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20th Armored Division

Discussion in 'Military Service Records & Genealogical Research' started by Krystal80, Mar 1, 2011.

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  1. Krystal80

    Krystal80 Member

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    I have found out a ton of info on my husband's great uncle in about 5 minutes of google search. I talked to his wife and she told me what was on his seperation papers. How do I find out what smaller unit he was in. Here is a list I got off google. He started out as a tank driver light, then was a Staff Sgt Tank Commander. His name was Francis A Peterson.

    Headquarters Company
    Combat Command A
    Combat Command B
    Reserve Command
    9th Tank Battalion
    20th Tank Battalion
    27th Tank Battalion
    8th Armored Infantry Battalion
    65th Armored Infantry Battalion
    70th Armored Infantry Battalion
    30th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (Mechanized)
    220th Armored Engineer Battalion
    160th Armored Signal Company
    20th Armored Division Artillery
    412th Armored Field Artillery Battalion
    413th Armored Field Artillery Battalion
    414th Armored Field Artillery Battalion
    20th Armored Division Trains
    138th Ordnance Maintenance Battalion
    220th Armored Medical Battalion
    Military Police Platoon
    Band
     
    Krystal80, Mar 1, 2011
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  2. Krystal80

    Krystal80 Member

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    I did a search here too and found this info about the tanks at the Battle of the Bulge> I have done all Infantry research up until now and have NO idea what any of this means.

    XII Corps - Major General M.S. Eddy
    - 10th Armored Division Tiger (Dec.21; Dec.26 to XX Corps) - Major General W.H.H. Morris, Jr.
    6 x M4A3(105), 2 x M4A3E2(75)W Jumbo, 16 x M4A3(76)W, 37 x M4A3(75)W, 17 x M5A1 (3d Tank Battalion) (A & B Co. w/ CCB) (C Co. w/ CCA)
    6 x M4A3(105), 2 x M4A3E2(75)W Jumbo, 16 x M4A3(76)W, 37 x M4A3(75)W, 17 x M5A1 (11th Tank Battalion) (w/ CCA)
    6 x M4A3(105), 1 x M4A3E2(75)W Jumbo, 16 x M4A3(76)W, 37 x M4A3(75)W, 17 x M5A1 (21st Tank Battalion) (A & B Co. w/ CCA) (C Co. w/ CCB)
    3 x M21(81)MMC Half-track, 54 x M3A1 Half-track, 9 x 57mm AT Gun M1 (20th Armored Infantry Battalion) (A & B Co. w/ CCB) (C Co. w/ Team Cherry)
     
    Krystal80, Mar 1, 2011
    #2
  3. LRusso216

    LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

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    If his wife has his separation papers, it should say what unit he was in, not just the division. As for the 20th Armored, I don't think they were involved with the Battle of the Bulge.

    Here is a brief summary:



    [Webmaster Note: The following division information is reproduced from the public domain publication, The Army Almanac: A Book of Facts Concerning the Army of the United States, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1950. Portions of the information may be out of date. Only minor formatting changes and typographical corrections have been made.]

    World War II Activated: 15 March 1943.
    Overseas: 6 February 1945.
    Campaigns: Central Europe.
    Days of combat: 8    .
    Distinguished Unit Citations: 5.
    Awards: DSM-1; SS-31; LM-1; SM-10; BSM-128.
    Commanders: Maj. Gen. Stephen G. Henry (February-October 1943), Maj. Gen. Roderick R. Allen (October 1943-September 1944), Maj. Gen. Orlando Ward (September 1944-August 1945), Maj. Gen. John W. Leonard (August 1945 to inactivation).
    Returned to U.S.: 2 August 1945.
    Inactivated: 2 April 1946.
    Combat Chronicle The 20th Armored Division arrived at Le Havre, France, 16 February 1945. After training at Buchy, it moved through, Belgium to Langendernbach, Germany, 10 April. At Marktbreit, the Division was attached to the III Corps; 20 April. Three days later, it was detached and reassigned to the XV Corps, Seventh Army, at Wurzburg, Germany. Elements of the Division first saw action as Task Force Campbell when a false surrender by the enemy resulted in fighting in the town of Dorf, 25 April. The Division assembled near Deiningen and reconnoitered for routes to the Danube. The Danube was crossed, 28 April, the 20th meeting sporadic resistance. Elements seized the bridge over the Paar River at Schrobenhausen and secured crossings over the Ilm River. The 20th attacked Munich, 29 April, smashing the fanatical opposition of the SS barracks and Antitank School, and capturing the city the next day. The Division crossed the Inn River at Wasserburg, 3 May, entered Traunstein, 4 May, and was moving toward Salzburg when it received word that hostilities would cease in Europe. (Bold is my addition to highlight key ideas)20th Armored Division Unit History (LoneSentry.com)

