We already have a great page on our site featuring Charles Wilber, but now I am delighted to say that I have been contacted by a gentleman today looking for info on his uncle, also with the 326th. Here is the letter.
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Hello Marion,
My name is Ron Day and I just happened across your web
site about the 326th Airborne Engineers. What I saw
was amazing! I couldn't believe it when I saw the 2
part photo's of Baker company 326th... because I have
the same photo's. My Uncle is in the right side photo.
Count fourth from the left of those sitting indian
style on the ground, in the center, and then go up one
(to the first row of those seated on the bleachers).
That is Sgt. Peter Paul Evans (called Paul by most).
I have been looking for years for any link to anyone
that may know anything about the 326th and what they
did during WWII. My Uncle Paul was awarded at least 2
Bronze Stars (one I believe as an end of tour type
award for participation in all of the major campaigns)
and one for actions at Carentan France. He was also
awarded at least 2 purple hearts. I believe both were
for wounds received at Bastogne.
He enlisted in West Virginia and was a carpenter by
trade.
Unfortunately, I have to report that he was killed in
1971. He limped somewhat from grenade shrapnel in his
knee, and one day limping/crossing a wide street in
Washington D.C. where he lived, he was run down by a
car and killed.
Do you know anyone that is still alive, that could
possibly know him? If so, is there anyway you could
possibly put them in touch with me?
I am retired from the Army myself and am the youngest
son of his sister. I have several photos and even
newspaper clippings of some of his letters that were
published in the local newspaper where he was from,
about some of the things he saw and did during WWII.
I can not express the pride I have for my Uncle's
service and the extreme respect I have for the every
day heroics of that generation... words are not
enough.
Please use the information about my Uncle which I have
provided. Pass it on... maybe there is a friend of his
out there that this info could mean a lot to.
Again, if there is anyone out there that you can put
me in contact with, that may have known my Uncle,
Please put them in contact with me.
Thank You very much for putting this information on
the web.
Respectfully,
Ron Day
I wrote back to him this morning and have forwarded his email to Doug, the son of Charles Wilber. I also sent him the phone number of Joe Grille, who was also in Co B, 236th. I am sure all involved with have much to share.
I am going to feature Ron's uncle on the site in the near future. Always grateful to have another great engineer on our site. 
Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter 'Monday' Poniedzialek
540th Combat Engineer - H&S Company
Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter 'Monday' Poniedzialek
540th Combat Engineer - H&S Company
More from Ron...
Peter P. Evans, Serial No. 35290540, from Hardy
County, Moorefield West Virginia
Inducted on 20 March 1942, entering service at Fort
Hayes Ohio.
Battles and Campaigns: Normandy, Rhineland, Ardennes,
and Central Europe
Decorations and Citations:
- Purple Heart Medal GO29 Hq21st Gen Hosp. 12 Feb 1945
- Oak Leaf Cluster to Purple Heart Medal GO29 Hq 21st
Gen Hosp. 12 Feb 45.
- Bronze Star Medal GO19 Hq 101st AIB Div 14 Jul 1944
- Oak Leaf Cluster to Bronze Star Medal GO 167 101st
ABN Div 18 Jul 1945
- Good Conduct Medal 15 Sept 1945
- American Theater Service Ribbon
- European African Middleeastern Service Ribbon w/4
bronze stars & Bronze Arrowhead
- Distinguished Unit Badge GO26 Hq 1st Army 31 Aug
1944
- Oak Leaf Cluster to Distinguished Unit Badge GO31 Hq
3rd Army 7 Feb 1945
- Glider Badge SO 63 Hq 326th ABN Engr 15 Sep 1944
Wounds:
- Wounded in Belgium 9 Jan 1945
- Wounded in France 1 Feb 1945
All of the above information is from his Seperation
Document. It also lists his highest rank held as
Sergeant, however, I do know that he was a Staff
Sergeant at one time, as it is written in a newspaper
article by the writer of the article and in a separate
letter of his (printed in a newspaper article). He
mentions that he took a down grade to sergeant to
accept a different position, when they ended up in
Lofer Austria at the end of the war, because he
couldn't keep up with the "boys on their hikes" (he
was talking about training and patrolling) due to the
shrapnel in his knee. I guess the promotion to Staff
Sergeant and possibly the deal to downgrade was too
hard to explain on a military form so they just listed
his highest grade as Sergeant.
Also, I have half of the company photo in a frame (the
half with my uncle in it) but know that there were
several names on the back of the photo... some names
had lines through them, but are still readable. The
next opportunity I get I will send you those names if
you are interested. If I remember correctly there were
8 or 10 names... I don't who they are but may be of
some interest.
Thanks again
Very Respectfully,
Ron Day
Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter 'Monday' Poniedzialek
540th Combat Engineer - H&S Company
Here's a photo that Art Morneweck supplied. It's a good one!
First Reunion of the 101st Airborne Division, Indianapolis 1946
These recent former members of the 326th Airborne Engineer Battalion got together quite soon after the war ended. Don Peterson of B/326th (2d from left) provided the photo. Also shown are Sam Weiner(wearing glasses, a B Co.medic), Captain Charles Roden, C.O. of B Co.(2d from right), and LTC Hugh Mozley, who commanded the 326th Bn. after the death of LTC Pappas in Normandy(extreme right).
Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter 'Monday' Poniedzialek
540th Combat Engineer - H&S Company
