Roster of the 81st Chemical Mortar Battalion

From the article:

The 81st Chemical Battalion (Motorized) was activated by GO #22, 25 April 1942, Hq Fort D.A. Russell, Texas, pursuant to GO #39, 14 April 1942, Hq Third Army, San Antonio, Texas, and War Department letter, 25 March 1942. Thus was born the 81st, without fanfare, but with quiet purpose. It was up to the battalion to write its own history and these pages will show how well the job was done.

The original cadre of the battalion was specified in a special order from Edgewood Arsenal, Maryland, dated 19 April 1942, ordering five officers and 76 enlisted men to report to Fort D.A. Russell for duty. Lt. Col. Thomas H. James, CWS, was assigned to the battalion as battalion commander.

Surprising as it may seem after three years and the usual drifting, transferring, and evacuation of personnel, a fair number of the original cadre were still with the battalion at the end of the war in Europe. —Jack W. Lipphardt, Lt Col, CWS, Commanding

These “old timers” are listed below: (we are hypothesizing that the second rank was the one at the end of the war)