Journal Of Company A, 702nd Tank Battalion "Red Devils"
By Multiple Authors, Painstakingly Transcribed By Lela And Howard Eitel
Edited/Converted To HTML By Terry D. Janes
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1 Sept 1944
France
Location-near ST. ETIENNE -Received new tracks for the tanks and Capt. Smith's, Lt. East's, Sgt's. Deem, Gratazy's and Wil!iams' tanks all got new motors.
2 Sept 1944
France
Location- ST. ETIENNE -No change. Maintenance of weapons.
3 Sept 1944
France
Location-- ST. ETIENNE -No change, Maintenance of vehicles.
4 Sept 1944
France
Location-- ST. ETIENNE -Pvt. Arthur A. Jedrezewski and Pvt. Charles L. Baker transferred to Service Co. Pvt. John R. Quinn, Pvt. Robert G. Shafer, Pvt. Robert L. Sharp all assigned to "A" Co.
5 Sept 1944
France
Location-- ST. ETIENNE -Pvt. Albert P. Pritchard and Pvt. Kenneth I. Preston assigned to "A" CO.
6 Sept 1944
France
Location-- ST. ETIENNE -Cpl. Arthur Van Fossen was slightly injured and evacuated to Hospital The Company moved out of St. Etienne Au Temple at 0140 and arrived at Flirey at 1100.
7 Sept 1944
France
Location--FLIREY--The Company departed from Flirey at 1500 and arrived at Gezoncourt at 1800.
8 Sept 1944
France
Location--GEZONCOURT--Lt. East, S/Sgt. Smalley and PFC Palmer were ordered to go on reconnaissance with Capt. Smith at 1000 to Dieulouard. They left Dieulouard for a small island in the Moselle River and proceeded to recon for a suitable spot for the tanks to ford the river. T/5 Blew, when returning with the peep, reported machine gun fire, small arms fire and hand-grenade explosions. Capt. Smith, Lt. East, S/Sgt Smalley and PFC Palmer are listed as M.I.A.
9 Sept 1944
France
Location-- GEZONCOURT--Company departed from Gezoncourt at 1130 and arrived in Tremble Court at 1430. Cpl. Robert L. Harris -Duty to M.I.A. as of 28 Aug. 1944. 1st. Lt. Francis L. McDermott, T/4 Thomas Hildebrand, Cpl. John Janny, PFC Joseph Fassl, Pvt. Henry Coira all assigned "A" Co. from "C" Co. Lt. McDermott assumed command of the Company today.
10 Sept 1944
France
Location -- TREMBLECOURT Remained in Tremblecourt. No change.
11 Sept 1944
France
Location--TREMBLECOURT--Today- Company had showers and went to church. Capt. Robert L. Smith, 1st Lt. Aubrey E. East, S/Sgt. Dillie R. Small, PFC Francis A. Palmer, all Duty to M.I.A.
12 Sept 1944
France
Location--TREMBLECOURT--Cpl. Arthur Van Fossen, assigned to Co. Hospital to Duty The Company took up a tactical position approximately two kilometers from Dieulouard in a patch of woods. They drew some Artillery fire. Could observe enemy activities on the opposite bank of the river.
13 Sept 1944
France
Location--Near DIEULOUARD--Company departed from vicinity of Dieulouard and crossed the river on a pontoon bridge, under cover of darkness, for a combat mission. Enemy action started with machine-gun and artillery fire. Enemy tanks encountered. Our tanks took up positions on a hill past Bezaumont with Lt, Croxton on the left and acting Platoon Leader S/Sgt. Murray in the center with Lt. Atkins on the extreme right. About 0530 the Germans counter-attacked and during the ensuing battle Sgt. Polin's tank was hit 3 times by a German Mark IV. PFC Kiker and PFC Seeberger were killed and Cpl. Eiler and T/4 Wisniewski were wounded. Upon meeting this opposition Capt. McDermott, S/Sgt. Murray and Sgt. Reidenbach deployed their tanks on the side of the hill while Sgt. Szymanski was hit in the neck by German "Burp-gun" fire while on patrol. PFC O'Donnell took charge and directed his tank back as far as Bezaumont (which later was taken by the Germans). Later in the day they (Germans) recaptured the town of Bezaumont and the high ground behind it where Capt. McDermott's, Sgt. Reidenbach's and Sgt. Murphy's tanks were all hit by enemy fire, disabling the 3 tanks and killing Cpl. Stan Weiss, who was dragged from his burning tank by PFC Maar and S/Sgt. Murray. PFC Pizza, PFC Maar, T/5 Trather, Capt. McDermott and PFC Hickman were all wounded in this action. In Lt. Croxton's sector, he and Talum in one corner of the woods and Sgt. Deem and Gratopp in another were receiving heavy barrages from the Germans. The infantry and T.D.'s both departed due to intensity of enemy fire. Still later, the 4th Armored Recon came forward and began firing on Deem's, and Gratopp's tanks, unaware that any American vehicles had advanced so far ahead.
