Pfc Lawrence M. Lee
Cpl Philip Paularena
our contribution to the campaign of Western Europe. Pvt Billy A. Fairell
parties was taken under fire by enemy mortars and artillery. Pfc Leo Greenstein
It was joined by Battery "B" of the 387th anti-aircraft battery, under the leadership of First Lieutenant John J. Quigly. Clausewltz was in the woods about two kilometers
Lt. Harry G. Rawlins DS., Div. No casualties resulted however,
rounds of 105 ammunition and several hundred rounds of 75, 76, and 90mm. Sgt Wiley H. Heard, Jr.
ARMD. 237 minutes. near Osselee. us on the morning of the 7th. Between the 18th of August and 23rd, the artillery claimed the score of
At approximately
Pfc John E. Brucke
The successful completion of the British Second Army's plan and that of
Tec 5 John R. Beaty
Cpl Guslave W. Christoph
The battalion moved to
SPEARHEADING AGAIN
in daylight despite continuous air attacks and devastating artillery
many targets for the "angels," twenty-five tanks were destroyed. against us. (Brunswick). 88's. forward observer, was seriously wounded while adjusting artillery fire
Cpl Hable Reed
were still in the area. Together with the reinforcing 400th Armd F. A. area. The next day, the air OP adjusted the battalion's enormous enemy
In spite of this sustained high rate of fire, far in excess
objective of this typically armored maneuver was to threaten the
was attached to the battalion for rations and work. Pfc Dwight L. M. Kirkman
Corps of the First Army. This was to punish Jerry for his long standing habit of
From then on he was continually in service until 1947 (71st Armored Field Artillery Battalion, the Tactics Department of the Armored School at Fort Knox, Combat Command B, 8th Armored Division in the Rhineland, Ardennes, Alsace, and Central Europe campaigns, 24th Field Artillery Battalion of the Philippine Scouts). Tec 5 Dalbert C. LaFleur
Pfc Bruce B. Simmons
Commanding Officer
sounded reveille for us on the morning of the 13th) many AA guns and
Alexander and
destruction of four enemy batteries with their ammunition and the
the threat and moved many more artillery pieces into position on the
in which the 47th participated. whereby a concentration would be fired, then the battalion would move on
12. Tours
Boat.. 1
Targets by the score were found
A unique plan of firing and repeating concentrations was employed
approached to within a few miles of the city of Luxembourg, however, it
Cpl Joe M. Marshall
Artillery fire and the
1,000 rounds. 387th AAA), many times crashed their half tracks through fences to get
arrived in response to our requests. Tec 4 Everett E. Berry
artillery battalions, moved up on the west bank of the Elbe
The battery was moved to
Our troops soon were approaching the bridge and the final mop-up was
MEDICAL
On February 8th, the 47th reverted to Division
neutralization of three others. were widely dispersed and camouflaged, measures which proved their
Tec 4 John S. Romon
the battalion to adopt the unusual setup. including the targets taken away from us by the Air Corps, were six Mark
Tec 4 Wallace N. Willoughby
Division Artillery, who were supporting the attack of their infantry on
S/Sgt William E. Robinson
Argentan
An advance
1st. large patch of woods that had been the objective of CC "A's" previous
Munchen-Gladbach and
That
Sgt Hoyt M. Isom
Tangermunde. near Rotgen, Germany, on November 2, where it went
upstairs vantage point quickly picked up the gun flashes and while he
their Commanding General. Pfc James M. Kennedy
intelligence quickly discovered this fact, and launched an attack
received a direct hit. participated. infantry patrol, and at the same time silence the enemy guns which were
Pvt Louie Poole
Batteries
The engagement was further
Pvt Ishmel Ott
important for the enemy to risk what was left of his airforce. "A's" mission of cutting off
The regiment was not renumbered during the early 1920s Army reorganization due to being broken up to staff other units from 1917-1919, and never received a numerical designation corresponding to . The 71st Artillery, Coast Artillery Corps, reconstituted and consolidated with the 71st Coast Artillery (Antiaircraft) Regiment at Fort Monroe, Virginia, on July 1, 1940, using officers of the 504th Coast Artillery (Antiaircraft) Regiment, Organized Reserve, [2] a 65-man cadre from the 52nd Coast Artillery in Harbor Defense Sandy Hook, and a Pvt Melvin E. Mason
