643rd Tank Destroyer Battalion 

 

                                                           

Activated on 15 December 1941

Camp Blanding, Florida

 

 

Inactivated on 17 November 1945

Camp San Luis Obispo, California

 

643rd Museum Soldiers of the 643rd Fallen Soldiers Baraque de Fraiture Attack on Barby Story Tank Destroyers Michael DeFebio Gerard K. Duncan Bryce Horton James Foster Thomas Ryan Robert Lucas Frederick Jones Elden Gillan Floyd Esche Theodore Guss Boleslaw Korona William J. Francis Charles J. Walter W.J. Mombourquette Louis J. Boasso Lawrence A. Killion William R. Bird Burl Sloan Bill Guether Sidney Auriemma Richard A. Rancourt Merle M. Robinson James L. Garvin John Malinosky Francis Cunningham Marion E. Cooper Salvatore J. Pellechia William T. Ropple Preston E. Conklin Jack D. Hilliard Joseph S. Kowalski Milton P. Goldman William N. Colombo Anthony DeFoster Bernie Haas Donat A. Beaudoin Lester R. King

 

 

 

 

 

 

A. Company 643rd TD BN

Camp San Luis Obispo, CA. 1945

 

 

 

B. Company 643rd TD BN

Camp San Luis Obispo, CA. 1945

 

 

 

C. Company 643rd TD BN

Camp San Luis Obispo, CA. 1945

 

 

 

Recon. Company 643rd TD BN

Camp San Luis Obispo, CA. 1945

 

 

 

HQ. Company 643rd TD BN

Camp Gruber, Oklahoma

 

 

 

 

Help wanted ... !!

Does anyone recognize one of these three men down below

Email received from: Kristine Walter Crosby Sedillo

I think these three men were very important. My grandfather placed the lone picture in a family photo album. I have not seen any other pics from when my grandpa was over there so I am assuming these men were very important to him. Any help identifying them and seeing if they are still alive is greatly appreciated unfortunately they would all be 90 years old so if they are alive time is very stacked against me

 

 

Last Sunday October 30th, 2011 I returned home from a 2 day’s visit to the City of Barby in Germany, Barby is located near the Elbe river approximately 100 miles South/West from Berlin. On April, 12th 1945 Five soldiers of the Recon-Company and one of the A-Company, 643rd Tank Destroyer battalion got KIA near that City. 

Sgt.William T. Ropple Jr.

Sgt. Michael DeFebio

Pfc. Boloslaw Korona

Pfc. Thomas Ryan

1Lt. Burl L. Sloan

And from A-Co, Tec5 Wilson W. Carpenter 

 

 

After a lot of investigation I found the exact spot where five soldiers from the Recon-Company got KIA (about 100 Meters West from the town border) On Saturday October 29th I  placed some flowers on that spot to remember this terrible tragedy.

I Especially made this trip to see with my own eyes where this tragedy took place but first of all to commemorate my adoption Soldier Michael DeFebio, after receiving and replying several e-mails with Bill Durette he asked me to this also to remember Sgt. William T. Ropple from Charlestown, MA

 

 

 

 

Received picture and document (Click on Picture for Document) from Ronald Pellechia his father was Pvt. Salvatore Pelechia, 643rd TD BN Recon. Company

 

       

 

Photographs received from

"Military Museum of Southern New England"  

(Sam Johnson ,13 July 2009)

 

 

643rd Tank Destroyer Battalion Attachments en special dates.

 

 

