Pvt. Robert H. Brooks

192nd Tank Battalion, Co. D
Home: Sadieville, Kentucky.

Killed on December 8, 1941 at Clark Airfield.
First tanker killed in WWII.

Capt. Fred T. Bruni Jr.

192nd Tank Battalion, HQ Co.
Home: Monroe, Wisconsin

“With the help of God and the U.S.A. we’ll pull through this.”

Burned to death on Palawan - December 14, 1944

2nd Lt. Benjamin R. Morin

192nd Tank Battalion, Co. B
Home: Maywood, Illinois

Engaged the enemy in the first tank-to-tank battle of WWII.
First POWs from Provisional Tank Group.

Morin Later became a Jesuit priest.

2nd Lt. James H. Hart

194th Tank Battalion, Co. C
Home: Salinas, California

Hart and crew abandoned tank at Agoo River, went into jungle to fight as guerrillas.
Organized guerrilla resistance in the Bamban, Tarlac, Central Luzon
Considered the “father” of guerrilla resistance in the Tarlac Province
Spent over a year fighting Japanese as a member of Luzon Guerrilla Force

Pvt. Frank W. Gyovai

17th Ordnance Company
Home: Boone County, W. Virginia

During the Death March, Gyovai escaped into the jungle.
Refused to leave another escapee, Lt. H. Clay Conner behind.
Filipinos nursed Frank and Clay back to health.
Fought as a guerilla with Filipino Nigritos in Force 155.

Tec 5 Julius S. J. Knudsen

194th Tank Battalion, Co. A
Home: Brainerd , Minnesota

Vanished during the Death March, when and where is unknown.

Capt. Edward Burke indicated in his diary that Knudsen
vanished on the death march south of San Fernando.

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Pvt. Robert H. Brooks

Co. D, 192nd Tank Battalion
Home: Sadieville, Kentucky
Killed Dec 8, 1941 at Clark Airfield
First tanker killed in WWII

Capt. Fred T. Bruni Jr.

HQ Co, 192nd Tank Battalion
Home: Monroe, Wisconsin

“With the help of God
and the USA we’ll pull through this.”

Burned to death on Palawan
December 14, 1944

Tec 5 Julius S. J. Knudsen

194th Tank Battalion, Co. A
Vanished during the Death March, when and where is unknown.
Capt. Edward Burke indicated in his diary that Knudsen vanished on the death march south of San Fernando.

2nd Lt. Benjamin R. Morin

Co. B - 192nd Tank Battalion
First tank-to-tank battle of WWII
First POWs from Provisional Tank Group

Morin Later became a Jesuit priest

2nd Lt. James H. Hart

Co. C - 194th Tank Battalion
Hart and crew abandoned tank at Agoo River
went into jungle to fight as guerrillas

Considered the “father” of guerrilla
resistance in the Tarlac Province

Pvt. Frank W. Gyovai

17th Ordnance Company

During the Death March
escaped into the jungle

Fought as a guerilla

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This site is dedicated to the men of
Company B, 192nd Tank Battalion, Illinois Army National Guard

Survivor Interviews

History. In their own words.

Extensive Photo Galleries

Winner of the 2003 – 2004 Illinois State Board of Education
Those Who Excel Team Award for Educational Excellence

This site was created on March 10, 2000

American Folklore Center at The Library of Congress

We recommend Don Caldwell’s book, “Thunder on Bataan: The First American Tank Battles of World War II“.

Caldwell’s account of the Provisional Tank Group

For more information, and to order the book, please click this link
http://nbnbooks.com/book/9780811737715-thunder-on-bataan

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