This is a history of the 552nd Ordnance Heavy Maintenance Tank.  My father, Thomas F. Dole Sr. Served in this unit from its inception in 1943 until he was “sent home” from Marsailles France in Nov 45–he separated from the service on 8 Dec 45 at Ft. Devens, Ma, where it all began for him.  Dad was a Tec 4 in Evacuation Section on 10 ton wreckers and M25 Tank Transporters.  Dad passed away on 22 Apr 88 after heart surgery in Dec 87.  I could not ask him about his time with this unit, rather I was a large bother, probably to many people.  I could not have compiled this information without input from many veterans that talked to me.  I was able to find them from a roster drawn up in 1950 at the Essex Hotel in Boston at the 552's 5 year reunion, which was their only one.  

            I have to thank 1st Lt. Don Bullard for his contribution.  I have telephoned, emailed, and snail mailed pictures, documents, etc to him and relied on his input to tell me what I am looking at.  I also got immense input and stories from Bob May, who was in Small Arms Section for his stories, input, and information.  I think he is most instrumental in this endeavor because he gave me an updated copy of the roster of men and the large history document from the 552. Without him, all I would have is places they stayed, not how they lived and survived.  He has quite a memory of my father and tells me things I didn’t know.  Hadred Brown, from Paducah, Ky has to be mentioned.  Although he passed in ‘02, his contribution was enormous.  He sent me almost 50 pictures with follow-up phone calls for fill in information.  Wendell Spies, from Shererville, In, made a large contribution with pictures and information as well as his Campaign Medal ribbons. Wendell passed in ‘01.  I cannot tell you how that made me feel that a man would send me his lapel ribbons.  Leo Feldhake sent quite a few pictures also.  I also spoke to him numerous times on the phone with stories of how cold it was during the Battle of the Bulge. Ray Cameron from Ohio spoke to me several times and contributed immensely.  Andy Lawson got me started back in 99.  He was my first phone call because of a few pictures he posed next to my father.  I figured if he was in the same picture with dad, he would be a good place to start.  Andy passed 17 Dec 00.

            I know I am leaving out names and for that I apologize.  I have talked to over a dozen veterans of this outfit numerous times only to call back and find they passed.  It has taken a toll on me as I have come to think of these men as “friends”.  I have found a great deal of new respect for my father and for the men who served with him in this unit.  I am grateful for your service to this country and I am grateful for all the help you have been to me.

            I have tried to separate these pictures I scanned into folders named for the men who supplied the pictures.  All scans are at 300% and can be blown up with a remarkable amount of detail.  I have tried to put these pictures in order chronologically, from training to Germany.  I hope I have not gotten them mixed up too much.  Some pictures have descriptions on the back and some have not.  If anyone has input on an individual picture, I have numbered each on lower left corner.  Please feel free to contact me with any corrections or input on any picture.  0 and up belong to my father.  200 and up belong to Hadred Brown.  300 up Wendell Spies and 400 up to Leo Feldhake.  What is on the back of the picture is EXACTLY what I have written.  Sometimes I know the dates are off, but I leave the information intact anyway.  This is what the veteran remembered. 

            I do not know what happened to the outfit after Apr 45.  That is the last entry in both history documents.  I have a Certificate dated 29 Sep 45 giving permission for dad to bring home an “ICA CAMERA #120" and a “GERMAN GUN U9931".  It is signed by 1st Lt. Leonard J Henkel, Commanding 489th Ordnance Evacuation Co.  I only guess dad was sent to this unit from the 552nd TDY until he was sent home.  The men dispersed differently from the 552.  Some went to LeHavre to ship home, some to Marsailles, some flew home. 

            This CD will be sent to the Patton Museum, the Ordnance Museum, and anyone else who will have it.  There is almost no information on the Ordnance units, except where they were at a certain time.  The 552nd is not any different.  They were not attached Divisionally, rather served 3rd Army as needed.  

            Lastly, I would like to thank a man who has become a close friend to me.  I met Martin Gonner on a WW2 veterans website 5 years ago and we speak daily through Instant Messenger.  He was a cornerstone of my information.  Martin resides in Schifflange, Luxembourg, about 1 kilometer from where dad’s outfit was.   I sent him pictures of places and people and he would travel throughout Luxembourg on his days off taking pictures of places as they are today, speaking to people who knew individuals from photos I sent him taken back in 1945 and talking to the “older generation” who remember the war gathering valuable pieces of the puzzle for me.  For this, I am deeply in his debt. My wife Ginger and I are going to visit him shortly and he and I are going to Omaha Beach where the 552nd landed.  We are looking forward to that.

Respectfully

Thomas F. Dole Jr

91 Rochester Rd

Northwood NH 03261

603 942-5288

[email protected]

2 Sep 04 

On 29 Jan, 1943 by order of War Department, Letter, AG. 320.2 (1-4-43) OB-I-SP-M, Subject: Constitution and Activation of Ordnance Units in January and February 1943, the 552 nd  Ordnance HM Company (TK) was activated.

Captain Charles E. Barrett, Ordnance Department, of Somerville, Mass., had reported to Camp Reynolds, Texas in advance of his unit.  Red River, as the Ordnance Unit Training Center came to be known, was under construction at the time.

The first contingent of the Company, 82 men, arrived from Ford Benjamin Harrison 20 January, 1943, to find the Commanding Officer’s choice of company area was advantageous from a standpoint of convenience and drainage, the last consideration proving to be of great importance during the thaws and resulting mud of spring. 

On 4 February 1943, 133 men recruited from Massachusetts and the nearby New England states reported to Fort Devins, Massachusetts for duty.

With part of the men already in Texas and the balance of the company finally called up, the 552 nd  Ordnance HM Company (TK) came to life.  The men brought with them the life, the personalities, and technical experience which characterizes the 552 nd  today

Fort Devens’ merry-go-round swept us thru processing at bewildering speed.  Physical exams, issues of gear, tests, interviews, lectures, shots, K.P., warehouse details, poker, crap, goldbricking, advice, cuss language and tall stories from the cadre combined to introduce us to the Army and its ways.  Hurry up and wait, was true then as now.  Few if any will forget the lineup at the P.X. and mess hall, or sweating out a telephone call to home.

