crossed the BELGIUM border with the 9th Inf. 55. June 12, 1944: Our first mission on the continent - Lt Lawson with a D7 bulldozer assisted the 1110th Engr. went in direct support of the 5th Armd. This tradgedy took place in the grounds that housed the 228th American Hospital in Sherborne, Dorset, UK. June 25, 1944: Battalion moved to new bivouac in vicinity of VALOGNES. In 1994, the battalion was reactivated and designated as the 249th Engineer Battalion (Prime Power), stationed at Fort Belvoir, VA. . In May 1945, when the war ended in Europe, the battalion was moved to Plattling, Germany where they built a camp for displaced refugees. His name is on the link above. Then fate intervened in the form of an ambulance without a driver. Stan left by bus from East Hampton, CT with 13 other boys from Deep River and entered active service in the Army on March 8, 1943, in Hartford, CT. This society is an independent charitable organization. Co "A" constructed a Class #40 D/S Bailey Bridge over the timber trestle bridge in VICHT. It wasnt all work as they had opportunities to play ball and see shows by Bob Hope and company. Welcome sir. Co "C" still defending road blocks with 297th Engr. Dear Ms. Bradley, Thank you for posting your request on History Hub! 502nd Quatermaster Port Battalion: 6th Engineer Special Brigade: Colonel Paul W. Thompson (WIA 6 June 44) 147th Engineer Combat Battalion: 149th Engineer Combat Battalion: 203rd Engineer Combat Battalion: 293rd Joint Assault Signal Co.: 60th Medical Battalion: 7th Naval Beach Bn (attached): Commander L. C. Leever : 74th Ordnance Battalion: location of the Company HQ on a map. 124. Date 1944-09-29. He came in as a replacement to a tank destroyer battalion. Gp; Co "C" joined the Battalion at ERZEE, BELGIUM. About a week after the explosion on March 20th, I was taken to a General Hospital in Taunton, Somerset for further treatment. July 2, 1944: Battalion moved to new bivouac in vicinity of Ste MERE-EGLISE. 26. One of the daughters, Pamela Digby later married Randolph Churchill, Winston's son. 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. 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. The men of the 299th Combat Engineer Battalion were "First on Omaha Beach" with overwhelming casualties on D-Day. The waterproofing worked great and Bob Darino powered his jeep through the surf and up the hill at Normandy. Division in its drive to the North. of a sector of the front line in the Hurtgen Forest. 15. Rufus Dalton was at the Maginot Line bouncing mortar shells off an old citadel. They were sent to Fort Devens, then assigned to the 296th Combat Engineer Battalion, and shipped to Camp Shelby, Mississippi for basic training over a period of seven months. Understand what your WWII veteran experienced while assigned to specific infantry units, ships or squadrons. Thats where Stan picked up a large German Flag. July 18, 1944: Bn. was set up in the village of ANTHEE. April 5, 1945: The Battalion moved back to KROPPACH north of ALTENKIRCHEN. Please consider making a donation to DRHS. The 249th Engineer Battalion (United States) is a versatile power generation battalion assigned to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that provides commercial-level power to military units and federal relief organizations during full-spectrum operations. He heard some firing from another gun and turned around just in time to see a horrifying sight. Many of the vehicles were damaged and one man was killed while driving the Battalion Commander from the defense position to the FWD. When I entered the Army in March 1943, I was assigned to the 293rd Combat Engineers and we trained in Camp Gordon, Georgia. Even though they were only delaying the inevitable, the Germans weren't beat, yet. Blackhawk and Chinook helicopters had dropped over 200 sand bags, with approximately 125 sandbags breaking the surface of the water. April 3, 1945: Liaison was established with the XVIII Airborne Corps and the 78th Infantry Division. Bn. Their job was to prepare housing for the advancing units. 9. moved to RAEREN. We could not launch the life boats because of the high seas and the Coast Guard told us later that if we sank they would have tried to rescue as many as they could. Bn. Bn. The enemy lost 14 prisoners and 6 men killed. Division at approximately 1100 hours. 4th Engineer Battalion 4th Medical Battalion 4th Counter Intelligence Corps Detachment 4th Military Police Platoon 4th Infantry Division Band Headquarters, Special Troops, 4th Infantry. The exact battles your WWII veteran took part in. Upon arriving to the front, the 249th was assigned to the 26th Infantry Division, already engaged and in defensive positions along the southeast corner of the Bulge. The ship cracked across the deck and partly down the hull. For Air Corps flight crews we can determine the exact flights that your individual Air Corps veteran took part in. on April 28, 2010. 100. April 15, 1945: The Battalion moved to WIPPERFURTH, GERMANY. With a commandeered ambulance full of casualties, he threaded his way through the ordeal thanks to luck and guile. A typo is noted by the use of [sic] other errors are probably my own. Co "B" constructed a Class #40 D/S Bailey Bridge at KLUPPLEBURG, GERMANY. 35. Part 2 of 3. August 28, 1944: Bn. July 21, 1944: Bn. 39. Bravo Joe. Rommel's big push had begun. moved to a new bivouac East of ESNEUX. moved again to the vicinity of MILLEY arriving at 2330 hours. Lawrence Snowden remembers that, though it was an easy victory, valuable combat experience and important lessons were imparted on the Marines. All Listings. Over several days from June to early July 1944, the unit went by parts from England to Vierville, France. (C) Group. Near the end of the war, the food supply in Holland had been disrupted and there was widespread hunger. Regt. On 16 July 1965, the 299th Engineer Battalion was alerted for movement overseas to the Republic of Vietnam. 