Record of Events 754TH Field Artillery Battalion 26Oct1944 to 31Aug1945 By: Technical Sgt. U.E. Robinson Battalion Personnel Sgt. While we were in a combat situation numerous Battalion Reports had to be submitted daily to the unit we were attached to. Information came from the Batteries as follows: ? Firing data from the Battery Executive Officers through the Battalion Executive Office Major Bever. ? Description of injuries from the Battalion Surgeon, Capt. O?Leary. ? All other information came from the Battery Morning reports. All this Battery information was consolidated into Battalion Reports. Most of this data I transcribed into personal notebooks which gives more accurate information than any of our memories at this time. 26Oct1944 Strass, Germany: Fire at enemy 27Oct to 20Nov. Strass, Germany VR 483-452 27Oct 204 rds on enemy town. 28Oct 34 rds enemy town; 112 rds enemy battery; 8 rds horse drawn artillery; 8 rds enemy assembly area; 36 rds interdiction fire. 29Oct 71 rds interdiction fire; 12 rds vehicle assembly area; 12 rds enemy tanks; 12 rds enemy troops; 30 rds enemy battery. 30Oct Fired on C.P. and assembly area. 31Oct 31 rds interdiction fire; 16 rds enemy tanks. 01Nov 24 rds road intersection; 35 rds vehicle assembly area; 24 rds enemy C.P.; 24 rds supply depot. PFC John Bookless, Btry C injured Cut upper lip. 18Nov Counter battery fire, neutralizing fire on enemy tanks, artillery and infantry. PFC Frank A. Uelman, HQ Btry, combat exhaustion. 19Nov 12 rds enemy guns; 12 rds enemy C.P. , concentration on crossroads and enemy strong points. PFC John A. Joyner, Btry B, gunshot wound right ankle. Incurred while loading 25 cal pistol. 20Nov Alsdorf, Germany: 40 rds enemy battery; 35 rds enemy tanks; 18 rds enemy infantry, vehicle assembly area and crossroads. 21Nov 21 rds enemy battery; 16 rds enemy fort and field area, assembly area and strong points in Erberich. Bombed by enemy aircraft and shelled heavy by enemy artillery. PVT Ralph E. Jones, Btry C, fractured right fibula by 155 mm howitzer recoil. 22Nov Fired on Erberich and strong points; 38 rds on enemy tanks; 44 rds on Alsdorf; 28 rds on Inden; 19 rds enemy anti-aircraft guns (knocked out); 24 rds enemy strong points; Shelled by enemy artillery. 23Nov Fired on enemy strong points, tanks and infantry. 24Nov Baisweiler, Germany; Fired on enemy installation. 25Nov Floverich, Germany: Firing on enemy artillery, crossroads and town of Muntz. 1st Lt. Harold Bramswig, HG Btry. Contusion left knee, incurred when taking cover from enemy shelling. PFC Francis E. Gelski, Btry C, combat exhaustion. 26Nov Enemy artillery and tanks. Sgt Joe R.Quest, Btry C, contusion right hand incurred by firing howitzer with broken lanyard. 27Nov 7 rds enemy gun position. 28Nov 13 rds enemy Btry, tanks and infantry digging foxholes. 29Nov Enemy Btry, tanks and road intersection. Corp. John E. Rich Jr., sprained left wrist, hit by howitzer recoil. 30Nov Concentration on enemy strong points in Gelenich; 23 rds enemy tanks; smoke screen laid down for advancing infantry. Tec 5 Creed Frazier, Btry A, foreign object right eye and right ear, occurred when shell hit O.P. Dec Leonard O. Jamison, Btry A, killed, head crushed by falling debris when O.P. was struck by enemy shell. 1st Lt. Calvin B. Mauser, Btry A, contusion, multiple abrasions left side of face. Tec 5 Ronald J. Fenolia, Btry A, shell fragments head and legs, when shell hit O.P.; 1st Lt. Glen Wilson, Btry B shell fragment left thigh when shell hit O.P. 01Dec Interdiction fire on enemy bridge, artillery and road junction. Firing on enemy tanks to stop counter attack. Strafed by enemy planes. PFC Rodolfe Garcia, Btry C, lacerated head wound, accidentally struck by howitzer recoil. 