Fencer
First off thank you very much for this Request and Doing and Excellent Job on the Reconstruction of the Skin for the 191st. Brief history of my Grandfather. One of the few stories that he did tell me before his memory got the best of him. My Grandfather and Twin Brother were Drafted into the War and When my grandfather was at the Recruiters Office the Recruiter Asked my Grandfather what he wanted to do in the War he said " I guess since I was Drafted that I am going to be Stuck in the Infantry, Recruiter comes back and Told him No and asked what he would like to do My Grandfather Told him I want to drive a Tank" and Hence the beginning of his Tank Career began, I am not totally sure if his Twin Brother also Drove a tank for the 191st due to the Fact his Twin Brother was killed during the Battle Salerno, My Grandfathers tank saw alot of Battle and during his way to Battle of the Bulge and his Tank was Taken out and he was in the Medical Ward for a few days I know he was a Purple Heart Recipient due to injuries sustained from a mortar hitting the underneath of his tank and disabling his tank 3 miles out from the battle. I try not to get into much detail and alot of the info I get is from my Uncle. If I can get anything else else I will share with everyone. I know he has photos cause I remember seeing some when I was younger and I have the Pin still of their Battalion logo. here are just a few battles the 191st was in. Sorry for the long post but this is as much info I can find. Not sure how My Grandfather would feel if I posted his name here I did it already on another site but did not ask his Permission.
Salute
Molsman
191st Tank Battalion
Organized 1 Sep September 1940 out of four National Guard tank companies from New York, Massachusetts, Virginia, and Connecticut. Assembled at Ft. Fort Meade, MD,Maryland, in February 1941 under Maj Maj. Littleton A. Roberts. Reorganized as medium tank battalion June 1942. Landed in North Africa but saw first combat in Italy, landing at Salerno in September 1943. Landed at Anzio January 1944 and joined attack on Rome, during which bn battalion suffered high losses. Landed in southern France 15 August 1944. Usually attached to 45th IDInfantry Division, bn battalion joined drive to the Vosges Mountains. Fought in Lorraine and Alsace in November 1944. Slashed through Homburg and Kaiserslautern to Rhine with TF Dolvin March 1945. Co Company B DD tanks led river crossing on 25 Mar March45. B Battalion entered Bamberg, Nuernberg, and Munich, where it ended war.
