HISTORY OF THE 556 AAA AUTO WPNS BN (MBL)

      The 556 AAA Auto Wpns Bn {Mbl) was activated at CAMP DAVIS. N.C. 20 March 1943 under command of Lt. Col. JOHN T. EFFORT, then Major, and received its basic training at that station, with training in advanced military subjects and firing of primary weapons being continued at FORT FISHER. N.C.

     The battalion was then assigned to the AA School in CAMP DAVIS where it participated in the schooling of officers in the advanced officer's courses and the training of enlisted specialists in the enlisted specialist school.
 

     A further course of refresher training and additional firing was carried out at the end of the AA School assignment, at FORT FISHER, from which station the battalion moved by motor convey to FORT JACKSON, S.C. to participate in combined training activities with other arms of the service and prepare for eventual overseas movement.
 

     The battalion moved by rail transportation to a final staging area, CAMP MYLES STANDISH, near Boston, Mass. where the final and most complete arrangements for its overseas movement were carried out. On 7 September 1944, this unit embarked for overseas duty, sailing on the US Army transport WEST POINT from Boston Harbor.

     After an uneventful voyage of six days, the "WEST POINT" docked at LIVERPOOL, England on 14 September 1944. The batta1ion disembarked on 16 September 1944 and entrained for SOUTHAMPTON, England, arriving there at approximately 2000 hours the same day, and boarded a ship "in the harbor, for trans-shipment to the mainland of EUROPE. Landing was made on UTAH BEACH on 18 September 1944 and motor transportation was provided to a staging area in the vicinity of MONTEBURG, FRANCE. From the 18 September to 17 November 1944 this battalion remained in area "D", VALOGNES Staging Area, near MONTEBURG, for the purpose of receiving necessary ordnance and organizational equipment preparatory to movement to a forward area. On 23 September 1944 the battalion was assigned to NINTH U.S. ARMY and remained an integral part of that Army for the period of' the European War .

On 17 November 1944 the battalion moved by motor convey to its newly assigned station in the vicinity of VALKENBURG, Netherlands where it set up positions in defense of gasoline and supply dumps in the vicinity of' GULPEN and MARGRATEN as well as VALKENBURG. The convoy movement from France consumed three days and nights, the night stops were made at L'AIGLE and SOISSONS in France, and DINANT in Belgium.
 

     During the period of' the assignment in VALKENBURG the battalion was attached to the 55th AAA Brigade, and further attached to the 2d AAA Group. The batteries of' this battalion remained in their assigned positions throughout the whole of the stay in THE NETHERLANDS except for the two brief changes. In the first change, Btry C was assigned the defense of a marshalling area in the vicinity of VISE, Belgium for the period from 28 November 1944 to 7 December 1944. The other change was made when one platoon of Btry D moved to set up defense of a rail siding in the vicinity of MAASTRICHT, Netherlands, for a period of about 12 hours. The defense was set up for overnight layover of high staff officers of the AEF, enroute to forward areas.
 

     News Years Day, 1945, gave the members of this battalion their real initiation into the inner circle of combat units. Fifty-four separate raids were experienced by the batteries starting at approximately midnight and continuing thru the early hours of the morning.  This was part of the German Air Force mass raids of that day and the beginning of the end of any show of strength from the enemy. Action was brisk and almost continuous, and resulted in three air craft shot down and two more that were so badly damaged that they fell after leaving the area. The battalion also suffered its first personnel casualty during these engagements when 1st Sgt Joe Scalf of Btry A was hit by a bomb fragment.
 

     During the first part of February 1945, the preliminary arrangements for the crossings of the Roer River were in progress. This battalion was still in positions in the vicinity of VALKENBURG, at that time. On the 9 February 1945, Hq., B and D Batteries were relieved of attached to 2d AAA Group, 55th AAA Brigade and were attached to the XIII Corps to be deployed in defense of the Corps Artillery positions along the lines of offense at the Roer River. An advanced Headquarters was set up at TEVEREN, Germany, a forward area, and Btrys B and D moved to take positions in the vicinity of GElLENKIRCHEN, Germany.  Due to a change in plans, the attempt to cross the Roer was not made early in February and on the 21 February 1945, Btrys A and C were attached to the XIII Corps and moved to join the battalion in the forward area. The battalion Hq. was moved to the town of SCHERPENSEEL, Germany and the whole battalion was then under the command of the 9th AAA Group which had assumed command of the forward detachment on the earlier date. The Roer crossings were made during the latter part of this month and the battalion participated in them, conducting itself in a manner that brought credit to every member of' the command. After crossing the Roer all elements of tm battalion joined the general advance toward the Rhine River, reaching there, as part of the Ninth Army and part of the first US troops to arrive at the last natural barrier before the heart of Germany and the last great battle of the war.
 