    It would ge great if you could get a copy of his separation papers. Have you found anything else on your husband's grandfather?
     
    LRusso216, Mar 1, 2011
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  4. Krystal80

    Krystal80 Member

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    Lou,
    She is said she will mail me a copy when she can and she's also going to try and find me a picture of him in uniform. I have never met her, although we are distantly related through marriage. She was so sweet and helpful even though I called out of the blue. She was excited when I told her I would send her a copy of everything I find. I did come across alot of information just from googling the 20th Armored Division. She lost her husband when he was only 49.

    No luck on husband's grandfather. The above soldier was from husband's dad's uncle. The other grandfather is mom's dad and she thinks she has a copy of some of his information/discharge papers somewhere maybe in a safe deposit box. She has moved several times and I hope she hasn't lost them. I did print off a 180 form for her to sign and I will fax it in. Might get the results faster that way. I guess he was in the army for 11 years. My father in law said he was crazy for not staying in longer and retiring. He was supposedly a good mechaninc and worked with the radios. That has been the same story from 3 people. I just wish they knew more.
     
    Krystal80, Mar 1, 2011
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  5. LRusso216

    LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

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    This search stuff gets addicting, doesn't it? It's a good thing that you are doing. We need to do our best to preserve this stuff. The participants may not have said much, but we will be much the poorer for it if the information gets lost.

    Keep it ups, and please keep us informed.
     
    LRusso216, Mar 1, 2011
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  6. Krystal80

    Krystal80 Member

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    I just hope I'm not driving everyone nuts with my questions. I feel like I have learned a lifetimes worth and still there is so much more. I can't believe I was one of the ignorant ones just a year ago that really had no idea what Pearl Harbor was and anything about WWII. Crazy how life throws things at ya. It is very addicting. As I sit here, my dishes have piled up today! There is always tomorrow right lol.
     
    Krystal80, Mar 1, 2011
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  7. LRusso216

    LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

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    Questions are how we learn. I used to tell my students that the two most important words to remember are "I wonder...?" I agree with you about how much there is to learn. In my two plus years here, I think I've acquired more knowledge and information than I had in the previous twenty. As always, the more I find out, the more I find out that I don't know.

    The dishes won't go anywhere. This knowledge will be lost if we don't research it.
     
    LRusso216, Mar 1, 2011
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  8. gst121

    gst121 Member

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    gst121, Mar 2, 2011
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  9. Krystal80

    Krystal80 Member

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    Thanks, I'll check it out.
     
    Krystal80, Mar 2, 2011
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  10. LRusso216

    LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

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    Thanks, gst. I just registered my father on the site. Well done.
     
    LRusso216, Mar 2, 2011
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  11. djhottma

    djhottma recruit

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    My father was a Chief Warrant Officer with Combat Command B of the 20th Armored Division. I am trying to find more info on what his unit did during the war and where they were in Europe. [FONT=&quot]I know he enlisted in Jan. 1941 and was discharged Dec. 24, 1945.
    Service Number for Arthur R. Larson as a Warrant Officer: W 2119902[/FONT]
     
    djhottma, May 30, 2011
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  12. LRusso216

    LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

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    Welcome tot he forum. If you look above at my post #3, you can see a chronology of the 20th Armored. If he enlisted in 1941, it's likely he was in some other unit prior to his service in the 20th. Have you requested his information from NARA? If not, you should do so. It may be of help.
     
