743rd.com

The 743rd.com website serves as a living tribute to the 743rd Tank Battalion, an independent U.S. Army unit that landed on Omaha Beach and fought across Europe through some of WWII’s most decisive campaigns. My late grandfather, Bill Gast, who was one of my favorite people, was a tank driver in the battalion, landing six minutes early in the first wave on D‑Day—a detail that perfectly matched the man who never liked to be late. My father and I partnered on this site to preserve the battalion’s personal stories, photographs, and historical records, and to honor their role in liberating Stoumont, Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944. The site also documents the 2019 unveiling of the Stoumont memorial, where I stood on the same cold and rainy streets my grandpa fought on seventy‑five years earlier. Creating this archive was a way to ensure that his (and their) legacy endures.

W E B S I T E R E S U L T S

• 36% year‑over‑year growth in unique visitors, signaling rising interest in the battalion’s history.

• 4.5+ minutes spent per visit, showing deep engagement with archival content.

• Global reach across 13+ countries, including Belgium, France, Germany, and the U.S.

• Direct outreach from families seeking information about loved ones who served in the 743rd—evidence of meaningful human impact.