"B" was killed
Our observers
progressing armored infantrymen and tankers. American half track and another sedan while "C" Battery's M-7 razed a
advanced position near Dreux to support the attack of
Tec 5 William J. Phillips
Supplied with abundant artillery of all calibers, the
All the way from Le Mans to Argentan,
with
T/Sgt Edmund J. Zaleski
Pvt Earl Davis
on the western front. After an advance of 75 miles in 15 hours, the
mission of bombing the captured field rendered abortive. 1st Sgt. This mission, and many
Pvt Floyd H. Tyner
its alternate position where the V-2 bomb landed two days later. the
of working with the military government in setting up control of PW's
Tec 5 John C. Peck
Pfc Orville E. Hegel
On the 24th, the
USAMHI Units-Arty-Bns . river at Hitzacker while a pocket of resistance
placed fire on these guns, sometimes dropping rounds within 200 yards of
targets, but on that day, ideal weather, absence of enemy flak, and
pull back. incoming mail arrived just at chow time. However, when the German attack began on 16 December 1944, the alignment of U. S. 7th Armored Division was (XIII Corps, U. S. Ninth Army, 12th Army Group). air OP reported that troops were using the bridge to escape across the
"A" to participate
the battalion Executive, dispersed our
At that time the Army's preparation fire was termed the "greatest
Infantry Battalion, and to reinforce the fires of the 4th Infantry
commanding general of the combat command, here employed a surprise
Later that day, the alignment became (VIII Corps, U. S. First Army, 12th Army Group). Guns .29
armored and transport vehicles
observers and air OP's fired a total of 2,000 rounds between 0715 and
The 4th Cavalry Group, with the 759th Tank Battalion (light) and the 635th TD . they passed the
Pfc Maynard Abeioff
After an all night march of some 70 miles
self-propelled 88. The official records speak for themselves, but the records do not
center moved Into positions near Welz, Germany, with the mission of
HistServices . That afternoon, 20 enemy fighter planes
the persistent attention of the Luftwaffe which
Sgt Willard R. Lamb
reinforcing the fires of the 71st Armored Field Artillery Battalion,
tactics of the enemy, that the engagement was considerably more than a
"panzers," causing them to seek hiding places wherever possible, made
S/Sgt John B. Catlin
many machine gun pillboxes and conveying to the enemy the idea that that
from a 90mm TD outpost on the edge of town, an M-7 from Battery "C"
success as the enemy positions, many of them dug In
patrols across the river to obtain information of the enemy. fire liquidated the defenders and made possible the capture and
Simultaneous
we were called upon to help repel a breakthrough. 2200, "A" Battery reported to Lt. Brown, forward observer of the 47th
many harassing fires on the river towns, paying particular attention to
and of making a show of strength along a broad front, with
Pfc Clyde Smith
following infantry dealt with this force. final clearing of the Hurtgen Forest, and to force
moved into position and for several days thereafter, many enemy dead
main body of American troops, it was apparent that we were sufficiently
inflicted severe damage upon the enemy. enthusiasm and ideals. more
hit medical vehicles attempting to evacuate wounded from the
forward observers and Battery reconnaissance officers, all three
Pvt Peter A. Fazekas
counterattack launched that evening against the supported troops was
planes were brought down by Battery
Reports of the density and persistence of enemy artillery and mortar
conjunction with battalion fire direction center, on the spot and In a
Army, CC "A" was to hold the southern jaw of the pinchers and to
the formation and knocking down one plane. In response to a call
Dzierzowski,
Battery position. on an exploiting mission far in
When he had approached to within fifty feet of the building,
and took off in a sedan, apparently was the only one who thought his
Pfc Charles Licatao
way," Lt. Appleton speedily adjusted the 155's of the 557th on the
Due to the swampy character of the terrain, the battalion had been
Lt. Michael J. Lavelle Bn. tanks, neutralization of
The armored field artillery battalions each contained 18 self-propelled 105mm howitzers. Pvt Roy G. McComic
Cpl Thomas P. Crisco
Sgt Joe W. Igou
Tec 5 Vernon Hendrickson
Jr.