The morning of 9 February 1943 found us in tag imprinted OD’s, and fatigues staggering under barracks bags to the railhead.  We were on our way—but where?  A dozen rumors, Maryland, California, Mississippi: anywhere.  Four days and nights in day coaches saw us thru a blizzard near Albany, New York, in and out of Canada, down thru the Middle West via freight routes, to Texas”  Texarkana and Red River, arriving 15 February, 1943.

We became a Company overnight.  Stumbling thru the Texas blackness, we plunged abruptly into the brightly lit barracks which were to be our home, and there met the other men, 82 Southerners and  Midwesterners.  Then and there began the sectional arguments which still rage unabated.

The officer personnel at that time consisted of;

Capt. Charles E. Barrett                         Mass.

1 st  Lt. John C. Fullmer                            N. Y.

2 nd  Lt. Daniel A. Foote                           Texas

2 nd  Lt. Roy E. Peace                               Tenn

2 nd  Lt. Robert E. Hechman                      Montana

2 nd  Lt. Nic Sinnott                                   California

Later, 14 april 1943, 2 nd  Lt. Donald A. Bullard of Minnesota joined us.

Basic training laid its demanding hand on us immediately.  Under acting platoon Sgts Reedy, Casale, Hunaiker, and Ball, close order drill wore our legs down to the knees.  After every drill, lecture, demonstration, or bout with the obstacle course, we scraped pounds of red mud from our boots and shined shoes madly to escape gigs.  The camp was a sea of mud, yielding but slowly to the road builders and requiring extraordinary efforts on our part to keep equipment and barracks in spotless condition.

Company organization came swiftly, 22 April 43, appointed Acting 1 st  Sgt Reedy was succeded  as Platoon Sgt. By Wheeler, Nicoll became supply Sgt. And O’Farrell, mess Sgt.  Basic expanded and we took in our stride, map reading, judo, first aid, extended order, dry firing, gas and all the other arts of war.

Under of spur of Captain Barrett and his staff, the company finished basic training by winning the Drill down, high average company score with the old Enfield, made record time in breaking out of bivouacs, achieved the honor of Color Company, and won the plaque as Honor Company with regularity.

Technical training followed immediately with the bulk of the personnel attending classes at Red River Ordnance Depot.  Screening sent some men to schools at Aberdeen, General Motors, and others jointly conducted by manufactures and the Army.  Consistently high grades made by the men put the 552 nd  at the head of the list, to the intense annoyance of other units.

Technical bivouacs proved our ability to turn out good work under trying conditions.  Long marches under blazing Texas skies, harried by observation planes, operating under strict blackout at night, lacking in tools and equipment, pitting our knowledge against that of the cadre who were past masters at providing knotty problems, all served to toughen us and bring out the ingenuity which seems to characterize the American Soldier.

The pattern had begun to form.  1 St  Sgt. Reedy, injured in an accident, was replaced by Sgt. Brisbois, an old Army man.  Ratings came out.  The platoon Sgts of basic days were replaced by ranking Non-Coms.  CDD’s took a few men, transfers to other units, a few more.  Sgt. Ryan and Cpl Wheeler received advanced training in First Aid.  Sgts Ampolini headed Service, Roux Artillery, Cumming Instrument, Decker Automotive, Fontaine Tank, Ball Small Arms, Peters Shop Supply.  Lt Fullmer became shop officer, Lts. Foote and Peace who had been at Aberdeen for advanced schooling returned 5 May, 43.  Lt Sinnott headed Automotive, Tank, and as an additional duty Reconnaissance with Cpt. Wheeler as assistant, Lt. Bullard was assigned Small Arms, and Lt. Heckman, Instrument.

17 June 43, the advance party in charge Lt. Foote left Red River for Brownwood, Texas, and Camp Bowie-the Company followed 19 June 1943.

18 June 43 saw Lt. Sinnott suddenly transferred to OUTC at Red River.  The same day 1 st  Lt. Decker was transferred to HQ Detachment, 70 th  Ord B.  14 Sept 43, 1 st  Lt. Markley was assigned to us and took charge of the Artillery Section.  1 st  Lt. Fullmer was transferred out of the Company 21 Sept, 43 to the 765 th  Ord LM Company.  Lt. Peace becoming shop officer shortly afterwards.  5 Nov 43, M/Sgt Kilkenny received his appointment as WOJG and was assigned to us.  Lt. Burke succeeded Lt. Bullard as Small Arms Officer, with Lt. Bullard going to Recovery Section.

The Company produced in all, 4 Warrant Officers.

1 St  Sgt Brisbois was appointed 1 Oct 44 and transferred to the 853 rd  Ordnance HAM Co.  24 November as previously noted Warrant Officer Kilkenny received his appointment.  1 Dec, T/Sgt. Ball became Warrant Officer transferring to 900 th  Ord. HM Co.TK, and on 2   Jan 44, T/Sgt Fontaine was appointed Warrant Officer and transferred to the 889 th  Ordnance HAM Co.

Supply Sgt. Nicoll moved up to 1 st  Sgt, and Sgt. Breen took over Company Supply.  Sgt. Eastman succeeded Sgt. Ball, and Sgt Cumming of Instrument Section became M/Sgt, his vacancy being filled by Sgt. Sheehan.

15 very able men went to ASTP.  It is interesting to note that of the thousands of men at Camp Bowie, 88 were selected and of that total, 15 came from our small unit.  The Air Corps took its toll in Cadets, and transfers to alerted units took more men.

CDD’s and illnesses hit us for more men.  Section Chief of Supply, “Cal” peters who was eventually discharged on CDD was replaced by T/Sgt Lewonis.

