Colonel:

I can tell you a lot about the 294th Combat Engineers and the incident which took place on March 20, 1944.

When I entered the Army in March 1943, I was assigned to the 293rd Combat Engineers and we trained in Camp Gordon, Georgia. The 294th Combat Engineers were training at the same time at Camp Gordon.

Then, we went to Tennessee maneuvers for a couple of months. From there we were sent for desert training in Camp Pilot Knob in the Mojave Desert, near Yuma Arizona, which was started by Gen. Patton, as a training ground for the war in Africa. By the time we finished training, the war in Africa was over.

In December, 1943, I was transferred to the 294th Combat Engineers,assigned to Company "B", and we were on our way East by train to Camp Myles Standish in Taunton MA. From there, we boarded a ship and headed out in convoy to Glasgow, Scotland in January, 1944. We traveled by train down to Sherborne in Dorset.

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. Raleigh's castle was in ruins and on a large lake and that is where we did our training, building and blowing up static and floating bridges and working with mines. The Digby family were living in the relatively new castle at the time. One of the daughters, Pamela Digby later married Randolph Churchill, Winston's son. Later, they were divorced and she had a series of lovers and, at one time, became America's ambassador to France. Late in life she married Averill Harriman. She dissipated his fortune and after he died, she was sued by his children.

On the grounds of the Digby estate was the 228th Station Hospital, which consisted of a bunch of Quonset huts.

The winter of 1943 was brutal. One day I woke up in my foxhole covered with frost and I realized that I had lost most of my hearing. This was not surprising since we were constantly working with explosives. I was taken to the 228th for treatment. On March 20, 1944, I was lying in bed when there was a huge explosion and I was blown off my bed. The other patients and I raced outside and we saw the carnage. Company "C" had just finished an exercise with mine laying and then picked up the anti-tank mines and placed them alongside a truck to be taken to a safe area until the next exercise. The truck accidentally back up over some mines and about 90 mines exploded. The truck disappeared and 29 men were torn apart and their bodies were scattered through the trees. It was horrendous.

Naturally, we were warned by security to keep quiet or we would end up being taken to Leavenworth Penitentiary in Kansas. The story was put out that two German saboteurs had set off an explosion. I understand that this was done because placing a hospital near explosives was a violation of the Geneva Convention.

It was many years after the war that a local reporter, using the Freedom of Information Act, wrote the true story. As an aside, many of you, I am sure, have heard about the Slapton Sands incident. 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. All the villages there had been evacuated and were ultimately destroyed by gunfire. On this day, two German E-boats came out of the fog and fired their torpedoes and escaped back to France. The result was almost 800 dead. This incident was also kept secret until many years after the war when a local resident told of seeing hundreds of bodies being buried on the beach. Ironically, the wounded were taken to the 228th Station Hospital in Sherborne.

About a week after the explosion on March 20th, I was taken to a General Hospital in Taunton, Somerset for further treatment. While there, there was a German air raid and two planes were shot down. One of the pilots was brought into our hospital and had his legs amputated. I went to visit him and he was cursing a blue streak in German. I was finally told that they could nothing for me and that I would have to get hearing aids in the U.S. when I returned. I have been wearing hearing aids since 1946 and I am now profoundly deaf.

From Taunton, I was transferred to the Topographic Engineers in Leicester in the Midlands. There we prepared the maps for the invasion and also the maps for the other countries on the continent. I fell in love with an English lass, Noreen, in Leicester. I came back from Germany to get married on August 4, 1945. We have six children, thirteen grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Many years after the war, I found out that the 294th went up to Wales and from there sailed to Normandy in the Susan B. Anthony to Utah Beach on June 7, 1944. As they approached the beach, the ship hit two mines and sank. Destroyers came alongside and were able to rescue all the men on board. They lost all of their equipment. Later, they were reequipped and went on with the war and a number of the men were killed in later battles, including the Hurtgen Forest and the Battle of the Bulge.

When the war ended, I was in Austria and I was discharged in January, 1946.

However, when we sailed out of Antwerp,Belgium in January, 1946, our troubles were far from over. About 400 miles east of Newfoundland, we hit a terrible storm with 70 foot seas. The Captain said that in 25 years at sea he had never seen such a storm. The ship cracked across the deck and partly down the hull. An SOS went out and two Coast Guard cutters came out from Argentia, Newfoundland. We spent the night shifting the ballast, which was sand, from the stern, forward of the crack in the hull, to try to lift the stern higher out of the water. 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. In the North Atlantic in January, they said that we would have lasted only about five minutes in that cold water.

We slowly made out way West with the two Cutters alongside and landed in Argentia in Newfoundland. They welded up the old tub and then put us on board again and we made our way down to New York. It took us 21 days from Antwerp to New York.

