740th Tank Battalion
Posted by: 
leadhiker
N 33° 55.908 W 114° 00.303
11S E 776845 N 3758635
Camp Bouse was established in 1942 by Gen George Patton as one of the eleven bases of his "Desert Training Center". 9000 GI's were housed there. Dismantled and abandoned in 1945.
Waymark Code: WM8VXD
Location: Arizona, United States
Date Posted: 05/18/2010
Views: 4
"740th Tank Battalion
Daredevil Tankers
The 740th tank battalion was activated at Fort Knox, KY on March 1, 1943. It trained at Fort Knox and at Camp Bouse, AZ as a canal defense light (CDL) unit and as a standard medium tank battalion from October 15, 1943 to April 24, 1944 then sailed to England on July 26, 1944. It landed at Utah Beach, Normandy, France on November 1, 1944 and entered combat on December 19, 1944 during the Battle of the Bulge. In it's first half hour of combat, it stopped the furthest advance of the German 1st SS Panzer division at Stoumont Station, Belgium. Fighting it's way toward the German border. It reached the Siegfried line near Udenbreth, Germany. It then fought on the Cologne Plain at Duren and Cologne, Germany. Shifting to the south, the battalion again breached the Siegfried Line near Saarbrucken, Germany. It was then sent back north to the Ruhr Pocket battle then crossed the Elbe River at Bleckede, Germany on April 30, 1945 after which it proceeded north, joining the British 2nd Army at Schwerin, Germany on the Baltic Sea at War's end.
The battalion fought in the Ardennes-Alsace, Rhineland and central Europe campaigns having served under the 1st, 1st allied airborne, 3rd, 7th, 9th U.S. Armies and the 2nd British Armies.
Army of Occupation duties were performed until the battalion was deactivated on July 23, 1946.
13 members of the battalion gave their lives for our country, may they never be forgotten.
Plaque placed by the Veterans of the 740th Tank battalion association, the Lost Dutchman & Billy Holcomb Chapter of the Ancient & Honorable order of E Clampus Vitus in cooperation with the Bouse Chamber of Commerce.
January 10, 1998"
Rating: 
|
Visit Instructions:
Please tell us about your visit. Did you happen upon this Marker or intentionally set out to find it? Are you familiar with ECV or are you a Clamper? Please share your experience so that other Waymarkers will be encouraged to visit this Waymark.
Please submit at least one original photo of the Marker. A picture of you and or your GPS with the Marker is suggested but not mandatory.