Replacements arrived occasionally and were absorbed.  Inspection teams from Automotive, Small Arms, and Instrument came and went.  Under Lt. Heckman and Sgt. Eastman, a selected group underwent training at the Anti-Aircraft school at Indianola, Texas.  More schooling saw men go to Santa Anite, Aberdeen, Edgewood Arsenal and Chrysler Tank Arsenal.

During this period of great change, and Company took up an enviable reputation for good work in shops and in the field.  4 th  Armored was then at Bowie, and many of its Battalions had their Tanks serviced in our shop.  It was our first real experience with vehicles operated under war-like conditions and gave us many a knotty problem to solve.  The experience gained was invaluable to the men who actually did the work.

At the time the Company moved to Bowie, the impression given us was that of almost immediate active service.  We were to be attached to an Armored Division, re-equip, and ship out.  Instead we passed through a period which tried the temper of almost every man.  Crews which had worked smoothly together were broken up.  Buddies became separated.  There was work to be sure, but also a great amount of policing up, close order drill, an annoying exactness required in everything, all at a time when we were supposed to be training for War.  Personnel reaction obscured the main theme. 

 While we painted grease nipples and motors, we also, were having overnight bivouacs held under strict blackout and convoy discipline.  The men were being weaned from the comfort of the barracks to the 

cold, rain, hard ground, and relative discomfort of living outdoors in strange territory.  They learned to move convoys swiftly and efficiently.  They learned how to hit an area, get in, camouflage, set up for work, guard, and living in the most efficient manner.   Reconnaissance and billeting parties learned their jobs under practical conditions, locating areas from coordinates, preparing overlays, noting guard requirements and section locations in relation to one another.  The men learned how to care for themselves and their equipment; to wash, cook, and launder in a tin hat.  The lesson learned, or rather, experience gained since each situation presented a distinctly individual problem, has been of inestimable value.

The period of re-equipping finally arrived.  The heat was beginning to come on.  New individual equipment, endless inspections, lectures, training films, demonstrations by strafing and bombing planes all indicated a POE in the near future.

29 January 44, we rolled our packs in Bowie for the last time, swept and mopped the quarters and then headed toward the railhead, each man with his own conflicting thoughts.  Eager to go and tackle the job we had trained for and loath to leave behind all the familiar and well loved things which each had known since birth.

Pullmans this time, grinning quarters, a well equipped mess car, and plenty of good food.  Rumors as usual had us shipping from every port on the East Coast from Florida to Maine.

Eventually we detrained, 1 Feb at New Rochelle, New York, for Fort Slocum.  POE—more inspections, lectures, booster shots, a grand PX, WACs and passes to New York.  Some of the men got married, 1 st  Sgt Nicoll, “Doc” Grady, Billy Quan, and we never did find out about S/Sgt. Breen, he says no, but many think differently.

One man, Tec 4 Peck, suffering from a leg injury acquired at Soccer was replaced by Pvt. Hoyte Hart.  Mike Lazzaro broke his arm but after pleading with tears in his eyes was allowed to ship with his own outfit, cast and all.

10 Feb 44 saw us moving up the East River on a Ferry from which we transferred to the Navy Transport, USS Thomas Jefferson, the ex Doller line’s President Garfield.  Red cross coffee and donuts fortified us for the interminable trip up the steep gangway, cross decks, through passage ways, down black painted companionways to our quarters; “B” deck, forward.  In the extreme bow, the deck underfoot slanted up and the deck beams overhead were dangerously low.  Gleaming white paint and spotless linoleum did little to prepare us for the absolute blackness experienced when the lights were doused at night.  One very dim red light barely aided in locating the ladder leading to the latrine on the decker bow.

First night at sea, the roughest of the entire trip found the ship bucking a head sea.  Rearing and plunging like a mad thing it gave us, in the bows, a rough ride.  Those who could, got to the latrine, those who couldn’t found a new use for their steel helmets!  The guard spent a really rough night.  Posts were scattered all over the ship, absolute blackout on deck made every step a gamble with cables, winches, and deck gear providing unseen obstacles.  Dimly lit passageways and ladders below decks found men staggering from side to side with every lurch of the ship, weapons banging and swinging as both hands clutched hand rails.

Unfamiliar with the ways of the sea and ships, the Cpls of the guard had their hands full when relieving the post and attempting to locate sleeping reliefs in the low beamed, pitch black quarters, jammed with three tiered chain berths, barracks bags, packs and sleeping men.

Breakfast had few customers that first morning at sea.  Chow line formed on the forward deck in the gray light of early morning.  Slightly improved weather still found spray coming over the rail while the men huddle in the lee of invasion craft carried on deck.  Once below, the Navy chow tasted good.  Eaten at standing height tables it was necessary to hang on to ones tray lest it suddenly skid across the table onto a neighbors.

KP reared its ugly head, but working with the Sailors made it less a chore than it could have been.

For most men the trip was fairly interesting.  There was the ship itself to explore.  The convoy stretched for miles, and beyond the limits of vision, we were told, were more and more ships forming one of the largest convoys ever to leave the States.  Other ships joined us off Halifax.  Destroyers and D.E.’s were little more than plunging wreaths of spray as they formed our protecting screen.  The Battleship Nevada, old but refitted and potent, stayed with us until we docked in Belfast.  Tense moments developed when radar picked up a plane which eventually turned out to be one of our patrols.  General quarters for Navy personnel provided another thrill.  The barking of the loudspeaker system, pounding of running feet, gun crews manning their guns all helped to give a reassuring picture of the Navy preparing for action.  Daily test firing always found groups of G.I.’s gathered around the 20 and 40mm guns and the three inchers. Alternate gun crews from Army personnel were selected and trained in loading the 20’s and handling the sperry computing sights.  No day was complete without a checkup on the course as indicated by the repeater compass located on the fantail.  Jam sessions at night in the mess hall saw Army and Navy sitting in together.  The inevitable crap, poker and blackjack games carried on where space afforded.

