Stevin Oudshoorn/ 1st Armor / Old Oaken Bucket Brigade

Howdy Stevin,
Thank's for the info. about the "Old Oaken Bucket Brigade", much appreciated.
As far as my Father's Unit. Still tracking that down.
I know he enlisted in 1940 and wound up at Ft. Knox Kentucky for the creation of the 1st Armored.
He landed at Oran Algeria on Nov. 8, 1942 and was a Tank Commander throughout N. Africa, I found mention of him being attached to a Tank Destroyer Unit for a time in which he won the Silver Star.
Here's a list of some of the major Operations in which he took part;

Torch - N. Africa 1942
Husky - Sicily 1943
Avalanche - Salerno 1943
Shingle - Anzio 1944
Craftsman - Po Valley 1945

He was awarded the Bronze Star for inventing a 'Dike Cutter' that led to the break out at Anzio and later used in the landings at Normandy.
I have pictures of him in a M24 Chaffee Recon Tank that is literally full of holes, his driver and crew were killed and he drove the Chaffee back to allied lines.
From what I can gather my Father took part in the Med. Campaign as a Tank Commander, Part of a Tank Destroyer Unit and Part of a Recon Unit.
I know he was kept by the Army long after his 85 points were earned because of the need for experienced Combat veterans.

Here's a site with an image ( near the bottom of the page) of the OOBB Card,
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~miconn/micweb/johnconnolley.html

I notice your from the Netherlands, my Uncles that landed at Omaha Beach have great words of praise for your folk's bravery.

KRs,
Will T.

 

Hello again,

Thanks for the info. He sounds like a man who really seen it all and was very involved. You don't just invent a dike cutter. I live in a country full of dikes and hate to have one of those go on a rampage here. Half of the country would be under water. I would be interested to hear what unit your father was in. 'my' vet was with D coy. 81st Armored Reconnaissance Battalion Mechanized.

As to your uncle's; Where they with the 30th Infantry Div.? The Old Hickory liberated a part of the south of Holland.

Stevin

 

Howdy Stevin,
Your people are the original 'Terra Formers', that's for sure and for certain .
From what I can tell at this point my Father landed at Oran attached to Combat Command 'B' but later on he was assigned to the 701st Tank Destroyer Bn..
He recieved his first injury when the 701st was straffed by US P-38's, he mentioned this in his letters and the incident is also mentioned in a "History Of The First Armored Div." Phamphlet from Oran to the Appennines PG. 13 & 14.
I found two of these booklets in his things.
Also mentioned in his letters was a battle near Sidi Bou Zid on Feb 15, 1943 in which he says the Germans out flanked them and literally beat the pants off his outfit.
He mentions it took a few survivors and himself a few days to piece togeather one tank to make it back to allied lines.
This battle is also mention in the afore mentioned phamphlet on PG 18, at this time he was assigned to Combat Command "C".
In Italy, at Anzio, the picture of him in that M24 Recon Tank makes me wonder if he was not also attached to the 81st Recon Bn..
I still have quite a bit of reading and research to do but I'm gaining on it .

One of my Uncle's was with the 101st Airborne, the other was regular Infantry.
I'm going to vist my Uncle Frank this weekend to see if he can fill in a few more holes, hopefully I will come away with better knowledge of the war.

KRs,
Will

 

Hi Oxbowcowboy

Just thought I'd mention that the Sidi bou Zid action is described in considerable detail in Martin Blumenson's book 'Kasserine Pass' (1967).

It takes up one complete section of the book, but I can't find any specific references to the 701st TD Bn.