Reading what equates to an oral history takes some forbearance. He is currently working on a general history of the battalion. The story is not complete because he normally recorded information only from veterans of a and c companies. The year 2020 is already unlike any other in history. Formed from 67th infantry medium tanks at fort meade, maryland, on 15 june 1940 under lt. This is their story, as told in the words of its veterans. Somebody that wasnt there, he would think that youre making that story up. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the armored fist. From balking horrors to careless delights, from cheerful camaraderie to bitter sadness. The battalion landed at utah beach on 28 june 1944 as part of the 1st army. It is based on official records, rosters, citations and correspondence. Cpl gruntz of the 712th tank battalion tells the gripping yet emotional account of his fathers firsthand experiences while standing on the sites where he battled, was wounded, saw friends killed in normandy and during the battle of the bulge, and where he earned the bronze star in bloody combat.
Home world war ii operational documents after action report, 712th tank battalion. The stories and anecdotes range from descriptions of life in the horse. The companies that the 712th tank battalion were associated with. July 3, 1944 712th tank battalion oral history audiobooks. World war ii oral history, books about world war ii, world.
Separate tank battalions were military formations used by the united states army during world war ii, especially in the european theater of operations. These are the memories of the men who fought in, and supported the tanks of the 712th tank battalion almost 70 years ago, and memories do not unfold in a structured timeline of sequential events. They were all young kids is the sequel to tanks for the memories. Part of an effort to chronicle the history of the first african americans to serve in armored units, this history recounts the. Once upon a tank in the battle of the bulge aaron elson. The 712th tank battalion, activated 20 sep 1943, received 5 campaign stars for combat in normandy, northern france, ardennes, rhineland, and central europe. At a little after noon on july 3, 1944, the five medium tanks in the first platoon of a company of the 712th tank battalion were heading toward their first combat. Those with a link will take you to a battalionpublished history. A 712th tank battalion interview by aaron elson isbn. An oral history of the 712th tank battalion from world war 2 by aaron c. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading they were all young kids. The 712th tank battalion in the second world war is his first book for fonthill media. He began to record what members of the battalion told him about the battalion.
Like setting up the correct position for proper firing lines, setting up alternate and secondary positions and many. This is the moving story of how a father shares his experiences with his son of the second world war as a gunner in the us 712th tank battalion by retracing the journey of his battle route through europe many years later. July 3, 1944 712th tank battalion world war ii oral history. At a little after noon on july 3, 1944, the five medium tanks in the first platoon of a company of the 712 th tank battalion were heading toward their first combat assignment, outside the village of pretot. The independent 712th tank battalion was broken out of the 10th and spent most of the war in europe attached to the 90th texasoklahoma division. I recently read the armored fist a unit history of the us 712th independent tank battalion in wwii. In 1943 the 11th cavalry was mechanized as part of the fledgling 10th armored division. An oral history of the 712th tank battalion in world war ii. Redesignated 70th light tank battalion 7 october 1941.
After fighting in europe in the 712th tank battalion in the second world war, gunner louis gruntz rarely spoke of his wartime experiences. History of the 714th tank battalion and stories from my father glen lamb of c company. Part of an effort to chronicle the history of the first african americans to serve in armored units, this history recounts the service of the 784th tank battalion. The 712th tank battalion was an independent tank battalion, not permanently as. The book is well written, aaron has a background in writing. Before that, we were in dillingen and we pulled back across the. Veritas journal of army special operations history. Tanks for the memories is the book that turned him into an oral historian. The battalion came ashore on omaha beach on june 30, 1944. No exposition from the author, other than to set the scene of the battles described. The 712th tank battalion in the second world war they were all young kids. Eckard of hickory, nc was a member of company a of the 712th tank battalion. Army training and doctrine command subtopics united states. Home world war ii operational documents after action report, 716th tank battalion, 9 jan 45 thru 8 feb 45, 18 mar 45 thru 8 feb 45.
