The Wartime Memories Project - US Army - 172nd Field Artillery Battalion

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Information. 172nd Field Artillery Battalion Known movements of the 941st F.A. 14th June 1944: landed on Utah Beach. 15th June 1944: in area East of Etierville (also called Pont Abbe). First mission of battalion was support of 82nd Airborne Division. 16th June 1944: just North of St. Sauver by 1900 hours. Fired first allied artillery fire on West coast of Cotenin Peninsula on town of Barneville at 2230 hours. 19th June 1944: West of Bricquebec, in support 9th Division, 21st June 1944: North of Sotte ville. 27th June 1944: Moved up to new position at Fottemanville-Hague, to fire on West of Cape. 29th June 1944: vicinity of St.Croix de Haue. 1st July 1944: Battalion moved by way of Montebourg, Valegnes, and St.Mere d'Eglise to new position just Southwest of Carentan to support the 83rd Division. 11th July 1944: two miles North of Santenay. 19th July 1944: Moved into new position in vicinity of L'Hommet (6 miles Northwest of St. Lo). 27th July 1944: West of St. Gihles. 28th July 1944: Just north of Pont Brocard in support of 2nd Armored Division. 31st July 1944: Two miles Northwest of La Girardiere. 1st August 1944: In vicinity of Aux Hervey. 3rd August 1944: Five miles North of Brecy. 5th August 1944: North of St. Laurent de Cuves. 6th August 1944: South of La Bois 7th August 1944: Southwest of Juvigmy Le Terte. 15th August 1944: 1.5 miles south of Couterne. 16th August 1944: in St. Marguerite de Carrouges. 24th August 1944: two miles North of Chateauneuf En Thymerais. 26th August 1944:1000 yards East of Tarfou. 29th August 1944: three miles North of Tour. 31st August 1944: one mile South of Lainoi. 1st September 1944: one mile West of St. Croix, France. 2nd September 1944: three miles Northwest of Bosmont, France. 3rd September 1944: northeast of Papleau, France. 4th September 1944: one and one half miles Northeast of Fraire, Belgium. Crossed Begium-France Border at 1900 hours. Enthusiastic Welcome given by the Belgium people. 6th September 1944: one and one half miles southwest of Buzet, Belgium. 7th September 1944: two miles North of Fosse, Belgium. Battalion temporarily converted into Security Guard for VII Corps. 10th September 1944: arrived in new position in bivouac area in Micheroux, Belgium. Traveled sixty-two miles. 15th September 1944: Battalion visited by American Red Cross Doughnut Clubmobile. Batteries following a drill schedule modified to suit a lull in combat. 16th September 1944: Walheim, Germany. Crossed Belgium-German Border at 1200 hours. 17th September 1944: unit moved into firing position six kilometers southeast of Aachen, at Kraut-Hausen, Germany. 28th September 1944: near Rotgen, Germany. Service Battery remained at Walheim, Germany Battalion supporting the 9th Infantry Division. 3rd October 1944: Headquarters Battery and firing Batteries moved to Venwegen, Germany. Service battery remained at Walheim. 26th October 1944: Service Battery left position at Walheim, Germany and moved into position at Kurtscheid, (near Aachen) Germany. Headquarters Battery and firing batteries remain around Venwegan, Germany. 28th October 1944: Battery “C” moved to a new position at Aachen, Germany-firing for VII Corps. Remainder of Battalion temporarily supporting V Corps troops. 8th November 1944: Battery "C" moved to new position at Venwegen, Germany. 30th November 1944: moved into new position in the vicinity of Stolberg, Germany. Service Battery remained at Aachen, Germany. 16th December 1944: moved to new position around Heistern, Germany. Service personel remained at Aachen, since some of the personnel were rehearsing for a musical comedy (Under Fire) which was to be presented on Christmas Day to troops in the area. 21st December 1944: Battalion closed its CP at Heistern, Germany, at 1530 hours enroute to Belgium. Crossed German- Belgium border at 1700 hours. March was still in progress at 2400 hours. Under Fire, the musical comedy canceled because of the emergency. 22nd December 1944: Personnel were on the move from the previous night, driving in black-out under adverse weather conditions. At 0430 personnel were bivouacked South of Marche, Belgium. Traveled over 90 miles in our first all night movement in combat. 23rd December 1944: Battalion moved into firing position around Noiseux, Belgium. 1st January 1945: Battalion moved from Noiseau, Belgium to Clerheid, Belgium. Service Battery moved to Weris, Belgium. 9th January 1945: moved to LaFosse, Belgium. Snow made travel very difficult. 11th January 1945: Service Battery moved from Wieres to Breeze, Belgium. 14th January 1945: Battalion moved from LaFosse to Les Tailles, Belgium. Service Battery moved to LaFosse. ur. 19th January 1945: Battalion moved from Les Tailles to Mont Le man. Service Battery moved to Les Tailles. 24th January 1945: Battalion moved to Assesse, Belgium. Service and Headquarters Batteries were billeted in Assesse, personnel were quartered in civilian homes. 3rd February 1945: The battalion left Assesse and returned to Germany, spending the night of February 3rd in a coop factory, near Stolberg before returning to the line. No fraternizing from now on. 4th February 1945: The battalion, less Service Battery, moved into firing position at Heistern, Germany. This is the same area we occupied before going to Belgium. 