Men of Armor - B Company, 756th Tank Battalion in North Africa 1942-43

[@curtiswebb8135]

Another example of your dedication to history. World class Paul. Thank you from California.

[@reiniergroeneveld7801]

What a fantastic presentation! It was so detailed, I can’t wait for the next time mr Danby is on WW2TV

[@jackpinesav6313]

Great show. My grandfather served with the 756th from the beginning of their overseas deployment to the end of the war. I have had the privilege of speaking with Mr. Danby and sharing information with him. What he is doing is a great service to the men who served with the 756th and their families. I encourage everyone to read his books, as they have an incredible amount of information. They are very well written and enjoyable to read. By the way, I never heard my grandpa call his unit a GHQ or a detached unit, his term was a "bastard tank battalion!"

[@WW2TV]

Thanks Jackpine, I hope you stay with us on WW2TV

[@jackpinesav6313]

@@WW2TV Thank you for providing great content!

[@dave3156]

Excellent program today. Jeff has done an great job researching his grandfather's unit. I found it particularly interesting as my Dad also served in a GHQ tank battalion. Great shadow box on the wall honoring your grandfather Jeff. Thanks! Another superb program Paul! I also enjoyed your photos of La Fiere you posted recently!

[@Neaptide184]

Enjoyed this. All the presentations on Torch have been very illuminating and thought provoking. Again, very well done.

[@scottgrimwood8868]

An incredible presentation. I love these personal shows. They really bring the war home to people.

[@TuBeSoCk5]

My grandpa served in D Company, 756th as a light tank gunner. I'm currently reading Men of Armor, there is so much information to take in. My grandpa didn't join the unit in combat until after Rome and I cannot wait to read the other 3 books in this series to learn about what happened along the way. Jeff's book really is fantastic for someone who really wants to dive into a small unit's story and the learn about the big part they played in WWII, but it is even more special to me to read about the group that my grandpa would have served with. Thank you Jeff!

[@WargamingHistory]

Fabulous detail, Jeff certainly delivered a superb amount of detail.

[@TheVigilant109]

Fantastic presentation by Jeff. Great detail and research. Learned a lot today. Look forward to seeing more from Jeff. Many thanks

[@lesliebeilby-tipping6854]

Another brillant show Woody. Jeff has given a great presentation, very personal stories.

[@bobbyl6972]

Outstanding presentation Jeff. Thanks!

[@wendymadrigal3906]

Thank you Jeff!! Very interesting & I've forwarded this to my family. I just so appreciate this Jeff!! Thank you again!

[@philbosworth3789]

Such great detail - I loved every moment of that episode.

[@jimwatts914]

Howdy folks. Tremendous presentation with a close look at an American light tank battalion at war in North Africa. Great detail, great photos and clear maps. Well done.

[@patrickgrove2645]

Great presentation, very detailed. Jeff you made your grandfather and the men of his battalion proud. I just ordered the book and I can’t wait to read it.

[@buddywaller9370]

Really enjoyed the program my dad was a member of the 756th company A

[@fxdci]

Brilliant presentation! Thanks!!

[@therealuncleowen2588]

That description of the landing by the reporter was gripping indeed. As a kid when I first became interested in WWII, my parents owned some sort of encyclopedic history book of WWII that I read and re-read until the pages were tattered. I could almost quote the few paragraphs about Torch. I'm sure it said something about the French offering only perfunctory resistance. In the grand sweep of the entire war, those words weren't exactly lies, but they reveal the limits of the ability of a coffee table book to tell such a massive story. It's also fascinating to realize that as you get further down the chain of command and closer to the action, the experience of the landing becomes, to borrow the Chieftain's wonderful phrase, a "significant emotional event" for the men involved. I'm reminded of Eugene Sledge's legendary telling of the Peleliu landing. Written 30 years after the event, he still recalled so many details. These are the kinds of memories reserved for things that affect one deeply.

[@claydaniel8361]

My great grandfather was a member of the 756th fought all the way through North Africa, to southern Italy, and from marseille all the way up into Germany and made it home. We have audio recordings I collected when I spoke with him while I was younger

[@WW2TV]

Have you made contact with Jeff via his website? I'm sure he's be interested in hearing the recordings

[@therealuncleowen2588]

As is so often the case in stories of WWII, the things the men were asked to do is just incredible. Loading into their landing craft by climbing down the side of their transport ships via rope ladders in the complete darkness, it's surprising there's only an account of one man dying by falling overboard.

