12th FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION
Battery A
Note: the 12th Field Artillery Battalion was in general support of the entire 2nd Infantry Division as a whole, providing reinforcing fire. This battalion was armed with 155 mm howitzers. Therefore, it was not paired with an Infantry Regiment.
- + 12th Field Artillery Battalion
- Battalion Headquarters (Hq)
- Battery Headquarters (Hq)
- Battery A: 4 x 155mm Howitzers.
- Battery B: 4 x 155mm Howitzers.
- Battery C: 4 x 155mm Howitzers.
- Service Battery: The "muscle" and logistics. They ran the M5 Tractors and brought the 95lb shells forward to the guns.
- Medical Detachment: The battalion's own doctor and medics
- Battalion Headquarters (Hq)
Shell Weight: Each high-explosive shell weighed about 43 kg (95 lbs which is 6.8 Stone ! ).
Range: It could hit targets over 14 kilometres (approx. 9 miles) away.
Transport: These guns were too heavy to be pulled by horses or light trucks; they were towed by massive M5 or M4 high-speed tractors (often called "Prime Movers").
DEPARTURE FROM GOSFORD CASTLE IRELAND
17th April 1944 - Btry "A", 12th FA Bn. FA
Names Listed:
- Ross, 1st Lt (0-1169713)
- Kotzur, Sgt (18012953)
- Quinn, T/5 (6288802)
- Bailey, Pfc (34114119)
- Neuse, Pfc (18012990)
- Johnson, Pvt (6282898)
Record of Events:
- 00:15: The Battery departed Gosford Castle, Armagh, Northern Ireland.
- 00:15 - 03:30: The unit travelled 8 miles by truck (motor) and 35 miles by rail to reach the Belfast quay.
- 03:30: 1st Lieutenant Ross and 5 Enlisted Men (Sgt Kotzur, T/5 Quinn, Pfc Bailey, Pfc Neuse, and Pvt Johnson) returned from "Train Detail" to join the organization at the quay.
- 04:00: The unit loaded aboard the troop ship "James Parker".
- 16:00: The ship departed the harbour at Belfast, Northern Ireland, for a "Destination Unknown".
Authorized Signature: ELVIN F. SHULTZ, CAPT. FA.
USAT James Parker (United States Army Transport)
18 April 1944 - Btry "A", 12th FA Bn. FA
- 18:00: Arrived and docked at Newport, Eng. aboard the U.S.A.T. James Parker.
Strength Data:
- Officer Strength: 1 Captain, 2 1st Lieutenants, 1 2d Lieutenant (Total: 4).
- Enlisted Strength: 77 Present for Duty, 1 Present not for duty, 26 Absent (Total: 104).
Authorised Signature: Elvin F. Shultz, Capt. FA.
19th April 1944 - Btry "A", 12th FA Bn.
Record of Events:
- 07:00: Battery left the troop ship U.S.A.T. James Parker.
- 08:20: Departed the station at Newport, England.(Correction Wales)
- 08:20 - 10:20: Travelled by rail approximately 35 miles.
- 10:20: Arrived at the station in Bridgend, South Wales.
- 10:20 - 10:40: Marched by foot approximately 1 mile.
- 10:40: Arrived at Island Farm, Bridgend, South Wales.
- 10:40: Two Enlisted Men (Cpl Sanders and T/5 Anderson) returned to duty from "Advance Detail".
- 10:40: One Officer and 24 Enlisted Men returned to duty from "Truck Detail".
Personnel Entry: Private Asher (35260615) changed from Sick in Hospital (7th Field, Benburb, N.I.) to Absent Sick effective 17 April 1944.
Strength Data:
- Officer Strength: 1 Captain, 2 1st Lieutenants, 1 2d Lieutenant.
- Enlisted Strength: 103 Present for Duty, 0 Present not for duty, 1 Absent (Total: 104).
Authorised Signature: Elvin F. Shultz, Capt. FA.
20th April 1944 - Btry "A", 12th FA Bn.
Record of Events:
- 20 April (13:00): Two Enlisted Men, Sgt Rogers (6255740) and T/4 McCann (33153545), departed the organisation for DS (Detached Service) at the Div Waterproofing Sch, Porthcawl, Wales.
The following 12 men joined Battery A from the 108th FA Bn:
- Pfc Roberts, Howard W.
- Pvt Cook, Henry C.
- Pvt Delpome, Joseph
- Pvt Fair, James W.
- Pvt Hall, Ralph J.
- Pvt Kiselica, John J.
- Pvt Lindley, James O.
- Pvt McInerney, John J.
- Pvt Miller, Thomas E.
- Pvt Rich, John (NMI)
- Pvt Salyer, James T.
- Pvt Smith, Herbert E.
Strength Data:
- Officer Strength: 1 Captain, 2 1st Lieutenants, 1 2d Lieutenant (Total: 4).
- Enlisted Strength: 113 Present for Duty, 2 Absent (Detached Service), 1 Absent (Sick); Total: 116.
Authorised Signature: ELVIN F. SHULTZ, CAPT. FA.
30th April 1944 - Btry "A", 12th FA Bn.
Record of Events:
- 17:30: One Officer (1st Lt Walt) and 6 Enlisted Men (S/Sgt May, T/5 Gatewood, T/5 Crawford, T/5 Quinn, T/5 Hammack, J., and T/5 Hammack, W.) returned to duty from Depot G-25.
- 18:30: 2nd Lt Friday and Pfc Osgood returned to duty from Special Duty (SD) at the Division Waterproofing School, Porthcawl, Wales.
- Throughout the Day: The unit performed "Usual garrison duties".
- End of Day: The Battery was officially "ALERTED FOR DEPARTURE".
Strength Data:
- Officer Strength: 1 Captain, 2 1st Lieutenants, 1 2nd Lieutenant.
- Enlisted Strength: 116 Present for Duty, 2 Present not for duty; Total: 118.
Authorised Signature: Elvin F. Shultz, Capt. FA.
Battery "A" - Personnel Data List (April 1944)
Officers
- 0-1169525 Friday, W. 2nd Lt
Non-Commissioned Officers
- 6275102 McGrew, J.H. S/Sgt
- 6958430 May, W.C. S/Sgt
- 32060312 Currie, C.H. Cpl
Technicians
- 37269499 McCann, W.J. T/4
- 6952877 Gatewood, H.B. T/5
- 14077872 Bunch, J. T/5
- 6298876 Crawford, G. T/5
- 6289876 Hammack, J.R. T/5
- 18012852 Lopez, P. T/5
- 6289876 Hammack, W.F. T/5
- 6272610 McCain, J. T/5
- 18047778 Dixon, G.D. T/5
Privates First Class
- 31200752 Marrier, G.J. Pfc
- 18048529 Hein, R. Pfc
- 18048086 Flores, J.M. Pfc
- 31200754 Robare, C.M. Pfc
- 33030431 Osgood, R. Pfc
- 6289652 Reyes, M. Pfc
- 18048091 Schiller, P. Pfc
Privates
- 6289322 Akers, O.W. Pvt
- 18047947 Shelton, C.L. Pvt
- 18012944 Lynch, R.T. Pvt
- 18013821 Gallagher, J. Pvt
- 31330669 Dragunoff, G. Pvt