Torman, Charles, MAJ

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811th Tank Destroyer Battalion
 

Unit history:  Activated April 10, 1942 at Camp Gordon, Georgia, the unit arrived in Cherbourg, France, on September 15, 1944 and was equiped with M18s.  It moved to Luxembourg in November and participated in the Battle of the Bulge in December.  The battalion was scattered widely and pieces attached to many divisions into January 1945.  Supported operations against the Sigfried Line in February and in early March.  They advanced to the Rhine River in late March and crossed the river on March 30.  They supported the 80th Infantry Division in capture of Kassel and advanced to Erfurt and Chemnitz in April.  They then moved south and crossed the Danube River to Regensburg.  They entered Austria on May 5.  Attached to: 17th, 101st Airborne divisions; 4th. 9th, 11th Armored divisions; 28th, 78th, 80th, 87th 89th Infantry divisions; 3d Cavalry Group.  Their Combat Equipment was 11/44 - M18.  Their Commanding Officer throughout the war was Lt. Col. Albert R. Brownfield Jr.  Code name/s: Chimny.  Campaign Credits:  Rhineland (Sept 15, 1944 - Mar 21, 1945); Ardennes-Alsace (Dec 16, 1944 - Jan 25, 1945); Central Europe (Mar 22,  - May 11, 1945).  Awards include: Presidential Unit Citation; Croix De Guerre (French and Belgium).  Location in August 1945:  Beurig, Germany.

Charles John Torman was born in 1916 in Jersey City, Hundson, New Nersey.  He was the son of George Vaseleos Torman (B: January 5, 1873 in Turkey, however he spoke Greek) and Alexandra A. Torman (B: 1885 in Turkey, however she spoke Greek).  He had two sisters: Catherine Torman (B: 1917) and Katie Torman (B: 1919).  George's WWI Draft record lists their address as 78 Mallory Ave. in Jersey City, New Jersey and his place of employment as the Crucible Steel Company of Jersey City, NJ and his wife as Mrs. Alexandra Torman.  He was 48 at this time.   Their later address is the same as Charles' listed address when he was part of the 811ths roster listed below.  Charles seems to have married a Myrtice Minse Lin in 1935 while in Florida (Osceola County, Florida).  He may have enlisted in the Armed Forces as early as 1936 and re-enlisted in 1942 at Fort Dix, New Jersey as his enlistment record says: "Enlisted Man, Regular Army after 3 months Discharge."  Since he is also listed as Single with Dependants, if he was married in 1935, he seems to have divorced before his 1942 enlistment.  Seems the girl was only 15 years old when they married as she was born 25 May 1920 and Charles is listed as living in her household about this same time.  Perhapes a mishap caused the union originally.   Her death is listed as 6 September 2003.

Charles J. Torman (O-1823235)  Was the first Commanding Officer (as a 1st Lieutenant soon to be promoted to Captain) of the 25th Reconnaissance Company when it was sent to Korea from Yokohama, Japan on 13 July, 1950, landing in Pusan on July 17, 1950.  The unit was immediately committed to battle in the Pusan Perimeter.   On September 25th, 1950, while crossing a River, Captain Torman was seriously injured when the Tank (M24 Chaffeee Light Tank) hit a mine.  He was evacuated out and returned to duty on January 6, 1951.  He has record of his enlistment as March 16, 1942 at Fort Dix, New Jersey as an enlisted private.  There is also record of his unit during the second world war as being the 811th Tank Destroyer Battallion.  It served attached to many units throughout Europe including the Battle of the Bulge and Bastogne.  The units battlefields include Luxemburg, Belgium, Germany and Austria.   There is record of Captain Torman receiving the Silver Star, however, I have yet to find the Citation.   In the rosters of the 811th Tank Destroyer Battalion, Charles J. Torman is listed as with B Company of the 811th Tank Destroyer Battalion and lists his home address as 166 Clendeoning Avenue,. Jersey City, New Jersey.  He apparently became the commander (as a Major) of the 2nd Armored Division's NCO School which was in Harold D. Smith Barracks located in Baumholder, Germany around June of 1955.