66th Armored Field Artillery Battalion (4th AD)

The 66th Armored Field Artillery Battalion was one of the three field artillery battalions organic to the Fourth Armored Division.

Commanded by

Lt. Col. Neil M. Wallace (°1910 – +1994), Silver Star.

(Temporary) Lt. Col. Frederick W. Hasselback (°1917 – +1977).

The battalion was equipped with the 105 mm Howitzer Motor Carriage M7 “Priest”.

CO Lt. Col. Neil M. Wallace.

Silver Star LtCol Wallace — Awarded the Silver Star.

M7 “Priest” Howitzer Motor Carriage. (Photo: Green Cove Springs, Florida.)

Scan from a Technical Manual.

December 20, 1944 the 66th AFA rushed to get ready to move to the north and counter the German offensive in the Ardennes.

On December 23, 1944, the 66th AFA was positioned near the Belgian – Luxembourg border.

Just west of Perlé, Luxembourg and east of the N4 road leading towards Bastogne.

Perlé, Luxembourg in the distance.

The area today (September 2020).

After the 4th Armored Division had taken Martelange, after a fierce fight with elements of the 5. Fallschirmjäger Division,

… the 66th AFA relocated to a position north of the town and west of Grumelange.

They were to support the assault on Warnach.

It took 2 assaults to chase the Fallschirmjäger and a couple of German assault guns (Sturmgeschütze) out of this village. Heavy losses on both sides.

General position of the 66th AFA near Warnach.

On December 27, 1944, the 66th AFA crossed the N4 road and moved to a new firing position between Hotte and Strainchamps.

This building might have been occupied by the armored artillerymen of the 66th.

View over the former gun positions.

December 28 – 29, 1944. The 66th AFA Bn in support of the forces holding and widening the Bastogne corridor.

I wasn’t sure on which side of the road the positions were, so took photos of both sides of the road.

From December 30, 1944 to January 3, 1945, the 66th was in more static position. This time a little northwest of Sainlez.

They supported the troops that had been counterattacked by elements of the 167. Volksgrenadier Division and 1. SS Panzer Division.

This little road might have been used by the armored artillerymen to get to their positions further-up.

One of its members was George J. Hemcher from Wayne (Chester County), Pennsylvania.

He was part of an M7 gun crew in Battery B.

Enlisted January 12, 1941 in Wayne, Pennsylvania. Army Serial Number (ASN): 20325752.

Pfc. Hemcher was wounded during the Ardennes Offensive and received the Purple Heart Medal for his wounds.

He had already earned the Bronze Star Medal for actions in France on September 1, 1944.

He did remain with his unit and went through the campaigns in Germany with.

Photos and maps by Erwin Verholen.

Special thanks to George Hemcher for the photos of his father.