Item Description
Original Items: One-Of-A-Kind. This is a very lovely and rather extensive grouping named to Lieutenant Colonel Elmer W. Becker (ASN: O202054), who retired from the Army in 1962! Lieutenant Colonel Becker was the Commanding Officer of the 775th Tank Battalion when he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal during WWII.
We have been unable to locate his rather extensive service history, but according to the included documentation he served with the 815th Tank Destroyer Battalion as well as the 775th Tank Battalion and was attached to the 32nd Infantry Division in the Pacific Theater.
The following Are Included In This Grouping:
- Named Bronze Star Medal With Original Citation: The Bronze Star is in the original presentation box with the ribbon and lapel device. The back of the medal is engraved with E. W. BECKER.
Bronze Star Citation:
LIEUTENANT COLONEL ELMER W BECKER O202054 Infantry, United States Army. For meritorious achievement in connection with military operations against the enemy on Luzon, Philippine Islands, from 8 February 1945 to 30 June 1945. Lieutenant Colonel Becker rendered outstanding service during the Luzon campaign as the Commanding Officer of a Tank Battalion. When the companies of his battalion were attached to the various divisions of the corps he devoted much time and effort in visiting the areas where they were employed. His thorough knowledge of the tactical employment of tanks enabled him to advise the infantry commanders of the armored needs within their zones of action and as a result the maximum efficient use was made of the infantry-tank teams. Lieutenant Colonel Becker’s devotion to duty and untiring efforts contributed much to the success of the Corps during the Luzon Campaign.
- (3) Medals, WWII Victory, American Defense & Asiatic Pacific Campaign: The medals are in lovely condition with minor oxidation.
- Extensive Documentation: The documents vary in what they are. One of the most interesting one is the CO (Becker) giving an advanced showing of a coat of arms with his adjustments noted. It was a preview showing the newly adopted battalion coat of arms. He pointed out that it lacked a motto and he wrote in THUNDERHEAD in the scroll featured at the bottom.
Other paperwork included are various rosters for awards as well as his recommendations for his bronze star. Transfer orders from the 68th Infantry division stating Becker was being assigned to the 775th TD Battalion, transfer orders from the 6th Army assigning him to the 13th Armored Group, and many more.
One of the documents is a roster of the 815th Tank Destroyer Battalion which lists Elmer W. Becker as the Commanding Officer. This appears to be a complete list of the Battalion Staff and the different Company Staff including the Officers and Enlisted Men.
- 15+ Photographs: The pictures are accompanied with captions and show photos of Japanese 20mm guns, 70mm howitzers and 75mm dual purpose gun. Also shown are 2 M-10 Tank Destroyers in action while sitting in a field. There is a photo of the 815th Farewell Address dated Sept. 23, 1944, picture of Captain Robert Smith standing on a tank named “Ace of Spades” while with Company A 775th Tank Bn.
This is a very nice grouping that comes ready for more indepth research and display!
The tank destroyer battalion was a type of military unit used by the United States Army during World War II. The unit was organized in one of two different forms—a towed battalion equipped with anti-tank guns, or a mechanized battalion equipped with armored self-propelled guns. The tank destroyer units were formed in response to the German use of massed formations of armored vehicles units early in WWII. The tank destroyer concept envisioned the battalions acting as independent units that would respond at high speed to large enemy tank attacks. In this role, they would be attached in groups or brigades to corps or armies. In practice, they were usually individually attached to infantry divisions. Over one hundred battalions were formed, of which more than half saw combat service. The force was disbanded shortly after the end of the war when the concept had been shown to be militarily unsound.
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