22 February 44—the voyage ended without incident in bustling Belfast harbor.  Filled with wartime shipping, new ships being outfitted, battle scarred veterans undergoing repairs, gantry cranes of the shipyards silhouetted against the sky like a forest, Belfast presented us with our first picture of Europe at war.  Our first Spitfire snarled down close to the rigging as its pilot zoomed over escort carriers and tankers with loads of P38’s and P51’s.  Two and four horse drays rattled over the cobblestone way, curious three wheeled trucks tumbled past, laden with war goods.  As we lined up for the British Lorries which carried us to the station, dock workers, sailors and Wrens looked us over even as we studied them; the Wrens particularly since a soldier is a soldier the world over.

Belfast station – somewhat battered but operating – roll call and seats in crowded little compartments.  Accustomed to the spacious cars and big engines of American railroads, the compartmented cars and small rudimentary locomotives of Ireland seemed strange.  Disregarding the differences in railroading, the Company reached Newton Stewart, County Tyrone and proceeded from there by truck to Gortin, a small rural village tucked away in the hills and peat bogs not far from the border between Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State.

For two and a half months we lived in quonset type huts on the spacious grounds of Beltrim Castle. The shops were in the village about one half mile from the billeting area.  Each morning the shop detail marched to work, for our equipment war arriving; 6X6’s Jeeps, Shop trucks, the Wreckers, Machine Guns, tools and all the miscellaneous equipment so needed by an Ordnance Unit.

Much time was spent in placing the equipment to the best possible condition, lectures, refresher courses, hikes, and elementary living condition were preparing us for the day when we would actually be in combat.  Inspection teams were sent out periodically from Artillery, Instrument, and Small Arms sections.  Small groups attended waterproofing schools locally and in England.

G.I. movies entertained us occasionally.  We made our own fun in Omagh and Strabane.  Gortin itself, small, isolated, rural, welcomed us, sold us beer and watered Irish Whiskey in the pubs, steak, eggs, chips, and tea in its cafes.  The food shortage, so noticeable in Belfast and later in England, had no affect in Gortin.

Truck drivers and assistants gave final finishing touches to already perfect trucks.  Equipment was loaded and on 2 May 44  the convoy, in charge of Lt. Bullard and WO Kilkenny with 36 men pulled out for Ormeau Embankment, Belfast.  There the vehicles were loaded by crane into the ship during the afternoon.  Late night found the convoy at sea headed for Stranragh, Scotland where a landing was affected.  A layover of three days saw the truck convoy grow to 200 vehicles, some trucks towing artillery pieces.  The run from Scotland to Gloucester, England was made in four days without mishap.

For those left behind, plenty of hard work in cleaning up and improving the area was so affective that the Commanding Officer, XV Corps tendered a letter of commendation.

Then came the day when the villagers told us we were about to ship out.  The grapevine telegraph which has always heralded movements of military units, was working then as it has ever since.

Last trip to Belfast, goodbye to Ireland with its warmhearted people, its cold gray fogs and rain, its stone cottages and thatched roofs.  16 May 44 the Company in train for Belfast where we boarded the S. S. Thomas Goethals for better or worse, and Liverpool.  The packed ship found us quartered in the main salon.  There was room enough for packs and men provided everyone stood, but nightfall presented another problem.  Each man who slept there knows how a sardine feels.

If Belfast and Londonderry harbors were busy, Liverpool on 17   May 44 was a madhouse.  It seemed that everything capable of floating was in the channel.  Liberty ships by the dozens, freighters old and new, flying flags of strange countries, tankers, carriers, fighting craft, transports, tugs, barges, fishing vessels and port authority craft  churned the murky tide to a froth.

18 May 44, 1600, we tumbled over the side under full gear and duffle bags, and like the Kings men marched up the train platform and marched down again.  When orders were finally clarified we stowed duffle bags and piled into the trains’ compartments shedding packs, guns, helmets and coats.  The Red Cross—real live girls from the States—served coffee, donuts, gum, candy and the Stars and Stripes and best of all flashing smiles and the ready wisecracks of a girl from home.

Slowly, smoothly, we moved through the Marshalling yards and picked up speed as the country became more open.  Strange country to our American eyes.  Rolling grassy hills dotted with cattle surrounded huge factories in the middle of nowhere.  Small towns came and went from view, neat and precise looking—where was the crowded England of the orientation lecture-the bombed and shattered homes- the vast, humming, forever busy industries?

The answer of course was that of the greater industrial centers, we saw only parts of Birmingham.  Bomb damage had been pretty well cleaned up during a two year period preceding our arrival, and the proximity of grazing land and factory should have served to emphasize the use made of every acre.

Nightfall came and blackout of the speeding train – K rations – sleep for some, then a station, dim and ghostly in the night.   Trucks – a long ride in the dark – detruck – cold wet grass under foot – a bivouac!

On the open grassy pastures of Frampton Court we pitched shelter halves to the left with all the precision of basic training days.  So far had the war progressed that the rules and training in concealment went out the window. 

Frampton commons, reputedly one of the most beautiful in England was crowded with vehicles of war.  Parked in orderly rows were shop trucks 6X6’s Supply Vans and all the other vehicles of a big Company.  Below us the 28 th  Cavalry lined up their M8’s, M20’s, Tanks, Jeeps, and other rolling stock.

Recovery Section drew its M25’s, the mammoth tank recovery units, light tanks rolled in to be equipped for the field, more Jeeps, Weapons Carriers—it seemed that soon each man would have a vehicle of his own.  These were busy days overhauling gear, practice waterproofing vehicles, and equipping the tanks.  Lt. Burke and WO Kilkenny were sent to bomb disposal and demolition schools.  Training continued with lectures and demonstrations in booby traps, demolitions, grenade throwing, gas warfare and mock strafing raids by the RAF complete with flares, smoke bombs, flour bombs and giant firecrackers.

