20th ARMORED DIVISION 

 

The mixture of insignia and distinctive colors of several arms incorporated in the Armored Force symbolize integrity and esprit. It is an interlocked ornament, found in Nordic monuments, composed of three torques: red for Artillery; blue for Infantry; and yellow for Cavalry. The symbols represent the characteristics of Armored Divisions: the tank track, mobility and armor protection; the cannon, fire power; and the red bolt of lightning, shock action.

 

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Command and Staff

 

Commanding General

17Feb45 Maj. Gen. Orlando Ward

 

Artillery Commander

17Feb45 Col. Lewis H. Ham

 

Chief of Staff

17Feb45 Col. Edwin H. J. Carns
30Apr45 Lt. Col. William E. Leonhard

 

Assistant Chief of Staff, G-1

17Feb45 Maj. James R. Story

 

Assistant Chief of Staff, G-2

17Feb45 Lt. Col. Robert J. Williams

 

Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3

17Feb45 Lt. Col. Rex N. Anderson

 

Assistant Chief of Staff, G-4

17Feb45 Maj. William S. McElhenny
1Apr45 Lt. Col. William S. McElhenny

 

Assistant Chief of Staff, G-5

15Apr45 Lt. Col. William L. Wells

 

Adjutant General

17Feb45 Lt. Col. K. K. Gilbertson

 

Commanding Officer, Combat Command A

17Feb45 Brig. Gen. Cornelius M. Daly
4Apr45 Col. Thomas A. McCrary (Acting)
3May45 Brig. Gen. Cornelius M. Daly

 

Commanding Officer, Combat Command B

17Feb45 Col. Newton W. Jones
30Apr45 Col. Edwin H. J. Carns

 

Commanding Officer, Combat Command R

17Feb45 Col. Thomas A. McCrary

 

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STATISTICS

 

Chronology

Activated 15 March 1943

Arrived in European Theater of Operations 17 February 1945

Arrived Continent 21 February 1945 (D+225)

Entered Combat 24 April 1945

Days in Combat 8

 

Campaigns

Central Europe

 

Casualties (Tentative)

Killed 9

Wounded 66

Missing 1

Captured -

 

Battle Casualties 76

Non-Battle Casualties 319

Total Casualties 395

 

Percent of Table of Organization Strength 3.7

 

Individual Awards

Distinguished Service Cross 0

Legion of Merit 0

Silver Star 29

Soldier's Medal 3

Bronze Star 103

Air Medal 0

 

Prisoners of War Taken -

 

COMPOSITION

Headquarters Company

Combat Command A

Combat Command B

Reserve Command

9th Tank Battalion

20th Tank Battalion

27th Tank Battalion

8th Armored Infantry Battalion

65th Armored Infantry Battalion

70th Armored Infantry Battalion

30th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (Mechanized)

220th Armored Engineer Battalion

160th Armored Signal Company

20th Armored Division Artillery

412th Armored Field Artillery Battalion

413th Armored Field Artillery Battalion

414th Armored Field Artillery Battalion

20th Armored Division Trains

138th Ordnance Maintenance Battalion

220th Armored Medical Battalion

Military Police Platoon

Band

 

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ATTACHMENTS

Antiaircraft Artillery

468th AAA AW Bn (SP) 4Apr45-3Jul45

Armored

6th Armored Group 18Apr45-6Jul45

Field Artillery

250th FA Bn (105mm how.) 27Apr45-3May45

975th FA Bn (155mm how.) 28Apr45-3May45

 

DETACHMENTS

Armored

27th Tank Bn 21Apr45-24Apr45 (to 86th Div)

27th Tank Bn 24Apr45-28Apr45 (to 42d Div)

27th Tank Bn 30Apr45-10May45 (to 42d Div)

Field Artillery

414th Armored FA Bn 24Apr45-1May45 (to 42d Div)

 

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ASSIGNMENT AND ATTACHMENT TO HIGHER UNITS

DATE CORPS ARMY ARMY GROUP
Assigned Attached Assigned Attached
29Jan45   Fifteenth   12th  
3Apr45 XXII Fifteenth   12th  
7Apr45 XXII Fifteenth First 12th  
12Apr45 - First - 12th  
19Apr45 III Third   12th  
23Apr45 XV Seventh   6th  

 

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COMMAND POSTS

DATE TOWN REGION COUNTRY
18Feb45 Le Havre Seine-Inferieure France
20Feb45 La Vieux-Rue Seine-Inferieure France
3Apr45 Herzogenrath Rhineland Germany
11Apr45 Frickhofen Hessen-Nassau Germany
25Apr45 Pfafflingen Bavaria Germany
28Apr45 Ober Barr Bavaria Germany
29Apr45 Petershausen Bavaria Germany
1May45 Zengermoos Bavaria Germany
2May45 Neufarn Bavaria Germany
4May45 Alternmarkt Bavaria Germany
5May45 Tettenhausen Bavaria Germany
8May45 Prien Bavaria Germany

 

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