They formed three battalions, and of the three battalions i think the 712th was the only one that went overseas. The document has many photos, personal interviews and lists participants and those wounded or killed complete with dates and the location. Youngest child paratrooper a guy who free kindle books great friends the one my books history flowers. Aaron elson attended a reunion of the 712th tank battalion, with wh. Cleopatra, book lists, books to read, knowledge, author, history, reading, kindle. On the evening of january 10, 1945, two tanks from the 712th tank battalion were sent to clear out what the driver of the lead tank, tony darpino, recalled as a small pocket of resistance. The 712th tank battalion spent 11 months in combat, from normandy to czechoslovakia. Conversations with veterans of world war ii, nine lives. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. It is a wonder now what seemed so desirable about such a status but when on 20 sept.
To link to this object, paste this link in email, im or document. He returned two reunions later, in 1989, with a tape recorder, and has been preserving the stories of world war ii veterans ever since. Books about the 90th 90th infantry division association. Jul 05, 2016 this video explores anti tank tactics of the us army in the second world war. It was one of five tank battalions all independent that landed in normandy on dday 6 june 1944. The story of lieutenant jim flowers and the first platoon, company c, 712th tank battalion, on hill 122 kindle edition by elson. The men had to adapt quickly to their new role on the frontline of the army of liberation. Aaron elson attended a reunion of the 712th tank battalion, with which his father served in world war ii, a few years after his fathers death. Along the way, its men dug up potatoes with their tanks and roasted them on the exhausts. Apr 09, 20 reading what equates to an oral history takes some forbearance. Fifty years on, when his son had grown up and was going through a difficult period in his life, louis decided it was. I have read an unbelievable number of wwii books over the last.
The 712th tank battalion landed in normandy three weeks after. Elson, whose father served with the 712th tank battalion, considers the 712th his yoknapatawpha county. Formed from 67th infantry medium tanks at fort meade, maryland, on. The reason they dont talk is they couldnt get the picture over to somebody that wasnt there. His work has been used as source material in many books and documentaries. Paperbackverified purchase oral history of the 712th tank battalion in ww2, in the words of the men that fought. Jim flowers and the first platoon, company c, 712th tank battalion, on hill 122. This book tells you the history of the tank battalion. The 712th tank battalion landed in normandy three weeks after dday and spent eleven months in combat. The story of lieutenant jim flowers and the first platoon, company c, 712th tank battalion, on hill 122 kindle edition by elson, aaron. Oral history of the 712th tank battalion in ww2, in the words of the men that fought. The reason they dont talk is they couldnt get the picture over to somebody that wasnt. Like setting up the correct position for proper firing lines, setting up. An oral history of the 712th tank battalion from world war ii by elson, aaron c.
This video explores antitank tactics of the us army in the second world war. The story of lieutenant jim flowers and the first platoon, company c, 712th tank battalion, on hill 122. The 745th tank battalion was an independent tank battalion that participated in the european theater of operations eto with the united states army in world war ii. Aaron elson has written four books of oral history and has a substantial presence on the internet. Separate tank battalions were military formations used by the united states army. One of the events described in detail in the book is the battle for the town of pfaffenheck in between the rhine and moselle rivers in march of 1945.
After action report, 716th tank battalion, 9 jan 45 thru 8. Apr 11, 2014 this is the moving story of how a father shares his experiences with his son of the second world war as a gunner in the us 712th tank battalion by retracing the journey of his battle route through europe many years later. It wasnt until we went into the 712th that they changed everything over and then we went to d company. The 712th tank battalion in the second world war elson. World war ii oral history, books about world war ii, world war ii. The 784th was one tank battalion formed as a result. Elson the 712th tank battalion spent 11 months in combat, from normandy to czechoslovakia. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading tanks for the memories. See more ideas about oral history, drive a tank and sherman tank. Very soon after the redesignation the battalion moved from camp gordon to ft. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
Patton, and you have one of the epic events in american military history. The 712th was one of the independent tank battalions that operated in the eto during wwii, and was cadred from the 10th armored division in mid 1943. Since its publication in 1994, tanks for the memories has attained cult status among veterans and current members of the armored forces. These battalions were temporarily attached to infantry, armored, or airborne divisions according to need, though at least one battalion 745th tank battalion spent the entire war in europe attached to one division. As he allows in the introduction, the recollections can be confusing and even contradictory, but the participants simply said that if thats how he remembers it, thats how. The original tanks for the memories was published in. A tank driver, big andy spent 11 months in combat from normandy, through the battle of the bulge, the siegfried. Those with a link will take you to a battalion published history.