The reason for the withdrawal was that the position now had no tactical value due to the new enemy situation. He relates what he found out while hiding beneath Japanese planes. At 1500 hours the 1st Bn. 121. In 1994, the battalion was reactivated and designated as the 249th Engineer Battalion (Prime Power), stationed at Fort Belvoir, VA. This is a free service. Then, began the grim task of collecting the personal belongings of the dead and preparing them for burial at sea. Frank Capuozzi was born in Naples. RONCEY, FRANCE.4 The Official (DECLASSIFIED) Files of the 298th Engineer Combat Battalion during World War II Activation of the 298th Engineer Combat Battalion March 18, 1943 and Reorganization November 3, 1944 Journal for August 1943 Journal for September 1943 Journal for October 1943 Journal for November 1943 Diary 1943 September 22, 1944: Co "C" started constructing a Class #40 Timber Trestle bridge under the Bailey Bridge in VICHT. An Engineer Combat Battalion (ECB) was a designation for a battalion -strength combat engineer unit in the U.S. Army, most prevalent during World War II. September 3, 1944: Bn. Robert James was propped up against a bulkhead, going in and out of consciousness. Gp. What are we going to do? Gp; Co "C" joined the Battalion at ERZEE, BELGIUM. HURTGEN FOREST, GERMANY99 The Battalion detrucked and marched into position, arriving at 2300 hours. 81. 19. April 13, 1945: The Battalion moved to DERSCHLAG, GERMANY. This was a Pile Bent Bridge with 3-story trestle bents on the piles, 55 feet high. constructed Class 40 Bailey Bridge at CHERAIN, BELGIUM. I am now a Captain in the Civil Air Patrol of the United States Air Force Auxiliary. 130. I will be able to say, I know the man behind the book! I have been back to Sherborne on four occasions. Bn. From then on it was the road to Berlin. 61. Send Us a Request to Start Researching Your World War II Veteran. As a professional researcher and World War II historian, Bill Beigel provides research services to genealogists, historians, authors, and civilians who are looking for information found in WW2 military unit records. All Listings. 17 Germans were captured and several were killed in the action. The Battalion advance C.P. September 18, 1944: The Battalion moved to a new bivouac at ROTGEN, GERMANY. 40 Bailey bridge in SHEVENHUTTE, GERMANY. All Rights Reserved. moved to the vicinity of DIZY-LE-GROS North of REIMS. As a professional researcher and World War II historian, Bill Beigel provides research services to genealogists, historians, authors, and civilians who are looking for information found in WW2 military unit records. He was in the hospital right at the time of the explosion . When he went off to college and heard the news about Pearl Harbor, he and his friends began to wonder. This society is an independent charitable organization. moved to the vicinity of ZWEIFALL, relieved the 294th Engr. It was horrendous. While he was not in the immediate area of the blast he was at the scene of the accident shortly after it occured. C.P. 22. 53. After the emergency was over, plans called for the canal to be drained and the wall repaired. October 17, 1944: At 1130 hours a patrol of Co "A" moving from Post #8 to Post #1 encountered heavy small arms fire - three men failed to return. Dedicated to the men who proudly served their country during World War II by serving in the 238th Engineer Combat Battalion. Division now driving in the direction of PERIERS - St LO Highway. Co "C" started preparing a site for construction of a Bailey Bridge to by-pass an existing bridge west of GEY. Prisoner of war enclosures of barbed wire were also constructed. alerted to move; received movement orders at 1600 hours to move at 1630 hours to bivouac in vicinity of BRECEY. The kamikaze had destroyed the starboard gun mounts and there were many dead and wounded. In October 1943, the battalion left Boston for England and spent months in England training. Well I for one will be one of the first in line to read and buy your memoirs. Co "B" 294th Engr. Reorganized and redesignated 1 April 1963 as Company B, 1st Battalion, 145th Infantry; Consolidated 15 February 1968 with Company D, 112th Engineer Battalion (organized and Federally recognized 13 February 1955 in Elyria); consolidated unit designated as Company D, 112th Engineer Battalion, and relieved from assignment to the 37th Infantry Division [2], The 249th Engineer Battalion (Prime Power) provides oversight on all coalition operating base power projects in Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom) and Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom).[3][4][5][6][7]. understand the battlefield experiences and sacrifices of your WWII veteran and their military unit. 125. She was also present on that fateful day. Our mission was to provide close Engineer support to 78th Infantry Div. Ancestry.com and our loyal RootsWeb community. Bill Adair may have been the luckiest man in the Bataan Death march. They made a desperate run for Brussels, which had been liberated. 