Military Roll Call: 91st Reconnaissance (Recon) Troop, 91st Infantry Division

 

MRC GENERATIONS: Jeffrey Littrell & Jace Showalter

While Jeffrey served and retired from the Air Force, his grandson chose to enlist in the Army. Ironically Jace is now stationed at Goodfellow Air Force Base.

Jace also continues 73 consecutive years of unbroken military service by the descendants of John & Kizzie Littrell

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MRC Generations……a tribute to Father – Son service in the Military, but as information was compiled we discovered not just father and sons but also grandfather and grandsons, husband and wives and great-grandfathers and great-granddaughters. As a result of these discoveries we changed the name to “Generations” and present to you examples of continued multi-generational service.

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The above information for Jeffrey Littrell is from: Military Role Call: The Littrell Family of Mississippi County, Missouri, The Littrell Family Journals Volume IV. (click here)
also:  Littrell Family Veterans Video

originally posted 11-19-2017

Jace Showalter: US Army

Jace is the grandson of Jeffrey Dolan Littrell(USAF Ret.) and the great-great-great grandson of John and Kizzie Littrell.

With the enlistment of Jace on July 3rd, 2017 a family tradition of military service that goes back 241 years continues.

Jace is at least the 36th family member to serve in the military since the beginning of World War II. Beginning with the 7 sons and son-in-laws of John and Kizzie who served their descendants account for 73 years of unbroken military service. Starting with Red, OJ, Jesse, Bordie and JD (World War II) and continuing with Blaine Davis, Garrett Littrell, Steven Johnson, Angela & Joel Paff and now Jace, today and into the future…

Jace took his basic training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma and his MOS training at Goodfellow AFB where he is presently stationed.

Over the last 72 years, covering 5 generations. From 1942 to 2017 there has always been a descendant (family member) of John & Kizzie Littrell in the military.

originally posted 11-11-17

43

Redford ‘Red’ Littrell: US Army

Red was a son of John & Kizzie Littrell.

Red reported for service October 14, 1942, just one month after his younger brother, JD, had enlisted in the Navy. Red reported to Camp White, Oregon and served throughout the war with the 91st Recon Troop, 91st Infantry Division. He was discharged at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri on October 22, 1945.
Red was assigned to the 91st Reconnaissance (Recon) Troop, 91st Infantry Division As we try to follow the probable movements of Red, as well as engagements with the enemy, we will by necessity follow the movements and engagements of the 91st Infantry Division.
Recon was constructed for fast, mobile operations, fanning out ahead of the Armored and Infantry divisions. Its somewhat light makeup proved less useful when, as was often the case for reconnaissance units, it found itself called upon to plug gaps in the line or hold terrain that would test an infantry battalion.
While it boasted

During the 271 days of Combat the 91st Division suffered 1,576 Killed in Action, and 7,169 wounded.

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“The 91st Division was a single, coordinated fighting unit. It was the Division which captured Monticelli and Mount Calvi, and fought bitterly for Hills 840 and 844. It was the Division that advanced through rain and fog over steep and rocky terrain along the ridge line of the Apennines Mountains to the Santerno River. It was the whole Division which refused to be a holding force, but swept northward along Highway 65 and captured Futa Pass. Great credit is due to the mule pack groups who went where motors could not go; to the 791st Ordnance Company, the 91st Quartermaster Company, the 91st Signal Company, the 91st Reconnaissance Troop, who never faltered and refused to conceive of failure. Each man in the Division had acted as if he had “wanted to win the war all by himself,” and the tales of heroism and gallantry are legion. In twelve days it had reduced to nothing a year's work of thousands of impressed laborers and had decimated the best troops Hitler could put into the line against it.”

1944 "BOYS IN THE SERVICE" "Narrow Escape for Anniston Man" "With the 5th Army, Italy--Pvt. Redford Littrell of Anniston, Mo., escaped injury recently when German shells riddled the oil pan on the jeep he was using to deliver rations on the Fifth Army front in northern Italy. A member of the 91st Division's Reconnaissance Troop, Littrell had been traveling at night over a road under enemy observation to get supplies to observation post of his unit. Each night, a Jerry mortar would throw in shells. If the rations were brought up at 7 o'clock one night, the Krauts would shell the road at that hour the next night. Littrell varied his schedule, each night the Germans shelling the road at the hour he had passed the previous night. After several nights, however, the mortar shells landed nearby as Littrell was unloading his jeep. He hit the ground as shell fragments cut the air. When the shelling ceased, he discovered the shrapnel had riddled the oil pan of the vehicle."**

**Article [newspaper clipping] was contributed
by Janet Littrell~Silman, Red's daughter:

Red was a member of the 91st Division's Reconnaissance Troop, 91st Infantry Division in Italy during World War II.

