Site Overview
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An account from Lt. Col. Clay's personal copy of the Daily Staff Journal and three personal stories are presented. |
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The distinguished story of the 275th
Armored Field Artillery Battalion has a very personal side. Several accounts of
veterans' life molding experiences are exciting, touching stories of
young men who rose to meet dangerous circumstances in heroic fashion. In addition
there is the official account of action that won the unit a
Presidential Unit Citation and a citation and Fourragere awarded by the King of
Belgium.
Veterans, their family and friends have also shared prized, sometimes rare photos to give their story a warm and tangible sense. The photos show the officers and men of the battalion in training and in the European Theater of Operation. The photos' biggest revelation is that these were very young men, many may think, mere boys. This fact bolsters their heroic accomplishments.
Thirty years after the unit was inactivated a small group of these veterans organized a reunion of the veterans in Knoxville, TN. A result of this successful celebration was the formation of the 275th Armored Field Artillery Battalion Association. The bonds formed during World War Two were still strong. Since the 1974 reunion, there has been a reunion every two year and several "mini-reunions" in between. Accounts and photos of these reunions clearly show this bond.
There are also two pages of helpful links to similar military web sites and other sites that will be helpful to those interested in learning more about this pivotal time in history.
Maps, including period maps, are included when available. A page is also included to show warrant officer and enlisted rank insignia that were in use during World War Two.
This site is a twenty-first century answer to keeping contact with veterans and their families. Also to keep their story vibrant. An unexpected benefit of establishing this site has been to tell children of these heroes the story that many veterans did not live to tell or could not bring themselves to tell.
The world owes a great debt to veterans of World War Two. The actions performed by the men of the 275th Armored Field Artillery Battalion played an important role in the victory.
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Over 150 photographs of wartime experiences and over 50 photos of reunions are here. |
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The bonds of these veterans are as strong as ever. They enjoy sharing their memories of the war years and telling all about family and friends. |
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Maps, Etc. |
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There are a few maps when available to give the reader as reference. |