I have been back to Sherborne on four occasions. There are two plaques on the south side of Sherborne Abbey with the names of the 29 men who were killed on March 20, 1944. Alongside those are the plaques with the names of the Sherborne men who were killed in World War II.

I have gone back to the Digby property several times and I have found the remnants of the 228th Hospital, and this past October, I found the site of the explosion and I placed American Flags in memory of those who were killed and prayed for their souls. It was an emotional moment.

I have also visited with Jean Treasure in her home. She worked as a secretary at the 228th while I was there.

Now you have information on the tragic accident from someone who was there.

Joe Izzillo- 4907 Europa Drive, Naples FL 34105- (239) 262-2778

Bravo Joe. Now that's what I call getting the REAL SCOOP!

How very nice to hear from you. What a great way to start my Sunday; hearing from someone who was there in the flesh. Thanks so much for taking the time to write all this down. I know Colin will be tickled pink to read this.

I like how you also gave us further background with the "asides", such as the history of the Digby family. Those do give us a better feel for the area and the time period.

Must have brought back some intriguing memories going back to the Isles. And even better that you got the chance to visit with Jean Treasure.

It's rotten losing men at any point in the juncture, but so sad that all these men were killed in training.

Can't wait to hear more about your time spent in training and your work with the engineers. Let me repeat how exciting it is to hear from someone who was part of the 294th. Welcome sir.

Marion:

Thank you. I have a lot more to tell. I am writing my memoirs and I already have over 200 pages.

Also, I have been practicing law for 55 years and I hope to write a book about some of my cases which read like Hollywood fiction.

I am now a Captain in the Civil Air Patrol of the United States Air Force Auxiliary. I have been flying since 1963. Unfortunately, because of my profound deafness, I am not permitted to fly. However, I do rent airplanes and fly and have the other pilot handle the radio.

I am now in my 83rd year and I hope that I do not run out of time before I finish what I am now working on.

I am an amateur artist and I just had a one-man show with 40 paintings. God has been good to me and I thank Him every day for sparing me into old age. Our World War II veterans are dying at the rate of 1500 a day!

God bless!

P.S. I am attaching a painting I did of Sherborne Abbey and the Cross Keys pub next door where I learned to play darts while serving with the 294th.

Joe Izzillo

Hey Joe:

Yes I thank God every day too for my many blessings. I get so tired of hearing some complain day in and day out about how it's too hot or too cold, or how they had to drive 15 miles to pick up a wife's prescription, or... You get the drift. Many of them do not realize how lucky they are to have what they have and that INCLUDES full use of all five of their senses. They don't realize how wonderful it is to hear and I bet you'd be so happy to have yours back.

Love your art work. That's just great.

Well I for one will be one of the first in line to read and buy your memoirs. I will be able to say, I know the man behind the book!

In the interim my dear, I would be happy to provide you with your own page, as I have done for so many of my other vet friends on the main site. Yours will be another great story for people to see. So how about it?

And now if we ever need to consult a lawyer online...

God bless ya!

Welcome Mr. Joe Izzillo !!

Thank you very much for your service to our country and sharing your experiences with us. That is a very good idea to write your memiors, and I do want to read them and will be in line myself, behind Marion of course.

After practicing law for 55 years, I'm sure you have more than a few stories to tell.

You are a great artist. I dabble a bit in the creative stuff myself.

Hugs,

Brooke

Marion and Brooke:

Thank you so much for your remarks. Marion, sure you can give me a site and I will make full use of it.

In the meantime, here is another photo of young me when I arrived in the U.K.

Joe

Marion:

This did not go through and I shall try another attachment. This is our platoon of Company "B" of the 294th Combat Engineers taken in front of our hut in Sherborne.

Joe

Marion:

I should also have told you that I have heard that there are no lawyers in Heaven and, so, I am going to try to make it as a starving artist.

Joe

Ah, for a lawyer you have a good sense of humor.

As for realism, I look at the photo and am taken back. I look on and say, what a young bunch of boys. Oh the innocence. Oh the bliss before the storm. Wish I knew ALL of you back when. Takes one breath away...

Ha! get a load of that guy sticking out his tongue. A great bunch of guys.

As for the photo of my platoon in the 294th Combat Engineers, look in the foreground and you will see Sergeant Greenberg with his hands on his knees. I heard a few years ago that he had become a Rabbi in the Midwest.

I thought that I was in the photo but on the back of the photo I had written that I was not in it because I took the photo.

I am going to try to attach a photo of myself as I looked when I was in England. Oh, to be young again!

Joe

For some reason, the photo is not going through. Here is one of me in front of the palace in Luxembourg.

Ah, quite a handsome and dashing young man. From what I can tell is that that same young man is still going strong. Hey, the internet is a great thing, for I will still think of you that way.

