Description

The Story of the 66th Infantry Division
“The Black Panthers” | World War II
Booklet Description & Name Extraction
40 pages scanned

Booklet Overview
This booklet is the official commemorative history of the 66th Infantry Division, nicknamed the “Black Panthers,” published following the conclusion of World War II. It was issued as part of a series of War Stories of the Ground Forces in the European Theater, by the Information and Education Services branch. Major General H. F. Kramer, the Division’s commanding general, wrote the foreword.
The booklet spans approximately 40 pages of narrative text interspersed with black-and-white photographs, maps, and graphic artwork. Its bold red-and-black cover design features the large numeral “66” and the division’s panther insignia. The back cover shows the division’s convoy trucks moving through war-torn French streets.

Content Summary
The SS Leopoldville Disaster (Christmas Eve, 1944)
The booklet opens dramatically on December 24, 1944. Some 2,500 men of the 262nd and 264th Regiments were crossing the English Channel aboard the SS Leopoldville, a Belgian passenger ship converted into a troop transport. At 5:55 PM (1755 hours), a German U-boat torpedoed the vessel, blasting a hole below the waterline. The ship slowly flooded and, at 8:35 PM (2035), it rolled to starboard and sank stern first.
Despite the catastrophe, soldiers demonstrated remarkable calm and discipline throughout. Lifeboats were lowered, a British destroyer came alongside, and Coast Guard cutters joined the rescue. The U.S. Navy later announced the sinking caused the second-largest loss of life from a troopship disaster in the entire European war — 14 officers (including two battalion commanders) and 784 enlisted men were killed or remain missing.
The Soldiers Medal and Bronze Star were awarded to officers and men for bravery displayed aboard the doomed ship.
Training Background & Deployment
Activated on April 15, 1943, at Camp Blanding, Florida, the Black Panthers trained extensively before deploying. They moved through Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Arkansas, and Camp Rucker, Alabama, receiving infantry-tank tactics training and some 7,000 reinforcements from ASTP centers, Army Air Forces, and the AAA Command.
The division sailed from New York Harbor on November 15, 1944, aboard the Army transport George Washington and the Navy transport George O. Squier. After disembarking at Southampton and Plymouth, they billeted in Dorchester, England. The rest of the division followed on the Brittanic, arriving December 13.
Combat Mission: The Atlantic Pockets (Jan–May 1945)
Two days after the Leopoldville disaster, the battle-tested but grieving division entered combat. Its task: contain and neutralize approximately 60,000 deeply entrenched Nazi troops holding two major French Atlantic port pockets — St. Nazaire and Lorient. These garrisons, cut off from the rest of the Reich, were estimated at 100,000 soldiers, sailors, and marines in total across all coastal pockets.
Holding a 112-mile front against a numerically superior enemy, the Panthers conducted relentless battle patrols day and night, destroying enemy installations and taking a heavy toll. Artillery was pivotal — an average of 1,140 rounds per day was fired in February, rising to 2,000 rounds per day in March, and peaking at 66,000 shells in April alone.
Notable actions included the destruction of a German theater in Lorient (timed to coincide with a movie schedule), the sinking of 13 German supply freighters in the harbor (after Lt. Sink spotted a 5,000-ton coastal freighter), and the knocking out of three enormous 340mm guns.
Surrender and Occupation (May 1945)
As Germany collapsed, the pocketed Nazis surrendered. On May 7, surrender terms for the Lorient Pocket were agreed upon; hostilities ceased the following day. The formal ceremony took place May 10 at 1600 hours near Caudan, with Gen. Kramer accepting the surrender from Lt. Gen. Fahrmbacker. On May 8, the 66th’s chief of staff, Col. John W. Keating, negotiated the St. Nazaire surrender at a cafe near Cordemais, finally forcing the Germans to comply that afternoon.
When hostilities ceased, the 66th had liberated an estimated 186,000 French civilians. The division then conducted occupation duty in Koblenz, Germany (a 700-mile journey), administering 2,400 square miles of Reich territory, before being redeployed south to manage the massive troop staging operation near Marseille, France.
Staging and Redeployment (Summer 1945)
The 66th’s third mission was processing troops being redeployed to the Pacific Theater and the United States through Marseille. Two massive tent camps at Arles and St. Victoret were staffed by division personnel. At peak load, the 66th QM Company served 100,000 men per day — the equivalent of seven divisions. Nearly 150,000 troops were redeployed before the camps closed in September 1945.
The division was eventually alerted for return to the United States and deactivated. A permanent veterans organization — the Panther Veterans Organization — was created to perpetuate the memory of the Leopoldville torpedoing, the siege of St. Nazaire and Lorient, and the men who served.
Casualties & Decorations
Total casualties for the 66th Division, including the Channel sinking: 78 officers and 2,170 enlisted men. Decorations awarded to Panthermen included: Silver Star (31), Soldier’s Medal (34, mostly for Leopoldville heroism), Bronze Star (483), and French Croix de Guerre (34).
Visual Content & Format