15 December '41 643rd TD BN. Activated and Attached to 43rd infantry Division.
15 February '42 Departed from Camp Blanding, Florida by motor convoy.
17 February '42 Arrived at Camp Shelby, Mississippi.
1 September '42 Attached to IV Corps for adminstration and training.
11 November '42 Attached to  1st HQ-Detachement special troops 3rd Army for administration and training.
11 December '42 Departed from Camp Shelby, Mississippi by train.
13 December '42 Arrived at Camp Hood, Texas. Attached to AUTC Camp Hood, Texas.
10 April '43 Departed from Camp Hood, Texas by train.
12 April '43 Arrived at Camp Ibis, California.
13 April '43 Attached to 5th TD GR.  for training and tactical control, Desert Training Center.
17 April '43 Attached to 8th Motorized Division, Desert Training Center.
1 May '43 Departed from Camp Ibis, California by motor convoy, arrived at Camp Laguna, Arizona.
29 May '43 Attached to 5th TD GR.  for training and tactical control, Desert Training Center.
7 June '43 Attached to 4th HQ and HQ Detachement Special Troops, Desert Training Center.
21 August '43 Attached to 5th TD GR.  for training and tactical control, Desert Training Center.
24 November '43 Departed from Camp Laguna, Arizona by train Left Desert Training Center.
26 November '43 Arrived at Camp Gruber, Oklahoma, Attached to X Corps.
30 December '43 Attached to 11th TD GP.
2 January '44 Departed from Camp Gruber, Oklahoma by motor convoy and train.
3 January '44 Arrived Camp Swift, Texas.
7 January '44 Attached to 3rd Army, XVIII Corps.
11 February '44 Departed from Camp Swift,Texas by motor convoy and train.
12 February '44  Arrived at Camp Gruber, Oklahoma Attached to 11th TD GR.
23 March '44 Attached to 15th TD GR. Camp Gruber, Oklahoma.
16 July '44 Attached to XXXVI Corps.
 24 August '44 Departed from Camp Gruber, Oklahoma by motor convoy and train
26 August '44 Arrived at Fort Myles Standish, Massashusetts.
4 September '44 Departed from Fort Myles Standish, Massashusetts by train arrived at POE Boston Massaschusetts enroute overseas on Ship the "Robin Sherwood"
15 September '44 643rd TD BN Arrived in Cherbourg, France, Occupied bivouac area 2 miles southeast of Valognes. Assigned to Ninth Army.
26 September '44 Relieved from assignment Ninth Army and assigned to European Theater of Operations.
15 November '44 Departed from Valognes, France by motor convoy, Arrived at Jullouville, France.
27 November '44 Less 2 platoons A and Rcn. Co. and HQ Co. Departed Jullouville, France by motor convoy, Arrived Fontainebleau, France Assigned advance section, communications zone, atchd. to HQ, Ground Force Replacement System, further atchd. to 9th Replacement Depot.
8 December '44 Less 2 platoons A and Rcn. Co.and HQ Co. Attached to Det. HQ, 6th Engr. Special Brigade.
11 December '44 Less 2 platoons A and Rcn. Co.and HQ Co. Ground Force Replacement System, further atchd. to 9th Replacement Depot.
19 December '44 Less 2 platoons A. Co. and 2 Rcn. platoons Hq. Co. Departed from Fontainebleau, France by motor convoy. Arrived at Fluery, France.
20 December '44 Less 2 platoons A and Rcn. Co.and HQ Co. Attached to XVIII Corps. Arrived at Manhay, Belgium
23 December '44 2 platoons A and 2 Rcn. platoons and HQ Co. relieved from attachment 6th Engr. Brigade and attached to 156 Infantry Regiment for Operations, Administration and Supply. Arrived at Noiseaux, Belgium.
24 December '44 Less A,B,C, Co. departed from Noiseaux, Belgium. Arrived at Ville St. Gertrude, Belgium.
25 December '44 Less 2 platoons A and Rcn. Co.and HQ Co. attached to VII Corps and further attached to 3rd Armored Division. Departed from Ville St. Gertrude, Belgium by motor convoy. Arrived at Tours, Belgium.
26 December '44 Less C. Co Departed from Tours, Belgium. Arrived at Les Avins, Belgium. A,B, Co. Joined.
31 December '44 Less 2 platoons A Co. and 2 Rcn. platoons HQ Co. attached to First US Army.
2 January '45 Departed from Les Avins, Belgium. Arrived at Paradis, Belgium. All Companies joined, Less 2 platoons A and Rcn. Co.and HQ Co. Attached to XVIII Corps.
3 January '45 Attached to 82nd Airborne Division.
11 January '45

Relieved from 82nd Airborne Division and reverted to XVIII Corps.

Company A, Attached to 106 Infantry Division.
14 January '45 Departed from Paradis, Belgium. by motor convoy, Arrived at Sart, Belgium.
17 January '45 Departed from Sart, Belgium. by motor convoy, Arrived at Andrimont, Belgium.
19 January '45 Company A, Relieved from 106th Infantry Division, 1 gun platoon remained attached to 30th Infantry Division.(relieved 20 January '45).
24 January '45 643rd TD BN Attached to 82nd Airborne Division, less Company B, was attached to 30th Infantry Division.
27 January '45 Departed from Andrimont, Belgium. by motor convoy, Arrived at Malmedy, Belgium.
29 January '45 Company B, relieved from 30th Infantry Division and attached to 82nd Airborne Division.
1 February '45 A,B,C, Co. Still in action, Attached to 82nd Airborne Division. A Co. in battle at Wereth, Belgium. B and C Co. at Medell, Belgium,  Advance CP at Medell, Belgium and Rear CP at Malmedy, Belgium.
2 February '45 Departed from Malmedy, Belgium. by motor convoy, Arrived at Deux-Rys, Belgium. Relieved from 82nd Airborne Division.
3 February '45

643rd TD BN relieved from First US Army and attached to Ninth US Army.

