PHOTO
of
Anti-Tank Company
338^TH Infantry Regiment
 

 
Camp Shelby, Mississippi
August 1942

    This group photo of the Anti-Tank Company was taken during training at Camp Shelby, Mississippi.  Camp Shelby is located south of Hattisburg, MS and was the camp where the 85th Infantry Division was formed and trained.  Soldiers began to arrive and start their training in April 1942, even though the 85th Division wasn't officially activated until May 15, 1942. This photo was taken of Anti-Tank Company while it was still in its infancy and probably during that first summer.
    Each Infantry Regiment had an Anti-Tank Company and a Cannon Company attached to it for support against fortified defenses or tanks.  In addition, one of the 12 companies within a Regiment was the heavy weapons company and was armed with heavy machine guns and light cannon.  The three Field Artillery Battalions were seperate units that reported to the division.  Typcially, the Anti-tank Company and Cannon Company were deployed behind the infantry and acted as a line of last defense should the enemy launch an attack.

    The photo was divided into 3 composites.  Each section can be viewed closer to see faces.
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   1 - Soldier in front row holds a guidon marked as " 338 AT" with crossed rifles.
   2 -  Banner across bottom of photo reads:  'Anti-Tank Company 338th Infantry - Camp Shelby, Miss - August 1942' .   In March 1943, the 85th Division left Camp Shelby for maneuvers in Louisana and then on to desert training in California.
         Note:  Some soldiers may be cut out of the photo between Section 2 & 3.
   3 -   Bottom corner printed in white:  - American Photo Co. Camp Shelby. This is the same company that printed a photo of the 310th Engineer Company, also located on my webpage.

   Sorry--  I have not identified anyone in this photo, yet.  I will search for a roster of members of this company.

Uniform Details - All the soldiers are wearing the summer khaki uniform.  There does not appear to be any officers in this photo.  Most of the group photos that I've seen, the officers are usually dressed in a manner that would distinguish them from the rest of the group.  All the men in the front row appear to be NCO's; i.e. sergeants, staff sergeants or higher rank.  One soldier standing in the front row to the right of the kneeling soldiers is wearing a web belt and has his pants ballooned into his gaiters.  Some of the caps appear to have a dark piping, which is probably red for artillery unit.

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