561st Field Artillery Battalion

Light gray granite stone with eagle at top and within the banner is the inscription: "561st Field Artillery Battalion" July 9, 1943 – Oct 6, 1945 * Campaigns * Normandy Northern France Ardennes – Alsace Rhineland Central Europe A graphic illustration of a long-barreled 155mm gun nicknamed, “Long Toms” is at the bottom of the monument. In the “Battle of the Bulge” the 561st’s mission consisted mainly of long range interdiction, harassing fires and pulverizing towns. Houffalize, a town thoroughly destroyed by the "Long Toms" to prevent its use to the enemy, was one of the principal targets.