MESSAGE BOARD:

If you would like to post a message, please e-mail me directly through the webmaster address: jdanby@756tankbn.com.

I will try to post your request as quickly as I can.

While moving the original message board over to this new webhost, I decided to retain and edit only those messages and/or photos of historical interest. Newest messages appear at the top.

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Date:  August 13th, 2018 From Maureen Brown: “Bedford Millard Brown was born March 9, 1919 and died March 25, 1991.  He was an American Hero in World War II; he was awarded a Silver Star for Gallantry in Action for carrying all the crew members from his knocked-out tank destroyer across enemy lines to safety in Rosenkrantz, France during the “hell in the Snow” battle for the Colmar Pocket; He was also awarded the French Croix de Guerre (Military Cross) at Rosenkrantz, France, the Belgian Fourragere for bravery above and beyond the call of duty, and many other campaign medals. Dad was attached to Patton’s Third Army from July 13, 1944 to July 1, 1945, during which time the Colmar Pocket campaign took place.  He was then sent to Austria, where he freed concentration camps, and finally to Berchtesgaden, Germany for Hitler’s finale.  The most decorated of ALL American WWII soldiers, Audie Murphy, fought for the Colmar Pocket and tells some gruesome stories about it.  Dad was right in the middle of it–right there with him.”

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Date:  April 5th, 2018 Dave Deputy, grandson to Cpl Frank Deputy, would like to share this photo with the 756th Tank Battalion community.  The photo back identifies the four men standing (left to right) as: Staff Sgt Paul Vekasey, Cpl F.A. Deputy, 1st Sgt Donald R Finnestead, and Pvt Frank Carmello.

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Date:  June 4th, 2014 Kyle Leonard, the great grandson of Pvt Raymond E. Leonard of the 756th Tank Battalion, would like to share this photo of his great grandfather.  This appears to have been taken sometime in Germany in 1945  The tank behind Pvt Leonard is an M4A3E8.  The sandbags are to help prevent panzerfausts from penetrating the armor.  This photo survived a tornado that hit Leonard Illinois earlier this year…

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Date:  May 3rd, 2014

Leigh Ann Johnson is the daughter of T/4 Ernest P. Barnard of the 756th Tank Battalion.  She remembers that he spoke
little about the war but did mention fighting at Cassino and of an Italian woman who made bread for them.  Leigh is hoping
someone is still living who remembers her father or perhaps the family of a 756th Tank Battalion veteran might recall his
name being mentioned.  Contact Leigh at lbj@utk.edu or call her at (865) 922-9786 if you can help.

Date:  March 6th, 2013 Captain Mike Duerr, S1 for HQ of the 1/94 Cavalry Squadron recently wrote that his grandfather, Norwood Meisinger is alive and well. Norwood was a T5 in the 756th Tank Battalion during WWII and Mike is now an officer in armor!  Here is a photo of Mike in his “office”….

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From: Clarence G. Channel Date:  August 29th, 2011 E-mail: poppygail@yahoo.com My Dad, Clarence E Channel, was in D co. 756th Tank Battalion according to his discharge. He had little to say about his war experience before his death in 1990. I know he drove tanks, landed in North Africa, and believe he saw his first combat in Sicily. I also remember him talking about the bombing  of the Monastery at Cassino. I would love to hear from anyone who served with him. This picture was taken in Naples. Outstanding website! ~ Clarence G. Channel

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From: Charles Preuss
Date:  March 14th, 2011
E-mail: owlcarlos@yahoo.com

I am wondering if anyone knew my Dad or have any further info about him from  World War II. He was in the 756 Tank Battalion in the 3rd Infantry Division, and was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant by the time the war ended. He was given the Purple Heart, the Bronze star, and many other award Citations, including La Croix De Guerre. He is Charles W. Preuss (Pruess-some may have known him by this last name-misspelled) ) 2nd Lieut. He passed in June 2004, but never spoke of his war events, but did say that the Monte Cassino battle was the worst.  ~ Charles Preuss-Son

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From: Jeff Danby (for Richard S. Cory, Jr.) Date: February 5th, 2011 Richard S. Cory, Jr., son of T/5 Richard S. Cory, Sr., veteran of the 756th Tank Battalion, reports that his father passed away on October 17th, 2009.  His service decorations included the Purple Heart, Good Conduct medal, Bronze Arrowhead (participation in amphibious landing), Distinguished Unit Badge, and American Theatre and Mediterranean Theatre Campaign Medals. Richard, Jr., was kind enough to share two wartime photos of his father (below).  One was likely taken in Italy in 1944.  The portrait was likely taken in 1945 at war’s end.

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From: Jeff Danby (for Verus Langham) Date: November 22th, 2010 E-Mail: verusl@centurytel.net Verus Langham, son of 1st Lt. Verus M. Langham Sr, is still seeking any information on his father’s service with the 756th Tank Battalion. (See his earlier November 27th, 2007 post below for details and additional photo.) He is posting this new photo of his father taken in 1942 while at Fort Knox. Contact him at the above e-mail if you can help.

