The 679th Tank Destroyer Battalion was a

tank destroyer battalion 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 equipp ...

of the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...

active during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. The unit was activated in June 1943 and shipped overseas in January 1945. After arrival in France, the unit was sent to the Mediterranean front. After arrival, the unit was attached to the 92nd Infantry Division. Like the 614th Tank Destroyer Battalion, it was one of the three segregated tank destroyer battalions that participated in combat during the Second World War.

Early service

The 679th Tank Destroyer Battalion was activated on 26 June 1943 in

Camp Hood Fort Hood is a United States Army post located near Killeen, Texas. Named after Confederate General John Bell Hood, it is located halfway between Austin and Waco, about from each, within the U.S. state of Texas. The post is the headquarters of ...

. It was the last American tank destroyer battalion to be activated. It was staffed exclusively by black American soldiers. Initially training was in self-propelled tank destroyers, but in July 1943 the unit was converted to a towed outfit. Training continued in November 1944 Lieutenant Colonel Donald McGrayne became commander of the 679th Tank Destroyer Battalion. In December orders arrived to prepare for overseas service, the unit was moved New York and in January 1945 the battalion departed for

Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...

, where the soldiers arrived on 21 January 1945. In February 1945 new orders arrived and the battalion was moved from

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...

Combat in Italy

On 6 March 1945 the 679th Tank Destroyer Battalion was attached to the 92nd Infantry Division, one of the two segregated infantry divisions. The 92d had been fighting in Italy since 1944. On 18 March 1945 the battalion 'fired our first round in anger at the enemy.' The battalion was employed in support of attacks of the 92nd Infantry Division and combat around the Punta Bianca peninsula, near

La Spezia La Spezia (, or , ; in the local Spezzino dialect) is the capital city of the province of La Spezia and is located at the head of the Gulf of La Spezia in the southern part of the Liguria region of Italy. La Spezia is the second largest city ...

, Italy against coastal artillery guns until the end of the war.Lee (1966). p. 587.

Post War Service

After the Second World War the unit was employed as guards, watching over munition depots and prisoners. The unit was eventually shipped back to the United States with the intent of being used against the Japanese army, but their surrender meant the unit had become superfluous. On 27 October 1945 the unit was disbanded.

Early service

Combat in Italy

Post War Service

Notes

References

Further reading