EARLY HISTORY of the 87th Armored Field Artillery Battalion 15 Jul 1940 To 28 Apr 1943 Since the 87th was organized prior to 7 Dec 1941, the unit is entitled to the American Defense Ribbon. Panama Ft. Knox The 1st Battalion, 87th Field Artillery (Mechanized) was organized on the 15th of July 1940, at Fort William D. Davis, Canal Zone. The Battalion was activated pursuant to General Orders, Hq, Panama Canal Dept, 10 July, 1940. Officer Personnel of the Battalion was obtained by transfer from the 2nd Field Artillery Battalion, the enlisted men, by transfer from the 13th Infantry Regiment. The initial strength of the Organization consisted of five (5) Commissioned Officers assigned, sixteen (16) Commissioned Officers attached, and four hundred and eighty-three (483) Enlisted Men. The Battalion was under the command of Major Michael Shea. From 6 October 1940 to 2 December, 1940, the Battalion by Batteries, engaged in Field Training at the Dept. Training Center, Rio Hato, Republic Of Panama. On 3 January, 1941 at Fort William D. Davis, Canal Zone, the 1st Bn, 87th Field Artillery Regiment was designated the 87th Field Artillery Battalion. The strength of the Battalion at this time consisted of nineteen (19) officers and four hundred and seventy (470) Enlisted Men. During the period from 3 January, 1941 to 14 March, 1941, Batteries performed security guard at the Gatun Spillway, Gatun Locks, Gatun, Canal Zone. From 14th March, 1941 to 20 March, 1941, Headquarters Battery and reconnaissance details from Able, Baker, and Charlie Batteries participated in Panama Mobile Force maneuvers, Pacific side. From 26 April, 1941 to 11 December, 1941, the Battalion, by Batteries, engaged in field training at the Dept. Training Center, Rio Hato, Republic of Panama. The first large contingent of "draftees" arrived unheralded, during the early part of January, 1942. Service Battery, less the ammunition section, was organized on 26 January, 1942. The officers and enlisted personnel were obtained by transfer from Headquarters Battery. The Medical Detachment was also activated at this time. On 28 January, 1942, the entire Battalion left Fort Davis, on the Atlantic side, to make the first military crossing of the isthmus by road. Due to tropical rains, washouts, and the incompletion of the main roadbed, difficulties were encountered throughout the trip. This crossing was headline news in the States, but for military reasons the unit was kept anonymous. Late in the evening of 30 January, the unit arrived at Rio Hato, Republic of Panama. On 1 February, 1942, Major Axel B. Devereaux assumed command of the Battalion. On 2nd March, 1942, the Battalion left Rio Hato enroute to David, Republic of Panama near the Pacific Border of Costa Rica. They arrived at their destination on the morning of 3 March, 1942. At 1230 hours the Battalion was forced to temporarily vacate the bivouac area because of a grass fire. Aided by a strong gales, the fire swept through the knee high grass and inflicted slight to moderately heavy damage on both the personnel and equipment of the Battalion. Approximately sixty (60) Enlisted Men required Medical attention for the treatment of burns, cuts, and bruises sustained during the fire. Deep lacerations and third degree burns hospitalized several men. The Battalion immediately communicated by radio to the Panama Mobile Force for gas, tires, and other supplies and equipment, which were delivered at once by the Air Force. On 5 March,1942, we left David for Rio Hato, and after two days of maintenance, continued on to Camp Paraiso. Camp Paraiso is located between the locks at Peter Miguel and the famous Culebra Cut. The Battalion then received, in conjunction with the 14th Infantry Regiment, the mission of establishing Camp Pecora on the 27th of March. On 22 April the Battalion returned to Fort William D. Davis, Canal Zone. The 87th Field Artillery Battalion was redesignated the 87th Armored Field Artillery Battalion on 23 May, 1942. It remained at Fort Davis throughout the summer performing usual guard, garrison, and alert duties. On 8 September the entire Battalion departed by motor convoy for Air Base, Rio Hato, Republic of Panama. Here the Battalion remained until 13 March, 1943. While there, the Battalion participated in jungle patrols, cross country marches, and extensive combat