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From:  Jeff Danby (for the Pflugrad family) Date: September 20th, 2009 The family to Sgt. Winton M. Plfugrad would like to know if anyone remembers him.  They are trying to reconstruct his service history.  Sgt. Plfugrad served in C Company of the 756th Tank Battalion throughout most of the war.  Please contact the webmaster at jdanby@756tankbn.com if you have any information about him.

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From: Jim Tarrant
Date:  January 18th, 2008
E-mail: jim@bowenscollision.com.  

My father PFC Orval J. Tarrant was with the 756 Company D and I was looking at your web site and noticed that you had a site for Bronze Star winners.  A couple of days ago I was looking through some old papers of my dad’s and found the orders and the citation write up.  He was awarded the Bronze Star 10 March 1945 for valorous conduct in the rescue of 2 serious wounded comrades.  My dad was very proud that he served his country but talked very little of what he did in the war.  After I returned from Nam in 1971 he talked to me some about his actions in the war because he thought I might understand a little of what combat was like.  My only request is that you enter his name on the list of Bronze star winners so people will know of his accomplishment.  If you need a copy of the orders and citation write up to verify this award I
would be happy and proud to send it to you.   You can reach me by email at jim@bowenscollision.com.  Thank you      ~Jim Tarrant

Webmaster’s note:  The Bronze Star (awarded by 3rd ID HQ) was for heroic actions on November 22, 1944.  Pfc Torrent pulled two wounded men while under fire from their light tank after it was knocked out. He and a companion were credited with killing or wounding ten enemy soldiers while rescuing their wounded comrades.  His name has now been added to the awards listing on this website.

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From :  Jeff Danby (for Steve Lavinski)
Date: December 8th, 2007
E-mail: steven.lavinski@sbcglobal.net

Steve Lavinski, grand nephew to T/5 Chester Lavinski is seeking information on his great uncle’s service in the 756th Tank Battalion.  T/5 Lavinski was decorated at least twice with the Bronze Star–one for heroic actions in Germany on March 19th, 1945 while serving in A Company.  Chester was born in 1911 and entered service in 1942 from Ohio.  He passed away in Spokane, Washington, in 1988.  Anyone who remembers Chester Lavinski, please contact Steve at the above e-mail address.

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From :  Jeff Danby (for Verus Langham) Date: November 27th, 2007 E-mail: verusl@centurytel.net Verus Langham, the son of 1st Lt. Verus M. Langham Sr, is seeking information on his father’s service with the 756th Tank Battalion.  Lt. Langham died of wounds three days after being captured on December 30th, 1944.  Lt. Langham was among six men from B Company/756th who were captured during an evening raid on “Hill 216” near Bennwihr, France.   Both tanks involved in that raid were ambushed and knocked out, killing two crew members.  Two other crewmembers escaped.  Lt. Langham was mortally wounded and succumbed to his injuries on January 2nd, 1945 while in captivity.  Any information that a reader of this message might have of this incident of of Lt. Langham’s service would be greatly appreciated.

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From: J. Fleming Date: June 8th, 2006 E-mail: jfleming606@yahoo.com Thank you for publishing this very interesting website. My father, Joseph Taft, Cpl, entered active service in December 1942 and was in Company A, 756th (separated Sept.1945)  He was a gunner medium 2736 and served in the European and Mediterranean Theaters. He received a Purple Heart for shrapnel injuries he acquired in Rome-Arno in February 1945. I only have his discharge paper to go by, and would appreciate it if anyone could tell me what this means: Purple Heart GO#195 HQ 3RD DIV W/1 OLC. Thank you. P.S. By any chance, would anyone happen to have known him?

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From: Joseph Vignolo
Derry, New Hampshire
Date: March 14th, 2006
E-mail:  gpsnavaids@comcast.net

Hello. I am trying to research my uncle’s war record. He was Sgt. Armando (Eddie) Vignolo. He was a tank commander with the 756th. Specifically, I am trying to find out how he won a Bronze Star on April 9th, 1945. Also, he once told me about a specific action where he was last in line in a tank column that was ambushed in a valley. Does anyone remember him or know anything about either of these two events from WW2? Thanks, your help will be appreciated. 🙂

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From: Peter Dossing
Austin, Texas
Date: February 9th, 2006
E-mail: pdossing@verizon.net

My father, T/5 Elmer Musil, was a tank driver in D Company, 756th Tank Bn. He entered the Army in late 1943 or early 1944. He was killed on Feb 3, 1945 outside Colmar, France. He came from the Chicago area. Any information about him or his friends would be appreciated.

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From: David Deputy Date: February 6th, 2006 E-mail:  deputydawg@uci.net I have been looking for any information about my grandfather Sgt. Frank (Bud) Deputy. I know very little about his time in the service and I would be interested in any information known about him. I have included a photograph of him taken at Ft. Lewis, Washington. You are welcome to use the picture on the site if you choose. Thank you for the work you have done on the site, I have enjoyed learning about the men my grandfather served with.

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From: Mike Date: December 28th, 2005 E-mail: msummers2@gmail.com Here is a picture of my grandfather in theatre, Roy Kosanke. He served in Bravo company as a T/4. There are more pictures of my grandfather that I have posted on my webpage. I also have videos available from reunions that I’ve recently come across. ~Mike msummers2@gmail.com http://www.funlux.com/756

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