589th Field Artillery Battalion

[robdon]

My father was Leslie Newnam attached to the 589th FABN during the Battle of the Bulge. He drove one of the trucks and had told me a story of how they use to drive in blackout conditions and how one by one the trucks either in front of him or in back of him would get picked off by enemy fire. he said you just never know when your number may be up. Out of 13 original drivers I believe I remember him telling me he was the only one that survived. Upon being sent overseas I can remember a story about they were getting near to enemy fire. He was carrying a young Lt. with him I cant remember his name. Upon hearing the enemy fire the young Lt. told my father is this exciting? My father I guess being less than thrilled said what do you mean? The Lt. replied " this is what we were trained for to engage the enemy." My father said he was KIA that day one of the first.

[connie]

When you mentioned your father's driving a truck I wondered if he was in the Service Battery of the 589th. Then I checked out some of your other posts:


Intro: 106thdivision.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=looking&thread=188&page=1#39

The Cold: 106thdivision.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=conditions&thread=606&page=1#223
War Stories: 106thdivision.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=remembering&thread=199&page=1#49

I guess he was in B Battery...

I know that from January 1 until April (when division's missing units were reconstituted) the 589th and 590th ceased to exist. The men who remained from those two field artillery units at the end of December were reassigned to units in the 591st or 592nd during the interim period. Do you know which unit your father was assigned to during this period? (And did he end up back in the 589th when it was reconstituted?)

Connie

PS. You might also check out the Unit Specific Notes for the 589th:
106thdivision.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=unit&action=display&thread=534