The rest of that day is history. Personally, I spent it praying for the invaders … and, like the rest of his official family, aching with sympathy for our apprehensive Boss.
Gen Eisenhower stood the appalling strain for another day. Then, in the early morning of June 7 it was 0720-H, just twenty-six hours after H-Hour he left for Normandy’s beaches. I fled to the lonely comfort of our trailer-headquarters. Working on the General’s “fan mail” never seemed so difficult, so unimportant; but it helped smother worries.
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Nov
30
2009
Aug
07
2009
The US Army fought World War II with matériel much of which was developed in the decade prior to our entry, particularly in the period following the German blitz in Poland. Our efforts to develop munitions to the point where our armies could cope on equal terms with those of potential enemies are covered here in this, the first of three projected volumes on the history of the Ordnance Department in World War II. How well the Ordnance Department succeeded in matching the Germans in quality continues to be a matter of debate both within the Ordnance Department itself, and between the using arms and the Department. That the battle of quantity was won with the help of a superb industrial machine can hardly be denied.
This volume, the result of diligent research by Dr. Constance McL. Green and her associates, should interest not only military men but also scientists, industrialists, and laymen in general. Among other things, it shows the urgent necessity of a directed, continuous, and intensive research program and the danger in failing to recognize and profit by developments abroad. Also shown is the inherent time interval between the drawing board and the production of the end item in quantity.
ORLANDO WARD
Washington, D.C. Maj. Gen., U.S.A.
15 January 1953 Chief of Military History
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Jul
02
2009
On August 8 1934, the US Army Air Corps (USAAC) tendered a proposal for a multi-engined bomber to replace the Martin B-10. Requirements were that it would carry a “useful bombload” at an altitude of 10000-F (3000-M) for ten hours with a top speed of at least 200-MPH (320-KMH). They also desired, but did not require, a range of 2000-M (3200-KM) and a speed of 250-MPH (400-KMH). The Air Corps were looking for a bomber capable of reinforcing the air forces in Hawaii, Panama, and Alaska. The competition would be decided by a “fly-off” at Wright Field in Dayton, Ohio.
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Jun
16
2009
Category : Archives Movies, CIC History, Intelligence US, Interrogation Teams
From its inception, the United States made use of spies. The nation’s first spy master, Gen George Washington, recognized the need for accurate intelligence during the Revolutionary War. In a letter written July 26 1777, Washington wrote :
- The necessity of procuring good intelligence is apparent and need not be further urged – All that remains for me to add is, that you keep the whole matter as secret as possible.
From his experience as a British officer in the French and Indian war, he often relied on intelligence provided by Native Americans to keep his troops mobile and out of reach of the enemy. Intelligence operations in the American colonies, though, predate the war. In 1765, after the British passed the hated Stamp Act, a confederation of dissident groups called the Sons of Liberty formed to harass the British. By 1772 the Sons of Liberty had evolved into the Committees of Correspondence, whose purpose was to share information in resisting colonial rule. In Boston, members of the committee, including Samuel Adams and John Hancock, patrolled the streets at night, observing the movement of British troops and warning rebels in the countryside of impending British raids that might turn up caches of arms and gunpowder. The Boston group learned that on one of these raids the British intended to arrest Adams and Hancock, but it was unclear whether troops leaving Boston would travel across land or up the seacoast.
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May
17
2009
While sorting papers into my own archives I have found my old Officers Folder containing letters from Gen James ‘Jim Slim’ M. Gavin, CO 82nd A/B Division, Gen William M. “Bud’ Miley, CO 17th A/B Division, Gen William T. Ryder, CO 1st American Parachute Test Platoon, Gen William P. Yarborough, CO 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Italy 1943-1944, Gen George M. Jones, CO 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment USMC, Gen Matthew B. Ridgway, CO XVIII Corps Airborne, M. Ronald Reagan, President of the United States of American, Mrs Nancy Reagan, 1st Lady, as well as many other letters from American friends like Gerry Devlin and Charles B. McDonald.
The first letter I am using is the one that retrace the history of the US World War Two Paratrooper Uniforms M-1940 Balloon Cloth, M-1941 Herringbone Twill Overall, M-1941 Jump Jacket and Trouser, M-1942 Improved Jump Jacket and Trouser and finally the Paratrooper Uniform s Olive Drab or Tiger Stripes as used in Vietnam.