64. was relieved by 246 Engr. was across the river without tanks and anti-tank guns and it was being counterattacked by SS troops using flame-throwing tanks. We did all of our training with mines and bridges on the property formerly owned by Sir Walter Raleigh, and now owned by the Digby family. 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. September 26, 1944: Co "A" completed the Timber Trestle Bridge in VICHT. June 24, 1944: Co "C" constructed a Class 40 timber trestle bridge at St MARTIN-DE-AUDOVILLE. 67. The main difference lies in the divisional structure. Considerable confusion resulted. POULAY, FRANCE.2 90. Part 1 of 5. Corporate Information | Privacy | Terms and Conditions | CCPA Notice at Collection, Activation of the 298th Engineer Combat Battalion March 18, 1943 and Reorganization November 3, 1944, After/After Action Reports 26 July - 1 Dec 1944, Journal of 1128th Engr Gp Sep 44 thru Aug 45, Excerpts from the U.S. Army in World War II Series, More Excerpts from the U.S. Army in World War II Series, The documents below were kindly shared by Marc Shafer (whose father was a 298th member). Veteran's Branch of Service? The other officers that were supplied to the unit were second lieutenants from the 1943 class of West Point. Co "A" relieved Co. "C" on the construction of Timber Trestle Bridge in VICHT. A brisk fire fight ensued until daylight. of the 60th Infantry Regt. The Battalion detrucked and marched into position, arriving at 2300 hours. Two engines were out, a third smoking, and they were were losing airspeed and altitude, but they were flying level and pointed home. (C) Bn. The truck accidentally back up over some mines and about 90 mines exploded. There were three 42" mobile pumps staged and two 42" and two 30" pumps were placed at the sheet pile closure. Find out whether your WWII veteran was awarded valor medals for gallantry in action or for wounds received in the line of duty. Robert James was in the shower aboard ship when the alarm went off. VIC. 1. Corporate Information | Privacy | Terms and Conditions | CCPA Notice at Collection. GitHub export from English Wikipedia. Captured several prisoners. TOTAL 266. I do not know how current the info is, but it's worth trying first: Unfortunately I do not have anymore info at the present time. 56. (with 4th Cav. April 16, 1945: The Battalion moved to LENNEP, GERMANY. February 5, 1945: The Battalion moved from BELGIUM to STOLEBERG, GERMANY. October 11, 1944: A 6 man German patrol was found between Post #1 and #3 - two of the enemy were killed and four escaped. Wes Ruth was eating breakfast when he saw the planes coming in. 234th Engineer Combat Battalion liberated Holtum. 9TH INFANTRY DIVISION In October 1943, the battalion left Boston for England and spent months in England training. was attached to the 3rd Armored Division and was given the mission of organizing, occupying, and defending at all cost a road block on the high ground just west of GRAND MENIL, BELGIUM. 96. From 1955 until 1960, the 249th Engineer Battalion (Construction) was stationed at Kleber Kaserne, ((Kaiserslautern, Germany)). 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. ANTHEE, BELGIUM.11 Bn. After practicing law for 55 years, I'm sure you have more than a few stories to tell. Two Germans were captured at Post #3; one man was killed by small arms fire on Post #5 at 1700 hours. The North portion of the position was reached but the foxholes were found empty. December 4, 1944: Co "A" relieved Co "B" of attachment to the 294th Engr. 89. Without enough points to go home in the first wave of returnees, Frank Capuozzi became an acting mess sergeant and took over a kitchen. As he drove frantically to his hangar on Ford Island, he saw the USS Arizona hit. Well I for one will be one of the first in line to read and buy your memoirs. November 24, 1944: Co "C" constructed a Class #40 Bailey Bridge over the timber trestle bridge at MULARTSHUTTE. Battalion noun Any large body of troops. After a successful landing there, where he picked up some shrapnel, Tunisia was next. His unit joined the forces ordered into the Battle of the Bulge, where he had to get some help when he was frozen in a foxhole. Bn. When the pumps began operation, a 40-foot-wide opening was made in the sheet piling to allow water to flow out of the canal. My first suggestion? was given the mission of straightening up the line. moved from PLOMION to the vicinity of MARIEMBOURG, BELGIUM. 1st Engineer Combat Battalion, 1st Infantry Division: 603rd Tank Company: 1st Engineer Regiment, 1st Division: 603rd Tank . At 1500 hours the 1st Bn. July 17, 1944: Battalion moved to new bivouac at TRIBEHOU. Learn when and where a WWII veteran was wounded or killed in action (we can often show you exactly how a veteran was wounded or killed in action). Loss of equipment was heavy; however, casualties were light. 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. KAMM, GERMANY13 He relates what he found out while hiding beneath Japanese planes. Hits - 2,910. They welded up the old tub and then put us on board again and we made our way down to New York. The 296th Combat Battalion held reunions every 2 years in Mass, Rhode Island, and CT. 294th Engineer Combat Battalion - 1944. 32. 25. of 9th Infantry Division made an attack thru Post #5 at 1100 hours; the Infantry met strong resistance 300 yards in front of Post #5; Post #5 was relieved at 1630 hrs. He served hard duty in an anti-aircraft battery with the 6th Army in New Guinea and other parts of the 2023 Deep River Historical Society. less Co "B" plus Co "C" of the 294th Engr. Unfortunately, because of my profound deafness, I am not permitted to fly. 29. 22. March 18 - 24, 1945: Companies "B" and "C" operated Heavy Ponton Rafts and LCVP ferries across the RHEIN RIVER in the VII Corps Sector.