14 January Anglo-American Arcadia Conference concludes in Washington, D.C. In addition to establishing Combined Chiefs of Staff to direct U.S. and British forces, the conference concludes that priority must be given to defeating German forces in Europe and North Africa.
22 February President Roosevelt orders General Douglas MacArthur to leave the Phillipines.
14 March Joint Chiefs of Staff decide to continue defensive actions in the Pacific while building up forces in Great Britain for eventual offensives operations against Germany and other Axis forces in Europe and North Africa.
18 April Sixteen B-25s of the U.S. Army Air Force, under command of Lt Col. James H. Doolittle and launched from the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier, USS Hornet, successfully bomb Tokyo, Kobe, Yokohoma, and Nagoya, Japan.
6 May General Wainwright surrenders all U.S. forces in the Philippines. Corrigedor falls.
4 June Japanese naval forces decisively defeated by U.S. naval forces at Battle of Midway, near Midway Island, central Pacific.
21 June British Eighth Army abandons Tobruk, Libya in face of overwhelming Axis forces under command of Field Marshall Irwin Rommel.
1 July Axis forces under Rommel approach outskirts of El Alamein, threatening Alexandria and the Nile River.
30 July Axis forces approach outskirts of Stalingrad, USSR.
12 August First U.S. units land at Henderson Field, Guadalcanal in the Gilbert Islands, southwestern Pacific.
5 September Plans are finalized for Operation TORCH and include planned landings of U.S. forces at Algiers and Oran, Algeria and Casablanca, Morocco.
12 September Gen. Eisenhower assumes command as Commander in Chief (CinC) Allied Expeditionary Force for Operation TORCH.
26 October Convoys of troops involved in Operation TORCH depart Great Britain for North Africa.
8 November Operation TORCH begins. U.S. and British troops invade French North Africa, landing on Algerian and Moroccan coasts. French forces under command of the French Government in Vichy resist Allied landings.
11 November In response to end of French resistance in North Africa, Hitler orders Axis forces into unoccupied France.
19 November Soviet troops begin counter-attack with pincer movement intended to isolate German forces at Stalingrad, USSR.
24 November British forces move on Tunis, Tunisia supported by units of the U.S. 1 st Armored Division.
2 December U.S. and French forces, including elements of the U.S. 1 st Infantry Division (“The Big Red One”) attack Faid Pass. |
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5 September 65th moves to Camp Young, California (Training Phase)
25 December 65th embarks for Fort Dix, New Jersey (via train). |
18 January Axis forces begin offensive operations in Tunisia.
23 January Anglo-American Conference held in Casablanca, Morocco, ends after agreeing to begin Operation HUSKY, the allied invasion of Sicily, after operations in Tunisia are concluded. British General Alexander named Commander, all Allied forces in Tunisia.
30 January German forces re-capture Faid Pass. U.S. II Corps’ CCA, including the 1st Armored Division moves to block Axis advance.
14 February Axis forces begin major action forcing Allied forces, including CCA, to fall back to west, abandoning Sidi Bou Zid and Gafsa, Tunisia.
20 February German forces breakthrough Kasserine Pass, inflicting serious casualties on elements of U.S. II Corps.
6 March General George Patton relieves General Fredenhall as Commander, U.S. II Corps. General Omar Bradley named Deputy Corps Commander. British forces blunt last major German attack in Tunisia.
18 March The 1st Division of U.S. II Corps takes El Guettar without opposition.
28 March U.S. II Corps launches major attack east toward Gabes from positions near El Guettar.
4 July German forces launch Operation Citadel against Soviet forces that make up a huge bulge in the eastern front near Kursk, in southeastern Russia (then The Soviet Union). What followed was the greatest tank battle in history and the Soviet victory is considered by many to be the major turning point in World War II as the Wermacht never again posed a significant threat to the Soviet Union.