Days and nights of leisure and pleasure in Gloucester and Bristol; movies at the 28 th  Cavalry and the Green Cinema in Frampton.  Beer and cider in the village.  Passes to London – The Tower, London Bridge, Rainbow Corner, Piccadilly Circus, The Commandos, Scotland Yard, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, British accents, uniforms of every nation,  pubs, stores, restaurants, and famous streets—flood of memories.

Inspection teams and modification teams left us at different periods, 6 men of the service section going to the 11 th  Armored Group on 19 June 44 to modify all the M3 Submachine guns then in use.

Rumors flew thick and fast.  Fantastic stories about the restricted coastal areas were passed about becoming more involved with each repitition.

Pools were filled with vehicles and tanks standing in row after row as far as the eye could see.  Depots were loaded with unheard of quantities of materiel and supplies.  Mile after mile of roadside was stacked with ammunition of all sizes and calibers.

Over it all the Bombers roared out each day and night.  The V-bomb began to hammer London and nearby Bristol suffered a small bombing raid.

The night of 5 June 44 the skies suddenly seemed to be full of planes.  Lying in our pup tents we sensed something different about the aircraft overhead.  Wave after wave came over, red, green, and white lights blazing, then a silhouette glimpsed against the moon – a C47!  Fleets of them at four and five minute intervals for hours it seemed, could mean but one thing—D Day!  Early morning confirmed our hopes and guesses as the broadcasts came in.  Day followed day and we stayed in our pasture bivouac tense and waiting for news.  The 28 th  Cav was there one night and gone the next morning.  Would we ever move?

10 July 44 came the order we all looked for, “break camp and police up”.  The long convoy of 94 vehicles hit the road in record time arriving at the staging area in Chickerell by late afternoon.  Here was efficiently, swift but unhurried.  Vehicles were parked and camouflaged in an area of pyramidal tents assigned in short order.  Nearby lay the sea. Ships with  barrage balloons aloft steamed slowly past the ack-ack batteries on stilts while patrol planes droned overhead.  All was peaceful and quiet.

A mixup in orders delayed our departure for four days until 14 July, D Day plus 37.  In pitch black predawn, we moved to landing stages.  With trucks drawn up bumper to bumper we waited for daylight and breakfast – the Red Cross again.  Twisting, curving, the road suddenly dropped down to water level where our LST’s stood waiting.  Impossible as it seemed, vehicle after vehicle went aboard until none were left on the beach.  The heavy units, M25’s and wreckers with 2 Officers and 24 enlisted men boarded LCT’s.

At moderate speed in perfect weather the convoy slid past the Cliffs of Dover.  Chow time found the entire Company able and willing to consume quantities of Navy cooking.  True to 552 nd  traditions to do all things well, the Navy informed us we ate nearly as much as 500 ordinarily consumed.

Omaha Beach, north of the Cherbourg peninsula, gave us the first glimpse of France on D plus 39.  Due to tidal conditions, no landing was attempted for hours after the ship grounded.  Late night found us ready to roll ashore when suddenly all hell broke loose.  The black night was crisscrossed by streaming tracers and the wink of high altitude exploding 90’s.  Fury reigned for a few moments while with engines roaring the trucks plunged down the steep ramp to the beach and the directing MP’s.  

Recovery having shipped on shallower draft vessels had been ashore for some hours.  Their area had seemed peaceful enough when entered but the air raid alarm which greeted us saw all four corners of their field erupt with 90mm shells to the great surprise of all, so well camouflaged were the anti-aircraft guns.

The same day 15 July 44, saw us released from XV Corps and attached to the 10 th  Ord. Bn

16 July after bivouacing peacefully overnight the Unit left Colleville-sur-Mere for Le-Valdicie 12near Bricquebec passing through Formingny, Isigny, Carentan, St. Mere Eglise and St. Sauver.

Stark evidence of the furious fighting was apparent everywhere.  Heaps of rubble where houses had once been, things which had once been men.  Piles of shell cases, scattered equipment, crashed gliders, the cemetery  at St. Mere Eglise still receiving its dead, drove home the fact that the war game was being played for keeps.

After reaching Bricquebec in the dark, the area in daylight showed itself to be composed of an apple orchard and three fields divided by hedgerows.  Tents were pitched in the orchard and vehicles blended in with the natural foliage of the hedgerows.  Occasional bursts of  fire from trigger happy G I’sin nearby areas, reminded us that a bullet could kill regardless who fired it.  Slit trenches were dug!

19 July 44 we were released from the 10 th  Ord. Bn. And attached to  the 314 th  Ord. Bn. Of the 69 th  Ord. Group, 3 rd  U S Army, and on 27 July became attached to the 316 th  Ord. Bn. Of the same group, and 31 July attached to the 193 rd  Ord. Bn.

A comparatively small amount of work came in.  Daily hikes kept the men in shape and gave us our first introduction to the cider of Normandy

During the lull before St. Lo was taken, the Company like many others was 100% engaged in fabricating hedgerow cutters;  the device born of necessity, which was publicized in the Stars and Stripes and in nationally read magazines.  Tanks equipped with the cutters were able to breach a hedgerow enabling following vehicles to move through, rather than over the natural obstacles.

So pressing was the demand for these devices that work was organized on a 24hr basis.  Men who had never held a welding or burning torch before learned, but quick.  Blackout restrictions were released and not until enemy planes were distinctly audible did the flare of welding arcs die out.

The successful conduct of our first major task in the ETO was reflected in a letter of commendation received from the Commanding General of V Corps.

2 August 44, the Company received marching orders.  Proceeding to Carentan following the breakthrough at St. Lo, we laid over with the 314t h  Ord. Bn. For briefing having been released from the 316 th  and 193 rd  Ord. Bn.  Essentially we were to support the 127 th  Ordnance Battalion, servicing 5 th  Armored Division.  In this capacity we spearheaded with General Patton’s troops on their history making dash to spring the Falaise trap on the Germans.

