On June 6, 1944 — D-Day — more than 156,000 American, British and Canadian forces landed on five beaches in German-occupied France to start one of the most famous battles in history: the invasion of Normandy.
250 of the men who served in the 743rd Tank Battalion enlisted from the states of Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. These men hailed from villages such as Murdock, MN, Granton, WI, Wing, ND, Callender, IA, and Stickney, SD. The battalion was formed in 1942 from enlistees from across the country, notably Fort Snelling, Minnesota, Fort Des Moines, Iowa, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, and Camp Robertson, Arkansas. The battalion began their training in Ft. Lewis, Washington before proceeding to Camp Young in California and Camp Laguna in Yuma, Arizona in 1943. By the end of 1943, the battalion was in transport across the pond in the HMS Aquatania enroute to England for continued training leading up to the D-Day invasion.
On the surface, the men of the 743rd appear to be older than the typical enlistees of the era. Of the men researched, most were between the age of 25 and 35. These were older, more mature men than those who we typically associate with infantry units. Most had years of experience farming or in other laborer jobs. Considering the age and the large contingent of men hailing from rural areas, perhaps the thinking of the US Army was that many of these men had experience with large farm machinery and thus could be trusted with Uncle Sam’s expensive tanks. 🙂
The DD Tank
The Sherman Duplex Drive (DD) Tank was dreamed up by American and English military engineers allow heavy armor to be launched from their landing craft tank (LCT) 6,000 feet from shore and arrive on the beach battle-ready. The Sherman tank was outfitted with a canvas bladder to provide enough flotation to allow the water propellers to bring the tank to shore. The “DD” tank became known as the “Donald Duck” tank as is was to be a truly amphibious vehicle.
Name: M4A2 Sherman III DD (“Duplex Drive”)
Length: 5,92 m Width: 2,62 m Height: 2,74 m Weight: 31 800 kg Maximum speed on land: 34 km/h Maximum speed at sea: 4 knots Range: 160 km Main gun: M3 75 mm gun Secondary armament: one 7.62 mm Browning machine gun for the copilote and one coaxial 7,62 mm Browning machine gun, one 12.7 mm Browning anti-aircraft machine gunEngine: GM 6046 diesel engine, 410 hp Consumption: 279 liters for 100 kilometersCrew: 5 (1 tank commander, 1 pilote, 1 co-pilote and gunner, 1 radio operator and loader)Shield: 50 mm front, 38 mm rear, 38 mm sides Turret shield: 75 mm front, 50 mm rear, 50 mm sides
The design of the DD tank proved inadequate to handle the rough seas presented on the morning of June 6, 1944. After witnessing the 741st Tank Battalion failing to stay afloat and sinking, Captain Ned Elder ordered the 743rd’s LCT’s to land directly to the beach. Company B was to land on the Dog Green sector of Omaha Beach at 06:20. B Company landed approximately 06:40, 15 to 20 minutes later than planned.
The four LCT’s landed on the beach between 06:30 and 06:40, about 10 to 20 minutes later than planned. One LCT of Company B was sunk by an artillery shell just as it was landing. In the assault, Company B lost seven tanks, four officers and six enlisted men, including: 2nd Lt. Gilbert Allis, Jr of Madison, WI, PFC Floyd Hildebrand of Ortonville, MN, and Pvt Henry Annunzio of Jefferson, IA. The company remained on the beach engaged in heavy combat until 21:30 that evening when they were able to move into Vierville-sur-Mer.
Omaha Beach on D-Day
Courtesy AP Photo/Weston Hayes
Omaha Beach in 2012
From the border of Charlie and Dog Green sectors.Looking down the sea wall at Dog Green sector.View from Vierville-sur-mer towards Charlie sector and the English Channel.A view from the beach towards the cliffs where the village of Vierville-sur-mer lies.
From the Cornfields to the Hedgerows Soldiers
PFC Floyd D. Hildebrand
Hometown: Ortonville, MN
Born: November 28, 1908
Died: June 6, 1944
Unit: Co B, US Army 743rd Tank Battalion
Awarded: Purple Heart
Battle: PFC Hildebrand was killed on Omaha Beach in the D-Day invasion.
Buried: Plot I, Row 17, Grave 4, Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mer, France
PFC Hildebrand was born to Daniel and Nettie Hildebrand of rural Pike County, near Holland, Indiana. Hildebrand moved to Ortonville in the late 1920s and married his wife Dovie on April 28th, 1942, two days before he entered the service. In addition to his wife, PFC Hildebrand left behind five brothers, four sisters and two step-daughters.
B Company landed on Dog Green beach at H-10 Hour, 6:20am on D-Day. It is likely that PFC Hildebrand was one of the first American casualties of the invasion.
More Information about PFC Hildebrand: TAPS: WWII Stories of the Men Who Fell in Battle So Far from Home by Jay D. Ross & Judith E. Nichols Amazon.com listing
Ortonville Independent 1942
Ortonville Independent, July 1944
Holland, IN World War Memorial
Pvt Henry T. Annunzio
Hometown: Jefferson, IA
Born: 1916
Died: June 6, 1944
Unit: Co B, US Army 743rd Tank Battalion
Awarded: Purple Heart
Battle: Pvt Annunzio was killed on Omaha Beach on D-Day
Buried: Plot J, Row 9, Grave 3, Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mer, France
Pvt Annunzio was the third son of six children born to Italian immigrants Ralph and Frances Annuzio in 1916. The 1940 Census Record for the Annunzio family listed both Ralph and Henry as coal mining laborers. Pvt Annunzio left behind a daughter Dixie.
It is not clear when or how Pvt Annunzio was killed on D-Day. Perhaps he was on the LCT that was taken out while landing on Omaha Beach. Perhaps he made it on to the beach. As more information about Pvt Annunzio is uncovered, this record will be updated.
For More Information on Pvt Annunzio:
The Jefferson Bee – June 25 1944
The Jefferson Bee – June 25 1944
2nd. Lt. Gilbert Allis, Jr
Hometown: Madison, WI
Born: 1912
Died: June 6, 1944
Unit: Co B, US Army 743rd Tank Battalion
Awarded: Purple Heart, Silver Star
Battle: Lt. Allis was killed on Omaha Beach on D-Day
Buried: Plot I Row 5 Grave 4, Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mer, France
Lt. Allis was the descendant of the Allis family of Allis-Chalmers farm equipment notoriety and was a salesman for the family business. Lt. Allis left behind a wife and a daughter. Accounts claim that Lt. Allis’s LCT was hit while landing, waded ashore with a radio to direct fire at enemy positions until he was killed on the beach. Lt. Allis was awarded the Silver Star for his actions.
TAPS: WWII Stories of the Men Who Fell in Battle So Far from Home by Jay D. Ross & Judith E. Nichols 
From the Cornfields to the Hedgerows 