10 July Main invasion forces of U.S. Seventh and British Eighth Armies, with close support of Royal and U.S. Navies and Allied Aircraft land of the SE Coast of Sicily as part of Operation HUSKY. General Truscott commands the westernmost task force which includes the 3rd Infantry Division, CCA of the 2nd Armored Division, and the 3rd Ranger Battalion), which lands at, and takes, Licata.
22 July U.S. Seventh Army Takes Palermo, essentially completing second phase of operations in Sicily. Units in western Sicily begin mop up operations, while Allied forces to the east begin final push to complete Operation HUSKY.
17 August Operation HUSKY ends as elements of the 3rd Division move into Messina.
8 September U.S. Fifth Army, under command of General Mark Clark, begins Operation AVALANCHE, the invasion of Italy, by landing south of Solerno.
29 September Italian Marshal Badoglio and General Eisenhower complete the instrument of Italian surrender on board the HMS Nelson, off Malta. German forces continue to resist Allied operations in Italy.
13 October Italy formally declares war on Germany, becoming a co-belligerent of the Allies.
25 November U.S. Fifth Army plans for amphibious operations near Anzio, Italy, Operation SHINGLE, are approved.
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1 January Arrives Fort Dix, New Jersey.
14 January 65th embarks for Casablanca, North Africa (via USS Monterey and USS Texas).
25 January 65th arrives Casablanca, North Africa.
14 March Embarks for El Guerra (via motor convoy to Ain Mlila and train)
23 March 65th AFA Battalion suffers its first casualty.
26 March Arrives El Guettar at 0605 and fires it’s first round in combat.
31 March 65th AFA Battalion suffers its first “killed in action” (KIA)
6 April Arrives Faid Pass
15 April Arrives Sidi Bou-Sid
21 April Arrives Beja, fires on enemy positions near Hill(s), 609, 575, and 527 while supporting 26th Division.
5 May 65th fires in support of 34th Division
6 May Provides 80 minute barrage in support of 168th Infrantry.
7 May 65th AFA Battalion captures its first “prisoner-of-war” (POW)
12 May North Africa campaign completed, “passes” to Bizerte and Tunis
24 May 65th arrives Gastu, Algeria
25 May–5 June Maintenance break (includes “$900 ball game between B and C batteries)
16 June 65th arrives El Alia
7 July Assembles and move to docks at Bizerte, Tunisia to embark for Sicily
12 July Embarks LSTs for transport to Sicily
14 July Land at Licata, Sicily at 0830 to support 3rd Infantry Division
16 July Arrives Favara
18 July Arrives Canicatti (gas attack)
22 July Supports 3rd Infantry Division during attack on Palermo
24 July Arrives Petralia, Sicily and joins 5th Armored Field Artillery Group
21 August Arrives Palermo, Sicily
24 August Encamps at “The Olive Grove,” Terracini, Sicily and is attached to 2nd Armored Division in apparent preparation for action in Italy.
20 November Embarks for England via HMS Aorangi
9 December Arrives Glasgow Scotland and embarks for Banbury, England (via train).
10 December Begins training period. |
1 January General Mark Clark is authorized to begin planning of Operation ANVIL (later renamed DRAGOON), the invasion of southern France from the Mediterranean Sea, as a simultaneous complement to Operation OVERLORD—the invasion of northern France from the English Channel.
22 January As part of Operation SHINGLE, U.S. Fifth Army's VI Corps begins three simultaneous amphibious landings near Anzio, completely surprising German forces in the area who offer only feeble resistance.
1 February The initial joint plan for Operation NEPTUNE for the invasion of Normandy is approved (NEPTUNE is more narrow in connotation that the term OVERLORD. The former refers to the movement across the English Channel and seizure of a beachhead and the Normandy area. The latter refers to continuous operations beyond Normandy).
4 March Bombers of the U.S. Eighth Air Force drop the first U.S. bombs on Berlin. Within days, the U.S. Ninth Air Force is authorized to begin operations in support of Operation OVERLORD.