    LRusso216, May 30, 2011
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  13. oldbrk42

    oldbrk42 Member

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    My wifes father, Pvt. George R. Kious, Ser # 35081366-from Columbus, Oh., was KIA on 30, Apr. 1945, as he was getting out of his tank. He was in the 20th Tank Battalion, 2nd Platoon, "C" Company.

    Are there any solders left from the 20th. One of his friends was Bob Roe who passed away just a couple of years ago.


    Thanks, oldbrk42
     
    oldbrk42, Aug 11, 2011
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  14. oldbrk42

    oldbrk42 Member

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    krystal80, My wifes father was in the 20th Tank Battalion, 2nd Platoon, "C" Company and was killed on 30 April, 1945 as the 20th Armored Division approached Munich. I'm trying to track down anyone from that part of the 20th Armored Division in hopes of finding out more details of where/why. If you have any luck let me know if you would.

    Thanks
    oldbrk42
     
    oldbrk42, Aug 12, 2011
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  15. Krystal80

    Krystal80 Member

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    I would be glad to. I haven't found out much about the Div myself. I wonder if there is a veterans group from the 20th Armored? I have done so many google searches and mostly come aross general things that they did/where they fought.
     
    Krystal80, Aug 12, 2011
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  16. Natman

    Natman Member

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    Just did a quick search and found this, looks like a gold mine: 20th Armored Division

    Francis A. Peterson and Arthur R. Larson: Page Title

    George R. Kious: Page Title Photo of Kious next to Roe on this page: http://www.20tharmoreddivision.net/index_files/Page1856.htm

    Robert L. Roe: Page Title

    Good luck with your research everyone!

    P.S.-Revisted the 20th site, incredible detail on the SS Barrack's attack. Wish the 87th ID had something like it!! Actually, I wish every unit had a site like this.
     
    Natman, Aug 12, 2011
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  17. hockeyfan

    hockeyfan recruit

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    My dad, Ed Sanoba, is in that same picture. He did keep in touch with Bob Roe and Ralph Skillings, and went to at least one reunion of the 20th in the 1980's or 90's. He is still alive at 88.

    Ralph Skillings has passed away as well (he would call my dad every year at Christmas, and then the calls stopped. I looked him up on ancestry and found that he passed away 5 or 6 years ago.).

    Probably not too many of the guys left anymore....:(

    Kathi
     
    hockeyfan, Nov 11, 2011
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  18. GISearchangel

    GISearchangel recruit

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    I started a new thread...sorry
    Wasn't thinking...
     

    Attached Files:

    GISearchangel, Feb 13, 2012
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  19. lizwag

    lizwag recruit

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    Anyone decipher the following for me? My dad "commanded"(?, sorry if thats wrong terminology) a half track, Co.C, 8th AIB of Combat Co.A of 20th Armored Division and our last name is CHERRY!!! We have a photo of he and his guys in a half track during the SanAntonio parade. We also have the artist generated map of their march, with dates/notes about conflict or stop. --thanks--

    3 x M21(81)MMC Half-track, 54 x M3A1 Half-track, 9 x 57mm AT Gun M1 (20th Armored Infantry Battalion) (A & B Co. w/ CCB) (C Co. w/ Team Cherry)
    [/QUOTE]
     
    lizwag, Nov 6, 2012
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  20. Earthican

    Earthican Member

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    [/QUOTE]
    Besides the list of equipment found in any Armored Infantry Battalion, I see 20th Armored Infantry Battalion and Team Cherry. The 20th AIB and Lt. Col. Henry T. Cherry were part of the 10th Armored Division. A task force from the 10th AD called Team Cherry fought a well known battle outside of Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge.
     
    Earthican, Nov 6, 2012
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