INTRODUCE YOURSELF - WW2 Combat Engineers Forum

Searching for Maps

MMSantry — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 20:54:22 +0000

Hello all, my name is Mark Santry. My father, John Joseph Santry, was a member of the 540th Engineers, and the 2832nd, Bn 2. Like so many others, he didn't talk about his service at home with us kids. On a recent trip to the D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia(incredible visit) I decided I had to find answers to many questions about his service. I'm writing a short story to share with family describing what I've uncovered. This 540th resource have been so valuable in filling in some of the blanks(thank you Marion!) I'm currently looking to create a map that shows the travels of the Regiment from his landing in Morocco and tracing the Campaigns of the 540th through Italy, France and Germany. Dad was severely wounded during the Rhine River crossing on 3/26/45. If anyone has any tips on how to generate a map that traces these stops I would be grateful.....thanks!

Hello from Provence (8th NBB)

Pierre.hacquard — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 08:47:51 +0000

Hello everyone, I'm Pierre from France. I’m a re-enactor and collector. I live in one of the towns where Allied troops landed in 1944 for Operation Dragoon: Saint-Raphael. Recently, I have become interested in the 8th naval beach battalion which participated in and supervised the landing in the Saint Raphael sector (Green, Blue, Yellow and Red beach). I already read the different topics on the forum about it. But the informations are rather concise. This is why I am calling on your help to have any information and photos in order to be as accurate as possible in my future reenactment of the unit and maybe writing of an article on this subject. Thanks in advance and I'm happy to be part of the forum. Best, Pierre

hello from Normandy

Alain147 — Wed, 10 Nov 2021 17:30:01 +0000

Hello everybody @ 6thcorpscombatengineers.com Many thanks to Marion for letting me in :) I am passionate in history and especially ww2 since i was a teenager. And of course D-Day and Normandy campaign. I live near Caen, Normandy, France, close to hill-112 SW of Caen in a house which has been occupied by germans officers, a barn have been burnt here, i often find Mauser cartridges in my garden, and 2 weeks ago, i found a german bike rear licence plate while walking in the countryside with my dog. War memory is everywhere... difficult to forget what took place here around, however remembrance is mandatory. As my nickname may hint, I am currently researching information about the 147th engineers Bat. which took part of the D-Day, as member of the 6th ESB, 1th Army. The 147th walked the sand in the first wave in front of Vierville and suffered heavy casualties. It then secured roads and took part in airport A-1 building along with USAAF engineers at Englesqueville-la-Percée between Omaha and La pointe du Hoc (http://www.6juin1944.com/assaut/9usaaf/9alg.php?page=a1). They stayed in the castle of Englesqueville where there still stands a memorial (i will post the pictures soon). I would appreciated any help finding information of the 147th. BR Alain

Lionel M from France

Lionel M — Tue, 26 Oct 2021 16:41:46 +0000

Hello everyone First I would like to thank Marion for creating one account for me ! I am a french passionate of history and especially about the liberation of my department. Most of my researchs are on the 4th armored division who had to fight a hard battle to liberate the town of TROYES. I try to find all the soldiers who died during this battle and i hope the town will recognize them by their deeds and build a monument dedicated to their memories. The 133th Engineer Combat Battalion played a role in protecting south flank of 4th armored and they lost many men prisonners in a german ambush. I hope to learn more about the 133TH on this forum. I already met a veteran's son with the forum. Thank to Eric Aho i had some very interesting elements about the events of the end of August 44. friendly Lionel M

Introductions

Engineer's Son — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 15:20:29 +0000

Hello everyone, Thanks of permitting me to join in. My father was a company commander in the Pacific and participated in the battle for Okinawa and at the conclusion of the war went on to help rebuild Japan during the Occupation. He never spoke about the war and for the most part only know what few stories he did share and what some of his friends told me much later on. I tried to investigate his service only to be told his records except for a very few had been destroyed in a fire at the St. Louis facility. We finally persuaded him to take a vacation, when he had retired, and return to Japan. He located his old friend and interpreter who took him to the building (still standing used as car dealership) that had been his headquarters in Nagoya. Wondered if anyone out there had and OB for Okinawa that might go down to company level or at least battalion so that I might be able to try to determine regiment/division he was part of. Thanks again and I look forward to being a part of this forum.

howdy!!!

tedisham — Sat, 10 Oct 2020 20:43:39 +0000

My name is ted isham and i am trying to find out information about my uncle's wwii service record. He was in the 2829th engineer combat battalion (which i think was part of the 40th ecb) and the 2829th was attached to 45th inf. He has passed on now, but i recollect some of the very few stories he would tell us after some 'persuasions' and he would say that he blew up bridges..... if anybody has any information on this unit or even the parent unit i would very much be grateful for some pointers on where to look. thank you for allowing me into this group, it has been very fascinating reading all of the various stories of the engineers. i have a better feel of what they did and how important they are.... :) :) :) :)

From France

ColinPh1963 — Wed, 07 Oct 2020 10:09:44 +0000

Hello all, i'm happy that my answer for registration has been accepted here. i'm living in France, North East, a bit south of Nancy. This zone has been heavily hit in 1944 ,From beginning September to the End of the year ,and even later for other cities located in Moselle, and Alsace sectors. I'm a collector of american relics what we find here ,and also a reenactor for the 35th infantry division "Santa Fé" which liberated my village.

286th Army Combat Engineers Co B

Anonymous — Mon, 18 Nov 2019 02:32:07 +0000

My name is Jon Blankenship from South Carolina. My uncle Charles P. Blankenship served in Europe 1944-45. He was a very young 1st Sgt. in the 286th Combat Engineers Co B. He served in The Colmar Pocket, built Bailey bridges over the Rhine and on into Germany. He left. Clemson University at the age of 18 to serve his country. He experienced the 3rd Reich’s horrors first hand and head on being able to return to the US in 1946. He suffered severe PTSD but was able to overcome his terrible memories of the war and lead a very productive and fulfilling life to age 89. He never spoke of his time in service. My cousins and I would ask our grandmother(his mom) about his time in WW2 as curious youngsters. She would only tell us bits and pieces. So... since his death 4 years ago, I started looking into his Army records and such. I have been able to find his mooring reports and a lot of other valuable info. My research has become a favorite hobby of mine. I am really pleased I found this website to continue on my research. I look forward to meeting anyone that can help with his unit and I will gladly share any info that I have as well. Thank you.

344th Engineer Regiment H&S Company

Anonymous — Wed, 30 Oct 2019 03:37:52 +0000

My Grandfather is Sydney Reid Purvis. He served with the 344th Engineer GS during WW2. I have pictures of him with Master Sergeant stripes and a medal citation with his rank being a 2nd LT. I know he served in the H&S Company as an LT but do not know what his previous Company might have been. I would love to find some pictures or info about his service so I can give to my Daddy and Uncles. I am assuming he was with the 344th from the beginning because I have a picture of him in Scotland. I have been reading this website for a week and am astounded at the information. The funniest part is they all told me he was in D day. That seems to be a common theme. Operation Dragoon, talk about getting looked over in the history books. Also, I saw where there is a book called “The 344th has Traveled,” or something similar. Where can I buy a copy of that or at least download. I look forward to hearing from you all.

Todd Purvis

H-Minus

Just when you thought it was safe to come back here!

Anonymous — Tue, 02 Jul 2019 01:24:31 +0000

Hi there? I have been MIA for a long time. Lots of changes have happened since !y last visit: had a couple of back surgeries,finally got on Social Security Disability (first visit to their doctor I had a walker, a wound vac and an IV in my arm and was declared work ready...) Been keeping busy. Glad to be back.