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Men of Armor, Part One: Beginnings, North Africa, and Italy, Part I: The History of B Company, 756th Tank Battalion in World War II
Men of Armor, Part One: Beginnings, North Africa, and Italy, Part I: The History of B Company, 756th Tank Battalion in World War II
Men of Armor, Part One: Beginnings, North Africa, and Italy, Part I: The History of B Company, 756th Tank Battalion in World War II
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Men of Armor, Part One: Beginnings, North Africa, and Italy, Part I: The History of B Company, 756th Tank Battalion in World War II

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“With its focus on tank crew members and their commanders this is a unique addition to the literature on WWII.” —A. Harding Ganz, Associate Professor Emeritus of the Ohio State University at Newark, author of Ghost Division
 
After the shocking fall of France in June 1940, the U.S. Army embarked on a crash program to establish a new armored force. One of the units formed was the 756th Tank Battalion (Light), activated at Fort Lewis in June 1941. Because of severe equipment shortages, the new battalion trained without tanks for several months, but by early 1942 were equipped with new M3 light tanks. While companies A and C took part in Operation Torch, B was withheld for lack of cargo space in the transport ships and rejoined the battalion two months later in North Africa. The units undertook reconnaissance missions following the landings in Salerno. In December 1943 the battalion was ordered to upgrade to a medium tank (Sherman) unit. Given less than a month to reorganize and train in M4s, the battalion was sent into the Mignano Gap and supported the 34th Infantry Division in the capture of Cervaro and Monte Trocchio. B Company also supported the troops of the 100th Battalion on bloody but ill-fated attempts to cross the Rapido river before finally establishing a secure bridgehead. The nearby town of Caira was also captured, opening an avenue for an attack on Cassino. Based on decades of research, and hours of interviews with veterans of the 756th Tank Battalion, Jeff Danby’s vivid narrative puts the reader in the turret of B Company’s Shermans as they ride into battle.
 
“The level of detail is impressive.” —WWII History Magazine
LanguageEnglish
Release dateJul 31, 2021
ISBN9781636240145
Men of Armor, Part One: Beginnings, North Africa, and Italy, Part I: The History of B Company, 756th Tank Battalion in World War II
Author

Jeff Danby

Jeff Danby was born in Pontiac, Michigan. As the son of a high school history teacher, Jeff grew up in a house full of books—which he read voraciously. He went on to get a B.A. Degree in History (with Honors) from DePaul University with a concentration in 20th Century America. Jeff currently lives in Granville, Ohio, with his wife Melinda and three children. He is an active member of the 756th Tank Battalion Association and maintains the organization's website. He also maintains memberships in the Society of Third Infantry Division, and the 15th Infantry Regiment Association.

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    Men of Armor, Part One - Jeff Danby

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