The rapidity of the advance may be judged from the following time table of our bivouacs:

Carentan                                    2 Aug 44 to 6 Aug 44

Ducey                                        6 Aug 44 to 7 Aug 44

Vitre                                         7 Aug 44 to 9 Aug 44

Viages                                       9 Aug 44 to 11 Aug 44

Beaufay                                      11 Aug 44 to 14 Aug 44

Sees                                          14 Aug 44 to 16 Aug 44

Alencon                                     16 Aug 44 to 18 Aug 44

Treon                                        18 Aug 44 to 20 Aug 44

Villiers                                      20 Aug 44 to 25 Aug 44

Villiers-le-mahieu                       25 Aug 44 to 30 Aug 44

Baron                                        30 Aug 44 to 4 Sep 44

Fountainbleau                           4 Sep 44 to 11 Sep 44

While engaged in this series of moves we were released from the 314 th  Ord Bn. On 17 Aug 44 and attached to the 590 th  Ordnance Bn. and 69 th  Ordnance Group and attached to the 19 th  Ordnance Bn. and 70 th  Ordnance Group.

The long end runs of the 5 th  Armored Division took its toll in tanks and combat vehicles to such an extent that repairs could not hope to keep pace.  Accordingly, replacement vehicle and material were drawn from pools far to the rear and delivered to the using arm.  Despite the relative inexperience of most of our tank drivers all deliveries were made without damage or casualties, and in time to be used with great effect against the enemy.  For our part in this operation the unit received a letter of commendation from General Hayslip commanding the XV Corps.  The unit continued to support the 5 th  Armored division until 2 Sep 44 when the division moved out and left us sitting in the middle of a wheat field in Baron close to the Belgian border.  Recalled on the 4 th  of Sep 44 from active participation in the advance, to the quiet and serenity of Fontainbleau it was a sad and disgruntled company.

Fresh eggs, oranges, bread and real butter, as a change from K and C rations brightened the picture as did the proximity of Paris.  Paris was still a wide open town with occasional sniping at night, which added to the zest and excitement of the world’s gayest and most delightfully wicked capitol.

In Retrospect, while we enjoyed Paris and Fontainbleau, the change in diet and leisure, most men cursed the fate which saw us relegated to rear echelon.  Had the supply lines been able to furnish sufficient gasoline, the chances are good that we would have seen much more service with the 5 th  Armored Division.  The memory of gasoline dumps containing thousands of empty cans—of long lines of trucks waiting for the fuel which arrived in pitifully small quantities, is a bitter one.

Throughout our service with 5 th  AD we had the extreme good fortune to keep the Company intact despite the fact that we were often operating in advance of the Infantry, Artillery, and Combat Engineers, enough so that the Company often captured prisoners on its own.

The tank transporters, wreckers, supply trucks and advance parties were at various times bombed and strafed, fortunately without serious results to the men.  One man received minor shrapnel wounds, a soldier from another unit while waiting for his vehicle was wounded by an anti-aircraft shell burst, and the driver and assistant driver had the ammunition truck bombed from beneath them.   Several close calls were experienced by the Company on convoy, but all without mishap to personnel or equipment.

On the march to Sees, where burning tanks littered the road and evidences of very recent combat were everywhere, a squadron of fighters dropped down out of the sun to strafe and bomb a wooded area immediately to our rear.  Subsequent reports told of four Nazi tanks knocked out in their place of concealment.

The air attack gave a thrill to the gunners and aircraft spotters at the head of the column.  Coming at us out of the sun, the planes remained unidentified until they made the climbing turn after strafing and bombing their objective.  The familiar shape of the P47 was a welcomed site for it looked as though the rear of our column had been the target.

New and additional equipment issued in Fontainbleau, indicated an end to our days as a supporting unit.  Transferred to the 70 th  Ordnance Group, repair and rebuild became our task.

Marching orders received on 11 Sep 44 carried  us in one jump to Harville, arriving 12 Sep 44 close to Metz, at the time that Metz was proving to be such a hard nut to crack.

Bivouaced in the woods where trenches of the last war were still evident, the Company performed base shop work under the most trying conditions.  Without adequate shelter from the almost continuous rain, wading in knee deep mud, lying in it beneath vehicles when  necessary, the men proved their mettle and ability.  Captured German parachutes rigged over a vehicle helped somewhat as did tons of gravel distributed in the working area, when it became possible to obtain material.

During this period the unit opened and operated its first control point, while nearby Artillery continued to shake the ground with its shelling of Metz.

Working conditions continued to be bad and showed signs of becoming hopeless, the area becoming so muddy as to be useless.  On 7 Oct 44 a location was obtained in Verdun.  The shop was an old hanger, the barracks an old French garrison.  The barracks  being located about a mile from the shop made it necessary to locate the mess in the shop area, an unhappy situation but deemed wise in view of time and transportation involved.  Here for the first time since reaching the continent the unit operated beneath a roof, not too water tight due to previous strafing, but none-the-less a roof.  Under Lt. Burke, Master Sgt. Cumming and a small staff of enlisted men, the control point moved back with us.

Lt. Heckman up to this time, 20 Oct 44, Instrument officer, was promoted to 1 st  Lt. and assigned to the tank section.

The railroads at this stage of the war were bringing up supplies but not in sufficient quantities to satisfy all needs.  A crew of drivers under WOJG Kilkenny was sent back to Valognes to bring up a convoy of trucks loaded with miscellaneous cargo.   Four 40mm towed anti-aircraft for the combat vehicle pool at Etain as well as trailers of all description were hooked to the trucks.

A long run back to the beach was made from Verdun in only one day but the convoy, beset by gasoline shortages and overloaded trucks consumed three days for the return trip.  Mechanical difficulty with some trucks made it necessary for others to push, bumper to bumper in order to climb the steeper grades.  Shortly after the successful delivery of the first convoy, another run of the same type was made from Vincennes.

The tank recovery units also spent a long period operating in the vicinity of Vincennes, moving tank engines to and from the Nome-Rhone works in Paris.  The huge M25’s more than paid for themselves in this non-scheduled use of their great hauling power.  At various times, M25’s have carried artillery ammunition in carload lots, moved invasion barges, steel work, prefabricated bridge parts and engineering equipment.  The huge vehicles, 60 feet long and 14 feet wide have presented many problems on the roads of  France.  Many a narrow road has been considerably wider after the passage of an M25!  Into their cabs have climbed the best drivers in the world – they had to be!

