El Guettar Tunisia - March 28, 1943

[JohnCFeeneysGreatNephew]

Hi - I am interested in any information, letters or pictures you may have that concern the Battle of El Guettar. My Great Uncle, John C. Feeney was listed as MIA March 28, 1943. Soon after he was listed as KIA. He was buried at Gafsa, but relocated to the North Africa American Cemetery in Carthage Tunisia after the war. I am especially interested in any information about El Guettar and the battle that may be contained in personal letters written home during the war. Any leads are appreciated. Thanks for any help.
Steve Grenz
spgrenz@yahoo.com

[saammer]

tried to send you email at the address listed, bounced back to me as undeliverable. received the email you sent to me. will continue to try to reply to email address. if you have another address, send it to me at scottntracey@hughes.net

Scott Ammerman

[ewizzer]

My father was a S/Sgt in Co E captured at El Guettar March 28, 1943. Pretty much the entire company was killed or captured while attempting to take Hill 369. I have the picture of the entire company taken at Fort Bragg on 3/26/1942. Not sure how to scan it. It's in a frame about 8" high and 30" long. My dad also had the 9th Division Yearbook, blue cover with the red, white and blue Octofoil, and under each guys picture in Co E he had written KIA, MIA or POW. I have my father's account of what happened and also got some information from Jim Leopold who was the 2nd Lt of the weapons platoon for Co. H and was there that day and went back the following day to collect the dead.

In addition to the 174 men in the company, the 2nd Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Louis Gershenow, most of the battalion staff, the company commanders from Co's F, G, H were also captured. There's an online copy of El Guettar: Crucible of Leadership by Henry Gerard Phillips that tells the whole story of what happened. Bad maps, bad intelligence, poor communications and bad recon by the battalion and company officers lead to a disaster.

[saammer]

Please contact me at scottntracey@hughes.net Would be interested in your father's account and also that of Lt. Leopold. Any info on yearbook would also be appreciated.

Thanks,
Scott Ammerman

[OPERATION TORCH]

Hello

My name is Mike Fraticelli. I've been working closely with veterans and the 9th Division Association since 2005. Unfortunately I haven't been here lately because of frequent road trips to visit veterans, and also due to a long surgical recovery. I've recently contacted Torry informing him I'd like to provide some historical documents for the Web Site and the Association. I often visit the Nat'l Archives, and the Army War College. Through the years, I've developed an extensive data base.

In answer to your questions about El Guettar, perhaps I can provide what I have with regard to 'Narratives', 'Journals', and 'After Action Reports'. There may also be more specific information in regard to casualties. My expertise is North Africa.

Please feel free to visit:
http://www.NorthAfrica1942-43.com

Best
Mike Fraticelli