South Orange County Post 281

  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.