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It mentions the railway viaduct in Aix-en-Provence and the railway bridge over the Durance River near Pertuis, repaired by the 343rd Engineer Regiment, the pontoon bridge deployed across this river by the 120th Engineer Battalion upstream from Mirabeau, as well as the railway viaduct over the Buëch repaired by the 40th Engineer Regiment near Sisteron.
I would be interested in seeing period photos of these repairs and this battle. Thank you.

Going through my late Uncle Joe Esposito's possessions, we found some documents he still had from his time in the service.  He was in Company C of the 293rd Engineer Battalion during World War II.  I know he fought in France and Germany and finished his tour in Norway.  Attached is a certificate of appreciation from the country of Norway that was given to him.

I hope you find this useful.

Ed Garcia

I posted this in the forum for the 174th but went up a level to be sure all could see my request.  I'm sorry if this is redundant.

I’m a retired Air Force historian and adjunct history professor at American Public University.  I also taught at US Army Command and Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth from 2004-2009.  

I’m conducting research for an article I’m writing and also private research looking for information about my grandfather, who served in the 174 Engineering Battalion from 1943-1946 in the Pacific Theater.  I sent in a request for his service records in St Louis and of course they burned in the 1973 fire.  I know AF historians write an annual unit history (I had to retire when I thought I could not possibly write another one, lol.) but am unfamiliar with how the army records their history or where they keep them.  The Air Force keeps all unit histories at the AF Historical Research Agency at Maxwell AFB, Montgomery, AL.

I have his medals and discharge papers, but would really like to find anything else out that I could about his unit and their activities and possibly the medal citations.  I know you don’t do this kind of personal research, but if you could point me in a direction to obtain the unit histories, orders of battle, and any other places I might look for more information of a general nature I’d be grateful.  Here is the gist of the information I have:

Charles S. Felt of Wichita, KS, inducted at Ft. Leavenworth, KS, 27 August 1943

Served as Tec 4, 174 Engineers Battalion, until 2 Jan 1946, Service number 37 540 639, Separated at Ft Logan, CO

Served in Southern Philippines and Ryukyus, He told me he spent time in Korea as well

Bronze Service Arrowhead, Pacific Theater Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two Bronze Service Stars, WWII Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal

The discharge also says “Lapel button issued ASR Score (2 Sep 45) - 62

4 months Pvt Infantry Basic Training, 6 months Pvt Rifleman, 16 months Tec 4 Automotive Mechanic Second Echelon

I have a photo of him with an infantry flag that says RTC 88A, which I assume is his basic infantry training class.  

Interestingly enough, he enlisted in 1941, but was classified as 4F due to colorblindness, then was drafted in 1943.  In the meantime, he took Sheet Metal training at Swallow Aircraft School in Wichita, KS.  I have pay stubs from Beechcraft.

Anywhere you can point me to look for more is greatly appreciated.  

Sincerely,

Deborah Kidwell, PhD, University of Kansas

987 Boynton Valley Rd

Manchester, TN 37344

913-306-4977

I’m conducting research for an article I’m writing and also private research looking for information about my grandfather, who served in the 174 Engineering Battalion from 1943-1946 in the Pacific Theater.  I sent in a request for his service records in St Louis and of course they burned in the 1973 fire.  I know AF historians write an annual unit history (I had to retire when I thought I could not possibly write another one, lol.) but am unfamiliar with how the army records their history or where they keep them.  The Air Force keeps all unit histories at the AF Historical Research Agency at Maxwell AFB, Montgomery, AL.

I have his medals and discharge papers, but would really like to find anything else out that I could about his unit and their activities and possibly the medal citations.  I know you don’t do this kind of personal research, but if you could point me in a direction to obtain the unit histories, orders of battle, and any other places I might look for more information of a general nature I’d be grateful.  Here is the gist of the information I have:

Charles S. Felt of Wichita, KS, inducted at Ft. Leavenworth, KS, 27 August 1943

Served as Tec 4, 174 Engineers Battalion, until 2 Jan 1946, Service number 37 540 639, Separated at Ft Logan, CO

Served in Southern Philippines and Ryukyus, He told me he spent time in Korea as well

Bronze Service Arrowhead, Pacific Theater Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two Bronze Service Stars, WWII Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal

The discharge also says “Lapel button issued ASR Score (2 Sep 45) - 62

4 months Pvt Infantry Basic Training, 6 months Pvt Rifleman, 16 months Tec 4 Automotive Mechanic Second Echelon

I have a photo of him with an infantry flag that says RTC 88A, which I assume is his basic infantry training class.  

Interestingly enough, he enlisted in 1941, but was classified as 4F due to colorblindness, then was drafted in 1943.  In the meantime, he took Sheet Metal training at Swallow Aircraft School in Wichita, KS.  I have pay stubs from Beechcraft.

Anywhere you can point me to look for more is greatly appreciated.  

Sincerely,

Deborah Kidwell, PhD, University of Kansas

987 Boynton Valley Rd

Manchester, TN 37344

913-306-4977

Pfc FRATARCANGELI CESARE asn 32709183 (drafted in New York) Born 30 Nov. 1920 KIA 21 Jan. 1945 (Alsace) buried in Ceprano (FR) Italy

• 5/15/1944: 2731st Engineer Light Equipment Company constituted
• 6/1944: 2731st Engineer Light Equipment Company activated in Camp Breckinridge, KY
• 1/16/1945 to 3/22/1945: 2731st is in France
• 3/1/1945: 2731st is attached to 343rd Engineers GS Regiment (343rd Engineers are attached to 7th Army)
• 3/23/1945 to 6/15/1945: 2731st is in Germany/Austria (attached to 343rd Engineers GS Regiment)
• 4/1/1945: 343rd in Germany around Wurzburg/Ludwigsburg area (?)
• 5/29/1945: 343rd detached from 7th Army
• 6/3/1945: 2731st receives commendation for their work from 343rd. Col. Richard B. Dunbar, C.O. of the 2nd Battalion / 343th Engineer (General Services Regiment) to the 2731st Engineer Light Equipment Company. Comments on support for the "past several months." The commendation is endorsed by B.G. Garrison H. Davidson, Office of Engineers, HQ Seventh Army.
              o Helped build first fixed span bridge over the Rhine
•  6/10/1945: 2731st is no longer attached to 343rd Engineers GS Regiment
•  6/16/1945 to 8/23/1945: 2731st is in France.
• 8/23/1945 to 9/2/1945: 2731st travels home from Europe to USA on ship (Marseille, France to Camp Patrick Henry, Hampton Roads/Newport News, VA)
• 9/2/1945: Receive letter for 30 days leave (TDY) and to report to new “Reception Station” Camp Atterbury, IN  (or various camps, shown in attachments)
• 10/2/1945: Leave over, report to Camp Atterbury, IN  (or various camps, shown in attachments)
• 11/11/1945: Discharges – Camp Atterbury, IN (or various camps, shown in attachments)
• 11/13/1945: 2731st Engineer Light Equipment Company inactivated in Camp Breckinridge, KY