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Marker 701st

Monument Row

Camp Bouse
The 554th Ordnance - Heavy Maintenance Company (Tanks)
— 9th Tank Group CDL Project — 
Inscription

Activated 1 April, 1943 at Camp Perry, OH. Completed basic training and then sent to Ft. Knox, KY. Unit then assigned to Camp Bouse, AZ arriving there 9 November, 1943. Maintaining operation of special tanks named "Leaflets" was specific assignment. 

Unit left Camp Bouse 27th April, 1944 for Ft. Hamilton, NY. Boarded the Troop ship, Queen Elizabeth 21 June, 1944 arriving at Grennock, Scotland, 28 June and then departed for Puncheston, Wales. 

Boarded an L. S. T. craft at Swansea, Wales 18 August, 1944 and crossed the English Channel arriving at Utah Beach, Normandy, France. Quartered in the area briefly and then sent to Vise, Belgium 13 November, 1944.

Engaged in Battle of the Bulge during Dec. 1944 and Jan. 1945. Later, unit crossed the Siegfried line near Aachen, Germany arriving at Munchen Gladback. Crossed the Rhine River and entered Hamm, Germany 11 April, 1945. Crossed the Elb River 3 May, 1945 and entered Wittenberg, Germany. Unit remained here until VE Day.

The job description of the 554th was to retrieve combat damaged tanks. The unit had three tank retriever vehicles which were used to transport these tanks to rear areas. Tanks were repaired, serviced and returned, along with new tanks to front lines.

In June 1945, the 554th was selected to be sent to the Pacific theater. On VJ Day, August 1945, unit was enroute to the U. S.

During October and November 1945, members were discharged at various locations in the U. S. Many of the original members were discharged at Ft. McPherson, GA

Remember&Honor

9thTankBN2001Tour
9th Tank Battalion 2001 tour (Top l-R) Damon, Chambers, Kirk, Morrison, Doug Rider (554th)
(Bottom L-R) Love, Ortega, George Wendt (526th) and Glenn Damron (526th)

 

Additional request

"My Dad served in the 554th and was from Gadsden, Alabama. His name is Charlie Warren and his best friend during the war was Vernon Dunn from Birmingham, Al. If my Dad was living he would be 92 this August. He only told my brother and I about funny stories/things that happened during the war. I know that was his coping mechanism. I really would like to know more so that my son can know what his granddaddy did for our Contry! If there is anyone who is living from this unit or any relatives that have any information, I would greatly appreciate hearing from you "

Submitted May 27, 2012, by Deborah Warren Valentine of Starkville, Mississippi.

 

ERECTED - 1999 by Veterans of the 554th Ordnance Heavy Maintenance Co., the Lost Dutchman, Billy Holcomb & John P. Squibob chapters of E Clampus Vitus. 
 
LOCATION - 33° 55.898′ N, 114° 0.293′ W. 
Marker is in Bouse, Arizona, in La Paz County. Marker is on Broadway Avenue (Arizona Route 72 at milepost 27) south of Main Street, on the right when traveling west.

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Bouse Arizona

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