Gary,

 

I am going to have a couple of weeks off from work beginning June 29th, in this time period I plan to complete the copying of the NARA documents I have and get them sent to you for scanning. I'm looking forward to getting the documents digitized for our 292nd "family" here which I know they will appreciate and I am hopeful will promote much discussion. Keep up the good work my friend,

 

Randy

Randy,

That's great timing as I will have some significant time around that time and thereafter to get those files put into digital format for all to get copies of. The discussions can then continue on so many details in so many more directions. In the meantime, here's a bit of pre-292nd nostalgia... I scanned a postcard that my grandmother had in her possession when she passed on a few years back of my grandfathers basic training unit at Fort Sheridan. She, of course, wanted to be sure that any and all who saw it realized where her husband was in the photo and marked him with a circle and arrow. Ahhh, Gram... a cardinal sin, but one that could be understood!

See ya, my good Missouri friend,

Gary

Gary and Randy,

I have a stack of National Archives documents relating to the 292nd -- daily reports for the time of the Roer River crossing. I'd like to send them to you, Gary, for scanning. It's quite a stack. I don't know what Randy is sending to you, maybe it's the same stuff?

Is there a way for you to relay your mailing address Gary?

Pete

Gary and Randy,

I have a stack of National Archives documents relating to the 292nd -- daily reports for the time of the Roer River crossing. I'd like to send them to you, Gary, for scanning. It's quite a stack. I don't know what Randy is sending to you, maybe it's the same stuff?

Is there a way for you to relay your mailing address Gary?

Pete

Pete,

By all means! Between what Randy is sending and what you are sending we should have quite a collection. There may be duplicates, but you never know. I'll message you with my mailing address and then get right onto scanning, my friend!

Gary

Thanks Gary, I'll get these in the mail sometime early next week (I hope...). A lot of it consists of operations reports for the 1149th Engineer Combat Group, detailing the duties of each of the units. Interesting stuff relating to the combat period in February.

Pete

(I also sent this message to you via private messenger.)

Ralph my friend,

 

Just wanted to let you know that me and the family are going to be in Branson again on July 10th,11th, and 12th. If you are available on any of these days I would love for us to get together again for coffee or a meal. I plan on bringing a number of items of interest with me if this time frame suits you, just let me know.

 

Randy

Hey , Randy.... I will be looking forward to seeing you again. My wife and I will be heading to New Orleans June 30th to to the WW2 museum , from there to Orange Beach AL. We plan to be back in Mo on the 10th so can get togather on the 11th or 12th. I'll give you a call soon....Ralph

Hey , Randy.... I will be looking forward to seeing you again. My wife and I will be heading to New Orleans June 30th to to the WW2 museum , from there to Orange Beach AL. We plan to be back in Mo on the 10th so can get togather on the 11th or 12th. I'll give you a call soon....Ralph

Sounds great Ralph. I'm jealous, visiting the WW2 museum is definitely on my to do list, hopefully I can get around to it in the next couple of years. Look forward to you telling me all about your trip. I know you purchased a commemorative brick for your dad at the museum, be sure to bring of a picture of that. Talk to you soon,

Randy

Thanks Gary, I'll get these in the mail sometime early next week (I hope...). A lot of it consists of operations reports for the 1149th Engineer Combat Group, detailing the duties of each of the units. Interesting stuff relating to the combat period in February.

Pete

(I also sent this message to you via private messenger.)

Hey Pete,

Sounds to me like you may have something different there if the materials are from the engineer group. All the documents I have are from the battalion level. Excited to see what you may have.

Randy

Sounds great Ralph. I'm jealous, visiting the WW2 museum is definitely on my to do list, hopefully I can get around to it in the next couple of years. Look forward to you telling me all about your trip. I know you purchased a commemorative brick for your dad at the museum, be sure to bring of a picture of that. Talk to you soon,

 

Randy

Be sure that the Missouri Chapter of the "Followers of the 292nd Combat Engineers" enlighten the poor souls left behind on anything interesting that you may run across on your exploits. I hope you guys have a great visit and that Ralph... well, that you soak up all that the WW2 Museum has to offer. In the meantime, I'll begin and continue scanning battalion documents to see if we can get a package electronically available to any and all interested. With what you, Randy, has and will send and what Pete is going to send my way next week... well, we should have a lot of info to chew on.

