TankDestroyer.net

SEEK * STRIKE * DESTROY

679th Tank Destroyer Battalion (AA)

Unit History:  Activated on 26 June, 1943, at Camp Hood, Texas, as one of several battalions with black enlisted personnel and mostly white officers.  It also has the distinction of being the last tank destroyer battalion to be activated.  Converted to a towed battalion on 14 July, 1943.  Disembarked at Le Havre, France, on 21 January, 1945, then re-embarked at Marseilles on 1 March for transfer to Italy.  Entered the line in IV Corps sector on 17 March. Supported assault on La Spezia in April and advanced to Genoa by early May.  Attached to: 92d Infantry Division. History text from the book The Tank Killers by Harry Yeide.  Used by permission.

Combat Equipment:  3/45 – Towed 3″ Gun

Commanding Officers:  Major Theodore R. C. King (Original CO, 6/26/43);  Capt. Evans (12/3/43);  Major J. H. Turner (1/4/44);  Major Laurent (1/10/44);  Lt. Col. Nichols (5/1/44);  Lt. Col. Donald McGrayne (11/25/44);  Major Harry L. Lyon (7/17/45);  Lt. Col. James C. Horne (9/3/45)

Code Name/s:  Unknown

Campaign Credits:   North Apennines…………..Sept. 10, 1944 to Apr. 4, 1945

                                 Po Valley…………………….Apr. 5, 1945 to May 8, 1945

Awards:  None

Location August 1945:  Bolzanetto, Italy

Additional Information/Materials:

The following documents are all of the files available from the National Archives in College Park, Maryland. 

1.)  Diary, June 26, 1942-June 30, 1945.  This was kept by at least two people based on the differing hand writing.

      Part 1…………………………….11 Pages

      Part 2…………………………….11 Pages

      Part 3………………………………8 Pages

      Part 4…………………………….10 Pages

      Part 5………………………………9 Pages (Includes casualties, awards & extensive officer     roster)

2.) Unit Histories

      March 1-31, 1945……………….1 Page

      April 1-30, 1945…………………1 Page (Includes casualties)

      May 1-31, 1945………………….2 Pages

      June 1-30, 1945…………………1 Page (Includes awards)

      July 1-31, 1945………………….2 Pages

      Aug. 1-31, 1945…………………2 Pages

3.)  Miscellaneous Documents

      Route of travel & dates, Dec. 22, 1944-June 18, 1945………1 Page

      S-3 Reports, April 4-June 1, 1945……………………………….8 Pages

      Report on special missions fired, April 5-28, 1945…………..2 Pages

      Map of unit positions, April 5-May 2, 1945…………………….1 Page

      Officer Roster, April 16, 1945…………………………………….1 Page

      Various Orders, Assignments, Directives, etc., 1944-1945..37 Pages

      Assumption of Command, Sept. 3, 1945……………………….1 Page

      GO #91, Unit Inactivation, Co. C, Oct. 26, 1945……………..1 Page