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Withers, William Price (Colonel, Cavalry Commander with the 12th Corps). A TYPED LETTER SIGNED by Colonel William P. Withers recommending that a commendation be bestowed to the 97th Chemical Mortar Battalion, together with A RETAINED COPY OF THE COMMENDATION issued by Major General S. Leroy Irwin.
Headquarters Seventeenth Armored Group, APO 403: 14 May, 1945. 1945. Very good
- Approximately 70 words typed on a 10-1/2 inch high by 8 inch wide sheet, attesting to the Chemical Mortar Battalion's outstanding service as part of the Corps Area Defense Command during the period of April 14 through May 12th, 1945. Signed in blue ink by William P. Withers as "Colonel, Cavalry / Commanding". The page is slightly darkened throughout with offsetting from a sheet of note paper which was likely once attached to the top left of the letter. Folded for mailing with 2 holes punched at the top and a couple of pinholes. The letter is stapled to the retained carbon copy of the commendation, issued by S. Leroy Irwin, Major General, U.S. Army, Commanding, dated 24 May 1945. Unique. Upon graduating from West Point, William Price Withers (1896-1978) was commissioned into the Cavalry. He earned the Silver Star for his service with the 4th Armored Division during WWII. He became the Commanding Officer of the 17th Armored Group of Patton's 12th Corps, where he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. Relieved from assignment with the Fifteenth U.S. Army on April 8th, 1945 and reassigned to the Third Army in Germany, the 97th Chemical Mortar Battalion hurried to catch up to the advancing cavalry. They were, by then, attached to the XII Corps, when Lt. Gen. George S. Patton traveling on the autobahn between Frankfurt am Main and Erfurt commended Capt. McCreanor on the appearance and march discipline of their convoy. During this period, the battalion was used as part of the Corps Area Defense Command defending the rear areas against attacks by parties of German troops bypassed in the rapid advance of American forces. In that capacity, the battalion was charged with guarding of captured German hospitals and preventing wounded German soldiers from joining resistance units or guerilla groups led by SS troops. It was also the battalion's duty to protect installations containing food, arms, airplanes, airplane parts and machine parts from attack by German guerillas. Provenance: From the Estate of Charles Dornbusch, the military bibliographer.
Price:
250.00 USD
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