maneuvers. During this time two cadres were formed; one on 26 December 1942 and the second in the early part of February, 1943. Both cadres were returned to the States to form the nucleus of new organizations. The later part of February the Battalion again returned to Fort Davis, and shortly before departure from Rio Hato, Major Douglas G. Dwyre assumed command. Usual garrison duties were performed until 30 March, 1943, at which time the entire Battalion embarked at Cristobal, Canal Zone for a permanent change of station. At 0730, 31 March, 1943, the 87th sailed aboard the United States Armed Transport, Frederick Funston, under the escort of one destroyer. The Funston was making its return from Australia through the Canal to New York with many casualties of the battle of Buna and the Owen Stanley Mountains in New Guinea. As the Funston made her way north out of the tropical seas of the Caribbean under the quiet gleaming stars of the Southern Cross, peace reigned throughout the first two nights. To the men aboard these two small insignificant ships, the war, indeed, seemed far away. "Wolf Pack" was the cry, as general alarm sounded throughout the ship on the morning of the third day. Lookouts and troops together, anxiously scanned the grey horizon for the dreaded sight of a periscope or the white wake of an enemy torpedo. Our escort cut back across our bow dropping depth charges, and the Funston raced on leaving the escort far behind. To tropical troops landing in New York April 6, 1943, it was the coldest day ever experienced. Yet the thought of at last being home, easily overcame any of these hardships. On 7 April, 1943 the 'battalion debarked at Staten Island, N.Y. and entrained for Fort Knox, KY.On 8 April, 1943, the Battalion marched to their area from the train with much of the same air of "Rogers 'Rangers" with their ill fitting OD uniforms and thick beards. On the 28 April, 1943, Baker Battery fired a 21 gun salute for President Roosevelt on his tour of inspection of Ft. Knox, KY. At this particular time, much anticipation was centered on 30 day furloughs for all. (For a continuation of 87th History select Training, Training, Training From Homepage Index or select Continue History From This Page) Continue History Return To Homepage
87th Armored Field Artillery Battalion
15 Jul 1940 To 28 Apr 1943
Since the 87th was organized prior to 7 Dec 1941, the unit is entitled to the American Defense Ribbon.
Panama
Ft. Knox
The 1st Battalion, 87th Field Artillery (Mechanized) was organized on the 15th of July 1940, at Fort William D. Davis, Canal Zone. The Battalion was activated pursuant to General Orders, Hq, Panama Canal Dept, 10 July, 1940. Officer Personnel of the Battalion was obtained by transfer from the 2nd Field Artillery Battalion, the enlisted men, by transfer from the 13th Infantry Regiment. The initial strength of the Organization consisted of five (5) Commissioned Officers assigned, sixteen (16) Commissioned Officers attached, and four hundred and eighty-three (483) Enlisted Men. The Battalion was under the command of Major Michael Shea.
From 6 October 1940 to 2 December, 1940, the Battalion by Batteries, engaged in Field Training at the Dept. Training Center, Rio Hato, Republic Of Panama. On 3 January, 1941 at Fort William D. Davis, Canal Zone, the 1st Bn, 87th Field Artillery Regiment was designated the 87th Field Artillery Battalion. The strength of the Battalion at this time consisted of nineteen (19) officers and four hundred and seventy (470) Enlisted Men.
During the period from 3 January, 1941 to 14 March, 1941, Batteries performed security guard at the Gatun Spillway, Gatun Locks, Gatun, Canal Zone. From 14th March, 1941 to 20 March, 1941, Headquarters Battery and reconnaissance details from Able, Baker, and Charlie Batteries participated in Panama Mobile Force maneuvers, Pacific side. From 26 April, 1941 to 11 December, 1941, the Battalion, by Batteries, engaged in field training at the Dept. Training Center, Rio Hato, Republic of Panama.
The first large contingent of "draftees" arrived unheralded, during the early part of January, 1942.
Service Battery, less the ammunition section, was organized on 26 January, 1942. The officers and enlisted personnel were obtained by transfer from Headquarters Battery. The Medical Detachment was also activated at this time.
