Hello, I am trying to find as much info about my grandpa that I can. Growing up he never spoke a word of WW2 to us. My uncle gave me a couple pics that my grandpa had. I found one of them online here: http://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/usa/tanks/m4-sherman-tank/troops-and-m4-sherman-tanks-of-10th-army-advancing-on-okinawa/ I really don't even know where to start. Any help pointing me in the right direction would be appreciated. Thanks,
It would be helpful it you could tell us what you do know already. That way we won't tell you things you already know. For example, how do you know he was in the 763rd Tank Battalion? From his discharge papers? Some other document or letter home mentioning the 763rd? Family oral history?
Yes I've seen the discharge paper. Says Staff Sergeant Company B 763d Tank Battalion. His name is Troy Lee Bittle.
A quick google search came up with this. Hope it helps some. The 763rd Tank Battalion it seems was part of the 96th Infantry Division http://www.history.army.mil/books/wwii/okinawa/appA.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cactus_Ridge http://www.rememberthedeadeyes.com/007063-Operations%20of%20the%2096th%20Infantry%20Division%20in%20the%20Amphi.pdf http://www.history.army.mil/books/wwii/okinawa/chapter11.htm
Here are a few links to get you started, download the files at the first two: AAR's- Actually consists of S-3 periodic reports and journals rather than AAR's. 763rd documents start on page 16, some 701st stuff mixed in at the beginning (?). Most pages are legible. There are names scattered through the journals. http://cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p4013coll8/id/3462/rec/1 Armor on Okinawa: http://cdm16635.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p16635coll14/id/56045 Big file, I didn't download this one. Visit your local library and ask them get this book through the Library-Lend program. You can then check it out. http://www.worldcat.org/title/okinawa-odyssey/oclc/53932719&referer=brief_results
They 763rd Tank Battalion was considered a "Separate" unit. They were attached to both the 32nd Infantry Division and the 96th Infantry Division in the Pacific. They participated in landings on both Leyte in the Philippines, and on Okinawa. A few books you may want to pick up or check out from your library: The Infantry's Armor: The US Army's Separate Tank Battalions in WWII by Harry Yeide Rolling Thunder Against the Rising Sun by Gene Salecker Cutthroats: The Adventures of a Sherman Tank Driver in the Pacific by Robert C. Dick, a veteran of the 763d Tank Bn.
Thanks for all the help. Some of those books look very interesting. Looks like a great way to get a little insight into what my grandpa experienced.
Even though the first two books are not exclusively about the 763rd, they may be useful in understanding how the separate tank battalions were used in WWII. Also, check the footnotes and bibliographies for sources that may apply more directly to the 763rd.