Attached to 83rd Infantry Division Artillery.
6 February '45 Departed from Deux-Rys, Belgium. by motor convoy. Arrived at Neufchateau, Belgium.
7 February '45 Attached to 83rd Infantry Division.
22 February '45 643rd TD BN reorganized from a Towed Battalion to a Self-Propelled Battalion (M18).
26 February '45 Less B,C, Co. Departed from Neufchateau, Belgium. by motor comvoy. Arrived at Alsdorf, Germany.
28 February '45 Less A,B,C, Co. Departed from Alsdorf, Germany by motor convoy. Arrived at Hasselsweiler, Germany.
2 March '45 2nd Platoon C. Co. (T) was ambushed near Kapellen, Germany losing most of their equipment and 38 men killed, wounded or missing. (6 KIA - 10 WIA - 22 MIA)
4 March '45 Less A,B,C, Co. Departed from Hasselsweile, Germany. by motor convoy. Arrived at Neuss, Germany.
5-20 March '45 A,B, and C, Co. Fired long range interdictory and harrassing fire into Dusseldorf, Germany from Positions in Neuss, Germany
21 March '45 Departed from Neuss, Germany by motor convoy, under artillery fire moved to Gangelt, Germany. (1 KIA - 5 WIA)
26 March '45 Departed from Gangelt, Germany by motor convoy Arrived at Anrath, Germany.
29 March '45

Departed From Anrath, Germany by motor convoy Arrived at Friedrichsfeld, Germany.

(Crosses Rhine River 22:00)
31 March '45 Less B, Co. Departed from Friedrichfeld, Germany by motor convoy Arrived at Haltern, Germany. later that day Arrived at Lüdinghausen, Germany less B,C, Co.
1 April '45 Less C, Co departed from Lüdinghausen, Germany by Motor convoy Arrived at Walstedde, Germany, later that day Arrived at Beckum, Germany.
3 April '45 Less A,B,C, Co. Departed from Beckum, Germany by motor convoy Arrived at Delbrück, Germany.
4 April '45 Less A,B,C, Co. Departed from Delbrück, Germany by motor convoy Arrived at Bad Lippspringe, Germany.
5 April '45 Less A,B,C, Co. Departed from Bad Lippspringe, Germany by motor convoy Arrived at Horn, Germany. later that day arrived at Steinheim, Germany.
7 April '45 Less A,B,C, Co. Departed from Steinheim, Germany by motor convoy Arrived at Elbrinxen, Germany.
8 April '45 Less A,B,C, Co. Departed from Elbrinxen, Germany by Motor Convoy Arrived at Scharfoldendorf, Germany.
10 April '45 Less A,B,C, Co. Departed from Scharfoldendorf, Germany by motor convoy Arrived at Freden, Germany later that day Arrived at Langelsheim, Germany.
11 April '45 Less A,B,C, Co. Departed from Langelsheim, Germany by motor convoy Arrived at Heudeber, Germany.
12 April '45

Less A,B,C, Co. Departed from heudeber, Germany by motor convoy Arrived at Cochstedt, Germany.

1st platoon Recon. Co. ambushed near Barby, Germany. (5 KIA)
13 April '45 Less A,B,C, Co. Departed from Cochstedt, Germany by motor convoy Arrived at Calbe, Germany.
1-4 May '45 A,B,and C, Co. Held defensive positions east of the Elbe river Bridgehead.
6 May Departed from Calbe, Germany by motor convoy Arrived at Braunlage, Germany.
8 May '45 Attached to 453AAA BN.
18 May '45 Relieved from 453AAA BN, remains attached to 83rd Infantry Division.
19 May '45 Departed from Braunlage, Germany by motor convoy Arrived at Vienenburg, Germany.
27 May '45 Attached to XIX Corps.
28 May '45 Departed from Vienenburg, Germany by motor convoy Arrived at Borsdorf, Germany.
15 June '45 Departed from Borsdorf, Germany by motor convoy. 392 EM&Off. Departed by rail from Bad Nauheim, Germany.
17 June '45 643rd Arrived at Camp Lucky Strike, Le Havre, France.
26 June '45 Relieved from  XIX Corps, Battalion departed for United States from Le Havre on the"Sea Robin", with 36 Officers and 620 Enlisted men.
5 July '45 643rd Arrived at Hampden Roads, Virginia, 36 Off. & 620 EM sent to Separation Centers for 30 days rest, Recuperation and Recovery furloughs.
21 August '45 643rd assembled at Camp San Luis Obispo, California, after 30 days rest, Recuperation and Recovery, 619 EM 36 officers assigned to XXXVI Corps and 104 Infantry Division for training only.
1 September '45 Relieved from 104th Infantry Division.
16 September '45 Relieved from XXXVI Corps and Attached to VII Corps.
17 November '45 643rd Tank Destroyer Battalion Inactivated