135. Blackhawk and Chinook helicopters had dropped over 200 sand bags, with approximately 125 sandbags breaking the surface of the water. 117. 123. September 7, 1944: Co "C" Completed the timber trestle bridge at MARIEMBOURG. Naturally, we were warned by security to keep quiet or we would end up being taken to Leavenworth Penitentiary in Kansas. The main difference lies in the divisional structure. You are a great artist. You may want to try and contact this gentleman. 95. September 16, 1944: Co "C" was served doughnuts and coffee by VII Corps Red Cross girls - believed to be the first Red Cross girls to serve troops on GERMAN soil in World War II. Thank you. Stan found a glider made in Deep River and removed the ID plate from a glider made by Pratt Read & Co. One of the most difficult experiences was the cold that winter says, Stanley. At the end, though, there was a camp waiting for him just like all the rest. The 296th built a 180-foot bridge across the Ilm River. 131. . The Battalion C.P. August 28, 1944: Bn. Additionally, the commander serves as the Commandant of the U.S. Army Prime Power School, the institution responsible for the development of Army and Navy power generation specialists. The other officers that were supplied to the unit were second lieutenants from the 1943 class of West Point. Please tell Michael Brodhead that I sent you. The truck accidentally back up over some mines and about 90 mines exploded. After this bridge site was secure, the 249th was detached from the 1137th Engineer Group and was given the mission to secure and maintain the bridges on the Rhine River. The Japanese had made their move. He woke in free fall with no idea how he had made it out, and soon he was in German custody. On 19 March 1945, the unit was assigned to the engineer task force charged with crossing the Rhine at Oppenheim. Two engines were out, a third smoking, and they were were losing airspeed and altitude, but they were flying level and pointed home. - Co. "C" was relieved on road blocks by a Company from 294th Engr. On June 4th 1944, the 297 th Engineer Battalion left the city of Bournemouth, England to reach its marshalling camp. It receives no town or state funding. August 4, 1944: Bn. 119. That took place in Devon when the soldiers and sailors were practicing landings in an area which had been picked because the topography was similar to Normandy. December 28, 1944: At 0200 hours an enemy Infantry Battalion made an attack in the vicinity of the motor vehicle park and the Battalion FWD. 111. His unit was suddenly pulled and sent to take Patton's place in the line after the general was summoned to the Bulge. Welcome sir. Support bridge which was across the MEUSE RIVER North of DINANT. CHAOTEAU ENGLE BERMONT, BELGIUM..31 December 2, 1944: The Battalion moved from FRIESENRATH, GERMANY to VICHT, GERMANY. Our expertise enables us to reconstruct the service history of your individual WWII veteran and to give you a glimpse of the experiences that he or she had during the war-even if their military service records were lost in the fire. 120. Co "A" constructed an Infantry Support Bridge across the SIEG RIVER at HUNDHAUSEN, GERMANY. 15. #1 of Companies A, B & C arrive at bivouac area in vicinity of St MARIE-DU-MONT. The 296th Combat Battalion held reunions every 2 years in Mass, Rhode Island, and CT. Veteran's Branch of Service? 115. April 7, 1945: Co "C" constructed a C1 #40 D/S Bailey Bridge at HANHOFF, GERMANY. While stationed in Eupen, the Battle of the Bulge began, on December 17th. 7. At first, there was jubilation, but that turned to fear as he hid in his basement for a week while the battle raged for Arnhem. 24. March 15, 1945: Reconnaissance was made in the afternoon of sites on the RHEIN RIVER in the vicinity of REMAGEN for launching Naval Landing Craft; sites were picked. July 29, 1944: Co "A" cleared hundreds of wrecked enemy vehicles from the streets of RONCEY and other roads in the vicinity. Then the battalion was stationed at Gerszewski Barracks, Knielingen, Karlsruhe, Germany, under the command of the 18th Engineer Brigade, where it provided construction support to USAREUR elements stationed in Germany for the Cold War. Available for both RF and RM licensing. Bill Garrison was standing in a chow line when a man up the line suddenly dropped, shot dead by a sniper. Both on the attack and on the defense, engineers led the way. 33. Must have brought back some intriguing memories going back to the Isles. 36. 106. April 12, 1945: Co "B" constructed a Class #40 D/S Bailey Bridge at WIEHL, GERMANY. Chow detail going to Post #1 was ambushed by a 6 man patrol; the enemy patrol withdrew after a short fire fight. March 30, 1945: The Battalion moved to HERBORN, GERMANY. The 296th Engineer Combat Battalion was attached to 1101st and 1120th Engineer Combat Group, the 3rd Army, 1st Army, V Corps, and VII Corps during World War II. Division whose mission was to seize and hold the west bank of the ROER RIVER south of DUREN. November 8, 1944: The Bn. 58. Day May 8, 1945. Right away, as the oldest one in the large group, she became the leader on the journey. 