Tank Destroyer-WWII-Fort Benning Association 

Shoulder Sleeve Insignia For the Tank Destroyer Forces

 

A RESOLUTION SUBMITTED ON BEHALF OF THE TANK DESTROYER FORCE OF WW II TO THE SOCIETY OF THE THIRD INFANTRY DIVISION ON THE 17Th OF SEPTEMBER, 1994 IN COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, BY COL. CECIL R. FRENCH (RET), 899Th TANK DESTROYER BATTALION ASSOCIATION.

Mr. President, and members of the Society. During combat in World War II I served as a Tank Destroyer crewman with Company B, 899th TD Bn., on the Ruhr, the Rhine and the Mulde Rivers. In May 1950 I was assigned as a platoon leader, Heavy Tank Co., 30th Infantry Regiment, Fort Benning, Ga. In 19511 served as a platoon leader in the 15th and 7th infantry Regiments during the Korean War. I retired from the Army in December 1973.

In 1983 I attended my first reunion of the National Tank Destroyer Association at Fort Hood, Texas, the home of the TD Force of WW II. At that time a large Monument was dedicated. In 1989 I attended a reunion of the NATIONAL TD Assn. at Fort Knox, Kentucky, where another monument was dedicated to the WW II TD Force, in the Armor Memorial Park at the Patton Museum of Cavalry and Armor. The Armored Forces Monument which included the WW II Tank Destroyer Force was dedicated on November 11, 1991 on the Memorial Drive “Avenue of Heroes,” Arlington, Virginia. This is my first reunion with the Society of the Third Infantry Division, and I am very glad to be here. Let me get to the point. Just as Bill Schlitz asked the question, “Where is the monument for the 3d Inf Div at the National Museum of Infantry, Ft. Benning, particularly in view of the fact the Division left here for Korea in 1950,” 1 ask. “Where is the Tank Destroyer Monument?” Bill Schlitz’s project took about six years, so here I go.

WHEREAS. There are four antitank guns (3 7mm, 57mm, 75mm and 90mm) located on the left of the entrance to the Museum, and a WW II Half-track located on the right—aIl used by the TD Force but not identified with TD label.

WHEREAS. Inside the National Infantry Museum, all known types of WW II Combat Support Units (including the rubber dummy paratroopers dropped into Normandy as decoys) are represented, along with one minor trace of the Tank Destroyers.

WHEREAS, In the Congressional Medal of Honor Room there is a slight reference to the WW II Tank Destroyer Force in Audie Murphy’s citation: in small letters “tank destroyer” appears twice.

WHEREAS, Tank Destroyer Battalions (36 TDs per Bn) were attached to each Infantry Division and each Armored Division in WW II. The Tank Destroyers knocked out approximately 2600 German Armored Track Vehicles (300 in the Battle of the Bulge), with an estimated sacrifice of 5,000 Tank Destroyer Men killed in action.

WHEREAS, The key Tank Destroyer contribution was helping the U.S Army conquer the fear of the tank and gain confidence and overcome the challenge of the “Blitzkrieg.”

WHEREAS, The 60 1st TD Bn. and the 899th TD Bn attached to the 1st Inf Div stopped the 10th Panzer Division in the battle of El Guettar on March 22, 1943. The 60 1st was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation for valor and was later attached to the 3d Inf Div in Europe 1944-45. The 899th Tank Destroyer Battalion’s origin goes back to the Antitank Company of the 15th Infantry Regiment.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: The Society of the Third Infantry Division and the National Tank Destroyer Association go on record as follows:

1. That the almost forgotten Tank Destroyer Force of WW II be given its place of honor and glory at the National Infantry Museum, Fort Benning, Georgia, highlighted with an appropriate monument in memory of the Tank Destroyer Force and its Defense of Freedom in World War H.

2. That the sponsor of this resolution, Colonel Cecil R. French (Ret.), will:
     a. Contact the President of the National Tank Destroyer Association for administrative assistance.
     b. As a member of Outpost 60. Society of the Third Infantry Division, coordinate locally towards fulfillment of Tank Destroyer recognition.
     c.  Coordinate with the Director of the National Infantry Museum, Fort Benning, Ga.

FORT BENNING OP # 60 Columbus, GA
November 27, 1994

IsI C. R. French
Col Cecil. R. French (Ret)
49 Greensview Lane                                  Reprinted from:                        “The Watch on the Rhine”
Dadeville, Alabama 36853                        February 1995.                        The Society of the Third

                                                                                                                          Infantry Division, U.S. Amy

 

 

 

 

 

SECRETARY OF THE ARMY WASHINGTON   

November 30, 1995                                                                                                                                              

Colonel Cecil R. French
U.S. Army, Retired
49 Greenview Lane
Dadeville, Alabama 36853

Dear Colonel French:

On behalf of the United States Army, I am pleased to accept your association’s offer to construct and place a monument at Fort Benning to honor those who served in the Tank Destroyer Force of World War II.

This monument will. memorialize those who fought and died to preserve freedom while serving this great Nation.

Please extend my deepest appreciation to the members of your association this very generous and patriotic gift.

Sincerely,

  Togo D. West, Jr.

 

 

 

In April 1995 fourteen TD Battalions formed the Tank Destroyer -WWII-Fort Benning Association to fund and place a Tank Destroyer Force Monument at the National Infantry Museum. On 9 November 1995 the first reunion was convened to dedicate the Memorial. 
To honor the great exploits of TD Battalions of WWII. This appropriate recognition is long overdue since 82% of the combat support by Tank Destroyer Battalions entailed fighting with 56 INF and 5 ABN Divisions,

 

Tank Destroyer Memorial - Fort Benning, GA.
Dedicated November 9, 1995

(L to R) Cecil French, 899th TD Bn, Chairman
Art Langdon, 801st TD Bn, Wreath Bearer
Earl Cabaniss, 654th TD Bn, Wreath Bearer
Don Dembowski, 801st TD Bn, Veil Remover
Tom Brown, 601st TD Bn, Veil Bearer

Presentation of the T.D. Monument consisted of a 30 minute program with a large band on a beautiful sunny day. The ceremony opened with the Infantry Band playing the Tank Destroyer Song, the official marching song from the 1943 - 1945 days at then Camp Hood, Texas. A "lost" copy of the sheet music, scored for piano, surfaced after fifty years. My sister found it stuck behind a drawer of my grandmother's antique oak chest of drawers.

After the unveiling at 11 a.m., Col. Gregory C. Camp, chief of staff, U.S. Army Infantry Center, accepted the monument on behalf of the Infantry Center and the National Infantry Museum.

 
bfrenchsm.jpg - 14.2 K

 

 

 

 

 

WWII Tank Destroyer Society

In January 1996 the TD-WWII.-Fort Benning Association was expanded to WWII Tank Destroyer Society.

 

 

Permanent display (Our own "Mini -Museum")  on the ground floor of the National Infantry Museum donated by the WWII Tank Destroyer Society.