02Dec Interdiction fire on enemy bridge. Staff Sgt. Robert B. Break, HQ Btry. Seriously injured. Shell fragments arms, neck, head and legs. 1st Lt. Billie R. Wilson, HQ Btry. Slightly wounded. Shell fragments right arm, neck and leg. Pvt. Irwin Horowitz, acute asthma. 03Dec 25 rds enemy Btry; 11 rds enemy mess hall. 04Dec 31 rds enemy Btry; 2 rds enemy church; Battalion under heavy enemy fire. No. 4 Gun Btry C knocked out, no casualties reported. 05Dec 81 rds enemy Btry; 15 rds enemy dump and fortified positions. 06Dec 11 rds enemy crossroads; 22 rds enemy strong points; 12 rds enemy bridge; 11 rds supply depot; 11 rds troop concentration. PFC John J. Caputo HQ Btry slight wound. 07Dec 27 rds enemy infantry; 16 rds ammo dump; 40 rds gun positions; 10 rds tanks; strafed by enemy aircraft. 08Dec 4 rds road junction; 29 rds enemy Btry; 12 rds enemy O.P.; 12 rds enemy tanks; Strafed by enemy aircraft. 09Dec 20 rds enemy Btry; 9 rds enemy mortar position; 12 rds traffic on road. 10Dec Fire on enemy gun positions. 11Dec Enemy interdiction fire, return interdiction fire. 12Dec 15 rds enemy O.P.; 27 rds enemy vehicles; 52 rds enemy Btry. Extensive enemy fire in area. 13Dec Fir on enemy pillbox and strong points. 14Dec Fire on enemy pill boxes. 15Dec 70 rds enemy Btry; 8 rds enemy town. Enemy interdiction fire. Pvt Arlis H. Howlett, Btry C. trench foot. 16Dec 129 rds enemy Btry; 40 rds enemy C.P.; 10 rds enemy bridge. 17Dec 17 rds enemy guns; Enemy paratroopers dropped back of our lines. Joseph Hobtry, trench foot. 18Dec 16 rds enemy crossroads; 12 rds on town of Rurich; 38 rds enemy guns. 19Dec 173 rds on enemy Btry; strafed and bombed by enemy aircraft. 20Dec Concentration on enemy artillery; PFC Arnold E. Spencer, Btry A. contusion lumbar-sacrial region. Hit by recoil of 155 mm howitzer. 21Dec 7 rds enemy town; 23 rds road junction; 11 rds enemy tanks; 14 rds enemy Btry; 24 rds interdiction fire. 22Dec Fire on enemy crossroads; fire on enemy town. 23Dec Fire on enemy town; Interdiction fire. 24Dec 5 rds enemy tank assembly area; Interdiction fire. 25Dec 23 rds enemy tanks; 11 rds enemy town; 93 rds enemy Btry; Air activity over area. 26Dec 8 rds enemy Btry; 4 rds enemy tanks; 24 rds enemy town. 27Dec 27 rds enemy C.P.; 12 rds harassing fire; Enemy interdiction fire. Corp. William Quiones, Btry C. killed. Death caused by deep perforation abdomen, chest and buttocks by shell fragments. PFC Michael C. Detum Btry C, slightly wounded in chest by shell fragment. Pvt. Eugene Presson, Btry C. shell fragment fifth finger, left hand. PFC Joe F. Tripodi, Btry C. wounded in hip by shell fragment. Pvt John Dinelli, Btry C. shell fragment right buttocks. Pvt. John G. Teraceno, Btry C. multiple wounds left thigh and left abdominal wall. Pvt Gerald Brookhouse, Btry C. multiple wounds left leg and left buttock. Pvt. Paul Stella Jr., Btry C. abrasion right hand. 28Dec Harassing fire. 29Dec 45 rds enemy Btry; 12 rds enemy tanks. 30Dec 12 rds enemy fortified town; Harassing fire on enemy Btry; Enemy interdiction fire. 31Dec 64 rds enemy gun position; 33 rds enemy town; 20 rds enemy pillbox; 33 rds enemy C.P. Enemy interdiction fire. Pfc. Glen O. Balcom, Btry C. contusion and abrasion left forearm by recoil 155mm howitzer. 1945 01Jan ? 8Jan Floverich, Germany VR9161 01Jan Concentration on enemy Btry. Enemy planes strafing all day. Pfc. Mike F. Sanches wounded in buttocks by strafing plane. 02Jan Fire on enemy road traffic, pillbox and artillery. 03Jan Harassing fire on enemy town; 45 rds enemy Btry; 24 rds City of Aurich; 24 rds City of Boslar. 04Jan 36 rds City of Koffern; 20 rds City of Hambeck; 45 rds enemy Btry and fortified positions. 