4th Engineer Battalion 4th Medical Battalion 4th Counter Intelligence Corps Detachment 4th Military Police Platoon 4th Infantry Division Band Headquarters, Special Troops, 4th Infantry. In England he boarded another ship for he knew not where. returned to Battalion. She worked as a secretary at the 228th while I was there. One platoon of Co "C" was sent to clear the situation at Post #4; they killed one German. Sewer & water board, electric utility and the 249th Engineer Battalion (Prime Power) were completing pump house inspection. Their mission was accomplished. Our military records specialists are on site at archival research facilities nationwide and can access a wide variety of WWII military service records of your veteran. on April 28, 2010. January 21, 1945: Battalion C.P. It was their third mission over Berlin and they were heading home. 75. December 4, 1944: Co "A" relieved Co "B" of attachment to the 294th Engr. June 12, 1944: Our first mission on the continent - Lt Lawson with a D7 bulldozer assisted the 1110th Engr. Bob Darino | 294th Engineer Combat Battalion, VII Corps, 1st Army - Army Sorry, the video player failed to load. On 24 December 1944, Brigadier General Harlan Harkness, the assistant division commander, ordered the battalion to advance and secure the towns of Arsdorf and Bigonville to the north of the 26th Infantry Division, near the area of operations of the 4th Armored Division, in order to relieve the occupied towns so the division could advance and attack the enemy line. John Souther was on reconnaissance patrol when he nosed his halftrack up over the edge of the gully in the Tunisian desert. Those do give us a better feel for the area and the time period. The Bn. 89. October 4, 1944: At 0810 hours an enemy force of approximately one Platoon approached Post #1; a brisk fire fight ensued and the enemy force withdrew leaving 5 dead krauts. Division begining [sic] at 1500 hours. That is a very good idea to write your memiors, and I do want to read them and will be in line myself, behind Marion of course. United States Army Center of Military History. Bn. Part 1 of 5. July 22, 1944: Bn. Along with thousands of others, he was forced to surrender and was facing the prospect of joining what would become known as the Bataan Death March. All Rights Reserved. January 31, to February 4, 1945: Rest, recreation, and some training constituted the activities of the Battalion for this period. moved from ANDENNE, BELGIUM to RAEREN, GERMANY. 4. Somehow I found this site and yes my Dad who was in the 294th had told me that story many times. BELLEAU, WOODS, FRANCE.10 column. The level of combat detail varies from unit to unit. I remember walking in snow up to my crotch in Belgium. KAMM, GERMANY13 November 25, 1944: Co "B" was attached to 294th Engr. The 296th crossed the Rhine River south of Bonn. Division. September 28, 1944: The Bn. Forward Observer Rufus Dalton went into the demolished city looking for a rifle company he was instructed to find. 31. 87. March 7, 1945: The Battalion C.P. The Bn. I was finally told that they could nothing for me and that I would have to get hearing aids in the U.S. when I returned. Was searching the internet for my father-in-law who was a member of 294th Engineer Combat Battalion during WWII and found your web site. The Bn. I am attaching a painting I did of Sherborne Abbey and the Cross Keys pub next door where I learned to play darts while serving with the 294th. January 22, 1945: Co "C" (with the 4th Cav.) Whitney were injured. November 15, 1944: Co "C" relieved Co "B" of Post #1, 2, & 3 as of 1200 hours. 294th Engineer Combat Battalion - 1944. Through the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the 249th soldiers provide contracting officer technical representation on projects throughout the world.[9][10]. Contribute to chinapedia/wikipedia.en development by creating an account on GitHub. 23. Co "B" constructed reinforced Heavy Ponton Bridge 465 ft. in length across the SEINE RIVER at MELUN in 9 hours and 30 minutes. Explore military combat reports and casualty records tounderstand the battlefield experiences and sacrifices of your WWII veteran and their military unit. Heat, insects, and mud were constant companions during basic training. as of 0700 hours. Co "B" was given the mission of cleaning the streets and Co "C" was given the mission of removing the railroad and building the road. Our World War II veterans are dying at the rate of 1500 a day! Co "B" sent a five (5) man patrol to investigate enemy positions during the afternoon. This Veterans Day we give THANKS to all who have served our country and continue to recognize those 416 men and women who served Deep River during World War II. They lost all of their equipment. Normandy: 6-7 June 1944 Assault Landing. Exactly when your WWII veteran joined and left specific units of assignment. 