     On March 1st, the battalion Hq. was moved to the town of VENRATH, Germany, and on 5 March 1945 it moved again to the town of HULS, Germany.  The batteries continued their advance, finally stopping near the banks of the RHINE.
 

     On 15 March 1945, the battalion was attached to the XVI Corps, 26 AAA Group, to be deployed as defense of Engineer activities in the RHINE crossings. Batteries A and C were attached to the 30th Division and Hq., B and D were attached to the 1148th Eng Group and located in the area of the 79th Division. Their assigned mission was the guarding of Eng supplies and bridging operations, also ferrying sites used in the crossing of the river .Their work was performed creditably and with dispatch thru the whole operation. Three enemy aircraft were destroyed in the defense or these bridges. When the crossing was made, Btry A moved to the East bank of the river to take up defense of the area surrounding that bridge, and Btry D moved to the East bank of the river defending a ferrying site, and eventually a bridgehead on that side.

     A forward Hq. was established for this operation on the West bank of the RHINE.  All operations of the batteries were efficiently controlled from this point.

     The Commanding General or the XVI Corps, and the Commanding Officer of the XVI Corps Engineers, both joined in originating and forwarding to the Commanding Officer of this battalion, a written commendation citing the battalion for its efficient and valuable aid during the period or this operation.

     The battalion Commander, Lt. Col JOHN T. EFFORT, was awarded The Bronze Star for his work in the preparation and actual supervision of the movements and accomplishments or this battalion in the operations connected with the crossing of the RHINE and later actions immediately following. Certificates of Merit were awarded to SGT. WILK of B Btry and Pfc SINGLETON of Btry D, by the battalion commander, for meritorious service rendered during the crossing or the RHINE and immediately thereafter. All operations of the units of this organization were carried out with the utmost efficiency and dispatch, though in many cases these operations were hampered by continuous enemy fire and nearly all activities were under enemy observation.

     The month of March 1945 was the period of highest personnel casualties suffered by this battalion. Twenty nine casualties were inflicted by enemy fire, of which fourteen were serious enough to be evacuated.  Two men, 1st Lt HORACE F ST JOHNS and Pfc PAUL W BAKER, both of Btry B, were killed. With the exception of five or these casualties, all were the result of enemy ground fire. The five mentioned occurred when an enemy plane dropped several fragmentation bombs near a mess truck of Btry B, early in the month, injuring four men, and firth was wounded by a strafing enemy plane.

     On 1 April 1945, the forward Hq and the Rear Hq were combined at a location near BUDBERG, Germany and the Btrys assumed positions in defense of the Rhine River Bridges and ferrying sites. The battalion was relieved  of attached to the XVI Corps, and was attached to the 55th AAA Brigade, still under the 26th AAA Group.

     On 12 April 1945. the battalion was relieved or attached to the 55th AAA Brigade, 26th AAA Group and was attached to the XIII Corps under the 19th AAA Group. On 14 April, a move by motor convoy was made to a forward area. The battalion Hq was established at LEHRTE, Germany and the batteries were deployed in defense or various Corps installations. Btrys B and D were set up in defense of bridges on the Main Supply Route, Btry B defending a bridge over the Weser River near MINDEN, Germany and Btry D defending bridges on the Autobahn near DEDENSEN, Germany. Btry C was deployed near KLOTZ, Germany defending Corps Hq, and Btry A provided defense of Engineer supplies near OSTERBURG, Germany, in the vicinity or the ELBE RIVER.

     During the move to positions near KLOTZ, Btry C was attacked and strafed in convoy. This attack caused twelve personnel casualties and the loss or a 2-1/2 ton truck. Despite the attack, the battery dispersed promptly and returned the fire of the attacking plane, bringing it down in flames.

     The battalion Hq was moved from LEHRTE TO LOCKSTEDT, Germany on 17 April 1945 and the batteries moved to new defense positions. Btrys B and D provided defense of the Main Supply Route from BROME to GIFFHORN, Germany. Btry C was moved to positions in defense of Field Artillery installations near IDEN, Germany and a few days later Btry D was moved to positions in defense of roads in the vicinity of SALZWEDEL, Germany.  Btry B then moved to positions near ARENDSEE , Germany to set up defense of an Engineer Training and supply center there. On the 23 April the battalion Hq was moved to SALZWEDEL, Germany.

     From the 18 April 1945 to the 24 April 1945 the battalion was located in an area concealing heavy concentrations of by-passed enemy armor and infantry. During part of that period, some elements, including battalion Hq., were completely cut off from any supporting elements of our own troops. On several occasions Btrys engaged elements of these enemy troops, later identified as the larger part or the Von Clausiwitz Division. In one or these engagements Btry D destroyed several enemy vehicles and killed at least two of the attacking party with small arms fire, manned by Btry Hq personnel.