25th February 1945: The battalion moved to Rolsdorf, Germany, approximately 1000 yards from the Roer River. Battalion released from 188th FA Group and attached th the 18th FA Group. 26th February 1945: Service battery arrived in Rolsdorf. Reconnaissance party left to select new positions across the Roer. 27th February 1945: Battalion moved to Binsfield, south of Duren, Germany. Battalion crossed the Roer River at 0740. The city of Duren was just a heap of bricks and other debris. 28th February 1945: Battalion moved to Buir, Germany. 1st March 1945: Service Battery moved to Masteirath. Reconnaissance parties were out to locate new positions. 2nd March 1945: Battalion moved to Sindorf, Germany. Service Battery moved to Kerpen, Germany. 5th March 1945: Battalion moved to Dansweiler, Germany. 7th March 1945: Battalion moved to Weiden, Germany. Fired 1372 rounds of ammunition, mostly on interdiction missions. 8th March 1945: Service Battery moved to Marsdorf, Germany. Remainder of battalion moved to Junkersdorf, Germany. B 14th March 1945: Battalion was released from assignment to 18th FA Group and attached to 142nd FA Group. 15th March 1945: Battalion moved to Bonn. Battalion was released from attachment to 142nd FA Group and attached to 188th FA Group. 22nd March 1945: Battalion moved to Weise, Germany, and Service Battery to Obercassel. The trip across the Rhine was made over a pontoon bridge, covered by a smoke screen. Battalion is now in direct support of 1st Infantry Division. 25th March 1945:Battalion moved to Zumhof, Germany, and Service Battery to Weise,Germany. 28th March 1945: Battalion moved into Hacksen, Germany, northeast of Altenkirchen, and Service Battery moved to Bucholz. 30th March 1945: Battalion made a night march to Ober-Rossbach, Germany. Service Battery moved to Muschenbach, Germany. Now supporting fires of 8th Division. 1st April 1945: Battalion moved to Hainchen, Germany. 2nd April 1945: Battalion released from attachment to VII Corps, attached to XVIII Corps Art. 3rd April 1945: Battalion released from attachment to 188th FA Group and attached to 205th FA Group. 4th April 1945: Battalion moved to Herdorf, Germany. Service Battery to Salchendorf, 7th April 1945: Battalion moved to Wehbach, Germany. 9th April 1945: Service Battery moved to Hilchenbach, Germany. Remainder of battalion moved to Birkelbach, and later to another position at Heinsbel. Battalion is now in support of the 86th Infantry Division. 10th April 1945: Battalion moved to Flape, Germany.. 12th April 1945: Battalion moved to Miederhelden, Germany. 13th April 1945: Battalion moved to Ennest, Germany. Battalion learned the news of the presidents death. Received orders that our battalion was to be withdrawn from combat at 2000 hours. The final round was fired at 2000 hours by Sgt. Lemire of Battery "A" on the town of Kleinhammer. Battalion relieved from attachment to XVIII Corps and reverted to First Army control. 14th April 1945: Battalion turns in all heavy vehicles, tractors, guns, and signal and engineer equipment and prepares for its new mission as First Army Security Guard. Photographs If you have any Photographs you would like to share please get in touch. List of those who served. PFC Gaspar Barna. Armand F. Boisseau. D-Battery. Read his story T/4 Harold Bush. Battery "B' Cpl. Ronaud J. Chandonnet Battery "B" Lt. John T. Donnellan T/5 Lionel N. Dubois. Battery "C" Sgt. Joseph F. Dudziak Lt. Harry E. Febich William H. Gieske Lt. Richard R. Guice Pfc Burness C. Hatley. Battery "C" Colonel John J. Hayes. Commander of the Battalion Pvt. W. J. Hoggett. Btry "B" T/5 Henry Isaac. Battery C Capt.Hugh Johnson, Jr 1st Lt. Karl W. Johnson, Btry A. Corporal Edmund W. Kida (d. 5th Jan 1945) Pvt. Pete W. Kieler. Battery “C” (d. 22nd Oct 1944) T/4 Conrad E. Lefebvre. Medical Department Detachment (d. 22nd Oct 1944) Sgt. Lemire. Battery "A" Private George Mann Battery "B" (d. 14th Jan 1945) 1st Lt Daniel F. Martini. Battery "A" Reconnaissance Officer Lt. Hugh Nichols Pvt.Eugene Parker. Headquarters Battery (d. 22nd Sept 1944) 1st Sgt. David H. Peaslee Battery "B" Pte Pierce Headquarters Battery 1st. Lt. Harold C. Pritchard. Battery C Sgt.Leo E. Proulx Battery "B" Pfc Fuson H. Rhymer, HQ Battery. Pfc Wilbur S. Rolfe. Headquarters Battery Private Rouse. Battery "C" (d. 5th Sep 1944) Pvt. Samuel C. Rowley, Jr Battery "B" S/Sgt William D. Roy. Battery "A" (d. 25th Aug 1944) T/5 Lionel St. Pierre. Service Battery Pvt. Norman R.Simonson. Service Battery Pvt Thadeus H. Sowinski, Btry B Pfc Aros Thibeau, Headquarters Battery (d. 23rd Mar 1945) Private John G. Turley. Battery "A" (d. 2nd Jan 1945) Private Emmett Vaughn Battery "B" Pfc S. N. Walters. HQ Btn. (d. 23rd Mar 1945) If you have any names to add to this list, or any recollections or photos of those listed, please get in touch. If you have a story which you would like to share, or a website dedicated to an airfield or aircrew, please get in touch. Send an E-mail to The Wartime Memories Project Links Allied Forces Index The Wartime Memories Project is a non profit organisation. This website is run out of our own pockets and from donations made by visitors. The popularity of the site means that it is far exceeding available resources. 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