[@Titus-as-the-Roman]

The definition of the concept of the term "Brunch: Someone too lazy to get up for Breakfast", I'm not that severe but Close when it comes to catching these shows when they happen and not at a later "Brunch". Looking forward to watching this (broke one of my own rules of commenting before it's over, or in this case, not seen yet, I find I tend to do that more as I age, I may be Brain Damaged).

[@johndeboyace7943]

My father was drafted in March 1941 US Army 13th Inf. Reg., see a picture of him it looks like it was 1918. His equipment was from WW1, 03 Springfield, etc. and a campaign hat. Was with Patton’s 3rd Army all the way to Czechoslovakia. Surprisingly the unit and the 8th Inf. Div. didn’t go overseas until Dec. 1943.

[@Bochi42]

@WWTV It's off topic but I'd like to propose a show about war songs. Often ignored but one of those things that keep soldiers going. Well, the Brits have their tea but even for them second after that comes songs and cadences I reckon. I'd like to learn more about that. Surely there is at least one historian who has looked into what the boys liked? Don't know if anyone else is interested but I sure would be. And it's funny how Lilli Marlene became a favorite of men on both sides. A lovely woman's voice when you're far from home and things may be a little rough. Who wouldn't love that. I think it's an under appreciated part of history myself.

[@parrot849]

My father was with the 756th Tank Battalion during WW2 from the beginnings at Fort Lewis, Fort Ord, etc.; on to North Africa, Sicily, etc., all the way to VE Day in Germany. Unfortunately he passed away when I was only 15 years old from long term complications related to multiple wounds he received at different times during the war. I do have fond memories of our all too brief conversations about WW2 and things he was willing to reveal to me as a child. He was a tech-sergeant radio operator. I recall he said he was temporarily assigned to a Moroccan military unit of some sort for awhile and later while in Italy he worked for a U.S. Navy officer assigned to the battalion to coordinate off-shore naval gunfire support for…, well, I’m not sure, whomever was asking for it on the radio I’d assume. Ya see, I wish he hadn’t passed so young as he’d be able to answer that question. I never had enough time to really get to have a grown man to man relationship with him. I still miss him. I do still have his medals, ribbons, and his faded 1947 first edition; History of the Third Infantry Division in World War Two that lists his name in the roster of soldiers assigned to the 756th. So as I prepare to read Mr. Danby’s books, I’m looking forward to cross-referencing some of the contents with my father’s 1947 book I have, but just for fun.

[@jackpinesav6313]

I have a photo of the remaining original members of the 756th at the end of the war. My grandfather is in it. I wonder if your Dad is also? I would like to share it with you, if you are interested.

[@parrot849]

@@jackpinesav6313 - yes, I’d love to see if my father was in the photo, thank you….

[@parrot849]

@@jackpinesav6313 - Just let me know how best to arrange things to facilitate you getting a copy or image of the photo to me. I know I have a dozen or so photos that he took while with the 756th. If you’re interested I’ll dig them up and get them to you too

[@jackpinesav6313]

@@parrot849 unable to post email info, sorry.

[@parrot849]

@@jackpinesav6313 If I give you my my physical mailing address would it be possible you could mail me copies of those old photos you have. I’ll reimburse you for any expenses you incur Gary

[@Titus-as-the-Roman]

I know from family from the period that Americans did not want to be killing any French (actually there was still many that thought we shouldn't be here at all, the Pacific was our war and we were wasting time in the Euro-African campaigns, although time now has shown us different), we considered them our friends, albeit a difficult friendship at times.

[@Titus-as-the-Roman]

20:50- looking only at Africa, imagine the South-East coast of North America smashed hard into NW Africa (Pangaea), producing the Appalachian Mountains in America and the Atlas Mountains of NW Africa. Both share the same kinds of Fossils found only between the two. Morocco was the First country to acknowledge the United States of America as an independent Nation. America shares a long history with N Africa, much longer than many know.

[@markrunnalls7215]

Brilliant ,how can anyone not like the little M3 ,I saw one for sale at 130k and if i had that id be very tempted indeed ,but I don't know what the wife would say..

[@markrunnalls7215]

Paul I'm sure that tank is a Panzer 3 ,and not a 4 ..