|
| |
    
|
Colonel Thomas J.
B. Shanley (Page 3) |
Following reorganization of the Regiment on Hill 30, Colonel Shanley led
his 2nd Battalion in a smashing drive to Baupte where they knocked out or
captured 14 German tanks, and a motor pool of 775 vehicles in good
condition, and huge stores of critical military supplies. Patrols sent out
by Colonel Shanley as the battalion approached Baupte reported that they
estimated that the area was defended by at least a battalion of enemy
infantry supported by armor and artillery while still a mile or so from
the objective. The 2nd Battalion bazookas accounted for ten tanks in
seizing the motor pool, and German materiel of all kinds was found by
troopers, including vehicles, fuel supplies, and food rations. In another
brilliant offensive in the Normandy campaign, he led his battalion in the
successful seizure of Hill 131, the high ground dominating approaches to
La Haye du Puit Colonel Shanley was wounded in this operation and was
evacuated to a field hospital.
After 33 days of fighting in the Normandy operation without relief and
with more than fifty percent casualties, the Regiment returned to England
to prepare for its next airborne assault. Tom was promoted to the position
of Regimental Executive Officer. He served in this capacity during the
parachute invasion of Nijmegen, Holland on September 17, 1944 and the
Battle of the Bulge in Belgium during the winter of 1944- 1945.
In June 1946 Colonel Shanley was selected by the Army to study nuclear
physics at Princeton University graduating with a PhD in 1951. He is also
a graduate of the Command & General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth,
Kansas, and the National War College in Washington, DC. Some of Colonel
Shanley's military assignments following World War II were:
Chief, Weapons Analysis Division, Development and Test Section Chief,
Atomic Training Team, Headquarters United States Forces Far East, Eighth
Army, Japan, Commanding Officer, 19th Infantry Regiment in Korea Head of
Nuclear & Chemical Weapons Branch in the Office of the Army Chief of Staff
While in the military service Tom wrote for military journals, including
"Army" magazine, and technical articles for "Physical Review" and "Review
of Modern Physics." |
| Copyright Irv Shanley,
Unauthorized copying or use in any manner is strictly prohibited –
September 2004 Page 3 of 5 pages Colonel Thomas J.B. Shanley By Irving T.
Shanley |
Top of Page
|
|
