In Recognition
Post 281 would like to recognize members of the Post for their
service in the Armed Forces of the United States of America.
World War II
Sebastion A. Palazzolo
T5
10th Armored (Tiger) Division
When my father Sebastian A. Palazzolo initially enlisted in the army it was prior
to the US formally entering WWII and he was put in a cavalry unit. Once the US
entered the war my father was transferred to the 10th Armored “Tiger” Division,
11th tank battalion where he bravely served under General George S. Patton’s
Third Army. His European service included the Ardennes, Central Europe and
Rhineland and most notably in Bastogne during the “Battle of the Bulge”.
My father’s was awarded the following medals:
the Bronze Star Medal for Meritorious Achievement,
European African and Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
He was trained out of Ft. Benning Georgia. He reached the rank of T5, Tec-5
or also known as corporal or technical corporal.
The 10th Armored Division, which served under General George S. Patton's
Third Army, was activated on 15 July 1942, at Fort Benning, Georgia. The
10th Armored Division entered France through the port of Cherbourg on 23
September. The Division moved to Mars-la-Tour, where it entered combat,
2 November, in support of the XX Corps, containing enemy troops in the
area. Later that month, the 10th participated in the capture of Metz. It was
the first time in 1500 years that the ancient fortress at Metz fell. After fierce
fighting, the 10th slammed into the vaunted Siegfried Line and led General
George S. Patton's Third Army into Germany on 19 November 1944.
On 17 December 1944 the Allied tide of battle came to a halt. In the north, the
Germans had launched their Ardennes Offensive later called The Battle of the Bulge.
The 10th was the first division to move north in an attempt to impede the German
assault. Combat Command A moved 75 miles in a single day, directly into the
attack. The 10th assumed responsibility to protect Luxembourg and the Third
Army's right flank. Combat Command B was dispatched directly to Bastogne
by Patton on 17 December 1944. At that time, the 101st Airborne Division was
on respite in France; Combat Command B of the 10th Armored Division was
the only combat unit defending Bastogne at the time. For over eight hours CCB
held Bastogne alone, against eight German Divisions. When the 101 Airborne
Division arrived both military outfits were surrounded and trapped. However CCB
and the 101 Airborne Division maintained a defensive posture and held until the
German offensive burned out several days later.
On 20 February 1945, the 10th again attacked the German defenses. In one day,
they smashed the vaunted German lines, and after 48 hours, the division blitzed
85 miles, overrun the Saar-Moselle Triangle, and reached the Saar River. The 10th
then crossed the Saar and pressed on to capture Trier and a bridge across the
Moselle River. The shocking loss of this heavily defended city caused German
defenses to collapse. Generals Dwight Eisenhower and Patton personally visited
the 10th Armored Division to congratulate them on this remarkable achievement.
Total battle casualties 4,031. Total deaths in battle 784. At the conclusion of the
battle the 10th armored division’s 21st tank battalion was awarded the presidential
unit citation for their extra ordinary heroism during the Battle of the Bulge.
In addition, The 10th armored division was recognized as one of the first liberators
of German concentration camps including Dachau.