612th Tank Destroyer Battalion

612th Tank Destroyer Battalion
Logo of all U.S. Tank Destroyer forces
Active	1942-45
Country	USA
Branch	Regular Army
Type	Tank destroyer
Size	Battalion
Motto(s)	"Get There First With the Biggest Guns"
Engagements	World War II Normandy Northern France Rhineland Ardennes-Alsace Central Europe
Decorations	Included: Silver Star Medal (10) Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster (3) Bronze Star Medal for Heroic Achievement (30) Bronze Star Medal for Meritorious Service (138) Soldier's Medal (2) Air Medal (1) French Croix de guerre (2) British Military Medal (1) Belgian Fourragère

World War II

Included:

The 612th Tank Destroyer Battalion was a unit of the United States Army during World War II. It played an instrumental role in defending Hofen during the Battle of the Bulge. The specialized tank destroyer unit was attached to various organizations during the war. In December, 1944, the twelve 3 inch guns of Company A were integrated into the defensive positions of the 395th Infantry Regiment and were key to keeping the attacking Sixth Panzer Army from gaining essential objectives in the first days of the offensive.

The 612th Tank Destroyer Battalion was activated as a light battalion at Camp Swift, Texas, on 25 June 1942, under the command of Lt. Col. W. A. Hedden. The cadre of two officers and seventy-three enlisted men were from the 631st Tank Destroyer Battalion. All of the tank destroyer battalions used the same logo, that of a panther eating a caterpillar tread. The logo was widely used at Camp Hood where tank destroyer forces were trained, on uniforms, equipment, and official U.S. Army publications.

The Battalion received its men and moved to Camp Bowie, Texas, on 4 December 1942, where they received basic training. Major Joseph M. Deeley assumed command of the battalion on 27 February 1943.

For advanced training as a self-propelled unit, the battalion first moved to Camp Hood, Texas, on 3 March 1943. The battalion moved back to Camp Swift on 14 June 1943 and participated in the Third Army Maneuvers in Louisiana from September to November 1943, then returned to Camp Swift. On 20 December 1943, the battalion was reorganized as a towed battalion utilizing 3 inch guns and on 26 March 1944 traveled to Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, arriving on 29 March 1944. The battalion embarked on the Ile de France, on 5 April 1944, at the New York Port of Embarkation, and sailed on 7 April 1944.