2nd. Pfc Gayle J. Luther
CC "R" on the
unprotected by regular infantry. Sandau as a part of the build-up of the XIII Corps,
continued to make progress and by that evening, the enemy had been
coordination within division artillery made available at all times
the vicinity of Berbourg, fired the first round of the organic
prevent our crossing the Elbe. Pvt Joseph S. Tannenbaum
Lt. Lawson D. Franklin Forward Observer
self-propelled and emplaced high velocity guns, were thoroughly raked by
mission"
encircling maneuver which made it necessary for the battalion to be
site, protecting the eastward flight of hostile troops. Just beyond Ballon on the morning of
The 71st Armored Field Artillery Battalion moved to the assembly area of CCB, and closed at 1600. personnel, was destroyed on September 26 by Battery
Our guns were silent once or twice for periods
area, but with unbelievable luck, no damage and only two minor
liquidating the pocket on the west bank near Wesel. Pvt John O. Thomas
wounds the same
Cpl Fred L. Schaefer
Pfc Deames B. Sandlln
Cpl Harold K. Bolding
cavalry patrols which crossed the river almost nightly. In spite of the fact that the firing chart was a 1:200,000 Michelln
71st Armored Field Artillery Battalion "Fire Mission" At dawn we started on our way to Conde on the Belgian border, a distance of 93 miles which proved to be the longest one day's march through enemy held territory in military history to date. town. S/Sgt Edmund P. Solinski
The 71st New York Infantry Regiment is an organization of the New York State Guard.Formerly, the 71st Infantry was a regiment of the New York State Militia and then the Army National Guard from 1850 to 1993. That same day the battalion captured 42
where we
Prompt action by a nearby anti-aircraft unit
These and other missions cost a total of only 2,000
Under white flags a surrender party negotiated with our
This
To make matters infinitely worse, the
to do counterbattery work and neutralized at least
almost continuously during the night and frequently during daylight
our left flank. retaliation added materially to the physical and mental strain of the
prevent this escape, CC "A" moved east to Le Mans against scattered
The "big
During the night of April 12, division artillery fired
Pfc Fines O. Adams
There we supported the 36th and 44th
The escape roads used by the Germans were.under
Cpl Tyrus R. Caldwell
Tec 5 Daniel F. Bishop
Artillery Battalion
artillery pieces. Tec 4 Leonard L. King
Pvt Peter G. Salerno
On February 11, incoming mail was received in "B"
With coolness under
move. useless junk.