The usefulness of the Verdun location having spent itself, the unit moved into Nancy on 27 Oct 44.  Sniping was gradually dying out, and anti-aircraft batteries drove off would be raiders at night, and although our area suffered a bombing after we moved out, no real trouble was experienced during our extremely busy stay.

The shop setup was very good, having originally housed a French trucking concern and later the enemy.  A – Frames and chainfalls increased the efficiency of the tank crews and liberated the wreckers for other work.

Lt. Burke, then on detached service  to Group, was transferred from the unit on 17 Nov.  In his absence, Lt. Bullard opened the  Control Point assisted by Sgt. Grady and a small staff.

Work streamed to shop and control point.  Tanks, tanks and more tanks; T. D.’s, 6X6s, Jeeps, ambulances, M8s, M20s, all in wretched condition.  In the 93 days of operation the Company closed out two thousand and eighty work orders on its books.  The number may not be too impressive, but it must be kept in mind that almost every tank, wheeled vehicle, or small arms order represented a battlefield recovery.  In simple terms the materiel was shot to hell.  A tank for example usually required a complete overhaul.  New engines, new tracks – to which the Company affixed grousers, final drives and transmissions, were poured into old hulls turning out serviceable, fighting units.  In almost every case some welding or burning was necessary which in turn called for the removal of all ammunition.  Small arms and artillery had to clean, overhaul or replace the guns and in some cases, the turrets themselves.

Instruments were usually wrecked or in need of overhaul.  Radio and wiring systems always needed attention.  Parts were short, often impossible to obtain using the Control Point as a doubtful source of supply and miracles of ingenuity, serviceable materiel was made up and installed.  The work continued night and day, shopping only when “Bed-Check-Charlie” and his friends were heard overhead.  On some of the incredibly clear nights of icy winter the enemy planes could even be seen in the moonlight.

Working in ice cold shops and outdoors, the Company turned out between 28 Oct 44 and 29 Jan 45 the following;

176 tanks

348 wheeled vehicles

27 half tracks

1100 small arms (carbines, rifles, ‘O’s & M1, B.A.R., submachine guns M1 and M3, machine guns calibers .30 and .50, mounts of all types, including two 50 cal multiple anti-aircraft mounts).

792 watches

131 rebuild jobs, GMC engines, tank transmissions, tank final drives

63 orders for service section, included in these were such odd items as making stars for Generals vehicles, repairing X-ray and hospital equipment, building stoves and making stove pipe.  Field Service Modification work orders required armor plate floor boards to be cut and welded into every M8 and M20 armored car being worked on in the shop.  The M8’s also had ring mounts welded to their turrets as well.

Service section also supplied the welders with material for repairing shot up tanks, and burned , wrecked and mined jeeps and ambulances.  As many as three ambulance bodies have been utilized to produce one serviceable unit.

Tank section also produced two demolition carriers, M4 tanks converted to specifications, which subsequent reports termed highly successful.  

To help fill the desperate need for artillery ammunition at the front, three of our men, Pfc. McGillicuddy, T5 Lazzaro, and Pfc. Boulette were detailed as drivers to a trucking outfit.  For their meritorious service at this critical time each man received a letter of commendation.

Roads were taxed to capacity by the constant stream of military traffic.  The shortage of 6X6;s and tires was acute, enough so that all spares on parked shop trucks were called in for re-issue to trucks sadly in need of new rubber.  To help clear the roads of unnecessary traffic and to reduce trucking mileage, all Companies of the Battalion submitted their requisitions through our shop supply office, our trucks making one run to the depots for all.

On 15 Dec 44 ten of our men left us as volunteers for the infantry and on 22 Dec, ten more.  Replacements were sorely needed at the front, but the reduction in working strength and efficiency of the Company was only partially filled by replacements, civilian labor and prisoners of war.

During this period of furious activity, T/3 Donald Evans, assistant section chief of  Instrument section developed a method of salvaging tank periscopes which saved many slightly damaged but unserviceable items from the junk pile and broke the bottleneck on this highly critical item.

The Company was honored by having General Patton make an informal inspection of the shop, and later an inspection was made by General Knudson accompanied by investigating dignitaries from Washington D.C.  Photographs of the control point taken during the inspection later appeared in Life, Time and Newsweek.

On 29 Dec, Capt. Barrett was awarded the Bronze Star in recognition of his efforts and Meritorious Service in the efficient administration of his company.

The Company itself has been awarded the Meritorious Service Plaque for its performances in the ETO.  It was the first unit to be recommended for the honor and at the present time the only Heavy Maintenance Tank Company in Third Army to be so recognized.

Our personnel officer, Lt. Roberts was transferred out of the company to the 10 th  Ord. Bn. and a promotion, and on 10 Nov, Lt. Ellsworth was transferred to us becoming section leader of Instrument repair; shortly afterward, Lt. Harry Schwegman joined the company as small arms officer.  21 Jan 45, 2 nd  Lt. Donald Bullard was promoted to 1 st  Lt. in charge of Recovery and Wheel Vehicle Sections.

Following the breakthrough in Luxembourg by the enemy, the Company moved up to Rodange, Luxembourg on 1 Feb 45.

The area was not particularly suited to tank repairs, access to the shop being difficult and the interior of the shop proper being dark and cut up by many supporting pillars.  It presented a difficult problem to the wrecker crews when it was necessary to maneuver a tank on the limited floor space.

Up to this time, serviceability and fire power had been the only requirements on tank repairs.  Now, however, orders were received calling for absolute full equipping of all vehicles with all acessories, spare parts, tools and miscellaneous equipment as indicated in the SNL.  Faced with a mean problem of ascertaining the re-equips, requisitions and installation of the equipment, the company and its officers worked overtime to liquidate the problem of procurement and paperwork.

