Greeting All,
I am a Grandson of Staff Sergeant John. J Walkonis. of the 36th combat engineers, Co. C.
for the last several months I have been trying to retrieve every scrap of information I can about him.
He enlisted before the war, I believe he was in service 6 years prior. He was near his mid twenties when he was activated for the Second World War. He made 5 amphibious assaults, and was injured and discharged from Anzio.
His life was difficult after the war. His five children and wife, never knew who he was as he kept most of himself inside. he experienced night terrors every day of his life. I have requested his record be reconstructed. as his was destroyed like so many others in the big archive fire of the 70's. however, i feel i will be left with many more questions.
My goal is to find information about the man who was John J. Walkonis, and bring a side of him to light that none of his children or grandchildren ever knew. I hope I can find out more information about soldiers who served in his company and at the same time find out more about him. I wish to know what happened to him in Anzio, as the stories that have been told are filled with holes. If anyone has information regarding him or the fighting men of company, "C", I would be eternally in your debt.
I speak on his and my families behalf. John passed away in 2003.
He is in the 36th engineers history book under Company C. He looked like quite a character in my opinion.
S.SGT, John J. Walkonis, 36th engineers Co. "C" WWII
Sinerely,
Frank De Jesus
[son of Denise Walkonis(Daughter of John Walkonis)]
Greetings, Frank!
You've certainly came to the right place; Marion has tons of information on the 36th and other Engineer units.
Enjoy,
Todd O
Maj Todd O. USMC, Retired
Grandson of LTC John O'Brien
Thank you Todd!
I am looking forward to it!
-Frank
-Frank De Jesus
Grandson of S. Sgt, John J. Walkonis
36th Engineer Regiment (combat)
1st Bn. Co. "C"
Welcome from a Belgian member. 
Erwin
704th Tank Destroyer Battalion
https://ardennes-breakthrough-association.com/
Hey Frank: A warm welcome. As you know things are a bit hectic for me this week, but I am sure you are in good hands with the rest of my battalion here! 
We'll talk soon...
Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter 'Monday' Poniedzialek
540th Combat Engineer - H&S Company
Welcome Welcome!!!
I was in your situation last year. My dads record was also destroyed during the fire and I couldnt all I could find on the internet was obits for former members of his unit. For six months I googled his unit every couple of weeks. I finally spoke to someone in his battallion who gave me a good idea of the 1251st trip through Europe. I still kept googling and lo and behold, I finally found a guy from his unit that actually knew him. He and I have been email buddies every since.
Hang in there!!!
"Outside of a dog a book is man's best friend, inside of a dog, it's too dark to read" Groucho Marx
Hi all!
Does anyone have possession of any morning reports for the 36th combat engineers? those would have more descriptive detail about when my grandfather was injured.
to add,
I have decided to begin interviewing my family members about my grandfather. I will be asking questions about who he was after the war, and who they thought he was before and during the war. I will be signing out an HD camera from school and filming these interviews. On thanksgiving I will be going to my uncles with a scanner. he has most of my grandfathers pictures from the war days. I will pass them along and hope they can provide many of you with more information.
If anyone has any information that could assist me or point me in the right direction for assistance, I am in your debt.
Thanks again everyone!
-Frank De Jesus
(Grandson of S.SGT. John J. Walkonis co. "C")
-Frank De Jesus
Grandson of S. Sgt, John J. Walkonis
36th Engineer Regiment (combat)
1st Bn. Co. "C"
Hi all!
Does anyone have possession of any morning reports for the 36th combat engineers? those would have more descriptive detail about when my grandfather was injured.
Hi Frank, on the main page of this site, check the history link for the 36th, There are several Sit-Reps (situation reports} there. read thru this one, it covers the time frame for Anzio:
https://ww2combatengineers.com/wp-content/uploads/docs/36th/Sitreps%20Dec%2043%20-%20May%2044.pdf
Larry
"I'm proud to be an American, Where at least I know I'm free
And I won't forget the men who died, Who gave that right to me."
