Custermen ,sorry I got carried away. All this happened

over 60 years ago, time to put it to rest. Roque

That's one thing you never have to do here is apologize for elaborating about your experiences. You forget that is WHY WE ARE ALL HERE. Unlike other places, the folks that are here including me, have avid interests in WWII, especially people like me who are writing articles and books. I am HUNGRY for info. What you relay about your experiences are critical to me because I am writing the history of VI Corps and the 3rd, 34th, 36th and 45th played a role in it.

I thank you personally for telling about your experiences. As far as I'm concerned DON'T QUIT!

I can only imagine what you and other Veteran's like yourself must have went through, and I can understand that you want to "put it to rest" as you say. But for the ones that don't have a dad, uncles or grandads around anymore to tell us stories, and share the history with us first hand.......we're so very grateful for kind souls such as yourself for passing your experiences on that we might have a bigger picture of what you all went through during those times. Please don't stop sharing. I thank you, and have the highest regards for you, and the other Veterans that share on this forum.

Thank you,

Nancy

Here, here, sis. Nancy and I happen to be in the same boat; great love for our WWII dads who are no longer around, so we are both are eager for information regarding the war. Nancy and I are both the investigative types, so the more we know the better. It gives us a better picture of what our dads had to go through.

Thanks for stepping in sis. Love ya!

For those who don't know, Nancy and I also met on the internet and became steadfast friends. I created a page for Nancy's dad about a year or so ago and we are like sisters. She's my Alaskan half. In fact Nancy gave me the nickname, 40's Gal. I love it. It stuck!

https://ww2combatengineers.comRob...obertHoedel.htm

Alaskan Gal,Marion,Marion you can twist this old man around your little finger.

And I love it. I told my wife, Elizabeth how well we communicate and she

gives me that little MEXICAN smile with a hug and sez "I'm glad".

I gotta tell you a little story about one of the NICE times I had in Italy.

We had just got back off the line and pitched our pup tent when my buddy

Kenneth Ryan said, Hey-Riojas, remember where we saw that bunch of

chickens back there? I said yeah, well go get one and I'll go over to the

Mess tent and I'll borrow a skillet and stuff and we can eat chicken. I said,

how the hell am I going to get one, all he said, "You got an M-1 doncha"

Needless to say I came back with one. And he was waiting for me. So I

said how the hell you gonna clean this thing, He said just hold it by the

legs. WITHIN 5 MINS. HE HADE THAT CHICKEN SKINNED, ALL I COULD

SAY WAS 'DAMN' AND HE ANSWERED, WE DO THIS IN OKLAHOMA ALL

THE TIME. We carried a little coleman stove took one of my canteens

marked gas. filled up the stove while he cut the chicken up and boy

did we eat. Course he also got fixins fer it. just me and him

had a feast. I think this was the summer of '44 still in the mountains.

AND THE WARWAS TEN THOUSAND MILES AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One of my rare nice moments. Roque J. Riojas to my gal, just Rocky

Yes Roque. Sure brings back old memories. It was a wonder there were any chichens,

ducks or geese left in Europe when we got done there. Seems like here was always

a "open season" on them when ever possible to cook. I also recall that damn black bread load we occasionally "found" when we got into Germany. However with a couple

of eggs with it it was a chefs meal to us also. But chicken or duck was great. Main

problem I recall was "finding" enough fat or lard for frying anything. Anything, sure

beat the diet of C and K rations.

Talking about our howitzers. When the Germans counterattacked at Salerno if it hadn't been for the 151st. Field Artillery the Germans would have drove the 36th Divn. back to the beach. That's history, not say so.

I'll quote you some History to support your point.

First two quotes are from the US Army history series, volume entitled "Salerno to Cassino".

Prompt action by the 151st Field Artillery Battalion dispersed this tank attack. A battery recently arrived on shore sited a piece on a beach exit road to obtain an emergency field of fire. Because trail spades could get no purchase in the hard surface of the road, each round fired drove the gun into the ditch. This piece then had to be manhandled back to its firing position. Brig.-Gen. Miles A. Cowles, the division artillery commander, helped the gun crew. "He shifted trails with the efficiency of a finished cannoneer," the sergeant later remarked, "the highest priced number five man" the sergeant had ever commanded and also one of the most dexterous and cooperative."

{Footnote on page 145}

Between 9 and 17 September, the 151st Field Artillery Battalion expended 10,500 rounds, over 2,500 shells more than the total fired by the battalion during the entire Tunisia Campaign. {It continues to state} Engineers performing as infantrymen were the 531st Engineer Shore Regiment; the 2n Battalion, 337th Engineer General Service Regiment; the 111th and 120th Engineer Combat Battalions; and the 36th Engineer Combat Regiment.

Quote from "Calculated Risk" by Gen. Mark Clark

Under great difficulties, heavy weapons were being landed by dawn. Ducks brought in 105-mm howitzers of the 133rd Field Artillery Battalion, and the 151st Field Artillery Battalion landed at 6 a.m., just in time to beat off a dangerous German tank assault on the beachhead. The veteran 531st Shore Engineers began organizing the communication and supply lines, and bulldozer men, ignoring a steady fire which inflicted many casualties among them, built exit routes for vehicles to move from the beaches through the sand dunes.