 

 

TWENTY SEVEN 643rd TANK DESTROYER BATTALION MEN WERE KILLED. 

The following information has been gathered from appendix II of the BN History, recollections of men of the 643rd, and from copies of

morning reports received from the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, MO. 

 

 

Name

Rank

Us-Number

Comp.

Date KIA

 Place KIA

Buriel-Place

Sidney Auriemma

Pfc

32641151

C

2 Mar 45

 Hemmerden

St. Mary's Cemetery

Staten Island,

New York (USA)

Eugene V. Call

Tec5

31040198

C

2 Mar 45

 Hemmerden

 

Wilson W. Carpenter

Tec5

37073465

A

12 Apr 45

 Barby

Margraten (NL)

Michael DeFebio

Sgt

20154302

RCN

12 Apr 45

 Barby

Margraten (NL)

Anthony J. DeFoster

Tec5

32038173

A

24 Dec 44

 Bar. de Fraiture

Henri-Chapelle (B)

Gerald K. Duncan

Tec5

20152748

C

9 Jan 45

 Reharmont

Henri-Chapelle (B)

Alexander J. Gadomski

Tec5

31086480

C

8 Apr 45

 Polle

 

Charles H. Gebauer

Cpl

31095730

C

8 Apr 45

 Polle

 

Henry L. Gendron

Pvt

31073569

A

23 Dec 44

 Lamormenil

Henri-Chapelle (B)

Joseph A. Giordano

Sgt

20133245

A

24 Dec 44

 Bar. de Fraiture

Henri-Chapelle (B)

Theodore Guss

Pfc

32640248

C

2 Mar 45

 Hemmerden

 Beth David Cemetery

Elmond, Long Island

New York (USA)

Paul J. Hirner

Sgt

32038296

C

28 Feb 45

 Guston

Margraten (NL)

John J. Janton

Sgt

31042791

C

2 Mar 45

 Hemmerden

 St. Bernards Cemetery Rockville,

Tolland County, CT (USA)

Lawrence A. Killion

Pfc

33163622

B

16 Apr 45

 Gutergluck

Fairview Cemetery

Clearfield County, PA (USA)

Boleslaw Korona

Pfc

31073577

RCN

12 Apr 45

 Barby

Margraten (NL)

Joseph F. Lorenti

Pvt

20132413

B

25 Dec 45

 Soy

 

Robert C. Lucas

Pfc

33163748

B

2 Apr 45

 Wadersloh

 Oakland Cemetery

Indiana County, PA (USA)

Charles M. Nini

Tec5

34150263

A

14 Jan 45

 Derrierre-Spai

Henri-Chapelle (B)

Roy M. Reynolds

Pfc

35745761

C

3 Mar 45

 Hemmerden

Margraten (NL)

William T. Ropple jr.

Sgt

11049218

RCN

12 Apr 45

 Barby

Margraten (NL)

Thomas Ryan

Pfc

11048960

RCN

12 Apr 45

 Barby

Margraten (NL)

Andrew M. Rymer

Pfc

34778305

A

13 Apr 45

 Barby

Margraten (NL)

Carlton E. Schafer

Pvt

35537416

C

9 Jan 45

 Reharmont

 

Burl L. Sloan   

1Lt

01822470

RCN

12 Apr 45

 Barby

Brandon Cemetery, Buchanan County, IA (USA)

William G. Stowers 

1Lt

01822922

B

12 Mar 45

 Neuss

Margraten (NL)

Henry A. Syswerda

Tec5

36455931

RCN

12 Apr 45

 Wernigerode

 

Leverett L. Young

Sgt

20416529

C

2 Mar 45

 Hemmerden

Margraten (NL)

 

 

 

 

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