Original WWII RELIC Dog Tag of Battle of the Bulge POW – 333rd Field Artillery Battalion – African American Segregated Unit

Offered here is an exceptionally rare and historically significant original WWII US Army identification tag (dog tag) belonging to Private First Class Adam Tinnell, a soldier of Battery C, 333rd Field Artillery Battalion.

This is far more than a standard WWII dog tag. It is a personal artifact connected to one of the most tragic and important chapters of the Battle of the Bulge, and to one of the US Army's racially segregated African American artillery battalions.

Historical Background

The 333rd Field Artillery Battalion was an African American unit equipped with powerful 155mm howitzers. During the Battle of the Bulge, the battalion was positioned east of St. Vith, Belgium, supporting the 106th Infantry Division.

The battalion is forever remembered for the Wereth 11 Massacre, in which eleven African American soldiers were captured, tortured and murdered by German troops near the village of Wereth on 17 December 1944.

While Adam Tinnell was not one of the Wereth 11, he served in the same battalion during these events.

Adam Tinnell's Story

On the morning of 17 December 1944, Battery C and many other elements of the 333rd were surrounded by advancing German forces attacking from multiple directions.

Greatly outnumbered and under constant fire, they eventually had no choice but to surrender.

Like thousands of American prisoners of war, Adam Tinnell was stripped of his personal belongings before beginning the long march into German captivity.

After the war he was liberated, remained in the US Army, and later also served during the Korean War.

He eventually returned to his hometown of Waxahachie, Ellis County, Texas, where he lived until his passing in 2008.

Discovery

This original dog tag was personally recovered near the location where members of the 333rd Field Artillery Battalion were captured during the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944.

Why this piece is exceptional

Personal identification tags from identified Battle of the Bulge POWs are rarely encountered on the collector's market.

Finding a dog tag:

• belonging to a documented soldier,

• from the 333rd Field Artillery Battalion,

• connected to the Battle of the Bulge,

• recovered near the actual capture location,

• and linked to a US Army's segregated African American combat unit,

makes this an exceptionally scarce historical artifact.

This is not simply a WWII relic—it is a tangible connection to the sacrifice, perseverance, and overlooked history of the African American artillerymen who fought with distinction during one of the most decisive battles of World War II.

An outstanding centerpiece for any serious collection of WWII, Battle of the Bulge, African American military history, or US Army memorabilia.

Please study all photographs carefully, as they form part of the description.

*Parachute fabric is not included*

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