17th Airborne Division

....."Wars may be fought with weapons,
.......but they are won by men."

........................................... ......General George S. Patton

 
 
Unit Citations
    507th PIR
    513th PIR
    466th PFAB
    680th GFAB
 
  Trooper Pictures
    507th PIR
    513th PIR
    193rd GIR
    194th GIR
    139th AEB
    466th PFAB
    680th GFAB
    681st GFAB
    HQ Company
 
  Resources
    Multimedia
    Books
    Glossary
 
 
    Combat Jumps
    Bulge Memories
    Operation Varsity
 
  Research
 
 
 
 
 
Organizations
  17th Airborne Assoc
  82nd Airborne Assoc
  325th GIR Assoc
  504th PIR Assoc
  508th PIR Assoc
  Other Airborne Assoc
 
  Other Resources
  Paratrooper.Net
  Military.Com
  Airborne and Special Operations Museum
 

Bookmark and Share


General Dwight D Eisenhower Gen Dwight D Eisenhower







Silver Star Recipients
Lt Col Paul F Oswald
Capt John Featherston
Pfc Francis Holbrook
Capt Jacob I Stahl
Pfc Mervin F Troutman
Capt George C Wight







17th Airborne WW II
Medal of Honor Recipients

T/Sgt Clinton M Hedrick
S/Sgt Isadore S Jachman
Pvt George J Peters
Pfc Stuart S Stryker
The 680th Glider Field Artillery Battalion
Unit Citations


Distinguished Unit Citation

Battle Honors

As authorized by Executive Order 9396 (sec. I, Bul. 22,WD , 1943), superseding Executive Order 9075 (sec. III, WD Bul, 11, 1942), citation to the following unit in General Orders No. 36, 4 April 1947, as approved by the Commanding General, United States Forces, European Theater, is confirmed under the provisions of section IV, Circular No. 333, War Department, 1943 in the name of the President of the United States as public evidence of deserved honor and distinction.

The citation reads as follows:

The 680th Glider Field Artillery Battalion is cited for extraordinary heroism, efficiency, and achievement in action against the enemy during the assault crossing the Rhine River near Wesel, Germany, on 24 March 1945.

Coming in by glider through the heaviest concentration of antiaircraft fire yet experienced in an airborne operation, the 680th Glider Field Artillery Battalion landed widely dispersed in open fields covered by enemy artillery, automatic weapons, and small-arms fire, under direct observation from enemy strong points throughout the area.

With complete disregard for their personal safety, the members of this field artillery battalion unloaded their gliders under a withering cross-fire, assembled in small groups, and fought their way through occupied enemy strong points and field fortifications to the assembly area, using howitzers, bazookas, grenades, and carbines to reduce enemy positions.

During the assembly this field artillery battalion captured and destroyed an enemy 105-mm. artillery battery and a 155-mm. artillery battery and captured 150 enemy soldiers. With 19 killed, including both howitzer battery commanders, and 56 wounded during the assembly, the aggressive action of all members of this battalion enabled both howitzer batteries to occupy positions and the battalion to assume its artillery mission within 1 hour of the initial landing. One hour later, this battalion had completed its survey and had established complete wire communication within the battalion. Within 5 hours after the initial landing, 9 howitzers were in positions and 900 rounds of ammunition had been assembled at the position area.

The efficiency and aggressive action of the 680th Glider Field Artilley Battalion, in the face of great oddsand a defensively prepared enemy, cleared a large portion of the division area and resulted in the provision of adequate artillery support, which assisted materially in the ultimate success of the operation and subsequent explotation of the gains acheived.

[General Orders No. 350, Headquarters U.S. Forces, European Theater, 27 December 1945.]

By Order of The Secretary of War



books
R E L A T E D   B O O K S

Ambrose, Stephen E D-DAY June 6,1944: The Climatic Battle of WW II. 6/93, Simon & Shuster ISBN: 0671673343
Badsey , Stephen & Chandler, David G (Editor)  Arnhem 1944: Operation "Market Garden" (Campaign No.24) 1993 96p. ISBN: 1855323028
Breuer, William B Geronimo! American Paratroopers in WWII. New York: St. Martin Press, 1989 621 p. ISBN: 0-312-03350-8
Burriss, T Moffatt  Strike and Hold: A Memoir of the 82nd Airborne in WW II Brasseys, Inc, 256 pp August,2000 ISBN: 1574882589
Butler, Rupert  SS: Leibstandarte: The History of the First SS Division 1933-45 (Waffen SS Divisional Histories) Amber Books, 192 p. ISBN:1782742492
Butler, Rupert  SS: Wiking: The History of the Fifth SS Division 1941-45 (Waffen SS Divisional Histories) Amber Books, 192 p. ISBN:1782742484
Butler, Rupert  SS: Hitlerjugend: The History of the Twelfth SS Division 1943-45 (Waffen SS Divisional Histories) Amber Books, 192 p. ISBN:1782742476
D'Este, Carlo  Patton: A Genius for War 1024 pp ISBN: 0060927623
De Trez, Michel  At the Point of No Return : Pictorial History of the American Paratroopers in the Invasion of Normandy 7/98, D-Day Pub, 200 p. ISBN: 2960017617
Gavin, James M.  On to Berlin : Battles of an Airborne Commander, 1943-1946 ISBN: 0670525170
Golden, Lewis Echoes From Arnhem Penguin ISBN: 0718305213
MacDonald, Charles B  A Time For Trumpets: The Untold Story of the Battle of the Bulge Wm Morrow & Co (P), 720 p. ISBN: 068151574
Masters, Charles J.  Glidermen of Neptune: The American D-Day Glider Attack  Southern Illinois Univ Press, ISBN:0809320088
McKenzie, John  On Time, On Target Novato, CA: Presidio, May 15,2000. 304 p. ISBN: 089 141 714 1
Nigl, Dr Alfred J & Charles A Nigl  Silent Wings - Savage Death Santa Ana, CA: Graphic Publishing, Dec 3,2007. 288 p. ISBN: 1882824318
Nordyke , Phil All American All the Way: Combat History of the 82nd Airborne Division in World War II Zenith Press, April 2005. 880 pgs ISBN: 0760322015
Ryan, Cornelius  A Bridge Too Far 670p. ISBN: 0684803305
Tucker, William H.  "Rendez-vous at Rochelinval" Battle of the Bulge  International Airborne Books,Harwichport, MS, ISBN:0-9647683-2-1
van Lunteren, Frank Blocking Kampfgruppe Peiper: The 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment in the Battle of the Bulge Casemate, Sept 19,2015. 368 p. ISBN: 1612003133
van Lunteren, Frank The Battle of Bridges: The 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment in Operation Market Garden Casemate, June 1,2014. 336 p. ISBN: 1612002323
van Lunteren, Frank Spearhead of the Fifth Army: The 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment in Italy from the Winter Line To Anzio Casemate, Sept 16,2016. 320 p. ISBN: 161200427X
Wildman, John B All Americans 82nd Airborne. Meadowlands Militaria, 6/83 ISBN:091 208 1007
The Center of Military History The War in the Mediterranean: A WWII Pictorial History Brasseys, Inc., 465 p. ISBN:1574881302
Wilson, Robert L. & Phillip K. A Paratrooper's Panoramic View: Training with the 464th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion for Operation Varsity. pps, 244, 11/30/2005, Authorhouse ISBN: 1420854291


More Books  |  Multimedia  |  WW2-Airborne Store  |  Support  |  Comments  |  Glossary