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The above information is 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:   102 / 149

MRC GENERATIONS: Les & John “JL” Littrell–Father & Son.

Generations…
…a tribute to Father – Son service in the Military, but as information was compiled we discovered not just father and sons but also grandfather and grandsons, husband and wives and great-grandfathers and great-granddaughters. As a result of these discoveries we changed the name to “Generation” and present to you examples of continued multi-generational service.

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The above information is 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 2015:   20

JD Littrell: The Pusan Perimeter

There are two notable inaccuracies in JD’s story:

1. The first is that there were about 50 survivors from C company. By the time JD wrote the letter the stragglers from C Company were joining with “F” Company and formed a defensive position further back along the same road to Changnyong at Ponch’o-ri. Even with the freeing of the POWs at Namwon the total number of survivors of Company C would not reach 50.
2. The second was “…what was left of our company run off and left us four.” It may have seemed like they were abandoned, but in actuality the forward platoons and the Company Command Post were experiencing the same ‘human wave’ assault that quickly depleted and isolated the pockets of men who survived.
   The 8th Army held the Pusan Perimeter until MacArthur could execute the invasion of Inchon by the XX Corps on the opposite side of the Korean peninsula. In conjunction with this action, the under supplied 8th Army proceeded to ‘breakout’ of the Pusan Perimeter at high cost about September 15.

By September 22, the 23rd Regiment had crossed the Naktong River and established a perimeter along Hills 207, 227 and Hill 308. On September 22, JD received the wounds (in the head (from a bullet that creased his helmet) and shoulder (from shrapnel)) that would earn him the first of three Purple Hearts.

source: The East Prairie Eagle: East Prairie, Missouri. “The Armed Forces Roll Call”, September 29, 1950 courtesy of Bertha Littrell~Thurman.

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The above information is 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 2015:   23/60

JD Littrell: US Navy and US Army (Retired)

Photos Only:

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(JD (AKA Junior Dolan) was a son of John & Kizzie (Comer) Littrell)

63rd CBs at Guadalcanal, 1943. JD would serve 28 months in the South Pacific.
   He was discharged from the Navy in 1945. Later he would enlist in the Army.
Following his Discharge from the US Navy (World War II) JD returned to the ‘bootheel’ area of Southeast Missouri until his enlistment in the US Army, September 10, 1947. JD was stationed with the 7th Tank Battalion, 3rd Armored Division as a Platoon Sergeant until being assigned to C Company of the 1st Battalion, 23rd Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division in Ft. Lewis (1950). The 23rd Regiment would soon ship-out for Korea aboard the USS General Freeman.

The picture was provided by the Theresa [daughter of Nell Horn-Virgin [a niece of Jean’s]] 

Don’t know who the guy in front of Dad is, the note on the back just said:

  "on the France and Germany border lots of love to you and the boys your daddy".

The boys being Troy and I, Rick would be born in France.

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The above information is 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:   76 /112

Military Role Call: Uncle Red in Italy

   Its a safe bet that this picture is not state-side. The only thing that could get four GI’s so interested in milking a cow would be a long-term shortage of milk.

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The above information is 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:  33 / 65

MRC GENERATIONS: Bordie Thurman, Angela Cross & Joel Pfaff -- First Husband & Wife

Generations……a tribute to Father – Son service in the Military, but as information was compiled we discovered not just father and sons but also grandfather and grandsons, husband and wives and great-grandfathers and great-granddaughters. As a result of these discoveries we changed the name to “Generation” and present to you examples of continued multi-generational service.

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Pictures (especially in uniform), dd214, letters, duty stations, training, stories, post cards, accommodations & awards, dates of service, etc., What you can when you can, don’t hesitate.

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The above information is 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:     38 / 76

Albert Rubin Littrell: US Army

Rubin is a son of John & Kizzie.

