TankDestroyer.net

SEEK * STRIKE * DESTROY

629th Tank Destroyer Battalion

Unit History:  Established 15 December 1941, at Fort Meade, Maryland.  Arrived in Liverpool, England, on 9 January, 1944 and disembarked at Omaha Beach on 2 July with M10s.  Performed artillery missions in Caumont sector.  Joined 30th Infantry Division in fighting at Mortain in early August, then supported reduction of the Falaise Pocket. Participated in V Corps parade through Paris on 29 August.  Advanced to Luxembourg by early September and then supported operations in the Hürtgen Forest and against the Siegfried Line.  Shifted to Ardennes sector on 24 December.  Fought to eliminate the Bulge in January 1945.  Joined renewed assault on Siegfried Line in February. Crossed Rhine River into Remagen bridgehead on 11 March and converted to the M36 that same month.  Participated in operations against the Ruhr Pocket in April, then conducted road march south to Bavaria and reached the Isar River before ending offensive operations. *On Thursday, November 22, 1945, the USS Hermitage (originally SS Conte Biancamano) sailed from Marseille Harbor with 5,799 aboard with units from the 12th Armored Division and the 629th Tank Destroyer Battalion. The ship arrived in New York City on Saturday, December 1, 1945 at Pier 88 North River, at 48th Street at approximately noon. Attached to: 82d Airborne Division; 5th Armored Division; 1st, 2d, 5th, 9th, 28th, 30th, 75th, 83d, 99th Infantry divisions.  History text from the book The Tank Killers by Harry Yeide.  Used by permission.

* Additional Information

Combat Equipment:  7/44 – M10; 3/45 – M36.

Commanding Officers:  Lt. Col. Glenn Cole

Code Name/s:  Vinegar

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:  Distinguished Unit Citation – 9-11 Jan 45, WD GO 11-46, 1st Platoon Co. B only and 10-13 Dec 44, WD GO 18-47 Co. B only

Location August 1945:  Neurath, Germany

Additional Information/Materials:

1.)  Unit History, 1941-1945-A short history of the unit.  Courtesy of the Tank Destroyer Association by L. L. Gill, TDA Historian.

2.)  Route of March, July 2 – Dec. 31, 1944.  Units route of travel in ETO.

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

             Jul. 1-31, 1944………………..2 Pages

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

             Sep. 1-30, 1944……………….1 Page

             Oct. 1-31, 1944………………13 Pages (includes map overlays)

             Nov. 1-30, 1944……………….8 Pages (includes map overlay)

             Dec. 1-31, 1944………………12 Pages (includes map overlay)

             Jan. 1-31, 1945………………..9 Pages (includes awards listing)

             Feb. 1-28, 1945………………..8 Pages (includes awards listing and map overlay)

             Mar. 1-31, 1945………………..8 Pages (poor quality)

                  Apr. 1-30, 1945………………..8 Pages (includes awards listing)

             May 1-31, 1945…………………7 Pages (includes awards listing)

             Jun. 1-30, 1945……………….30 Pages (Summary of Ops)

             Jun. 1-30, 1945…………………2 Pages (Resume of Ops)

4.)  Unit Journals-from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home, Abilene, Kansas.

             Jan. 1-30, 1945……………….37 Pages

             Feb. 1-28, 1945……………….30 Pages

             Mar. 1-31, 1945……………….31 Pages

             Apr. 1-30, 1945……………….33 Pages

             May 1-31, 1945………………..31 Pages

             June 1-30, 1945……………….30 Pages

5.)  Miscellaneous Documents-from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home, Abilene, Kansas.  Also courtesy of the Tank Destroyer Association by L. L. Gill, TDA Historian. (*)

             Unit History, 1944…..27 Pages (Includes commanding officers, casualties & awards)

             Various Documents, 1942-1945…13 Pages

             Combat Experience Report………..1 Page (*)

             Revised Basic Loads………………..1 Page (*)

             News articles…………………………2 Pages (*)

6.)  Photo Gallery 1

7.)  Photo Gallery 2