Apr
23
2009
FEBRUARY 1945
Original Unit
Designation : 505th Engineer Light Ponton Company
Date of Organization : May 15 1942
Place of Organization : Camp Gordon, Georgia
Authority of Organization : General Order #15, Hq. Eastern Defense Command and First Army, dated May 15 1942
Sources from which original personnel were obtained : Third Reinforcement Depot.
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Apr
22
2009
OCTOBER 1944
Original Unit :-
Designation : 505th Engineer Light Ponton Company
Date of Organization : May 15 1942
Place of Organization : Camp Gordon, Georgia
Authority of Organization : General Order #15, Hq Eastern Defense Command and First Army, dated May 15 1942.
Sources from which original personnel were obtained.
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Apr
14
2009
The US 10th Armored Division was activated on July 15 1942 at Fort Benning Georgia and moved on June 24 1943 to the Second Army #2 Tennessee Maneuvres.
On September 5 1943, the 10-AD moved to Camp Gordon, Georgia, the staged at Camp Shanks, New York, on, September 1 1944, until departed the New York Port of Embarkation.
The division landed in France on September 23 1944, crossed into the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg on December 17 1944 and was sent back to France on December 27 1944.
The 10th Armd entered Germany on February 22 1945 and when combat ceased, was sent back to the USA, arrived Hampton Roads Port of Embarkation on October 13 1945 and was deactivated at Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia a day later.
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Apr
14
2009
The 9th Armored Division was activated on July 15 1942 at Fort Riley, Kansas, moved to Goff, California on June 10 1943 then to Camp Ibis, California on August 1 1943 while part in the #3 California Maneuvres in the Desert Training Center.
The 9-AD moved then to Camp Polk, Louisiana on October 25 1943 for the Third Army #5 Louisiana Maneuvres.
The division staged then at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey on August 14 1944 until departed the New York Port of Embarkation on August 18 1944 and arrived in England on September 1 1944.
The 9th Armored Division landed in France on October 3 1944, crossed into the Duchy of Luxembourg on October 20, into Belgium on December 18 1944, returned to France on December 23 1944, got back to Belgium on February 22 1945 and entered finally Germany on March 2 1945.
The 9th Armored was sent back to Hampton Roads Port of Embarkation in USA on October 13 1945 and was sent to Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia where it was deactivated.
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Apr
11
2009
The 8th Armored Division was activated at Fort Knox, Kentucky, on April 1 1943 then was sent to Camp Polk, Louisiana on March 5 1943 then to the Fourth Army #6 Louisiana Maneuvres on February 2 1944.
The 8-AD returned to Camp Polk, Louisiana on April 26 1944, staged at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, on November 2 1944 until it departed the New York POE on November 6 and arrived in England on November 19 1944.
The 8th Armored Division landed in France on January 5 1945, crossed into Holland on February 5 1945 and entered in Germany on March 2 1945.
Wen the job was over, the 8-AD was sent back to Hampton Roads POE on November 13 1945 and was inactivated at the same date at Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia.
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Mar
07
2009
Category : Cavalry Troops
The 6/CG-Mecz, under command of Col Edward M. Fickett and consisting of the 6-Sq/6CG and 28-Sq/6CG, landed in France on Jul 10 1944. The group was trained for the mission of establishing the Army Information Service for Gen George S. Patton’s Third Army while in England and in Normandy.
In July 1944, the Third Army became operational and with the 6/CG attached. Until Nov 1 1944 the group operated the Army Information Service, performing an invaluable mission for the Army Commander in keeping him completely informed as to the activities and location of his forward troops.
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Mar
04
2009
Activated on Apr 15 1941 at Camp Beauregard the 3rd Armored Division moved to Camp Polk, Louisiana, on June 11 1941 and was transferred to Camp Young, California, on July 26 1942 for the Desert Training Center II Armored Corps California Maneuvers. It moved then to Camp Pickett, Virginia, on November 2 1942 and arrived the Indian Town Gap Mil Reservation, Pennsylvania, on January 21 1943. The 3/AD staged at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, August 26 1943 until departed the New York Port of Embarkation on September 5 1943 and arrived England on September 18 1943. The division landed then in France on June 23 1944, crossed into Belgium on September 1944 and entered Germany September 15 1944. The 3rd Armd Div returned to Belgium on December 20 1944 and re-entered Germany on February 7 1945. The 3/AD was inactivated on November 10 1945.