Parts and Equipment usually arrived less some items, which required the establishment of necessary elaborate controls in order to maintain a daily check on the status of each vehicle.

Just at a time when supplies were really beginning to come in and the system more or less perfected, orders were received assigning us to Metz, France on 2 Mar 45.  Transportation difficulties made it necessary to leave many partially equipped vehicles in the pool at Rodange, to be shipped to Metz when transportation became available.

After setting up in the best shops the company has so far enjoyed, the task of repairing and equiping continued on those vehicles we brought with us.

Operating under the 217 th  Ord. Bn., new supply depots facilitated the procurement of supplies to a point where vehicles and tanks could be completely equipped, down to the last cotter pin in the spare parts kit.

A sudden shift in policy plunged us 100% into RFI work (ready for issue).  A series of bewildering changes in Battalions did not hamper the work.  Tanks, Armored cars, Tractors, and amphibious vehicles roared into the shop area with equipment still in the original crates.  De-waterproofing, De-cosmolining and equipping proceeded at a feverish pace.  The new drive across the Rhine was on.  Armored equipment, ready for issue rolled to the front line pools in a steady stream.  One weeks labor from 24 March to 31 March 45 netted 122 vehicles completed.  Total output for the 30 day period of our operations in Metz was 244 vehicles.

Tanks                medium             86

                         Light                 34

L.V.T. Mk 4                                   4

Motor Carriages  M10                  33

                            M12                    1

                            M18                    8

                            M36                  39

                            M5                   12

                            M7                     4

Half Tracks                                    5

High Speed Tractors                     18

TOTAL                                         244

Artillery section distinguished itself by changing the armament of seven tanks from 75mm to the harder hitting 76mm.  Their problem required the cooperation of almost every section in the company.  Instruments had to be changed, machine gun mounts modified, ammunition stowage revamped, wiring changed, and turrets counter-balanced with lead to offset the weight of the longer gun tube.

Abruptly, the company moved on 4 Apr 45 to Frankfurt-au-Main, Germany where it is not situated and set for work under the 66 th  Ord. Bn.

Here, 6 Apr, 1 st  Sgt. Nicoll received his commission as 2 nd  Lt. Ord. Dept., assigned to this company as section leader, Small Arms, and as additional duty, motor officer and Special Service Officer.  Lt. Schwegman, relieved from Small Arms was assigned to Automotive, permitting Lt. Bullard to give full attention to his duties as recovery and chemical warfare officer.  13 April Capt Barrett received orders placing him on Temporary Duty with the 66 th  Ord. Bn. as its Executive Officer, 1 st  Lt. Foote assuming command of the Company in his absence.

The present rate of advance against the enemy is such that already the area is practically Communications Zone.  The Company even now is looking forward to another move, which may well place us,  “Up There”.

‘OUR TRAVEL’

Feb 4 1943                     Fort Devens, Mass., Active Duty

Feb 11                           Red River Ordnance Depot, Texarkana, Texas

June 19                          Left Texarkana for Camp Bowie, Brownwood, Texas

Feb. 2 1944                    Left Bowie for P.O.E.  N.Y.

Feb 11                           Sailed for Overseas “USS Thomas Jefferson”

Feb 22                           Arrived in Belfast, Ireland—traveled by train to Gortin, Ireland

May 15                          Arrived in Belfast and loaded on ship “The Goethals”

May 16                          Sailed and docked in Liverpool, England [ slept on Ballroom floor ]

May 17                          Disembarked at Liverpool and went by train to Frampton on the Severn

July 10                          Left Frampton and went by convoy to Weymouth [ Marshalling Area ]

July 13                          Left Weymouth and spent night on beach

July 14                          Loaded on LST “Warhoop” and spent night in harbor

July 15                          Landed in France, St. Laurent [ Omaha Beach ]

July 16                          Arrived Bricquebec [ Instrument Section shooting everything that moved ]

Aug 3                            Arrived Carentan [ Don’t turn over any dead bodies ]

Aug 6                            Arrived Ducey [ Planes strafing during night ]

Aug 7                            Arrived Vitre [ near lake and enjoyed a few swims ]

Aug 10                          Arrived Laval

Aug 11                          Arrived Beaufay and had all the excitement including the strategic retreat to LeMans

Aug 14                          Arrived Sees [ Hot area, captured six jerries enroute from Beaufay ]

Aug 16                          Arrived Alencon [ Big Chateau –News of the invasion of Southern France-moral went up ]

Aug 18                          Arrived Dreaux  [ Big wooded area with planes visiting daily ]

Aug 20                          Arrived Breval [ Engineers testing guns—Officers couldn’t be found ]

Aug 25                          Arrived Gassicourt  [ Flexanville ]

Aug 30                          Went through Paris to Mortenfontaine-stayed for two hours, continued on to Baron [Captured  two Towns enroute and saw flying bombs ]

Sept 4                           Arrived Fountainbleau [ short rest period and passes to Paris ] 

Sept 11                          Arrived Suippes  [ Plenty potatoes fresh from the field and ill effects from the visit to Paris Started ]

Sept 12                          Arrived Harville near Verdun and Metz  [ 190 mile trip from Fountainbleau ]

Oct 7                             Arrived Verdun  [ moving back to barracks and to big shop ]

Oct 27                           Arrived Nancy [ large shop and fairly comfortable quarters ]

Feb 1 1945                     Arrived Rodange, Luxembourg  [ Hilbert’s Hotel ] 

March 2                         Arrived Metz, France  [ the ghost city ]

April 5                          Arrived Praunheim, Germany  [ Near Frankfurt ]

May 11                          Arrived Furth, Germany  [ near Nuremburg]

[  TO BE CONTINUED TO NEW YORK ]

Photo-index below, after the photos

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Alexopoulus, Peter: Photos scanned by grandson, no text or description whatsoever.

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Picture Index Brown—Hadred Brown was watchmaker in 552

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