Pfc Arthur L. Knapp
Tec 3 John R. McMahon
with many profitable targets. inestimable worth when a V-2 bomb landed directly in "B" Battery's
and flash battalion, and flash-bang reports from the OP's, provided us
T/Sgt Roger B. Brooks
John E. Courier, Jr., Commanding Officer
almost invariably means that artillery fire is forthcoming. was
This was of course reported to CC "A" and higher
At that time, since the easternmost junction point of the British and
the killing and dispersal of enemy working parties preparing the
Suddenly withering high
Tec 4 James O. Grissom
Camp Chaffee, Arkansas: Home of the 5 Then the battalion received orders to meet a guide from
German forces struggling to break out of the famous Ardennes
in the
As soon as it became dark and the enemy could move without fear of the
Capt. Pfc Robert E. McBride
On instructions from our forward observers with the
Cpl Thomas B. Weatherford
In spite of
No damage and no casualties were
In spite of the bitter defense staged by the enemy in his
Pfc Jack Phillips
Pvt Lonnie Cook
Together with Lt. Gallagher, Battery
V Panther tanks, several self-propelled guns, (Including those that
battled into the town in a determined effort to secure the bridge. constantly shelled and enemy air attacks were daily occurances
Hqs, 17th Field Artillery Observation Battalion HHB, 18th Antiaircraft Artillery Group 20th Engineer Combat Battalion 23d Ordnance Bomb Disposal Squad 24th Cavalry Reconnaissance. interrogation team from division obtained valuable information from the
Tec 4 Ralph A. Gonzales
positions, to keep better communications with our forward observers and
December to 27 January) our air was active over the area, and several
forward observer
That night from a position north of Ruhrdorf, together with
4th Division, and of VII Corps, these missions resulted in the
Edwin I. Parson Surgeon
leading to the battalion position were frequently under accurate enemy
The TD outpost knocked out the
which quickly carried our forces to the river, but again we were
picture" called for an advance east, then north to Viersen
at least 35 tanks (these with assistance from the Air Corps), numerous
Pvt Mack Wright
the
offer was quickly crushed. Pfc Ernest Bevans
Sgt Frank H. Fox
Tec 5 Raymond J. Lovelady
Pfc William G. Carlin
fire. during the night of April 17 and 18, the battalion went into position in
Lt. Lenard H. Willis Forward Observer
Lt. Vernon C. Wickstrom
Pfc Seymour Miller
Tec 5 Amos C. Cambron
B. Dunn
Toward dusk of the same day (April 13) a flight of 15 ME
Pfc Thomas J. Patterson
Prisoners452
Pfc Andrew Pribish
where we engaged in delivering harassing and interdiction fires across
howitzer's knocked out before cover could be sought. The Fifth Armored Division, less the artillery, moved back
Battery "A" of the 387th AAA. Tec 5 Gerard N. Folse
"A" on September 13 In
For some time rumors had been persistent throughout the battalion that
called upon as the weight and surprise tactics of the armored attacks
We can
One of the high points in the history of the 47th began at 0245,
24, 1944
Pvt Raymond M. Whidden
Pfc Genaro P. Romero
Tec 4 Chester O. Skinner
to liberate officially the capitol of the Grand
leading elements, particular care was exercised to keep our fires clear
during the night. billeted in buildings for the first since leaving England,
The
large areas of the available real estate. Tec 4 Norman W. Castello
successful and the enemy was driven into his Siegfried
sectors, opposite
our reinforcing
lines and eventually escape to a "redoubt" area in the Harz Mountains. the vicinity, indicating that our positions, to put it mildly, were not
to take off for safer sectors and upon several occasions Luftwaffe
Tec 5 Joseph Parrino
S/Sgt. Pvt Raymond Dzierzawski
had been converted to
attaining that objective, the battalion in support of CC "A" moved
which the battalion
Tec 4 Eugene Rexrode
Lt. Robert E. Behen Comm. least one plane. Tec 5 Mansfield Johnson
Intense artillery and mortar fire raked our
Pfc Harold R. Putman
On many occasions tempers and nerves were at the cracking
again in the vicinity
It appears as a blue "71" on a white circular. afternoon after Lt. Brett, piloted by Lt.
battalion CP, where Lt.
These forward positions were
5th. Hanum the same day, and began to execute what was to
battalions of light artillery, one of medium, and in addition, several
an average of nearly 10 rounds leaving the battalion every minute for
The advance was marked by frequent clashes with
STAFF
The action lasted 30 minutes
Pvt Burneft Plasier
S-4
With the assistance of the heavier artillery of the
machine gun fire completely razed the structure which turned out to be a
Pfc Edward M. Brown
88mm. 25 hostile tanks. From then until the 23rd of December, when the battalion moved with CC
assist greatly in destroying the remnants of the hostile division. We have emerged from
Tec 4 James A. Evans
trucks and many anti-tank and self-propelled guns. power of the Combat Command, which consisted of two battalions of
Pvt John T. Knotts
into firing positions
test the enemy's defenses, ran into a hornet's nest of 88 and 75 high
reported a column of infantry moving into a woods
garrison of several hundred Wehrmacht troops in a
that wounded could be evacuated as the enemy paid no respect to Geneva
to Chateau Gontier, the location of a bridge vital to
At this location we received word on May 8th that hostilities had ceased
materially aided the battalion in accomplishing this mission.
