My father was in a tank destroyer unit,(under Gen. Patton), in WWII (he is deceased), and I could use some help trying to figure out which one he was in. I know the shoulder patch showed a tigers face, mouth open, with a tank in his teeth. Does anyone know what unit this was? Thanks

Gary

14759803

If it's this one it's the 824th TD BN. If not come on back-may no get it tonite but we'll try!



Sgtleo

The patch shown is not the exclusive property of the 824th T.D. Bn. That patch was worn by ALL Tank Destroyer Battalion personell, both officers and enlisted men, which therefore included the 824th TD's.

that looks like the one that I remember, I just wish that I knew what other patches he might have worn, when I saw that one, it was after he died.

Thanks
Gary

Growlybear:-

Thanks for the info I did not know that.

When I went to Google that was with the 824th History that came up in answer to my question so
obviously I then made the wrong assumption

Sgtleo

14759803

Do you have any of his papers such as his Discharge or his DD214?

Where did he train??

When did he go overseas?

A lot of questions have to be asked and answered

Sgtleo

sgtleo;
is that the only unit that it could have been? (the 824th), or are there other unit patches , and/or other units with a similar patch?

thanks,
Gary

I no longer have any of those things, as they were lost, not long after he died, and my mom, is 91 yo, and suffers from the beginnings of dementia. All I have is what I remember. I do remember that he was in the battle of the bulge.

Gary

Ok, after doing some research, does anyone know which tank destroyer unit (and/or battallion) was with the 3rd army in the Ardennes Campaign ?

Thanks;

Gary

quote:

Originally posted by 14759803:
...is that the only unit that it could have been? (the 824th), or are there other unit patches , and/or other units with a similar patch? Gary

Here is an authoritative source of information on U.S. Army Tank Destroyer forces in WWII, which contains this illustration of an actual Tank Destroyer Command shoulder patch:
There are other illustrations at the site, which show this basic patch modified to indicate the battalion assignment of the wearer.

After looking at the pictures, from the link you provided; I am more confused than before... it could be the 891st, 893rd, the 805th... I no longer remember what was above the SSI.

as I said in a previous post, I remember that he was in the Ardennes campaign, during the battle of the bulge.

Is that any help?

thanks
Gary

This is as far as I went but there are many more so you see what a job it will be unless it can be narrowed down a whole lot.

US units in the Battle of the Bulge 16 December 1944 - 28 January 1945

Attached units during the Battle of the Bulge

1st Division:-
745th Tank Battalion (15 June 44 – 8 May 45)
634th Tank Destroyer Battalion (-Co. C)
703rd Tank Destroyer Battalion(18 to 31 Dec.44)
Co C, 703d TD Bn (SP) (1-12 Jan 45)
Co B, 644th TD Bn (SP) (13-23 Jan 45)
3d Plat, Co C, 801st TD Bn (SP) (18-31 Dec 44


2nd Division
612th Tank Destroyer Battalion
644th Tank Destroyer Battalion (12 Dec-27 Jan)
Co. B, 801st T. D. Bn (5 Jan 45 -3 Feb 45)

4th Division
802nd Tank Destroyer Battalion (9 Dec- 27 Jan)
803rd Tank Destroyer Battalion (9 Nov- 25 Dec)

5th Division
654th, 803rd, 807th Tank Destroyer Battalion

9th Division
899th Tank Destroyer Battalion

26th Division
818th Tank Destroyer Battalion

28th Division
7th Gp, 602nd, 630th Tank Destroyer Battalions

30th Division
823rd Tank Destroyer Battalion

35th Division
654th Tank Destroyer Battalion

75th Division
628th, 629th, 772nd, 814th Tank Destroyer Battalions

76th Division
691st Tank Destroyer Battalion

78th Division
628th, 817th, 893rd Tank Destroyer Battalions

80th Division
610th, 808th Tank Destroyer Battalions

83rd Division
774th, 629th, 772nd, 801st Tank Destroyer Battalions

84th Division
638th Tank Destroyer Battalion

Sgtleo

would it help if I could give you a name and rank?

Gary

If you knew where he lived when he was discharged, or shortly thereafter, you might be able to get a copy of his discharge from the county clerks office.
I had to try three counties before I found my grandfather's due to his moving around a bit after the war. But, if you can get a copy of the discharge, it has all kinds of info on it, including what you are looking for.

Thanks I will try that; I know what state to contact, and I believe I know possibly what city(s) to look in.

Gary

Just make sure that you do it through the county clerks office. I don't think that a city would have the info.
Often times the returning vet would file his discharge with the county clerks office upon his return home. If I remember correctly (and you vets jump in and correct me if I am wrong) it helped somehow in utilizing vet benefits later on.

I found a small amount of info through the National Archives Database, but not much. If you can use any of what I have to help, let me know.

Thanks
Gary

I am the proud owner of one of the tank destroyer patches shown. I have the patch in a framed display with a map showing the progress of the 7th armored division from English Channel to Germany. I also have in the display one of my father's dog tags. My father was in the 814th tank destroyer batallion, attached to the 7th ad. The 7th armored was located in the town of St. Vith Belgium and unfortunately was square in the way of the German spearhead, starting the Ardenne Campaign (Battle of the Bulge) The patch is a black panther crushing a tank in it's jaws. I would also like to note that I have given my father's other dog tag to my nephew, who is a Navy Seal. Beside making the trip through wwll, the tag has now been through Afghanistan, Serbia, Iraq and a few places that we are not supposed to know about. God bless all of you who are surviving world war 2 vets, and God bless all of our military now in armed conflicts. I will post more info on tank destroyers when time allows.

quote:

Originally posted by LtLesesneSon:
I am the proud owner of one of the tank destroyer patches shown. I have the patch in a framed display with a map showing the progress of the 7th armored division from English Channel to Germany. I also have in the display one of my father's dog tags. My father was in the 814th tank destroyer batallion, attached to the 7th ad. The 7th armored was located in the town of St. Vith Belgium and unfortunately was square in the way of the German spearhead, starting the Ardenne Campaign (Battle of the Bulge) The patch is a black panther crushing a tank in it's jaws. I would also like to note that I have given my father's other dog tag to my nephew, who is a Navy Seal. Beside making the trip through wwll, the tag has now been through Afghanistan, Serbia, Iraq and a few places that we are not supposed to know about. God bless all of you who are surviving world war 2 vets, and God bless all of our military now in armed conflicts. I will post more info on tank destroyers when time allows.

That sounds like the same thing that my dad had(to the best of my memory); could you give me some info of your fathers TD unit? I think that my father was in the same unit (but am not 100% sure). As a vet, myself, and on behalf of my late father, I thank you; and may GOD Bless you, too.

Gary

No, we can't give you any more information. How are we supposed to know anyways? What if he disgraced someone and didnt want anyone to know. Is that possible? If so id stop digging. if not, find someone who knows.