626th Tank Destroyer Battalion

Unit History:  Formed on December 15, 1941, at Camp Edwards, MA, as a Light Towed Battalion.  Deactivated on December 20, 1943, at Camp Gordon, GA.

Combat Equipment:  N/A

Commanding Officers:  Major James Ashworth (Orig CO); Lt. Col. Edward D. Sirois (9/4/42); Lt. Col. Gordon T. Kimbrell (3/16/43); Lt. Col. Clarence J. Krueger (4/2/43); William G. McQuade

Code Name/s:  N/A

Campaign Credits:  Continental U.S. Service Only

Awards:  None

Additional Information/Materials:

1.)  A Unit History of the 626th Tank Destroyer Battalion - by William G. McQuade.  Courtesy of the Tank Destroyer Association by L. L. Gill, TDA Historian.

2.)  Unit History Documents-Files pertaining to the unit's formation, personnel and eventual inactivation.  From the NARA.
      Unit History.....................................................................3 Pages
      Original Cadre, Dec, 1941 - Jan, 1942..............................14 Pages
      Officer Roster, March 17, 1943..........................................1 Page
      Umpire Assignments, Tenn. Maneuvers, June 12, 1943.......2 Pages
      Unit Inactivation, Dec, 1943..............................................4 Pages
      Disposition of personnel following inactivation:
            Part 1.......................................................................14 Pages
            Part 2.......................................................................13 Pages          

3.)  Miscellaneous Documents-from the NARA.

      Unit Commander changes.................................................3 Pages
      Unit Commendatiions....................................................... 6 Pages

4.)  1957 Reunion Photo - This group image of members of the 626th Tank Destroyer Battalion was taken on April 27, 1957, during the unit's annual reunion.  This particular meeting was held at the Gardner Hotel in Boston, MA.  The photo was provided to me by Bob Hobbs of the Plaistow Historical Society, Inc. of Plaistow, New Hampshire.  It is part of their collection and is believed to have been donated by a Plaistow resident. 

As part of a project to identify all veterans of Plaistow, if anyone has any information relating to this photo or any of the veterans shown in it, please use the contact link on the Homepage to send me a note.  The Plaistow Historical Society and I will be grateful.

5.)  Company B Group Photo - Taken at an unknown location with a compliment of only 85 men. This may have been early in the men's training since they do not have the tank destroyer patch and a number of the men are holding infantry rifles.