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Looking for After Action Reports, morning reports or any other information for Bravo Company, 51st Armored Infantry Battalion, 4th armored division.

Nicholas0709

My Great Uncle S/Sgt Elsbernd Alvin J. 35123758 Died of his Wounds in Normandy France, July 19 1944. I am having a hard time finding out what wounds he died of, where he was given those wounds. I’m almost positive it has to do with the 51st AIN filling the gap in the line left by the 53rd AIB. This occurred July 16-17 1944. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. I am trying to piece together S/Sgt Elsbernds time in the Army to give to my Uncle who he is named after.

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    Nicholas,

    I can tell you that the Battalion Aid Station of the 51st AIB on July 19th, 1944 was located 1.1 mi W of Sainteny, France. The medical company (Company A) of the 46th Armored Medical Battalion that was providing second echelon medical care for the 51st AIB had its Clearing Station located at Cantepie, France on that date.So, your Great Uncle was most likely evacuated via these locations.

    Reinier

  • 0 in reply to RCTGroeneveld

    Nicholas,

    I just stumbled across this thread after doing a google search on the 51st Arm Inf Bn.  While cleaning out my in-laws house for sale last month I came across a typed document (I believe a copy) of the Combat History of the battalion, starting July 11 1944 on their embarkation from England.  I remember my father-in-law showing me this document about 15 years ago before he died.  He was with the 4th Arm Div in Germany in 1961, and somehow someone gave this to him.

    From the document, it is clear that it did not take the men of this battalion long to see action after arriving on Utah beach.  Your great uncle is mentioned in the battle log on page 3, 19 July 1944.  He was the first KIA of the battalion.  Circumstances seem to imply he died during an enemy artillery attack.  The history is also clear that the men were still very green at this point - scared, nervous and easily confused by combat.  The previous day's entry mentions the unit being about 1 mile west of Sainteny.  Here's what the document says the day your great uncle was killed:

    Wednesday 19 July 1944

    "Everybody was awake all night and the mean searched for infiltrating enemy.  There was great fear of snipers.  Instructions were passed around for the men not to use ranks of "Sir" in addressing officer's or NCO's.  Service Co picked up a load of ammunition -- the first in combat.  The Bn CP moved back up the road about a thousand yards at 0630.  Co "A" also was pulled back in the rear of the CP.  Co "B" spent the day in moving into defensive positions behind Co "A", 10th Armd Inf Bn at 0630.  Then they were ordered to move back to protect the left flank and rear.  All this took place under heavy shelling and the company suffered five casualties that morning.  They remained in support of co "A", 10th.  Sgt Elsbernd, Co "B", was the first men (sic) to be killed in the battalion, and Sgt Pralle, Co "B", received the first Purple Heart awarded by the Battalion Commander.  Service Co trucks returned with ammunition at 1230.  The Bn CP was strafed at 1500 by an ME 109.  Co "A" was also strafed.  There were no casualties.  Co "C" saw a pilot bail out of a German plane 3/4 of a mile south of their bivouac area.  A patrol was sent to investigate and reported the pilot had been taken prisoner by the 4th Cavalry.  At 1630, Co "A" was alerted and moved up on foot at 1900 to take up a position behind Co "B".  The Bn Comdr returned from CC "B" from a meeting at 1905, and the Bn CP was alerted and moved up a short distance at 1945.  The CP closed in at new area one mile West of Sainteny at 2010 in an orchard near a group of farm buildings.  Co "B" suffered 8 casualties for the day and that was the total for the battalion."

    I would be happy to scan this page(s) for you.  I'd actually like to get the whole document scanned.  It's a 114 pages of real history.

  • 0 in reply to rcraig_88

    Oh wow! What luck and what a document! Thank you so much! If you wouldn’t mind scanning that for I would greatly appreciate it!! Thank you so much!!

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