Patton's Forward Observers: History of the 7th Field Artillery Observation Battalion, XX Corps, Third Army

Patton Forward Observers is a story told by a unique collection of highly trained artillery observers who fought every step of the war with Patton's famed Third Army. We remember Patton today only through the service of men like these. This is a soldier's story. Derived from wartime letters and oral histories told by the veterans themselves, we see the classic American Army experience of World War II--the friendships, courage, terror, carnage, humor and ultimate victory that all part of the Patton legend--a legend build by soldiers.

Lieutenant Colonel (U.S. Army, retired) John K. Rieth spent a twenty-two year career as an infantry and military intelligence officer. Rieth grew up in Warwick, RI, a son of Kurt Rieth, a WWII veteran of the 7th Field Artillery Observation Battalion. With an eventual assignment to Germany following his father’s death, Rieth met and formed a deep bond with a group of veterans from his father’s unit, and began to amass data on the experiences of the 7th FAOB. Ultimately, the 7th FAOB Association asked him to prepare a history, and in support of the book, veterans and family members produced hundreds of personal accounts. Fusing these oral histories with official records, his father’s own letters and other published works, the story of Patton’s premier field artillery observers emerged.

Lt. Col. (ret.) Rieth has a B.S. from the University of Rhode Island and a M.S. in Public Administration from Golden Gate University. He retired from active Army service in 2003 and is currently employed by the U.S. Government.