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The 321st Glider Field Artillery Battalion was formed in 1917 as the 321st Field Artillery Regiment. They saw action during the Great War.
The 321st Field Artillery Battalion was reformed in 1930, the Battalion was ordered into active service on the 25 March 1942 at Camp Claiborne, LA. on 15 August 1942 the were redesignated The 321st Glider Field Artillery Battalion, as part of the 101st Airborne Division with Lt Col Edward L. Carmichael as Commanding Officer.
On D-Day The 321st Field Artillery Battalion were split in to two groups, the first aboard the Liberty ship, John S Mosby, landed on Utah Beach. The second group was aboard the Susan B Anthony which struck a mine and sank off Omaha Beach. The artillery troopers managed to get ashore without loss of life but minus their guns and vehicles, which did not arrive until the 9th of June. Between the 6th and 9th of June, part of the battalion served as forward observers for the 506th PIR directing naval and self-propelled 105mm fire. Once fully equipped the 321st advanced as suuport for the 327th Glider Infantry Regiment until it was relieved from action on 10 July 1944 and set sail for England aboard an LST on 13 July 1944.
The 321st Glider Field Artillery Battalion next saw action in Operation Market Garden, taking off off from Welford, England on the 19th of September 1944, they landed by glider in the vicinity of Eindhoven, Holland. They once again supported the 327th GIR as the German forces counterattacked. The Battalion also supported the 502nd PIR during the defence of Zon. On the 24th of September they moved toward Uden with the 506th PIR, then to Nijmegen on the 2nd of October. They remained in position until the 27th of November 1944. The 321st was awarded the Military Order of William, for its action in Operation Market Garden.
On the 18th of December 1944, the 101st Airborne Division was ordered to move to the vicinity of Bastogne, Belgium and saw action in the Battle of the Bulge. On the 12th of January 1945 the 321st supported the 506th PIR, 327th GIR and 502nd PIR in capturing the village of Foy. For this action the soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division were awarded the "Fourragere 1940" by the King of Belgium.
On the 20th of January 1945, the 321st moved to the Alsace Province of France. On the 23rd of February, the 321st returned to Mourmelon, France. Here General Eisenhower spoke to the 101st Airborne Division as the unit was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation for its stand at Bastogne.
The 321st moved to the Ruhr Pocket near Nievenheim on the 2nd of April and on the 11th part pf the 321st joined Company A of the 506th PIR in crossing the Rhine by assault boat to attack the village of Himmelgeist.
The 321st's final action of teh war took place on the 4th and 5th of May, when the Battery A of the 321st supported the 506th in the capture of Berchtesgaden, Hitler's Eagles Nest.
Hi, I am looking for anything about my dad. He served in WW2 his name was PFC Lloyd Tomblin. He was with the 321st Glider Field Artillery Battalion. Out of W.VA.
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List of those who served with the 321st Glider Field Artillery Battalion during World War Two.
- Lt Col Edward L. Carmichael. CO.
- Pvt James J Calabro. B Btry
- 1/Lt Francis A Canham. B Btry
- 1/Lt Carl F Dillard. Hq Btry
- Pvt Rudolph C Falcon. Hq Btry
- Capt John M Fuller. Hq Btry
- Pvt Arthur A Hutchins. A Btry
- Pfc Frank J Kanspik. B Btry
- 2/Lt Henry Kowalczyk. A Btry
- Pvt John H Patterson. A Btry
- Pvt Samuel Reidman.
- Pfc Pervey S Robinson. A Btry
- S/Sgt Raymond P Ruhling. B Btry
- Pvt Manuel C Shefler. A Btry
- Cpl Carroll D Simmons. A Btry
- Pvt Ernest H Smith. B Btry
- Pvt William A Sowell. A Btry
- Cpl James J Szur. B Btry
- PFC Lloyd Tomblin.Read his Story
- Pfc John J Vetter. B Btry
- Pfc Joseph Weidle. A Btry
If you have any names to add to this list, or any recollections or photos of those listed, please get in touch.
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