05Jan Harassing fire on enemy town. 06Jan 81 rds enemy strong points; 22 rds enemy Btry; 100 rds unknown targets. 07Jan 210 rds harassing fire on unknown targets; 44 rds vehicle assembly area; 24 rds enemy Btry; 11 rds road junction. 08Jan Fire on enemy radar equipment, road junction, Btry and strong points. Pvt Ray E. Newberry, Btry C. dropped projectile, smashed toe. 09Jan-14Jan Siesdorf, Germany VK 9456 09Jan 21 rds enemy strong points; 16 rds road junction; 230 rds enemy Btry. 10Jan 4 rds enemy infantry; 16 rds road junction. 11Jan Interdiction fire. 12Jan Interdiction fire. 13Jan Interdiction fire. 14Jan Interdiction fire. 15Jan-31Jan Roerdorf, Germany VK9569 (op Linnick) 15Jan 16rds enemy Btry. 16Jan 95 rds enemy Btry; 1 rd enemy bridge. 17Jan 11 rds enemy AA Btry. 18Jan 33 rds enemy troops; 133 rds enemy Btry. Pvt Oscar H. Donner, Btry B. injured 3rd finger right hand. Dropped 155mm projectile on hand. 19Jan 103 rds enemy Btry; 34 rds troops; Interdiction fire. 20Jan 64 rds interdiction fire; 20 rds working party; 48 rds enemy town; 124 rds enemy artillery. 21Jan 74 rds enemy artillery 22Jan 36 rds enemy Btry; 7 rds enemy trucks; 12 rds unknown target. Tech 4 Frank Petrzelka, Btry A. trench foot. 23Jan 12 rds enemy train; 65 rds enemy artillery. 24Jan 92 rds enemy Btry. 25Jan 80 rds on warehouse; 69 rds enemy Btry; 22 rds air strip; 12 rds personnel. 26Jan 213 rds harassing fire; 12 rds moving vehicles. 27Jan 39 rds enemy troops; 12 rds enemy half-tracks; 12 rds enemy Btry. Tech 4 Glen Lindsay, HQ Btry. Frostbite. 28Jan 48 rds enemy Btry; 35 rds enemy troops. 29Jan 28 rds enemy troops. Matt Wagner, Service Btry. Frostbite. 30Jan 22 rds enemy troops; 13 rds enemy Btry; 110 rds harassing fire. 31Jan 24 rds troop shelter and troops. 01Feb Ederen, Germany VK 9562; Counter battery fire; No further record of firing data available. Expect notebook with this information has been lost over the years. 24Feb-27Feb Krandoeff, Germany VK 8968 25Feb Tec 5 Robert Davis, Btry B. killed by land mine blast. Right foot. Right arm missing, wall of chest caved in. Pfc. Clarian C. Wysocki, Btry B killed by land mine, blast injury to head. Tech 4 William Garner, Med Det., mine blast, nasal hemorrhage, small laceration upper lip. Capt. John H. O?Leary, Battalion Surgeon, mine blast wounds both thighs and legs. 28Feb-02Mar Berg, Germany VK 8479 03Mar Hulst, Germany VK 9302 04-05Mar Dries, Germany RA 0918 06-10Mar Bruch, Germany RA 1724 11-24Mar Rhinebug, Germany RA 2229 18Mar Pvt. Ernest G. Barker, Serv. Btry. Lacerated lower right leg. 19Mar Pfc. Wils O. Holmquist, Ser. Btry. Wounded by shell fragments, buttocks and right back. Tec 5 Dean Koch, Serv. Btry. Shell fragment, lacerated neck, right chest, right arm. 26Mar Cross Rhine River after firing guns continuously all night. 27-28Mar Averbush, Germany RA 3128 29Mar Kerchellen, Germany RA 4333 30-31Mar Gladbeck, Germany RA 4930 30Mar PFC Howard E. Scheel, Btry A. injured. 01-02Aprl Gladbeck, Germany RA 4930 03-07Aprl Buer, Germany RA 5431 07April Pfc. William F. Ventris, Btry C., fracture right hand and forearm, hit by 155mm howitzer recoil. 08-09Aprl Hurst, Germany RA 5127 10-11Aprl Katernberg, Germany RA 5221 12-17Aprl Essen, Germany RA 4715 17April Last round fired by Battalion. 18Aprl-24May Hoxter, Germany RA 1335 04May Pvt. Lawrence J. Broesch, Btry A. death by suicide. 08May VE Day 25-31May Steinheim, Germany RB 9364 01-05 June Enroute by motor convoy to Austria. 05-10June Austria 11-12July Enroute from Austria to France 14July-31Aug Laon, France. Point system was announced and most high point men left in August to return to States. Compiled from personal records Technical Sgt. U.E. Robinson Battalion Personnel Sgt.