24 March A decision is made to not mount ANVIL and OVERLORD simultaneously, ANVIL's target date is tentatively set for 10 July and is later postponed to 15 August.
13 April Tactical air forces begin offensive operations against batteries along the Normandy coast.
26 April Naval assault forces for Normandy invasion complete assembly.
23 May Elements of the U.S. Fifth Army launch Operation BUFFALO, an attack designed to break out of the Anzio beachhead.
25 May U.S. Eight Air Force joins in offensive attacks against batteries along the Normandy coast.
6 June D-Day, Operation Overlord. Allied forces invade France under the supreme command of General Eisenhower, landing at five beaches (codenamed Sword, Juno, Gold, Omaha, and Utah) on the Normandy coast.
15 June U.S. marines invade Saipan in the Pacific.
27 June 47th Infantry of the Ninth Division capture the Cherbourg fortress.
18 July Elements of the U.S. XIX Corps capture St. Lo, seeting the stage for launching of Operation COBRA, the breakout of Allied forces from Normandy.
21 July Following preparatory air and naval bombardment, U.S. Marines land on the island of Guam in the Pacific.
15 August U.S. Seventh Army begins landing operations as part of Operation DRAGOON, the invasion of southern France around the St. Tropez Peninsula.
19 August Elements of the Canadian 2nd Corps link up with U.S. V Corps effectively closing the gap at Falaise, encircling two German armies.
27 August Allies liberate Paris.
11 September U.S. Ground forces (elements of the U.S. V Corps) cross in to Germany for the first time near Stalzenburg. Elements of the U.S. Seventh Army link up with troops of the French 2nd Corps in southern France, establishing a continuous allied front from the Mediterranean, north, to the English Channel.
17 September British and American paratroops (including the 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions) are dropped behind German lines in Holland in the opening phase of Operation MARKET-GARDEN.
20 October U.S. Sixth Army invades Leyte in the Pacific, setting the stage for the three-day Battle of Leyte Gulf, in which U.S. Naval forces deal a severe blow to the naval forces of the Empire of Japan.
16 December German tanks and supporting infantry of the 5th and 6th Panzer armies launch major counterattack through the Ardennes forest, starting the Battle of the Bulge.
26 December Armored units of the of the 4th Armored Division break though German lines to link up with members of the 101st Airborne Division, which has been encircled in the city for much of the previous week. |
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12 April Completes training and refit, makes preparations for deployment.
21 April Arrives Camp Lupton, England.
25-30 May Participates in “Exercise Tiger,” Slapton Sands, England, in preparation for invasion of Europe.
6 June Battery C accompany 8th Infantry Regiment of the 4th Infantry Division as the 4th wave of landings Utah Beach with (0630, H-hour plus 30), thus becoming the first U.S. artillery unit in France during WWII. Moves to support 101st Airborne.
7 June Arrives Ste-Marie du Mont. Fires in support of 101st Airborne assault on Carentan, France.
8 June Attached 2nd Armored Division, V Corps near Caumont, France.
9 June Fires on Hill 192 in support of 2nd Infantry Division during move on St. Lo, France.
11 June Fires its 50,000th round in combat.
16 July Arrives Caumont, France, attached 2nd Infantry Division.
25 July Undergoes mass air attack.
26 July Re-attached 2nd Armored Division.
29 July Arrives Cocigny, France.
30 July Participates in night attack on Ste-Dennis LeGast, France.
1 August Supports CCA in assault on Tess-sur-vove, France.
9 August Maintenance check (first hot meals and showers since D-Day).
16 August Attached 2nd Armored Division, and crosses Seine River to approach Falaise, France.
23 August Arrives Elbouef, France with CCA of 2nd Armored Division.
29 August Crosses Seine near Ste-Martin LaGarenne, France.
2 September Moves into positions within Rournes, Belgium.
4 September Arrives Tournal, Belgium and rejoins CCA of 2nd Armored Division. Participates in “capture” of German Rail Center near Hasselt, Holland.