commanding ground that was their objective and held. Tec 5 Clyde T. Phipps
and large forces of the enemy dispersed and broken up, the battalion
activity in the same woods, and several missions were fired. Pvt Coy D. Sowell
in our history and the finishing touches were added when the P-47's
Awards: DSC-7 ; DSM-1 ; SS-180; LM-1 ; SM-8 ; BSM-695 ; AM-10. Cpl Thomas O. Crocker
S/Sgt Theophile Begnaud,
Immediately by-passing the danger area, the
was uneventful, light
having been achieved In this action
forced to occupy crowded positions along a main highway that offered no
BATTERY "B"
Tec 4 Ernest C. Pavlicek
and the 400th quickly placed fire on the enemy guns and knocked them
headed for the basepoint. January 30th, the
resulted in no damage to
Pvt Lelon O. Grissom
battalion was
Division Artillery at Meimke in an attempt to find
Tec 4 Larue P. Wasson
Machine gun fire
Due to his efforts, the reconnaissance parties safely rejoined the
where we took up our mission of reinforcing the fires of the
guns at night. Campaigns: Rhineland, Central-Europe Days of combat: 62. and Survey O. Capt. Pvt William A. Linville
February 7th. Maj.. Gen. Lunsford E. Oliver, C. G.
Tec 5 Ralph Martin
T/Sgt Willis C. Proudfoot
CC "A" launched an
Both officers had been wounded during the attack, but the
This unique and unorthodox fire plan achieved brilliant
The fact that our accompanying infantry usually was unable to
section that evening, were evacuated for combat exhaustion. After a few days stay at Raeren,
character of the enemy defense required the full use of all of the fire
Tec 4 Kenneth R. Kemp
O. and Asst. 47th. enemy division was fully revealed. contain
Pfc John W. Aide
Sgt James C. Blass
Tec 4 Sylvester R. Lowenthal
surface cleared of Germans" for the guidance of following troops. caught the Boche completely off base and what little
By this time the enemy
Pfc Ernesto Villanueva
Tec 5 Claude Hitt
The battalion, however, quickly dug itself in,
That night they
Artillery control, the battalion passed through Vluyn
strong defense. Lt. Millard E. Anderson Executive Officer
BATTERY
Tec 4 Waldo P. Sank
2nd. Tec 5 Adolph Kotulski
disengagement of the 46th's patrol, but silenced the enemy guns that had
Pfc Paul J. Whitt
A task force consisting of two M-7's and
that
spectacularly successful crossing of the Roer,
for his retreating troops. "B" of the 47th getting
woods. officially were credited the 387th, with Battery
of Louviers, with the 400th again assigned the
Pvt Stanley M. Sobelman
evening of that day, however, the 46th Armored Infantry attained the
These
their families and lessen their grief in the thought of deeds well done. 1st/Sgt Cecil Pittman
Cpl Harold H. Straker
from the 46th Armored Infantry Battalion which had moved to the north to
and then east
Pfc Emilio Pena, Jr.
Reported activity was in large wooded areas
"A," 387th AAA which had been
Tec 5 John Seman
bridge as an escape exit and then blowing it, heavy concentrations of
Pvt Rupert A. Spencer
German rear areas, cutting vital communications and far ahead of the
an operation termed at that time by General Patton as being the greatest
Air Obsr., Mtn. rat to the battalion commander, and the race was on. as the Allied Forces began building up the offensive to the Roer River. Ninth Army, for a
importance the enemy attached to the Tangermunde bridge. Bismarck toward the Elbe raced the armored
Pfc Edward McKinney