Rubin was a Sergeant in the Army during the Korean War. He was wounded in the knee by a sniper. Ending his Army career.

We need more information on this individual. Please send us any information so that we can update entries for this person on the website and the next edition of this book. Send to: gdl@glenns-world.com or: Glenn Littrell, PO BOX

  
Purple Heart
UN Korean Service Medal
Korean Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal

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The above information is from: Military Role Call: The Littrell Family of Mississippi County, Missouri, The Littrell Family Journals Volume IV. (click here) .

reposted from 2016:    70 / 100

Troy Littrell: US Army

Troy is a grandson of John & Kizzie.

“I was in Vietnam all of 1971 and the first half of 1972. My job was keeping inventory of supplies, keeping records of supplies on computers, delivering supplies by day, and by night protecting the supply depot, either in a bunker or in a guard tower.
In 1971 the enemy would fire rockets and artillery at our bases from 18 miles away. but that was so far, they wouldn't be very accurate.
They would still blow up equipment and buildings and supplies, and we had some casualties, but sometimes where they landed didn't make a lot of sense. Some of the rockets would land in a big empty field, or blow up your laundry. Sometimes they would blow up a porta-potty "outhouse". They blew up my favorite place to eat hamburgers! We had a boxing ring and held boxing matches, they blew that up too. It was always dangerous, and always sad when some body got hurt, but sometimes it was just stupid and annoying.

At night enemy soldiers would creep around in the "elephant grass" (grass that was taller than the elephants) and sometimes we had short shoot-outs that didn't last very long.

The enemy had lots of spies. They had more spies than soldiers! I think so many people would rather be a spy than a soldier. Spies live longer and they are more comfortable. I thought the best thing to do was figure everybody was a spy and not say nor do anything stupid. That worked out pretty well for me, besides, I didn't care if the cleaning lady was a spy. I just wanted her to do my laundry, ha!
In 1972 every thing changed for the worst. The enemy launched a big offensive to take over the whole country, they bombed us with Migs, attacked us with tanks and charged with millions of soldiers.
I didn't want to leave Vietnam, I wanted to stay and help out our soldiers and the people of Vietnam, but the U.S.A. was leaving because we could only help them so much, but we couldn't save them, only they could save themselves. So president Nixon ordered our most senior soldiers back to U.S.A., and I had been there a year and a half, so i had to go. Later, when they were handing out medals, they told me I had been in the last 4 campaigns of the war.

Being a clerk or a cook or a mechanic doesn't mean you don't get shot at, every soldier gets shot at. It just means you don't have to carry everything you have on your back! (You get to take cover behind it instead of carrying it, ha!)

The coolest souvenir I liked was an elephant hide wallet. I really liked it. It never wore out! The thread would wear out and I had to have it re-sewn, but elephant hide is tuff! I didn't kill the elephant, but i figured since he was already dead, I might as well have a good wallet.
When i was in Vietnam I got to go on vacation (R&R) in Australia and in Hong Kong! Australia was mostly like America so that was kinda’ boring but Hong Kong was great! I wouldn't mind living there! It was really cheap and the shopping was awesome and the cafe food was wonderful!
Vietnam had lots and lots, I mean a really, really, really lots of wild animals!!!!! Elephants, tigers, 30 foot crocodiles, 30 foot snakes!
30 FOOT SNAKES!!!!! When I would see these monster snakes, I would almost faint!
Most of the time, the snakes were asleep! Ha-ha!
I guess when you're a snake that big, all you want to do is sleep between meals, Ha-ha! They had to be very old to be that big, but buddy you couldn't get any of the national geographic boys to come down there and measure them, ha! They don't want to see a snake that big unless it's dead, but I wasn't going to kill a sleeping snake just to make "NAT-GEO" happy. It wouldn't seem right.

The first thing you think when you see a wild tiger in the jungle is "I need a bigger gun!", but tigers don't like the taste of people, so if they ain't hungry, nor sick, and you don't make eye contact with them, they will leave you alone. Elephants will leave you alone if you leave them alone, but if you go over and start touching them they will slap you right off your feet!!!
Then you will be in the emergency room telling the doctor your face hurts because it's busted up aaaaand, you will have big globs of elephant snot on you.
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm typing this letter because it hurts too much to write. The war ruined my health. but that is what we call "professional risk". If you accept a job, you accept the risk that go with that job,
but the best thing you can do for yourself and your family is go to college. become a doctor, lawyer, nurse, accountant or something else to build a better society for you, your parents and your children to live in.
Because that is what soldiers fight for. A better society for us to live in. Yeah! Hamburgers and fries taste better than seaweed and water buffalo any day!”