13 September Operates in area around Maastrich, Holland before arriving Nuth, Holland.
20 September Arrives Heerlen, Holland to support 30th Infantry Division.
2 October Re-attached 2nd Armored Division, crosses Wurm River and arrives Waubach, Belgium
7 October Enters Germany to take defensive positions near Eulbrach, Germany (Battery B fires 1000 rounds in 60 seconds)
30 October Arrives Merkstein, Germany.
15 November Fires 100,00th round in combat.
16 November “B” and “C” Batteries support attack (heavy fighting) on Baesweiller
23 November Supports attack on (heavy fighting) Friealdenhoven. Hot Turkey Dinner.
1 December Rests for two days (first R&R since 15 August). Red Cross provides donuts.
3 December Makes preparations for Roer River crossing.
23 December Attached to the 104th Infantry Division near Jungerdorf on the Roer River
25 December Captains Warren and Rayes set up “Warrenweiller” so unit can enjoy Christmas Dinner (65th is at 50 percent strength).
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19 February U.S. Marines of the V Amphibious Corps make amphibious landings on the southeastern shore of Iwo Jima in the Pacific.
23 February Two U.S. Corps (XIII and XIX) attack across the Roer as part of Operation GRENADE, marking the beginning of a major Allied eastward push toward Rhine.
7 March Units of the U.S. Ninth Army take positions on the east bank of the Rhine near Remagen, Germany.
1 April The Joint Expeditionary Force lands the U.S. Tenth Army on the SW shore of Okinawa, in the Pacific.
12 April Elements of the 5th Armored Division reach the Elbe River, Germany. President Roosevelt dies unexpectedly in Warm Springs, Georgia.
25 April U.S. and Soviet forces meet near Torgau, Germany.
2 May Berlin is captured by Soviet forces.
7 May Germany surrenders.
8 May Allies celebrate VE (Victory in Europe) Day.
6 August The U.S. B-29 bomber, The Enola Gay, drops the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan.
9 August A second atomic bomb is dropped by a U.S. B-29 on Nagasaki, Japan.
14 August General Douglas MacArthur, presenting the Allied Forces, accepts the unconditional surrender of the Empire of Japan on board the U.S.S. Missouri, in Tokyo Bay.
15 August Allies celebrate VJ (Victory over Japan) Day. World War II effectively ends. (Hostilities are declared officially terminated by Presidential proclamation on 31 December, 1946.) |
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1 January Undergoes German air attack. Establishes positions held for next month.
7 February Moves to Lucherberg to support 30th Infantry Division crossing of the Roer River. Attached to the 2nd Armored Division.
23 February Provides 45 minute artillery barrage across Roer River.
25 February Crosses Roer to take positions near Krauthausen. Reattached to 30th Infantry Division.
27 February Attached to the 2nd Armored Division. Moves to Pattern, and then northeast to Dusseldorf.
28 February Moves into positions northeast of Juchen.
29 February Moves into position near Schiefden. Provides artillery support all night.
2 March Fires across Rhine River and Verdingen Bridge.
3 March Attached to and supports 95th Division.
6 March Moves to Meerbusch.
13 March Moves into position near Rheinberg to support 75th Infantry Division.
5 April Moves into position and fires on Tundern Bridehead. Moves all night to Gross Geisen, via Hamlen. Fires on local airfield destroying five FW 190s.
10 April Moves to Immendore.
11 April Moves to Schoppenstadt.
12 April Fires on enemy positions across Elbe River and north of Magenberg.
14 April Moves to Olvenstedt.
15 April Crosses Elbe River.
19 April Attached to 83rd Infantry Division.
28 April Fires last of 150,916 combat rounds at 1700. “Rounds Complete.”
1 May Fires salute (two times) for visiting Soviet generals.
5 May Crosses Elbe River moving west at 1700. “Job in Europe was finished.” |