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Mar
04
2009
Stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington and known as the 3rd Division it moved to Fort Ord, California Jan 22 1940 then returned to Fort Lewis, May 19 1940. It moved again to Hunter-Liggett Military Reservation, California May 25 1941 for IX Corps California Maneuvers. The 3rd returned to Fort Lewis again on Jul 1 1941 and participated in the Fourth Army Maneuvers Aug 15 to Aug 30 1941. The 3rd was then transferred to Fort Ord, California on May 1 1942 and was re-designated 3rd Infantry Division on Aug 1 1942. Sent to Camp Pickett, Virginia on Sep 22 1942, it staged at Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia on Oct 27 1942 and departed Hampton Roads Port of Embarkation on the same date. The 3rd Inf Div assaulted Fedala North Africa on Nov 8 1942, assaulted Sicily Jul 10 1943 and arrived Italy Sep 18 1943. On Jan 22 1944, the 3rd assaulted Anzio then southern France on Aug 15 1944. The division entered into Germany on Mar 13 1945, arrived New York POE Sep 4 1946 and then Camp Campbell Kentucky Sep 8 1946.
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Mar
03
2009
The 7th Armored Division was activated on Mar 1 1942 at Camp Polk, Louisiana and moved Sep 15 1942 to the IV Corps Louisiana Maneuvers. It returned to Camp Polk on Nov 9 1942, arrived then Mar 11 1943 at the Desert Training Center for the #2 California Maneuvers, was transferred Aug 12 1943 to Fort Benning, Georgia and arrived at Camp Myles Standish, Massachusetts on Apr 22 1944.
The Division staged et Camp Shanks, New York, from May 2 1944 until departed New York Port of Embarkation on Jun 7 Jun 1944 and arrived in England on Jun 14 1944.
The 7th Armored Division landed in France on Aug 11 1944, crossed into Belgium on Sep 26 and into Holland on Oct 8 1944. It returned to Belgium on Dec 28 1944 and entered Germany Mar 15 1945.
The 7/AD arrived then at Hampton Roads POE on Oct 9 1945 and was inactivated at Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia on Oct 9 1945.
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Mar
01
2009
Form : Jari A. Villanueva
Of all the military bugle calls, none is so easily recognized or more apt to render emotion than the call Taps. The melody is both eloquent and haunting and the history of its origin is interesting and somewhat clouded in controversy. In the British Army, a similar call known as Last Post has been sounded over soldiers’ graves since 1885, but the use of Taps is unique with the United States military, since the call is sounded at funerals, wreath-laying and memorial services.
Taps began as a revision to the signal for Extinguish Lights (Lights Out) at the end of the day. Up until the Civil War, the infantry call for Extinguish Lights was the one set down in Silas Casey’s (1801-1882) Tactics, which had been borrowed from the French. The music for Taps was adapted by Union Gen Daniel Butterfield for his brigade (Third Brigade, First Division, Fifth Army Corps, Army of the Potomac) in July, 1862.
Daniel Adams Butterfield (31 October 1831-17 July 1901) was born in Utica, New York and graduated from Union College at Schenectady. He was the eastern superintendent of the American Express Company in New York when the Civil War broke out. Despite his lack of military experience, he rose quickly in rank. A Colonel in the 12th Regiment of the New York State Militia, he was promoted to Brigadier General and given command of a brigade of the V Corps of the Army of the Potomac. The 12th served in the Shenandoah Valley during the the Bull Run Campaign. During the Peninsular Campaign Butterfield served prominently when during the Battle of Gaines Mill, despite an injury, he seized the colors of the 83rd Pennsylvania and rallied the regiment at a critical time in the battle. Years later, he was awarded the Medal of Honor for that act of heroism.
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Feb
15
2009
This is the wartime story of an American GI. In fact, this is the story of a GI like many other GI’ stories. It’s about friendships, cold, winter, rain, snow, mud, blood, war and dead. But this story has something else. It is the story over one of these GIs who were in Verviers and Liège during the period September 1944 to December 1944. This GI, Orville Iverson – Ivy – had built a strong friendships with the Jacquet Family from Verviers. Especially Claude and Ninette.
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