Uncle Bob's Legacy

WWII Military - 193rd Tank Bn.

Uncle Bob L. McGill was a Lt. with the 193rd Tank Bn. for only a short time in the Hawaiian Islands around 21 October 1942. The following World War Messageboard comment that we found while searching the web recently this week: 193rd/762nd Tank Bn. on Makin (Butaritari) and Saipan...

"This outfit attached to 165th Inf. & 27th Inf. Divn. WWII. On Makin Island, was known as 193rd, and changed to 762nd Tank Bn. when sent on to Saipan. Participated in "mop-up" operations at both locations. Also at Christmas & Canton Islands. My father, Willie (Bill) H. Wood was Sgt, in Co. C. Have most of history of his unit taken from Army "Green Books" authored by Crowl & Love. Seek any other info that may be available on this unit, as well as hearing from anyone that was also attached to same, or that knew my dad. Thanks! Bill Wood

[The following info is a reply from Bill Wood who wrote back with the following response and info and we would like to share it with others who also might be looking for info on the 193rd Tank Bn. ]... So glad you found my post on WAE message center. Can given you some web sites that I have found info on that you can pull up and print for some good detailed info that mentions the 193rd. Also have received 2 other emails where people are also searching this same outfit which I will give.

As for the "green books", I don't think they are in full documentation anywhere on the net, but go into search on google.com and type in Crowl Love in search box. You will get various websites that have this series available. There are two titles by these authors; "Seizure of the Gilberts & Marshalls" by both Philip A. Crowl and Edmund G. Love; "Campaign in the Marianas" by Philip A. Crowl.

The Marianas book has mention of the 762nd Tank Bn. on Saipan. The 193rd was changed to the 762nd Tank Bn. after action on Makin. Why, I have not been able to find out. Dad says when action was over on Saipan, their pictures they had taken were confiscated, and they were later told all their records had been lost. From Saipan, they went back to Honolulu to wait for discharge.

Dad had advised they took training at Ft. Benning, Ga., and most of the outfit underwent Ranger training there also. Says the market share of these guys were from Texas, Okla. Kentucky, & Tennessee. Says when on Makin & Saipan they all had Mohawk haircuts, most were Rangers. Dad was in Co. "C" of both the 193rd and the 762nd Tank Bn. He says after training at Ft. Benning, they were shipped to Hawaii for more training prior to shipping out to the Marshalls & Marianas Islands area.

The 193rd was attached to the 165th Infantry. The 165th Infantry was part of the 27th Infantry Division. While in training on Oahu in Hawaii, he ran a tank over a cliff off Kolekole Pass during night manuevers. Seems going up the road over the pass, in black out conditions, he lost sight of the "blue light" on the tank in front of him. As that tank in front made a turn, dad kept on going. Nobody hurt to speak of, just shook up, and am sure dad never heard the end of it. Would like to locate supportive info on that.

Dad says that enroute to the Marshall/Gilbert/Marianas Islands, they spent some time on Christmas and Canton Islands. Don't think any action seen there. Says the ocean trip enroute was something. Ocean very rough, large waves, and most everybody very seasick. Said they lost one man in his company of 96 men. Can not remember the name myself, and dad is 82 and can't remember anything about it, or just won't talk about it. The fellow they lost had opened the top hatch to get some air as it was so hot inside the tank, and a Jap sniper got him. Dad said within minutes, there wasn't a palm tree with a top in it, as they all opened up with canister shells and blew the tops out of them. Don't know if this happened on Makin or on Saipan. He had told of one of their tanks getting caught on a tree stump, and while taking sniper fire, somebody went out the bottom hatch, hooked a cable on the stuck tank, and pulled it off. This story is related in the "Campaign in the Marianas" book mentioned. But it's not a stump, it's a railroad track, and was on Saipan.

The 193rd and the 762nd were in mop up operations in both battles. Provided support for ground troops of the 165th Infantry, and cleaned out Jap caves & pillboxes on these two islands. Don't remember any other info dad has informed me over the years. Do know it was quite a harrowing experience for him as my mother had advised me that he would not sleep with her when first married. Would sleep on an army cot he obtained, with a Randall type knife he had a Philippino make for him while overseas, under his pillow. Would wake up with terrible nightmares for the longest time.

Finally, the two people other than yourself that have contacted me are: Hans Wijers who lives in the Netherlands and is doing research for the Pacific War and looking for info on the 762nd Tank Bn. (he has no other info to advise to date).

Robert and Hope Geving at 4127 72nd St. E. Tacoma, Wa. 98443. They have No E-mail. Phone # is 253/531-0576. Seems several years ago, Robert put a message in Reminice Magazine and in VFW Magazine trying to locate people from the 193rd. Somebody put that message on the internet, and he got 11 responses. Please contact them by phone to let them know you are out there. She is in process of sending me a bunch of info on the 193rd, have not received to date. (just located and talked with them last week). They would probably be willing to copy what they have and also forward to you. Thanks for your reply to my post, keep me in mind, and if you come across any info other than what I have related, I would very much appreciate same. If you should locate that diary, I am sure a lot of people would be interested in that. If it should have info relating to the 193rd or the 762nd Tank Bn., or if should mention my father, Willie (Bill) Harris Wood, Staff Sgt. Co. C, please advise.

Thanks again. Bill R. Wood 307 Teakwood, Amarillo, Tx. 79107-1819

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