Names Identified in the Booklet

Maj. Gen. H. F. Kramer Lincoln, NE 66th Div. CG Commanding General; wrote foreword; accepted Lorient surrender May 10
Col. John W. Keating Neenah, WI 66th Div. Chief of Staff Negotiated St. Nazaire surrender, May 8, at cafe near Cordemais
Lt. Gen. Fahrmbacker (German) German commander Surrendered Lorient Pocket to Gen. Kramer, May 10, 1945
Maj. Gen. Junck (German) German commander Nazi commander at St. Nazaire; representative was evasive at negotiations
Brig. Gen. Borgnis Desbordes (French) French cmd., Lorient French commander present at Lorient surrender ceremony
Maj. Gen. Walter B. Lauer (not given) 99th Inf. Div. (fmr.) Succeeded Gen. Kramer when he returned to the States
Lt. Col. John R. Martindale Bloomington, IN 3rd Bn., 262nd Regt. In official report praised troops’ discipline during the Leopoldville sinking
Pfc Walter E. Blunt Ursa, IL Not specified Narrowly escaped drowning in flooded compartment; quoted in text
Sgt. Albert J. Montagna Agawam, MA Not specified Quoted praising men’s calm during the Leopoldville sinking
Capt. Hal F. Crain Pasadena, CA Not specified Led rescue efforts in flooded compartment during sinking
Pfc Henry R. Brassor South Vernon, MA Co. I, 262nd Regt. Lowered last lifeboat singlehanded; awarded Bronze Star
S/Sgt. Luther A. Dennis Durham, NC Co. E, 264th Regt. Cutting loose life rafts when ship sank; aided survivors
S/Sgt. Robert L. Paulick Dayton, OH Co. E, 264th Regt. With Dennis; aided survivors and taught others to jump safely to destroyer
S/Sgt. Fred C. Poulnot Athens, GA Co. I, 263rd Regt. One of first to win Silver Star; killed enemy sniper, led squad action
1st Lt. Harry O. Williams Williamansett, MA Cannon Co. (fwd. observer) Crawled alone into enemy fire Jan. 27; killed enemy commander, directed cannon fire
Lt. Kenneth W. Sink Berrien Springs, MI Artillery observer Spotted and directed fire on 5,000-ton German freighter from Piper Cub; 13 ships sunk
Pfc William T. MacCulloch New York City, NY Co. A, 262nd Regt. Won Silver Star for covering patrol’s withdrawal under heavy fire
2nd Lt. Leon F. Austin Durham, NH 107th Cav. Recon Sqdn. Led assault of 6 light tanks April 19; won Silver Star; 31 enemy killed
T/Sgt. George Chun Fat Hilo, HI Co. I (262nd) Led support squad; captured 2 Germans at bayonet point; destroyed dugout
T/5 Raoul V. Glaude Lowell, MA 3rd Bn. (medic) Covered wounded soldier with his own body; carried him 150 yards to safety
Pfc Anthony F. Hammel Northampton, PA Not specified Silver Star for neutralizing two machine guns while squad withdrew
Pfc Richard D. Parks Syracuse, NY Not specified Fought off 24-man Nazi patrol alone; wounded twice; pretended dead to escape
Pfc Elbert H. Nickells Fresno, CA 264th Regt. Repelled enemy grenade attack just before V-E Day; awarded Oak Leaf Cluster to Purple Heart and Silver Star