63. moved to vicinity of VILLEDIEU-LES-POLES. Heavy rains and the overflowing ROTGEN DAM caused failure of timber trestle bridges at ROTT, MULARTSHUTTE, and VICHT. And even better that you got the chance to visit with Jean Treasure. Co "A" started construction of 150' T/D Bailey Bridge across the SIEG RIVER at WISSEN, GERMANY. Regt. 68. Four German fighters pounced on the B-24 and it was engulfed in flame and going down. They had a little too much fun and ran into some MP's who had a grudge against their unit. In May 1945, when the war ended in Europe, the battalion was moved to Plattling, Germany where they built a camp for displaced refugees. We can actually determine the exact aerial missions that your individual Army Air Corps pilot flew. This was the beginning of a painful journey to healing. Part 2 of 2. 67. Group. I was taken to the 228th for treatment. Bn. Group. Gp. Understand what your WWII veteran experienced while assigned to specific infantry units, ships or squadrons. attached to 3rd Armored Division in preparation for St LO breakthrough. January 3, 1945: Co "C" attached to the 4th Cav. August 30, 1944: Bn. The battalion met little resistance across the river and quickly began constructing the bridge. December 22, 1944: Bn. December 25, 1944: At 1800 hours the Bn. An uneventful Christmas Eve for the 298th Engr. 62. 90. . June 24, 1944: Co "C" constructed a Class 40 timber trestle bridge at St MARTIN-DE-AUDOVILLE. July 28, 1944: Bn. August 1, 1944: Bn. He bunked with regular B-17 crew members, but Bill Livingstone was a gunnery instructor who was there to keep skills sharp. 50. Find out whether your WWII veteran was awarded valor medals for gallantry in action or for wounds received in the line of duty. He came in as a replacement to a tank destroyer battalion. Many of the vehicles were damaged and one man was killed while driving the Battalion Commander from the defense position to the FWD. 29. He thought they were ours until the bombs started falling. It was completed on V.E. It took us 21 days from Antwerp to New York. 126. 139. October 2, 1944: At 0800 hours 40 rounds of artillery fell on and around Post #4; shortly thereafter an estimated company of enemy Infantry attacked the position, surrounding it and cutting off communications. September 12, 1944: Bn. Co "C" removed the Infantry support bridge at HUNDHAUSEN. The Bn. She dissipated his fortune and after he died, she was sued by his children. Often the names of ships or number of the landing crafts a veteran traveled on- or went into combat aboard are included in the reports. October 31, to November 7, 1944: Bn. The 249th Engineer Battalion also supports other missions: The 249th Engineer Combat Battalion was constituted on 5 May 1943 at Camp Bowie, Texas. 3RD ARMORED DIVISION moved to the vicinity of PLOMION. Recon. After Pearl Harbor, he was drafted and became a citizen in the Army before he shipped out to Europe. 108. We searched the National Archives Catalog and located the World War II Operations Reports, 1940-1948 in the Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1917-1985 (Record Group 407) that may include records of the 111th Engineer Combat Battalion, 36th Infantry Division during WWII. August 31, 1944: Bn. July 15, 1944: Co "C" began construction of Bailey Bridge at BIEHOU at 2000 hours; work was discontinued at 2330 hours due to artillery fire. The 257th was also credited the Ardennes-Alsace campaign (9 Dec 1944-25 Jan 1945) and the Rhineland (22 Feb - 21 Mar 1945) campaign. Division for the drive to close the famous "FALAISE GAP". They welded up the old tub and then put us on board again and we made our way down to New York. LENNEP, GERMANY.2 February 24, 1945: Co "C" attached to 4th Cav. Bn. Harry Kone can tell you because he went there for basic training after Pearl Harbor. April 10, 1945: Co "B" removed the Steel Treadway Bridge at DRIESEL and constructed it again at WISSEN; construction was completed at 0530 hours April 11, 1945. The Battalions mission was general engineer work in the VII Corps sector in the area around STOLBURG, KORNELIMUNSTER, BREINIG. The other patients and I raced outside and we saw the carnage. I know Colin will be tickled pink to read this. Learn more. 20. the goal was to be home by Christmas! A typo is noted by the use of [sic] other errors are probably my own. GitHub export from English Wikipedia. August 15, 1944: Bn. The 236th was created during World War II, an offspring of the 44th Engineer Combat Regiment at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin. continues to support the 9th Inf. 78. December 17, 1943 was the big day. 56. The 249th Engineer Combat Battalion was constituted on 5 May 1943 at Camp Bowie, Texas. P.S. 65. 48. moved to the vicinity of LUMINGNY. He scrambled to his gun mount to man the 20 mm gun and then the threat became apparent. October 11, 1944: A 6 man German patrol was found between Post #1 and #3 - two of the enemy were killed and four escaped. Part 1 of 2. July 25, 1944: The Battalion witnessed the "Carpet Bombing" of the breakthrough zone by 2,000 U.S. LA VICTOIRE, FRANCE.9 From there, we boarded a ship and headed out in convoy to Glasgow, Scotland in January, 1944. Loss of equipment was heavy; however, casualties were light.

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