Quoted from "Salerno; A Military Fiasco" by Eric Morris

However, before General Walker could get down to his job, he had further ordeal to face. The Germans launched another tank attack. At about 1145 hours, 13 Panzers -- Mark III's and Mark IV's -- came down Highway 18 from the north and moved against Casa Vannulo and the divisional command post itself.

{Then it describes how a bazooka team was deployed to slow down the tanks--this was a new weapon for the Germans. Then a company of old French 75mm cannons of 1914 vintage were deployed---not exactly an anti-tank weapon.}

Fresh support arrived in the form of a 105 mm howitzer belonging to the 151st Field Artillery. This gun was towed into action by a DUKW, and it deployed on the track that led from the higway to Casa Vannulo. The combined fire of the howitzer and Wittaker's 75mm broke up the panzer assault; five tanks were destroyed, and the remainder beat a hasty retreat.

Last, from "The Texas Army" by Robert L. Wagner

During the morning hours several tank attacks were sustained by the 36th Division infantry. These were beaten off by bazooka and naval gunfire. At 10:20 a.m. near the 142nd CP, an enemy attack of twelve to fifteen tanks developed. As luck would have it, a 105mm howitzer, pulled by a 2-1/2 ton DUKW suddenly appeared from the beaches. The gun was quickly wheeled into position, naked of concealment, and proceeded to knock out 5 tanks, one after another. This one gun largely succeeded in breaking up the attack. When daylight had arrived, the Air Force joined in.

{Of course this Texas historian is too proud to say this gun was part of the 34th Division.}

Hope that history helps.

Steve

Damn! I got me an ally. Thanks Steve.

Now see what can you read about Kasserine Pass, Sened Station, Fondouk,

hill 609 Sidi Bel Abez. Rocky

Joe, thanks for the backup, didyou get my e-mail?

Marion, did my buddy Watson B.Jones ever join? I asked him to

do it. HE ISANOTHER 1st Bn. 135th Regt. RedBull. Rocky

Joe,j3rdinf. He was our Co. runner. Roque

Rocky:

Haven't heard from your friend yet. I forwarded our correspondence to him again and thought I'd hear back from him by now, but... Well I am still looking forward to seeing him here. I really hope he will jump in.

Hey Rocky and Joe: How about chicken dinner at my house?

Roque: Hope your buddy shows up in the forum. Only E mail I recieved is forewards.

Dont think my old buddy Recon is doing too well. No answere to my E mails so am calling him tomorro to check up on him. Sure would love to get together with you and Marion for a chicken dinner but I am not much on traveling far anymore.

I am going to e-mail him right now, maybe I'll call him and see

what's the delay. Chicken dinner, sounds good but I'll tell you what

Marion, every time you take a bite, think about these two

DOGFACES! I think I'll treat MaMa and take her to K.F.C.!!!!

Ketch me later. Roque

When I am preparing my new chicken recipe tomorrow, I will have a toast to my two gents and think of you.

Oh, Rocky, I am going to mail the book on Monday. Anytime you want to call is fine with me. I would be delighted to talk to you. You can find my address and my phone number on the CONTACT PAGE on the main site. I'm always happy to talk to MY VETS. If I am not available for some reason, then please leave a message and I will return your call. I look forward to our talk.

https://ww2combatengineers.comcontactme.htm

Dont think my old buddy Recon is doing too well. No answere to my E mails so am calling him tomorro to check up on him.

I am so very sorry to hear that. I haven't heard from him at all either. In fact it has been many months. When you talk to him, please send him my best. I think of him often. Thanks.

Yeah, Watson has signed in, and is now a member of our forum. Hey Dogfaces, now you have to pitch in and lend him any help he needs around here. You are hardened veterans of this forum now and can lend aid to our newbies! :gang:

HI ,

MY NAME IS ,WATSON J0NES,NEW MEMBER.

I WAS IN THE SAME COMPANY OF THE 34TH DIVISION,WITH ROQUE RIJOIS DURING THE ITALIAN CAMPAIGN. HE PUT ME OWN TO YOUR SITE,AND I THINK IT IS WONDERFUL.

WHEN WE WERE IN ITALY ,I SEEN SOME JOBS THE COMBAT ENGINEERS WERE HAVING TO DO,THAT I AM GLAD I WAS NOT ON THOSE MISSIONS. IT WASN'T A VERY HEALTHY ENVIREMENT.

I DON'T KNOW IF ROCKY( ,THAT IS WHAT WE CALLED HIM),WILL EVEN TALK TO ME SINCE HE GOT HIS PICTURE WITH THE BUSH'S.

YOU WILL HAVE TO EXCUSE MY TYPING AND PUNCTUATION,IAM NOT VERY GOO D AT EITHER.

REGARDS,

WATSON JONES

HAMLET NORTH CAROLINA