Unit History: Activated on 10 August, 1942, at Camp Gruber, Oklahoma. Reorganized as a towed battalion in July, 1943. Assigned to Communications Zone and 12th Army Group security duties between August and December 1944. On 17 December, the battalion entered combat near Malmedy, Belgium. Returned to security duties on 16 January, 1945. Attached to: 30th Infantry Division. History text from the book The Tank Killers by Harry Yeide. Used by permission.
Combat Equipment: 12/44 – Towed 3″ Gun
Commanding Officers: Lt. Col. Rudolph H. Mieding
Code Name/s: Highway
Campaign Credits: Northern France……………Jul. 25, to Sept. 14, 1944
Rhineland……………………Sept. 15, 1944 to Mar. 21, 1945
Central Europe……………..Mar. 22, to May 11, 1945
Ardennes-Alsace…………..Dec. 16, 1944 to Jan 25, 1945
Awards: None
Location August 1945: Verdun, France
Additional Information/Materials:
1.) Unit History – This 62 page document includes 19 pages of history, an awards and decorations page, a roster of each company and the medics, a list of those KIA and a list of where the unit was stationed and when. It was published in Wiesbaden, Germany in 1945 and was the possession of Pvt. Robert W. Letson, who was a member of Headquarters Company. He had a number of other HQ company members sign the book.
2.) Unit Histories-from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, Abilene, Kansas.
1942…………………………….2 Pages
1943…………………………….6 Pages (Includes 1 award)
1944-1945……………………..6 Pages
3.) After Action/Activity Reports – from the Combined Arms Research Library of the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, Abilene, Kansas (*).
Sep. 1-30, 1944………………..1 Page
Oct. 1-31, 1944………………..2 Pages
Nov. 1-30, 1944……………….1 Page
Dec. 1-31, 1944………………13 Pages
Dec. 17-31, 1944…………..6 Pages (AAR, Partial with map overlays)(*)
Dec. 17, 1944-Jan. 17, 1945..3 Pages (AAR, Co. A)(*)
Jan. 1-30, 1945………………..3 Pages
Jan. 1 to 17, 1945…………….2 Pages (AAR, Partial with map overlay)
Feb. 1-28, 1945……………….1 Page
Mar. 1-31, 1945……………….3 Pages (Includes awards)
Apr. 1-30, 1945……………..10 Pages
May 1-31, 1945……………….3 Pages (Includes awards)
June 1-30, 1945………………2 Pages (Includes awards)
Cadre Files and Personnel Listings, 1942-1943…………………..15 Pages
North Dakota Governor Ltr, Sept. 21, 1943………………………..2 Pages
Stars & Stripes Article, Dec. 19, 1944……………………………….1 Page
Awards & Decorations, 1944-1945…………………………………..4 Pages
Page from TDA newsletter-Co A at Stavelot, BE………………….1 Page (*)
Special Order No. 178, Officer Cadre from Fort Sill, OK…………1 Page (**)
5.) Action Front Newspaper/Newsletter – A weekly publication of the 825th Tank Destroyer Battalion
September 17, 1943 (Vol. I, No. 4) – Complete 8 page newspaper covering the unit’s time in North Dakota to assist with the wheat harvest along with other news-worthy articles. Courtesy of Serge Lemaire.
October 30, 1943 (Vol. 1, No. 8) – Various subjects
6.) Photo Gallery
7.) Wikipedia Entry for the 825th Tank Destroyer Battalion
8.) Highway II – A continuation of the unit’s original “Highway” history document but focused on the unit’s reunion, held in October 1986, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The majority of the 24 page booklet provides photos from the event with some WWII photos thrown in. There is also a directory of personnel that I assume were still in contact with the group as well as a listing of deceased members. Provided courtesy of Mary Kelly who is the daughter of 1st Sgt. Walter Hall, of A Company.
9.) Highway III – Another reunion booklet but from October 1987, which again was held in Myrtle Beach SC. The 16 page booklet follows the same format as the earlier one. Provided courtesy of Mary Kelly.
10.) Thanksgiving Menus
1942 Headquarters Company Menu – A seven page document which includes the menu for the Thanksgiving meal along with a quote from Thomas Paine and the “Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition” song lyrics and a listing of all the HQ Company personnel. Provided courtesy of Serge Lemaire.
1944 Menu – A four page document, which includes a written prayer by Cpl. Michael J. Sheridan of Headquarters Company and an address by the Commanding Officer Rudolph H. Mieding. Provided courtesy of Serge Lemaire.
1944 Company A Menu – A single page document that includes not only the list of food items but also the Commanding Officer, Cpt. Jospeh H Dilbert and the Mess Officer, Lt. Robert A Williams but also the names of the Mess Sergeant, Lawrence Ruvido and seven men on his staff. A note in the upper right corner of the page indicates that the unit was at La Reid, which is a village in the Belgian province of Liège. Provided courtesy of Serge Lemaire.