     During the last half of the month of April the primary mission of this battalion was defense of roads, bridges and Corps installations in the vicinity of the Elbe River, supporting the advance or our troops to that objective. In this period there were thirty-three engagements with enemy aircraft resulting in the submission of ten claims for aircraft destroyed. There were seventeen personnel casualties as the result of enemy fire, and three men or the AAAIS Section reported missing in action. One of these men, Pvt Marvin Renner was afterwards determined to have been killed by the enemy, the other two are known to have been released from enemy prison camps at the end of the war, and returned to the U.S.

     From 1 May to 9 May 1945, when hostilities officially ceased, there was a marked decrease in all kinds of enemy activity in the areas occupied by this battalion. During this time several planes were known to have landed in the area and surrendered. There were several engagements with enemy aircraft, one resulting in the plane in question being shot down. The last engagement with enemy aircraft by any element of this battalion was experienced by Btry B. This engagement resulted in
damaging the plane engaged so badly that it could not reach its home field.
 

     On 15 May 1945 the battalion moved to a location in the vicinity of HOLZMINDEN, Germany and set up as the active head of the military government for the Kreis of HOLZMINDEN. The battalion Hq was located in a former German Army Engineering School in HOLZMINDEN, and the batteries were located, Btry A in NEUHAUS, Btry B in DEENSEN, Btry C in MEINBREXEN and Btry D with the battalion Hq in HOLZMINDEN.

     The battalion received a new assignment on 1 June 1945 and moved to take up its new duties on that same day. On 2 June 1945 a new Hq was opened at a staging area near ANTWER, Belgium. This unit, together with the 559 AAA Auto Wpns Bn., under the command of the 19th AAA Group is assigned the duties incident to the operation and maintenance of a staging area, for the processing of troops bound for the U.S. to be further redeployed as the Army may direct. These duties have included the erection of the camp, in conjunction with several Engineer Units under the 1147th Engineer Group, and the provision of administrative and recreational facilities for the handling of the troops that will pass through.

     On the 2 June 1945, the 556th AAA Auto Wpns Bn was relieved of attached to the Ninth U.S. Army and was attached to Port Area 3 of the Channel Base Section, ETOUSA, for the accomplishment of its future mission in this theater.

     No account of the accomplishments and activities of the battalion would be complete without considerable mention and credit being given to the AAAIS Section and its duties. The 556 AAA Auto Wpns Bn had as an integral part of its organization, a AAAIS section of thirty-three men, whose training and knowledge was highly specialized in the duties of observing and reporting the activities of the enemy. Coincident with the setting up of our first defense against the enemy, this section was made an active part of that set up. A series of observation posts were set up in such locations as would best give efficient and timely early warning of the approach of enemy aircraft. In nearly all cases these observation posts were in positions that were in close contact with the enemy and in forward areas. Despite the constant need for caution and the imminence of interruption by the enemy, an efficient and valuable early warning service was maintained at all times. This section and each individual in it was the subject of a commendation from the Commanding General of the 55th AAA Brigade and the Commanding Officer of the 2d AAA Group for their invaluable help in the German Air Force mass raids of 1 January 1945. The commendation pointed out that through the alertness of this group of men all defending units were given advance warning of the approach of attacking planes, at least three minutes ahead of any other source for securing of that information. The activities of this section continued to be a valuable part of this battalion's defenses up to the very end of hostilities in the areas occupied. On 9 May 1945, when hostilities finally ceased, there were AAAIS observation posts at several points along the Elbe River.

     It is necessary in any complete record of the battalion activities to give a full measure of credit to Tec 5 James A. TREEMARCKI, the Battalion Mail Clerk, for his efficient and untiring services in the dispatch and the delivery of the mail. In spite or adverse weather conditions, distance and the encountering of enemy fire, Cpl Treemarcki performed his duties without fail. For this outstanding performance of his duties, he was awarded a Certificate of Merit by the Battalion Commander, citing him for these qualities.
 

     Following is a recapitulation of the more vital activities of the Battalion:

There were eighteen enemy aircraft destroyed.

There were nine enemy aircraft probably destroyed or damaged so badly that they could not return to their home station.
 

There were three hundred twenty-three enemy aircraft engaged.

There were one hundred ninety-eight engagements with enemy aircraft.

There were five thousand, eight hundred, eighty-eight rounds of 40mm shells fired.

There were one hundred fourteen thousand, two hundred, seventy-two rounds of Cal .50 fired.
 

There were forty-six men wounded or missing as a result of enemy action.

There were three deaths as a result of enemy action.

BATTLE PARTICIPATION STARS have been awarded the battalion for:

Campaign "RHINELAND"
Campaign "CENTRAL EUROPE"
Campaign "ARDENNES"

DEDICATION

     This History is dedicated to the Officers and Enlisted Men who lived and died during World War II...

Certificate for 17 Category I claims (aircraft confirmed destroyed)

awarded to the 556th AAA AW Bn by Ninth Army HQ.

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