Troy Littrell

The above letter was unavailable when the MRC book went to print last year. It will be included in the next edition/printing of the book… possibly as early as 2016. GlennDL

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With Troy's enlisting in 1970 he was stationed with the 24th Supply and Transportation Battalion at Ft. Riley Kansas (5th Army)
Then with the 1st Supply and Transportation Battalion in Germersheim, Germany (USAREUR). In January of 1971 Troy arrived in Vietnam where he was stationed; first at Bein Hoa Air Base with the 506th Quartermaster Battalion(MACV) and then at Long Binh Post with the 44th Medical Brigade(MACV).

"The massive Long Binh military base, once the largest U.S. installation outside the continental United States, was constructed on the outskirts of Bien Hoa near the Saigon, included numerous ammunition depots, supply depots, and other logistics installations. It served as the headquarters for U.S. Army Vietnam, 1st Logistical Command, and several other related activities..."

Campaigns:
Vietnam Counteroffensive Phase VII
Consolidation I
Consolidation II
Vietnam Cease-fire

View Full Album

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The above information is 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:   90/141

MRC GENERATIONS: OJ & Wally Littrell–Father & Son

Generations…
…a tribute to Father – Son service in the Military, but as information was compiled we discovered not just father and sons but also grandfather and grandsons, husband and wives and great-grandfathers and great-granddaughters. As a result of these discoveries we changed the name to “Generation” and present to you examples of continued multi-generational service.

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The above information is 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 2015:  28 / 71

Leslie ‘Les’ Littrell: US Army

Les is the son of John & Kizzie Comer Littrell.

Prior to his enlistment Les worked on a Government Project,

"...engaged in the survey of rivers for channel straightening and survey of levees in flood control projects.”

Les would enlist at age 19 in June of 1947 at Ft. Riley, Kansas. He would be stationed at Ft. Lewis, Washington with "A" Co., 9th Infantry "Manchu" Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division (2ID).
"A" Co would be deployed to Alaska and stationed at Ladd Air Force Base, near Fairbanks, in April of 1948 and would remain there for 6 months before returning to Ft. Lewis.

     

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The above information is 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:   78/98

MRC Generations: JD, Troy and Glenn Littrell–Father & Sons

A career soldier, JD served in two conflicts, World War II and Korea; two branches, Navy and Army; and had two sons served in the Army, Troy and Glenn. JD was the first of John & Kizzie's to enlist and the family's first career soldier.

Generations…
…a tribute to Father – Son service in the Military, but as information was compiled we discovered not just father and sons but also grandfather and grandsons, husband and wives and great-grandfathers and great-granddaughters. As a result of these discoveries we changed the name to “Generation” and present to you examples of continued multi-generational service.

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The above information is 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 2015:   25 / 87

MRC Generations: Raymond Savat & Lowell Mann

Raymond is the son-in-law of Onene Littrell Curtis

Any descendant of John and Kizzie (including spouses and step-children) who served in the military is eligible to be included in the Military Roll Call book and website page, but I need you to provide that information. The book has already been published but it will be updated and reprinted every few years and the website is constantly updated.

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The above information is 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 2015:   12

Malcolm ‘Mike’ Littrell: US Army

Mike is a grandson of John & Kizzie.

Mike was in the Army and served in Vietnam. (1968-70) with the 198th Infantry (Light) Brigade of the 23rd Infantry Division, the Americal Division, the division was headquartered at Chu Lai.

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The above information is 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:   62/77

Garret Littrell: US Army

	Garrett is the son of Kathy & Gary Littrell (also a veteran), grandson of Jesse Littrell and great-grandson of John & Kizzie.
Garrett Littrell
He recently returned from Kuwait were he was serving with the 35th Combat Aviation Brigade at  Camp Buehring (formerly Camp Udairi), Kuwait.	Components from Camp Buehring conducted joint exercises with the USS Benfold  in the Arabian Gulf. Garrett’s cousin (2nd cousin, once removed) Blane Scott Davis was stationed on the USS Benfold.

