Ron Swehla.
803rd Swehla 3 Guys at M3 803rd Swehla 3 Guys at M3
Another photo with Felix Swehla and some guys from his crew or his unit. Felix is sitting second from right. Photo couretsy of Ron Swehla.
803rd Swehla 4 Guys on M3 803rd Swehla 4 Guys on M3
Felix Swehla stands at the rear of Company B's #22 transport or cargo truck. Photo courtesy of Ron Swehla.
803rd Felix Swehla behind truck 803rd Felix Swehla behind truck
A nice frontal shot of Company B's #37 M3 75mm GMC (Gun Motor Carriage). Photo courtesy of Ron Swehla.
803rd Swehla M3 with 3 inch gun 803rd Swehla M3 with 3 inch gun
A large group of soldiers looking to board a ship. Possibly for the ride to Normandy. Photo courtesy of Ron Swehla.
803rd Swehla soldiers on shore w boat 803rd Swehla soldiers on shore w boat
Pictured on left is James W. Walker who served in B Company of the 803rd, standing with an unidentified soldier. From the casual nature of the photo, this may have been late in the war, after James had already been awarded his Silver Star for Gallantry. The award was for actions in the town of St. Lo, France, where at the time he was a Corporal and a gunner in an M10 tank destroyer. He was later promoted to Sergeant and placed in charge of two Scout vehicles and their crews. Photo courtesy of Joyce Baugh.
803rd James W Walker and friend 803rd James W Walker and friend
A photo that has been identified as Lt. Joseph A. Marcotte, Jr., leading his men through a town. Since the signage is in English, this may have been while the 803rd was still in England. Lt. Marcotte entered the service from New Jersey in September of 1941. He was killed by a sniper on October 12, 1944, while serving in Germany. Photo courtesy of Richard Marcotte.
803rd Marching through a town 803rd Marching through a town

An 803rd TD Bn M-10 fires on a German pillbox on the other side of the Sauer River, near Echternach, Luxembourg, in support of an 11th IR, 5th ID drive. Feb 7, 1945. Signal Corps Photo #200040 from the National Archives.

This photo is thought to be Camp Roberts, which is near San Luis Obispo in California. Felix Swehla was sent there for his early military training. The Camp comprises 42,784 acres and at its peak and could house 30,000 trainees at one time. It was named after Medal of Honor recipient Corporal Harold W. Roberts, who sacrificed his life to save the gunner of his tank from drowning. Photo courtesy of Ron Swehla.

Here you can see Felix Swehla and an unknown soldier on right at what we believe is Camp Roberts. This would have been initial training for Felix's and others that would eventually be part of the 803rd Tank Destroyer Battalion as well as other units. Photo courtesy of Rob Swehla.

Felix Swehla sits straddling the 75mm gun of one of the unit's M3 Tank Destroyers. The 803rd only used the M3s during training. After shipping to Europe, they first saw action in June of 1944 using M10s and later converted to M36s in March of 1945. Photo courtesy of Rob Swehla.

Felix Swehla stands on right with an unidentified solider at a line of M3 Half-tracks. These units were obviously equipped as transports rather than gun carriages. Photo courtesy of Rob Swehla.

An unknown soldier sits with Felix Swehla on left at what is probably their M3 75mm GMC (Gun Motor Carriage). The comments on the reverse mention there were many people there for a parade, which may have been in connection with maneuvers that the unit had participated in. Photo courtesy of Ron Swehla.

Here Technician 5th Grade Felix Swehla stands in center with what is identified as his assistant driver ( in undershirt) and two other soldiers that just wanted to be in the picture. Photo courtesy of Ron Swehla.

Another photo with Felix Swehla and some guys from his crew or his unit. Felix is sitting second from right. Photo couretsy of Ron Swehla.

Felix Swehla stands at the rear of Company B's #22 transport or cargo truck. Photo courtesy of Ron Swehla.

A nice frontal shot of Company B's #37 M3 75mm GMC (Gun Motor Carriage). Photo courtesy of Ron Swehla.

A large group of soldiers looking to board a ship. Possibly for the ride to Normandy. Photo courtesy of Ron Swehla.

Pictured on left is James W. Walker who served in B Company of the 803rd, standing with an unidentified soldier. From the casual nature of the photo, this may have been late in the war, after James had already been awarded his Silver Star for Gallantry. The award was for actions in the town of St. Lo, France, where at the time he was a Corporal and a gunner in an M10 tank destroyer. He was later promoted to Sergeant and placed in charge of two Scout vehicles and their crews. Photo courtesy of Joyce Baugh.

A photo that has been identified as Lt. Joseph A. Marcotte, Jr., leading his men through a town. Since the signage is in English, this may have been while the 803rd was still in England. Lt. Marcotte entered the service from New Jersey in September of 1941. He was killed by a sniper on October 12, 1944, while serving in Germany. Photo courtesy of Richard Marcotte.