When I read that story about Gen Patton by Bill Douglass and his top hat, it reminded me of another incident involving Gen. Patton:

Gen. Patton and his Third Army broke out of Normandy at St. Lo, on July 25, 1944 and his tanks raced East and South headed for Germany. But, two things stopped him- he ran out of gas (actually, much to Patton's dismay, it was diverted to Gen. Montgomery up North- Patton had a fit and he was sure that his Third Army could beat the Russians to Berlin- by the way, he was the only allied commander who knew that the Russians were as bad as the Naziis and he made no secret of this- history bore him out), and he ran out of maps.

I got an assignment on August 3, 1944, to bring maps to him which covered eastern France and Germany, and they had to be delivered to him personally. I commandeered an English "Coaster", which is a relatively small ship and loaded the maps and headed for Normandy. We landed at Utah Beach and we off-loaded the maps into DUKW'S (amphibious trucks- for you civilians), and then to shore and loaded six trucks which I appropriated. (My orders were so broad, in the name of Gen. Eisenhower, that I could appropriate any means of transportation to deliver the maps).

We started through Normandy and headed for Brittany trying to find Patton. More than once, we were strafed and we dove off into ditches on the side of the road. On one of these occasions, one of the drivers deserted and we could not find him and we unloaded his truck into the other trucks and I took out my .45 automatic and threatened the other drivers. Of course, we were all scared but I had to complete my mission. A few days later, we came upon Gen. Patton in a field with his Generals. I saluted him and told him that I had his maps. He thanked me and my task was done. (When the Third Army came to the Rhine, Patton had himself photographed voiding (in lieu of a more common word) into the Rhine to show his contempt for the Germans. I had seen that photo in France and wished that I had a copy of it. I finally found it this past year at the Patton Museum in the California desert where we trained for Africa . If anyone wants to see it, I can attach it to a message).

I headed back towards Normandy taking whatever transportation I wanted to and, eventually, I got a small plane and flew into Croydon Airport in London. Before the war, Croydon was the principal airport for London. I hitched a ride into London with my duffel bag with some French Calvados (apple brandy), and other goodies and when I was dropped off, I was immediately arrested for being out of uniform. I hadn't bathed for two weeks and my clothes were filthy. I was put into a paddy wagon by the MP's and taken to their headquarters. Their commander chewed me out and said that he had never see such a disgrace for a soldier and he put before me a "Statement of Charges", for signature, which meant that I would be given a new uniform and accessories and the cost would be taken out of my pay. I refused to sign it and I pulled out my orders. When he saw them, he knew that he could not touch me and I told him off for arresting me and I told him that the MP's in France were being killed at all the cross-roads directing traffic which the Germans had zeroed on with their 88's, and that they were not wearing the fancy white holsters and white leggings. They were in foxholes at the cross-roads with only their heads and arms above ground.

This is another true story to be added to our archives and to remember Gen. Patton who was, in my humble estimation, was the finest General of World War II. It s ironic that he died of a broken neck in an auto accident- he would have wanted to die in battle. He is buried with many of his beloved Third Army soldiers in Luxembourg City.

Joe Izzillo

Well you know me, (well actually you don't yet! ) but I always love to hear a good Patton story. Bill's story is just a hoot. Everywhere I go amongst WWII vets, I love to tell that one. Of course I put on my best Maurice impression when singing , "thank heaven for leetell girlz.."

Ya the guy must have almost messed himself when he saw your orders.

When the Third Army came to the Rhine, Patton had himself photographed voiding (in lieu of a more common word) into the Rhine to show his contempt for the Germans. I had seen that photo in France and wished that I had a copy of it. I finally found it this past year at the Patton Museum in the California desert where we trained for Africa . If anyone wants to see it, I can attach it to a message).

In fact I do have that photo on our site and forum, for he pissed off the bridge that my daddy's unit built over the Rhine. So I am rather proud of that. The photo is now included in my slide show for the VI Corps vets. That tends to get people's attention.

I too think it is so terribly sad how Patton died. It is just so ironic that after all the years of war that he should be injured and then die from a stupid car accident.

The 540th got to serve under him on several occasions and he talked to the men personally. One of my vets in currently writing down a Patton memory from Sicily regarding their push to Messina. He gave the boys a real pep talk and he didn't mince any words. They were behind him all the way.

Marion:

I tried that telephone number for Jim Hand several times, but it is not in service. I would like to contact Bob's father in law.

I invite you to visit my web-site: www.joe-the-artist.com.

Joe

Thanks Joe: Will give it a visit later today on my break. Happy to give ya a "plug"!

Sorry to hear that the number is not in service.

I will get you Bob's info later today when I'm in my office. Right now I am in our country store.