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693rd Field Artillery Battalion

Discussion in 'Information Requests' started by 693FA, Dec 27, 2010.

  1. Michael Murray

    Michael Murray New Member

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    Great. Thank you. I didn’t realize that this worked between states. I thought they only did that within the State system.
     
  2. Michael Murray

    Michael Murray New Member

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    Back of photo says “693rd F.A. Disp. St. Wolfgang A10CAC88-7309-4A14-AEAB-77A29332D25A.jpeg
     
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  3. 693FA

    693FA Member

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    Michael,
    I do not know of any digital copies, the first one I found and then saw in person was at the Ft. Sill library. You could try the program mentioned by Natman, I never have done that. If all fails I managed to get a copy after years of digging and luck on ebay if your looking for something specific I can check my copy of the book and try to get you what you request.
    Regards
    Clint
     
  4. Alpha 13

    Alpha 13 New Member

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    Hello,

    I just found this site. My late Father was with A Battery 693rd Field Artillery Battalion from Normandy to Salzburg Austria. The 693rd was attached to many divisions, the 90th ID, the 79th ID, the 44th ID, the 45th ID, the 42nd ID, the 3rd ID, it was in combat I believe for 278 days. My Father brought the Unit History book back with him after the war, about 10 years ago it was misplaced here at the house, which really pissed me off. History of a family members exploits just disappeared. My Dad would tell me some hairy stories about the Winter of 44-45 in the Vosges mountains, Rimling, Hageneau, Bitche France and the Rhine River at Worms guarding a Bailey Bridge with 500 lb bombs being used as the demo charges to be blown if/when the Germans counter attacked the bridge head. Alsace Lorraine was the second Battle of the Bulge that gets very little attention as to what it was all about and how the Germans were defeated.

    When I was stationed in West Germany as an Infantryman in the 70's and again in the 80's I went and visited the areas above at the same time of year in December .Everything was still there, the pillboxes, the monstrous "Citadel" at Bitche, the open fields where countless American and German tanks had been knocked out during the back and forth battles. It wasn't pleasant, cold, wet and miserable and I had the luxury to drive away and get out of the weather, something the soldiers of 44-45 did not have.

    My Dad died in 1990 relatively still young at 65 (massive heat attack in his sleep), the internet was not around then, I think my Dad would be pleased to know that this site exists and the history of the 693rd FA can be found.
     
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  5. LRusso216

    LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

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    Nice to hear from you Alpha. Unfortunately I have not been able to find a copy of On the Way. You might have better luck than I did, but the best hope is an Inter-Library Loan for the book. I agree that your father would be pleased that this site exists, and not just for the 693rd. There is a wealth of knowledge here that we can all share.
     
  6. Son of Johnny

    Son of Johnny New Member

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    Like Alpha 13 I just found this site. I'm in preparation for a trip to the D-Day beaches and as part of the preparation I opened my father's copy of "On the Way" to see if there are any clues as to how to follow his route after his landing at Utah on 7/14/44. Inserted within the yearbook is a copy of is a 14"X28" color campaign map titled "Advance of Six Hundred Ninety-Third Field Artillery Battalion, England to Austria" which shows the day-to-day route of the battalion from the Utah landing to Salzburg, so the map coupled with some descriptions in the text of the yearbook I can do a rudimentary itinerary. Unfortunately my trip will allow me only enough time to tour the beaches, Ste. Marie Eglise and its environs. I would appreciate it if anyone who has toured this area can provide information about how or what I can see that pertains to the 693rd in this vicinity.
     
  7. James L Edinger

    James L Edinger New Member

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    I am a new member and don't know how this really works yet. I will try the inter-library route but I was hoping someone had a copy of On the Way that they may sell or copy. My dad was in the battalion I'm sure and I remember his copy of this book. Any additional info on this unit would be appreciated. I have a photo that I will try to post. Let me know if I am violating protocol.
     
  8. john p Beare

    john p Beare New Member

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    My father Paul Edward Beare,M.D. was part of the field hospital ofthe 693rd Fa Bn and was in Saltzberg and St. Wolfgang am See during and at the end of the war. He has a picture of the same dog "Doc" ! Any one have any further info??
     

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