12th FIELD ARTILLERY
Battery Headquarters (Hq)
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").
APRIL 1944 - GOSFORD CASTLE ARMAGH NORTHERN IRELAND
18 April 1944 - HQ Battery, 12th FA Bn
Personnel Changes
- No Change
Record of Events
- Location: Aboard USAT James Parker in port at Newport, Eng.
- 1800: Ship docked at Newport.
- Activity: Day spent in sailing.
- Conditions: Sea Calm, Weather Fair, Morale Good.
Personnel Strength
- Officers: 7 Assigned and present.
- Warrant Officers: 1 Assigned and present.
- Enlisted Men: 101 Total (96 Present for duty, 5 Absent).
- Authentication Signature: Osbourne D. Butler Jr, Capt FA
USAT James Parker (United States Army Transport)
19 April 1944 - HQ Battery, 12th FA Bn
Personnel Changes
- Returning to Duty: Three Enlisted Men (EM) returned to duty at 1430 hours from DS (Advanced detail, destination unknown) per VOCG:
- Anderson (37093563) T/4
- Jansky (18011145) Cpl
- Vomastek (33374261) Pfc
- Attached Roster: An additional roster of Officers and Enlisted Men returned from DS (Truck detail, destination unknown) to duty at 1430 per VOCG.
Record of Events
- 1000: Debarked from U.S.A.T. James Parker.
- 1015: Entrained at Newport, Eng (Correction Wales).
- 1105: Departed Depot Newport, Eng (Correction Wales).
- 1315: Detrained at Bridgend, S. Wales.
- 1345: Arrived at garrison at Island Farm, Bridgend, S. Wales after travelling on foot.
- Conditions: Weather rainy, Morale good.
20 April 1944 - HQ Battery, 12th FA Bn
Personnel Changes
- Returned to Duty: Pvt Choate (18048814) returned to duty at 1130 from DS (Detached Service) with the Advance Detail, 38th Infantry.
- New Assignments: A large group of Enlisted Men (EM) were assigned and joined from Hq Btry, 108th FA Bn per SO #84, Hq 2nd Inf Div. Effective date: 1430, 19 April 1944.
Record of Events
- Activity: Usual garrison duties.
- Conditions: Weather clear, Morale good.
25 April 1944 - HQ Battery, 12th FA Bn
Record of Events
- Activity: Usual garrison duties.
- Conditions: Weather warm and clear, Morale good.
- Operational Status: ALERTED FOR DEPARTURE.
POST WAR
- Sequoyah Hummingbird (Pvt): He was awarded the Bronze Star for his service during the war and returned home to Oklahoma. He lived a long life and passed away in 1978.
- Robert J. McAllister (Pfc): Records indicate he returned to Pennsylvania and lived until July 2018 (passing away at age 93).
- Jesus M. Ruiz (Pvt): Returned to Texas and lived until 1993.
- George J. Natterman (T/5): Returned to the States and passed away in 1993.