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
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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
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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
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