On 28 January, 1942, the entire Battalion left Fort Davis, on the Atlantic side, to make the first military crossing of the isthmus by road. Due to tropical rains, washouts, and the incompletion of the main roadbed, difficulties were encountered throughout the trip. This crossing was headline news in the States, but for military reasons the unit was kept anonymous. Late in the evening of 30 January, the unit arrived at Rio Hato, Republic of Panama.
On 1 February, 1942, Major Axel B. Devereaux assumed command of the Battalion. On 2nd March, 1942, the Battalion left Rio Hato enroute to David, Republic of Panama near the Pacific Border of Costa Rica. They arrived at their destination on the morning of 3 March, 1942. At 1230 hours the Battalion was forced to temporarily vacate the bivouac area because of a grass fire. Aided by a strong gales, the fire swept through the knee high grass and inflicted slight to moderately heavy damage on both the personnel and equipment of the Battalion. Approximately sixty (60) Enlisted Men required Medical attention for the treatment of burns, cuts, and bruises sustained during the fire. Deep lacerations and third degree burns hospitalized several men. The Battalion immediately communicated by radio to the Panama Mobile Force for gas, tires, and other supplies and equipment, which were delivered at once by the Air Force.
On 5 March,1942, we left David for Rio Hato, and after two days of maintenance, continued on to Camp Paraiso. Camp Paraiso is located between the locks at Peter Miguel and the famous Culebra Cut. The Battalion then received, in conjunction with the 14th Infantry Regiment, the mission of establishing Camp Pecora on the 27th of March. On 22 April the Battalion returned to Fort William D. Davis, Canal Zone.
The 87th Field Artillery Battalion was redesignated the 87th Armored Field Artillery Battalion on 23 May, 1942. It remained at Fort Davis throughout the summer performing usual guard, garrison, and alert duties. On 8 September the entire Battalion departed by motor convoy for Air Base, Rio Hato, Republic of Panama. Here the Battalion remained until 13 March, 1943. While there, the Battalion participated in jungle patrols, cross country marches, and extensive combat maneuvers. During this time two cadres were formed; one on 26 December 1942 and the second in the early part of February, 1943. Both cadres were returned to the States to form the nucleus of new organizations.
The later part of February the Battalion again returned to Fort Davis, and shortly before departure from Rio Hato, Major Douglas G. Dwyre assumed command. Usual garrison duties were performed until 30 March, 1943, at which time the entire Battalion embarked at Cristobal, Canal Zone for a permanent change of station.
At 0730, 31 March, 1943, the 87th sailed aboard the United States Armed Transport, Frederick Funston, under the escort of one destroyer. The Funston was making its return from Australia through the Canal to New York with many casualties of the battle of Buna and the Owen Stanley Mountains in New Guinea.
As the Funston made her way north out of the tropical seas of the Caribbean under the quiet gleaming stars of the Southern Cross, peace reigned throughout the first two nights. To the men aboard these two small insignificant ships, the war, indeed, seemed far away.
"Wolf Pack" was the cry, as general alarm sounded throughout the ship on the morning of the third day. Lookouts and troops together, anxiously scanned the grey horizon for the dreaded sight of a periscope or the white wake of an enemy torpedo.
Our escort cut back across our bow dropping depth charges, and the Funston raced on leaving the escort far behind.
To tropical troops landing in New York April 6, 1943, it was the coldest day ever experienced. Yet the thought of at last being home, easily overcame any of these hardships. On 7 April, 1943 the 'battalion debarked at Staten Island, N.Y. and entrained for Fort Knox, KY.On 8 April, 1943, the Battalion marched to their area from the train with much of the same air of "Rogers 'Rangers" with their ill fitting OD uniforms and thick beards.
On the 28 April, 1943, Baker Battery fired a 21 gun salute for President Roosevelt on his tour of inspection of Ft. Knox, KY. At this particular time, much anticipation was centered on 30 day furloughs for all. (For a continuation of 87th History select Training, Training, Training From Homepage Index or select Continue History From This Page) Continue History Return To Homepage