The Trail Of The

87th Armored Field Artillery Battalion

From The Beach To The Heartland Of Germany

Chart 6

Maps 26-30 (12 Nov 1944 - 18 Jan 1945   Belgium/Germany)

222 Days Combat

DRIVE TO THE ROER RIVER (12 Nov-22 Dec 1944)

MISSION: 87TH AFA BN IN DIRECT SUPPORT OF 104TH INF DIV.
To reinforce Fires Of 385th, 386th, 929th FA Bns. Div
To Attack NE & E Capturing Eschweiler & Weisweiler
Forming A Defensive Line Along The Roer River.

Forward Observers: Lts. Berry, Coane, Hartwig, Keeler, Kubista, Hughes

Liaison Officers: Lts. O'Neal, Logan, Hartwig, McCarthy

RETURN TO BELGUIM (23 Dec 1944)

MISSION: 87TH AFA BN ATTACHED TO VII CORPS, FIRST ARMY

Forward Observers: None

Liaison Officers: None

OPERATIONS AROUND CINEY (23-25 Dec 1944)

MISSION: To Drive South & Southwest From Ciney
Contact Enemy And Destroy His Advancing Armored Spearheads.

Forward Observers: Lts. Logan, Stites, Cowling

Liaison Officers: Lt. Col. Barber, Lt. O'Neal

ARDENNES CAMPAIGN (26 Dec 1944-9 Jan 1945)

MISSION: 87TH AFA BN IN DIRECT SUPPORT
OF 2ND ARMD DIV'S TF "B"26-29 DEC 1944
TF "Y" 3-4 JAN, TF "R" 5-9 JAN 1945.
To Drive South Of Ciney, Destroy Enemy Armored Spearheads
And Contact XXX British Corps.
To Drive South Of Manhay, Contact The 3rd Army At Houffalize.

Forward Observers: Lts. Kowalsky, Hartwig, Kubista, Cowling, Coane, Dawson,
Keeler, Hughes, Logan, Zink, Stites

Liaison Officers: Maj. Holst, Capts. Schrader, Holt, Lt. O'Neal

END OF THE "BULGE" (10-18 Jan 1945)

MISSION: 87TH AFA BN IN DIRECT SUPPORT
OF TASK FORCE "Y", 2ND ARM'D DIV.
To Drive South Of Manhay And Contact
The 3rd United States Army At Houffalize.
84th Inf Div To Form Combat Teams With 2nd Arm'd Div.

Forward Observers: Lts. Kubista, Kowalsky, Hartwig, Cowling, Logan,
Dawson, Berry, Keeler, Stites, Hughes, Zink

Liaison Officers: Capts. Schrader, Holt & Lts. O'Neal, Yoffee