897th and 3562nd Ordnance HAM Companies, 1941-1945

897th Ordnance Heavy Automotive Maintenance Company
3562nd Ordnance Heavy Automotive Maintenance Company
1st Army, V Corps, European Theater of Operations

Belgium, 1944: the war rages on, the weather is lousy, and your truck's frame is bent. Who ya gonna call? The 897th, that's who! They performed difficult repairs under adverse conditions.

Welcome to this WWII history site commemorating the 897th and 3562nd Ordnance HAM Companies, maintained by the son of 897th veteran Julian Gocek. I love to hear from veterans and their families, current service people, and history buffs. With the passing of my father at age 97 in 2015, I doubt any 897th vets are still with us. Best wishes to all the families.

The site is laid out to be mobile-friendly, but with over 250 original wartime photos from the Gocek, Hammond, and Chenevey families, and others, watch your data usage. Just keep scrolling! Contact info at the bottom.

897th thumbnail

Click for roster and high resolution photo

This day in history: Monday, December 18, 1944: Bomal, Belgium.The last company detail departs Stavelot for Stoumont Station at 0400 hours with the entrance into Stavelot of German armor. During the movement from Stavelot to Stoumont Station the 897th picks up 56 men lost from their units, as well as more than two dozen tanks and other armored vehicles which are added to the existing group of approximately 150 vehicles already in the company convoy. Later in the morning, leaving 2 armored vehicles and 10 bazooka teams behind, the company convoys to Bomal, per orders 86th Ordnance Battalion HQ, arriving at 1300 hours. At 1630 hours, per orders of the Army Commander, all armored vehicles, fully manned, depart from Bomal for use in the line. Upon arriving at the Collecting Point of the designated Tank Battalion, the crews are relieved and return to Bomal by truck.

Featured: