Forums - Thread Details
  • State Suggested Answer
  • Replies 16 replies
  • Answers 1 answer
  • Subscribers 15 subscribers
  • Views 30508 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Thread Options
Options
Related

Seeking information about the 528th Field Artillery Battalion

Christine Damato

I'm researching my grandfather's WWII military service, and I'm trying to find information about the unit he was with.

He was a lineman in the 528th Field artillery battalion, Hq & Hq battery.  He arrived  in Liverpool Europe with the unit on

November 13 1944 and  left for the USA on Aug 6 1945 on the Pierre Soule troopship, from Le Havre.

Does anyone have any information on this unit or battery that you can share with me?

Thank you,

Christine

  • 0 in reply to nhelmick

    Hi, my grandfather was also at Camp Pendleton in the 47th Coast Artillery!  Can you tell me the date of that letter you found?

    I've been trying to locate any unit histories about them but haven't found much.

    Hopefully you'll have more luck when you visit the archives.

    Christine

  • 0 in reply to Christine Damato

    Hi again Christine, so sorry for the delay, this research happens in fits and starts. I finally got all the letters together so I have a better idea of his movement now. It appears my grandfather started at Fort Monroe, VA, in the Recruit Battalion of the 2nd CA, Battery 2. He then spent a little time on the nearby island of Fort Wohl, and got moved to the Headquarter Battery.

    Then I have a letter from April 14, 1943 to his mom where he writes, "We fall out at 7:15 tomorrow morning to go to the other camp. I know all but about two of the fellows who are going so that makes it nice. It is a 155mm gun outfit over there." The next envelope I have is postmarked April 23 from Camp Pendleton and shows him in the 47th CA, so it would appear a large part of the 2nd CA got moved to Camp Pendleton to join the 47th CA on April 15, 1943. This also seems to be what sets them on the path for joining the 528th as that was a 155mm gun outfit I believe.

    His letters then show several men were moved by bus in Feb 1944 briefly to Camp Pickett, VA. But by mid-March 1944 they were already with the 528 FA at North Camp Hood, TX. Then I have some large time gaps in letters, but it would appear he stayed there up until they departed October 21, 1944 to head for New York en route to Liverpool.

    Unfortunately I haven't had time to read through all the letters yet. We'll be heading to Wales next week to see where they spent a few months in Llanybydder, with some time in Aberystwyth since my grandfather spent a lot of time there while on leave. He has about 8 postcards of the town and was invited to a Christmas dinner with a local family, so it seemed to be a special place for him.

    Best of luck and I'll let you know if I find more info.

  • 0 in reply to nhelmick

    Hi Nick, thanks for the info.  I came across a wonderful set of records at the National Archives website and found muster rolls for the 47th CA regiment Hq battery, and found your Grandfather Robert Perse!

    Here is the website address:

    https://catalog.archives.gov/id/371993793?objectPage=855

    he is mentioned numerous times, you should be able to track him at this unit, the records go through Dec 1943.

    thanks, 

    Christine

  • 0 in reply to Christine Damato

    Thanks Christine! He seems to be mentioned throughout every 30 or so pages. As far as I could tell it was payroll records though I didn't get very far into the 1000 pages.

    Nate

  • 0 in reply to nhelmick

    Hi Nate, the records also mention when the men where promoted.  I found them very useful in creating a timeline for my grandfather, and I now know what battery he was with and when he was promoted from Private to Corporal!

    Christine