The areas surrounding Camp Buehring, known as the Udairi Range Complex, are largely uninhabited, save for a few nomadic Bedouin tribes raising camels, goats, and sheep.

35th Combat Aviation Brigade - Sedalia

Over 130 Soldiers from the brigade trained for 30 days in preparation for deployment. Training  included weapons qualification, mass casualty, media engagement, negotiations, movement operations, mine awareness, and much more. After completion of pre-mobilization, the Soldiers  continued training at Fort Hood, Texas, before traveling to Kuwait.

“The 35th Combat Aviation Brigade units fly AH-64A Apache attack helicopters, OH-58 Kiowa observation helicopters, UH-60 Blackhawks utility headquarters, C-23 Sherpa cargo plains and C-12 Huron transport planes. The 35th Combat Aviation Brigade deploys to an area of responsibility to provide command, control, staff planning and supervision of combat aviation brigade operations. The brigade's units are capable of performing unit, intermediate and depot-level aviation maintenance. Missouri is one of only five locations in the U.S. with the capability to perform depot-level aviation maintenance.”

While deployed (for 1 year), the brigade’s mission was to be the command and control headquarters for the aviation elements in Kuwait.

CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait - The 35th Combat Aviation Brigade conducted a ceremonial event, awarding the combat patch, while currently deployed to a combat theater Aug. 29, 2012 here at Camp Buehring, Kuwait.
Awarding the combat patch or shoulder sleeve insignia to wear on the upper right shoulder of the Army combat uniform denotes the wartime service of the 35th CAB.
The 35th CAB was reorganized under the 35th ID, January 2009. This is a monumental achievement to be awarded the 35th ID “Santa Fe” patch. It symbolizes a unit with rich heritage and honor, as the veterans before were heroes and fought victorious over the German Nazis.
For many soldiers this is the first time they have been awarded a combat patch. It is a great tradition and as combat veterans the soldiers of the 35th CAB are authorized permanent wear of the SSI of 35th ID for as long as they wear the uniform.
The 35th CAB is stationed here in Kuwait to build and maintain partnerships in the region in order to support stability and security; it is the distinct honor to provide such service to our country and the great state of Missouri.
Follow the 35th CAB on Facebook .

35th CAB soldiers return home

Sedalia News-Journal (Sedalia, Missouri) May 1, 2013 Local

“A total of 123 soldiers with the 35th Combat Aviation Brigade were welcomed home at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 1 after spending nearly a year deployed in Kuwait in support of “Operation Enduring Freedom.”

A brief, but special ceremony in their honor was held at 10:30 a.m. at the Mathewson Exhibition Center on the Missouri State Fairgrounds. Guest speaker was Gov. Jay Nixon, who thanked the soldiers for their service. Maj. General Steve Danner, adjutant general of the Missouri National Guard, also addressed the soldiers and thanked them for their sacrifices. Sedalia Mayor Elaine Horn also attended the ceremony and welcomed the soldiers home just before they were reunited with their families.

Upon their arrival in Sedalia, the Missouri National Guard soldiers, led by Col. Mark L. McLemore, 35th CAB commander, were greeted and thanked by supporters lined up along Thompson Boulevard while three buses (two Arrow tour buses and one smaller bus), accompanied by Sedalia Police and combat vets riding motorcycles, made their way to the fairgrounds from Whiteman AFB.

	from the 35th Combat Aviation Brigade

The above information is from: Military Role Call: The Littrell Family of Mississippi County, Missouri, The Littrell Family Journals Volume IV. (click here)
also:  Littrell Family Veterans Video

sources:

• sedalia News-Journal
• DVIDS 
• 35th CAB on Facebook .  
• joint exercises

reposted from 2016:   228

Glenn David Littrell: US Army

Glenn is a grandson of John & Kizzie.

Glenn enlisted in June of 1971 and did his basic training at Ft. Campbell, followed by MOS Training at the Adjutant Generals School at Ft. Harrison, Indiana.
Following his training he was stationed at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N. Y., assigned to the Office of Military Instruction, United States Corps of Cadets.

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The above information is 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:   41/86

Raymond Savat: US Army

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”

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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