Museum Archives
Abraham L. DeBord Collection
During World War II, Pfc. Abraham L.DeBord was in 90th Division, 343rd Field Artillery Battalion, ‘B’ Battery. The Abraham L.DeBord collection consists of numerous photographs, maps, holiday menus, and newspaper clippings as the 343rd proceeded across Europe from D-Day to VE Day. The photographs below are a sample of the collection.
The history of the 90th Infantry Division and 343rd Field Artillery Battalion follows the photographs.
Click image to see larger version.
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History of the 90th Infantry Division
The 90th Infantry Division was activated 25 March 1942. The Division landed in England, 5 April 1944 to prepare for D-Day. The first elements of the Division saw action on D-day, 6 June, on Utah Beach, Normandy, while the remainder entered combat on 10 June, cutting across the Merderet River to take Pont l'Abbe in heavy fighting. After defensive action along the Douve, the Division attacked to clear the Foret de Mont Castre, clearing it by 11 July. After failing to take the island of Seves, the 90th bypassed it and took Periers on 27 July. On 12 August, the Division drove across the Sarthe River taking Chambois, on 19 August. It then raced across France, through Verdun to participate in the siege of Metz capturing Maizieres les Metz on 30 October. On 6 December 1944, the Division pushed across the Saar and established a bridgehead north of Saarlautern on18 December. With the outbreak of the Von Rundstedt drive, the Division withdrew to the west bank on 19 December, and went on the defensive until 5 January 1945. The Division then shifted its focus to the Ardennes. It drove across the Our, near Oberhausen on 29 January, to establish and expand a bridgehead. In February, the Division smashed through Siegfried fortifications to the Prum River. After a short rest, the 90th continued across the Moselle to take Mainz on 22 March, and crossed the Rhine, the Main, and the Werra in rapid succession. Pursuit continued to the Czech border into the Sudeten hills. The Division was en route to Prague when the war in Europe ended.
During its march through Europe, the 90th had more days of combat than any other Division in the European theater. The 90th had at least one unit in contact with the enemy every day from D-Day to VE- Day. The 90th was a highly decorated Division with four Medal of Honor recipients (Edward A. Bennett, Cpl, Company B, 358th Infantry, 90th Infantry Division, Heckhuscheid, Germany, February 1945; Forrest E. Everhart, T/Sgt, Company H, 359th Infantry, 90th Infantry Division, near Kerling, France, November 12, 1944; John D. Hawk, Sgt, Company E, 359th Infantry, 90th Infantry Division, near Chambois, France, August 20, 1944; and Foster J. Sayers, Pfc, Company L, 357th Infantry, 90th Infantry Division, near Thionville, France, November 12, 1944), 85 Distinguished Service Cross recipients, and 21,371 Purple Hearts of which 3,889 were awarded posthumously. The 90th took 83,437 prisoners (the equivalent of 6 divisions), knocked out 501German tanks, 195 self propelled guns, 1,228 other artillery pieces, 5,572 other German vehicles, 82 locomotives, 134 airplanes, and 3 steam boats. The 90th crossed dozens of rivers, liberated hundreds of towns and the Flossenburg Concentration Camp, and captured the Merkers Salt Mine intact with all of Germany' s store of gold and art treasures.
History of 343rd Field Artillery Battalion
On 25 March 1942, the 343rd Field Artillery Battalion was activated at Camp Barkeley, Texas as a part of the 90th Infantry Division. The 343rd motto “Semper Paratus” (Always Prepared) dates back to the old Texas Battery A of 1879 from which came some of the original members of the 343rd Field Artillery Regiment.
Early in April the initial phase of basic training began at Camp Barkeley, Texas under the able leadership of Lt. Col. Philip H. Enslow. In October, the Battalion journeyed to Camp Bowie, Texas for the Army Ground Force tests. The result was the highest score ever attained by a field artillery battalion; the first of a long list of honors.
The 343rd arrived in England with the 90th Infantry Division to prepare for D-Day. Part of the 343rd went ashore on D+2. The rest came ashore on the morning of D+3. Captain Harris who had been aboard the ill-fated Susan B. Anthony (AP-72) and the walking party were already ashore marking the assembly area. Later that afternoon, the battalion moved into its first combat firing position in the vicinity of Neuville au Plain. On 11 June, the second full day of combat, the 343rd suffered its first casualty, Pfc. Gilbert A. Helland. After Normandy, the 343rd provided 105mm howitzer artillery support for the 90 Infantry Division until VE-Day with major engagements at Normandy, Chambois, Maizieres, Moselle, Saar, Battle of the Bulge, Siegfried Line, Kyll River, and the Main River.
Here are a few totals compiled by the 343rd Field Artillery Battalion from D-day to VE-day. The 343rd travelled 1965 miles in eleven months occupying 158 Battalion positions. It fired 131,333 105mm howitzer rounds. The most ammunition fired in one day was 2981 rounds on June 12, 1944 in the Amfreville attack.