God bless the USA - Lee Greenwood
oh great!
Thank you Larry!
-Frank
-Frank De Jesus
Grandson of S. Sgt, John J. Walkonis
36th Engineer Regiment (combat)
1st Bn. Co. "C"
Thanks Larry. I am so happy all you guys have been filling in for me in during my extended and fluctuating absence from our forum.
Just a reminder to all who frequent the forum; it appears many forget there is a MAIN SITE, and this is simply a forum, an extension of my site. Do not forget to search and peruse the wealth of information stored there. Thanks!
Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter 'Monday' Poniedzialek
540th Combat Engineer - H&S Company
M1, i think it is more of a matter that people doing web searches looking for the info they are seeking come directly to the forum thru a google link or other source & never see the main page.
The Main Page of this site is: https://ww2combatengineers.com
Larry
"I'm proud to be an American, Where at least I know I'm free
And I won't forget the men who died, Who gave that right to me."
God bless the USA - Lee Greenwood
That could be, but also a reminder to all on the forum, there is a direct link right at the very top of our page on the forum!
VISIT OUR HOME PAGE - VI CORPS COMBAT ENGINEERS
Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter 'Monday' Poniedzialek
540th Combat Engineer - H&S Company
Hi everyone!
Thanks for all of your help so far. I have gone through, and read all of the situation reports. It took me a few days. However, I did not find anything. I decided to site every event that involved 1st Bn, or co "C". Then I will have a time line of what is reported. Perhaps I am looking at them incorrectly. but there was no mention of his name or serial number (although I am pretty sure that serial numbers were not put in the sit-reps except for the casualty record from February). In concerns to the main page. that is actually how I discovered this forum.
I have read through the journal of the 36th combat engineers. I have read the year book. (sgt. John J. Walkonis co "C", 4th row). I have discovered a great deal from these reports. However, I am sure you can all imagine I was posed with more questions. This is why I made contact. Perhaps I have not looked into all the avenues of the site. I believe, now that I looked at all of the resources provided. I have gone through the 36th engineers page and the other WWII resources. Before I found the 6thcorp homepage, I already mailed all requests for records and medals to be reissued to my mother.
From my understanding, my Grandfather has not been to a 36th combat engineer reunion for over 20 years.
Best wishes and happy holidays!
-Frank De Jesus
(Grandson of S. Sgt John J. Walkonis co. "C", 36th combat engineers)
-Frank De Jesus
Grandson of S. Sgt, John J. Walkonis
36th Engineer Regiment (combat)
1st Bn. Co. "C"
Hey all,
it has been a while since I have posted.
I have been corresponding with Capt. John T Fallon.
he has sent me numerous documents to assist me search to know more about my grandfather.
he has been an incredible help. he was able to tell me specifically when my grandfather was wounded. 3/2/1944. (pg. 39 of the casualty report)
he has offered me more first person insight to Salerno, Anzio, and Southern France.
I am very grateful to all of you for assisting me in learning about the 36th engineer regiment (combat) and all the other engineer groups of th VI corps. Combat engineers.
as I learn more, I will keep you posted.
-Frank
-Frank De Jesus
Grandson of S. Sgt, John J. Walkonis
36th Engineer Regiment (combat)
1st Bn. Co. "C"
Hello Everyone!
I am trying to find more information about my Great Uncle Milton H.H. Kratzer. He was a Coporal with the 36th US Eng. Corps Company A. He was KIA 3/25/1944 at Anzio Beach Head. His body wasn't brought home till 1948. We have a picture of his father and the coffin when that day came. I am looking for anything the more detailed the better.
His sister, my grandmother, is still alive. She was wondering where he was buried before they sent his body back. Was that something that had to be requested by the family? Why wouldn't he have been burried with the other American soldiers there? Any perspective on how burial was handled is welcomed.
All the best,
Jamie
