Raymond is Onene Littrell Curtis’ son-in-law:
Raymond enlisted June 25, 1952 and reported to Camp Crowder, Missouri for induction before being sent to Camp Chaffee, ARK for training.
| He was trained at artillery school ( Camp Chaffee) and assigned to 'C' Battery, 176th Armored Field Artillery(AFA) Battalion, 5th Artillery Group, 8th Army, Korea (in late 1952) operating a 155mm Howitzer M41 (motorized).
The 176th AFA Battalion was a Pennsylvania National Guard unit that had been in Korea since 1951, shortly after the conflict broke out. Because there were no Artillery Divisions deployed to Korea, following the movements of the 176th AFA Battalion has proven difficult to date because battalion level records are harder to obtain than larger unit (parent units) records.
We do, however, have the Unit Citation orders 136 that identify at least one battle that Raymond and the 176th AFA Battalion was in. The Battle of Boomerang, near Kumhwa, Korea. A fierce battle that Raymond's unit distinguished itself in. In January 1954, near the end of his enlistment Raymond was rotated out of Korea (ahead of his unit) to Camp Carson Colorado (reassignment Center) where he was reassigned to Ft. Riley, Kansas until his discharge in July of 1954.
"Here is the tank I'm on. Clumsy looking thing isn't it." Cpl. Raymond Savat, Korea | | “Award of the Distinguished Unit Citation” “By direction of the President... the following unit is cited as public evidence of deserved honor and distinction ....” “The 176TH ARMORED FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION is cited for outstanding performance of duty and extraordinary heroism in action against the enemy in the vicinity of Kumhwa, Korea, during the period 14 to 15 June 1953, At that time, the battalion was assigned the mission of general support of a Republic of Korea Army Corps. When the hostile elements launched an overwhelming assault on the night of the 14th, the Allied forces wore overrun through sheer weight of numbers and all organized defense in a division sector of the main line of resistance collapsed. During the initial three-hour period of fighting, the battalion maintained the only operation communications network connecting all major elements of the infantry forces. In addition, though suffering heavy casualties from intense counter-battery fire the battalion maintained a continuous maximum rate of fire on the advancing enemy forces. During the evacuation to the south, a steady flow of infantry stragglers moved past the gun positions, leaving no infantry force between the artillery and the rapidly advancing foe. Despite the major threat to their safety, members of the battalion held their positions and continued a maximum cover of fire. Early the next morning when the three Republic of Korea Army battalions commenced to withdraw, the 176th ARMORED FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION determinably provided the sweeping fire necessary to cover the rearward movement. At daylight, the battalion began a barrage of smoke and white phosphorous which denied the enemy observation from the newly-captured heights and allowed a Republic of Korea Army division to man a new defense line, permitting the orderly displacement of the battalion to prearranged positions. The 176th ARMORED FIELD ARTILLIRY BATTALION displayed such outstanding tenacity and determination in accomplishing its hazardous mission as to set it apart from and above other units participating in the action. The extraordinary heroism and selfless devotion to duty exhibited by the members of this battalion throughout this period reflects great credit on themselves and is in keeping with the, finest traditions of the military service of the United States,
BY Command OF General Maxwell Taylor” |  |
from: Military Role Call: The Littrell Family of Mississippi County, Missouri, The Littrell Family Journals Volume IV. (click here)
also: Littrell Family Veterans Video
reposted from 2016: 107/175
Hi, my father-in-law also served in the 176th Armored Field Artillery Battalion in Korea. A detailed timeline of the unit can be found in "The Guns of Korea" by R. L. Hanson. The 176th was equipped with M-7 105mm self-propelled howitzers. They are the "tanks" in both of the pictures you have posted above.
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