Talk to you soon, Gents,

Gary

Folks,

For any of you A Company diehards that have gotten a print of the unit... can you give me a heads up of where your relative is located? For instance, my grandfather is seventh from the left in the front row (sitting). Just trying to get a handle on where others relatives are and to see if as many of the servicemen can be Identified as possible. I attached an image of the print. It's kind of crappy since it was just a simple photo and not a scan, but it might help others without a print to ID their relative.

Gary

Folks,

 

For any of you A Company diehards that have gotten a print of the unit... can you give me a heads up of where your relative is located? For instance, my grandfather is seventh from the left in the front row (sitting). Just trying to get a handle on where others relatives are and to see if as many of the servicemen can be Identified as possible. I attached an image of the print. It's kind of crappy since it was just a simple photo and not a scan, but it might help others without a print to ID their relative.

 

Gary

Gary,

My grandfather is the fifth from the left, in the back row.

Randy

Randy,

 

That's great timing as I will have some significant time around that time and thereafter to get those files put into digital format for all to get copies of. The discussions can then continue on so many details in so many more directions. In the meantime, here's a bit of pre-292nd nostalgia... I scanned a postcard that my grandmother had in her possession when she passed on a few years back of my grandfathers basic training unit at Fort Sheridan. She, of course, wanted to be sure that any and all who saw it realized where her husband was in the photo and marked him with a circle and arrow. Ahhh, Gram... a cardinal sin, but one that could be understood!

 

See ya, my good Missouri friend,

 

Gary

Wow Gary! That's an awesome pic, thanks for sharing it with us. Was there a date with the photo? I asked my grandmother a couple of years ago before she passed if she remembered my grandfather being stationed somewhere before Camp Butner. She replied, and she seemed quite certain, that he had been at Camp Crowder. So I believe that Camp Crowder is where he took his basic training but have no other evidence to back it up at this time.

Randy

Steve,

 

It is a shame that your uncle's items were lost in a fire. I was wondering if you had one of these 292nd campaign maps, showing their movements during the war. If not, we can sure hook you up with one.

 

Randy

 

IMG_0495 (2200x1650).jpg

Randy,

No I don't have a copy of the 292nds campaign map. That is one neat looking item. How do I go about getting one? Once again, I appreciate all of your help.

Steve

Randy,

No I don't have a copy of the 292nds campaign map. That is one neat looking item. How do I go about getting one? Once again, I appreciate all of your help.

 

Steve

No problem Steve we can fix you right up. The originals of these maps were fairly large measuring approx. 23" X 29" inches. What I will be sending you is a reduced size version at 11" X 17" inches. I already have extra copies on hand. Just send me your mailing address in a private message and I'll drop it in the mail to ya Monday morning.

Randy

Randy and Gary,

I've got the 1149th Ops Reports and an official history of the 292nd from creation until they "entered the war for Germany." Also, so papers related to a reunion of the battalion in about 2002. I was on their mailing list for a while, don't know what ever became of the group. There is quite a lot of paper, so I hope Gary doesn't mind scanning...

Pete

 

Wow Gary! That's an awesome pic, thanks for sharing it with us. Was there a date with the photo? I asked my grandmother a couple of years ago before she passed if she remembered my grandfather being stationed somewhere before Camp Butner. She replied, and she seemed quite certain, that he had been at Camp Crowder. So I believe that Camp Crowder is where he took his basic training but have no other evidence to back it up at this time.

 

Randy

Randy,

It was noted that this photo was taken the day before my grandfather was inducted which was Jan 27, 1944. So, we have the date as Jan 26, 1944. Here are a few links to info on Camp Crower that may help you with background info:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Crowder

https://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/mdh_splash/default?coll=crowder

https://armyhistory.org/camp-enoch-h-crowder-missouri/

Later, my friend,

Gary