14 Sept l944
France
Location--Near DIEULOUARD--Lt. Croxton's Platoon was joined by S/Sgt. Larkin's and Sgt. Jones' tanks, with S/Sgt. Larkin knocking out a German tank and another enemy vehicle. Cpl. William H. Prewett-Duty to Hospital L.W.A.
15 Sept 1944
France
Location--Same—Pvt's. Fred J. Kirkley, George L. LaCross, Arthur E. Collins and---Charles L. Baker all transferred from Service Co. to "A".
16 Sept 1944
France
Location--Same--No change in situation ... we remain, adjusting our positions on top of the hill.
17 Sept 1944
France
Location--Same--A platoon of tanks left to give support to the infantry attacking Ville au Val. The weather was extremely adverse...raining always and occasionally foggy. Sgt. George R. Williams Duty to Hospital S.W.A.
18 Sept 1944
France
Location--Near DIEULOUARD--Lt. John W. Croxton-Duty to Hospital, L.W.A. 8 tanks left Bezaumont at 1300 and attacked Morey. Braving intense artillery and mortar fire and clearing minefields and roadblocks, they boldly entered the town of the enemy! Regimental C.P., and completed their mission without any casualties. Pvt. Oris W. Drouin, Pvt. Wayne S, Whitehouse, Pvt. Lawrence Terzo, Pvt. Michael P. Likas, Pvt. John P. Marello, Pvt. John T. Wagner, PFC Ratburn L. Kirtley, Pvt. Paris Dugger Jr., Pvt. Raymond Brisson, Pvt. George E. LaBreck, and Pvt. Robert W. Donahoe all assigned to "A" Co.
19 Sept 1944
France
Location--Near BEZAUMONT-- Company cleaned guns.
20 Sept 1944
France
Location--Same--Sgt. George R. Williams, Returned to duty. Pvt. Amadeo Barrica, Pvt. Monroe O. Hardy, Pvt. Martin Kornhaber all assigned to "A" Co. The following were promoted; George A. Eisenman, Cpl. to Sgt.--Mitchell J. Szymanski, Sgt. to S/Sgt.--Woolston H. Foster, Cpl. to Sgt.--Daniel E Mackle, PFC to Cpl.--Martin E. Connell, PFC to Cpl.--Robert L. Kelly, PFC to Cpl.--Alfred J. Prisco, PFC to Cpl.--Vincent E. Zigman, PFC to Cpl.--Thomas J. Barry, PFC to Cpl.
21 Sept 1944
France
Location--Same-- Sgt. Szymanski and Sgt. Brown had a field day at Mallery capturing many prisoners and knocking out a "Heine" tank, while on attack with the 317th, Combat Team.
22 Sept 1944
France
Location--Same-- T/5 Christopher L. McConnell made T/4. The following Pvt's. promoted to PFC--William J. Lane, John W. Manning, Mahlon H. Murphy, Alfred J. Swathell, Arthur A. Jedrezewski, Henry L. Coira Jr., Joseph E. Dampf, Edward E. Elkins, Rudy J. Heckard, Francis W. McGuire, Joseph D. McKinney, Edward Haski. All promotions as of 18 Sept. Company left 0830 to support train of supplies of 317th Regt.
23 Sept 1944
France
Location--BEZAUMONT--Departed from Bezaumont at 1830 and arrived at Autreville-sur-Moselle at 1930.
24 Sept 1944
France
Location--AUTREVILLE-sur-MOSELLE -Pvt. John T. Wagner - Duty to Hospital. 1st. Lt. James Adkins- Duty to Hospital, S.W.A. Departed from Autreville- sur-Moselle at 1600 and arrived at Bezaumont at 1700. Company put in Division Reserve with 1st Bn., 318th Regt. Combat team.
25 Sept 1944
France
Location- BEZAUMONT-- 2nd. Lt. John W. Croxton-L.W.A., R.T.D., Pvt. Arthur E. Collins-Absent sick to Duty
26 Sept 1944
France
Location--BEZAUMONT-- Company in reserve. Maintenance on tanks.
27 Sept 1944
France
Location--Same-- Company still in reserve. Maintenance on weapons,
28 Sept 944
France
Location--Same-- Company still in reserve. Passes to Pont-a-Mousson. Movies for the Company.
29 Sept 1944
France
Location--Same--Company still in reserve. Red Cross Clubmobile came to area today.
30 Sept 1944
France
Location--Same-- Company still in reserve. T/5 Bernard Laughead-Hospital to Duty. Maintenance of weapons. |
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