Unit history of the 659 tank destroyer battalion?

Answer 1

The 659th TD Bn (Colored)(Towed AT gun) was an "independent" battalion, one of several thousand the army had for WWII. These were "independent" because they were not a permanent part of any larger formation. The idea was they could be shifted around, as and where needed, by a corps or army commander. These battalions were assigned to these higher HQs, and are sometimes called "nondivisional", or "corps troops" or "army troops". While most of the Army's WWII divisions published a history just afer the war, very, very few of these independent battalions did. They were comparatively small units, with probably around 800 men at full strength. Some tank destroyer battalions had tracked vehicles mounting a large gun, which looked something like a tank but was unarmored. Others towed the army's standard 57mm anti-tank gun behind jeeps, trucks or halftracks until they went into position to fire their weapons. The latter was the organization of the 659th TD Bn.

Often there was an "alumni association" for such battalions though. But, I am not finding a web presence for one. An association is mentioned as donating to the National WWII Memorial. Perhaps it has gone inactive through the aging and loss of its members, or perhaps these old vets were not too digital.

See the related link below for the National Association of Black Veterans - perhaps they can help or direct you to a snail mail address for the Association.

See the second related link for an online edition of an official publication of the army entitled "The Employment of Negro Troops".