MESSAGE BOARD: This message board used to be an open forum, however a flood of spam forced me to alter the way messages are posted. Ever since, I have acted as a gatekeeper. If you would like to post a message (with or without photos), please e-mail me directly through the webmaster address: jdanby@756tank.com I will try to post your request as quickly as I can! Sincerely, Jeff Danby MESSAGES FOR 2006, 2007, and 2008: 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. 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. 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. 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? CLICK ON EACH THUMBNAIL PHOTO TO ENLARGE Comment from Jeff Danby: The discharge reference indicates that Cpl. Taft was awarded the Purple Heart medal with Oak Leaf Cluster (OLC) under General Orders #195 of the headquarters of the 3rd Infantry Division. The Oak Leaf Cluster was awarded to service personnel who were wounded in combat on more than one occasion. 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. :-) From: Peter Dossing Austin, Texas Date: February 9th, 2006 E-mail: peterp43@sbcglobal.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. 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 intrested 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. From: Char Holbrook Indiana Date: January 25th, 2006 E-mail: charbrook@aol.com I was pleased to find your website. I have looked for a long time about any information on the 756 Tank Battalion. My uncle Johnnie Bowman from Ms was killed when his tank exploded while he was cleaning it. He is buried at Anzio, Italy. IS it possible that people attend your reunion that might have been with my uncle in May of 1944 in Italy? I want to learn all I can about his death. Thank you, Char From: Richard R. Kanode, Jr. Chesapeake, Virginia Date: January 20th, 2006 E-mail: rkanode@cox.net :-) Good Day, I am the son of Richard R. Kanode, who served in this tank batallion, he will not talk about his experiences very much,it took a toll on him, please talk to me, am very proud of how he served his country and would like to find out more! Would be greatly appreciated! He is 83 years old and not in good health! Sincerely, Richard R. Kanode Jr. January 24th, 2006 Comment from Nicole Redle: Hi Richard, and Welcome! I don't have your father's name/address on my roster (Jeff Danby has an updated version that might have it). But, if you will provide your address, we will be sure to send you an invitation to this year's reunion. It will be held in Akron, Oh in September. This is the hometown of David Redle (B company) 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 MESSAGES FOR 2005: (click the yellow button)
MESSAGE BOARD:
This message board used to be an open forum, however a flood of spam forced me to alter the way messages are posted. Ever since, I have acted as a gatekeeper. If you would like to post a message (with or without photos), please e-mail me directly through the webmaster address: jdanby@756tank.com I will try to post your request as quickly as I can! Sincerely, Jeff Danby MESSAGES FOR 2006, 2007, and 2008: 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. 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. 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. 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? CLICK ON EACH THUMBNAIL PHOTO TO ENLARGE Comment from Jeff Danby: The discharge reference indicates that Cpl. Taft was awarded the Purple Heart medal with Oak Leaf Cluster (OLC) under General Orders #195 of the headquarters of the 3rd Infantry Division. The Oak Leaf Cluster was awarded to service personnel who were wounded in combat on more than one occasion. 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. :-) From: Peter Dossing Austin, Texas Date: February 9th, 2006 E-mail: peterp43@sbcglobal.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. 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 intrested 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. From: Char Holbrook Indiana Date: January 25th, 2006 E-mail: charbrook@aol.com I was pleased to find your website. I have looked for a long time about any information on the 756 Tank Battalion. My uncle Johnnie Bowman from Ms was killed when his tank exploded while he was cleaning it. He is buried at Anzio, Italy. IS it possible that people attend your reunion that might have been with my uncle in May of 1944 in Italy? I want to learn all I can about his death. Thank you, Char From: Richard R. Kanode, Jr. Chesapeake, Virginia Date: January 20th, 2006 E-mail: rkanode@cox.net :-) Good Day, I am the son of Richard R. Kanode, who served in this tank batallion, he will not talk about his experiences very much,it took a toll on him, please talk to me, am very proud of how he served his country and would like to find out more! Would be greatly appreciated! He is 83 years old and not in good health! Sincerely, Richard R. Kanode Jr. January 24th, 2006 Comment from Nicole Redle: Hi Richard, and Welcome! I don't have your father's name/address on my roster (Jeff Danby has an updated version that might have it). But, if you will provide your address, we will be sure to send you an invitation to this year's reunion. It will be held in Akron, Oh in September. This is the hometown of David Redle (B company) 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 MESSAGES FOR 2005: (click the yellow button)
This message board used to be an open forum, however a flood of spam forced me to alter the way messages are posted. Ever since, I have acted as a gatekeeper. If you would like to post a message (with or without photos), please e-mail me directly through the webmaster address:
jdanby@756tank.com
I will try to post your request as quickly as I can!
Sincerely,
Jeff Danby
MESSAGES FOR 2006, 2007, and 2008:
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.
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.
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.
From: J. Fleming
Date: June 8th, 2006
E-mail: jfleming606@yahoo.com
CLICK ON EACH THUMBNAIL PHOTO TO ENLARGE
Comment from Jeff Danby:
The discharge reference indicates that Cpl. Taft was awarded the Purple Heart medal with Oak Leaf Cluster (OLC) under General Orders #195 of the headquarters of the 3rd Infantry Division. The Oak Leaf Cluster was awarded to service personnel who were wounded in combat on more than one occasion.
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. :-)
From: Peter Dossing
Austin, Texas
Date: February 9th, 2006
E-mail: peterp43@sbcglobal.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.
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 intrested 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.
From: Char Holbrook
Indiana
Date: January 25th, 2006
E-mail: charbrook@aol.com
I was pleased to find your website. I have looked for a long time about any information on the 756 Tank Battalion. My uncle Johnnie Bowman from Ms was killed when his tank exploded while he was cleaning it. He is buried at Anzio, Italy. IS it possible that people attend your reunion that might have been with my uncle in May of 1944 in Italy? I want to learn all I can about his death. Thank you, Char
From: Richard R. Kanode, Jr.
Chesapeake, Virginia
Date: January 20th, 2006
E-mail: rkanode@cox.net
:-) Good Day, I am the son of Richard R. Kanode, who served in this tank batallion, he will not talk about his experiences very much,it took a toll on him, please talk to me, am very proud of how he served his country and would like to find out more! Would be greatly appreciated! He is 83 years old and not in good health! Sincerely, Richard R. Kanode Jr.
January 24th, 2006
Comment from Nicole Redle: Hi Richard, and Welcome! I don't have your father's name/address on my roster (Jeff Danby has an updated version that might have it). But, if you will provide your address, we will be sure to send you an invitation to this year's reunion. It will be held in Akron, Oh in September. This is the hometown of David Redle (B company)
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
MESSAGES FOR 2005: (click the yellow button)
