Hmmm, that's the first time I've seen anything like that. Let's ask our 36th vet friends!

I sent this post to everyone on our 36th Email List. Now we await a response.

Sorry, have never heard about that one. Maybe John Fallon will come up with an answer for he,r as he and you Marion are the historians of the 36th. Carl

Thanks Carl. This looks to be a unique item. Maybe something struck by a member of the unit? Let's see where this goes.

Answers from some on our list....

Although I do collect souvenirs from the Italian campaign, I have never seen this one.

Is it heavy ? From the picture it looks like a paperwight. Could it be made out of schrapnel ?

 

Otherwise that wheel with wings could be a european symbol for army drivers or army railroad.

 

Im, wondering if it may be something commemorative which could have been bought in Anzio after the war.

 

As for the horseshoe, there was some rodeo going on at Anzio, there are even some pictures. Im pretty sure

the horseshoe games also took place.

 

However, this item does not really looks like it is linked to the US Army in Italy.

 

I tried googling anzio 1040 with several different combinations and didnt find anything interesting.

 

Gilles

I know they didn't have a race track at Anzio and the object certainly could not have been made there. I am going to check out some things. But who is peanuts? Should he/she be on our mailing list?

I wrote back to John and said, this is Sandy Lapp and she is on our mailing list. I should have stated that in the first place.

Interesting feedback from Gilles. I've only seen this memento in the photo, which my sister sent. Next phone call, I will ask her what kind of material it's made of. There are tales of GIs staging races with horses from nearby farms. "The Great Stake Race at Anzio Downs" by David Wagner, 39th Combat Engineer, is here: http://www.6thcorpsc...DavidWagner.htm . And the attached photo is from a rodeo on the beachhead.

Sandy: I was just going to list the story b David, and you had already done so. GREAT! It's one of my very favorite tales of humor from the war.

Speaking of horses and tales, here's a tall Seahorse tale called the "Legend of the Bit & Reins."

Legend of the Bit & Reins.pdf

Wow, can't believe I had never read that one before. The title however, did sound familiar. I wonder if I had filed that away with the many docs I have and forgot to read it. What a hoot!

Got an answer everyone!!!! YEAH! This was emailed to me by Bob and Kathy Miller:

Marion-Got this response from my brother, hope it helps.

 

Bob,

The leather thing next to the 36th patch is from the 1040th Causeway Detachment (Seabees) that were at Salerno and Anzio with the 36th. It might be a pouch for a "challenge coin" type item. Try Googling it.

Paul

 

 

Interesting. I don't know if challenge coins were around back then, but seems like it could be for something like it.

Well, I had to do some googling. According to one story, challenge coins originated during World War I; another story says during the Vietnam War. My thanks to the Millers for their reply. I wonder if Paul was actually in the 1040 Causeway Detachment. Building the Navy's Bases in World War II mentions other Seabee units at Anzio but not the 1040th. So the memento remains a mystery.

At the Seabee museum, http://www.history.n...UnitHistory.pdf , I found this:

CBD 1040

"Formed at Camp Endicott in Jan. 1944, CBD 1040 sailed from Newport News, Va., on Jan. 29, 1944 and arrived at Bizerte in Feb. On March 8 one platoon began operations at Salerno. In May. six platoons were moved to the Naples-Salerno area. On July 31 two officers and 34 men were assigned to LST 525. On Aug. 1 two officers and 34 men wereassigned to LST 997. On Aug. 2 two of-ficers and 34 men were assigned to LST 32. Four platoons were ordered to Mar-seille. Aug. 28 and five more were sent to Toulon, Aug. 31. The personnel re-turned to headquarters at Bizerte in October 1944. On Nov. 9. another group of six officers and 97 men were assigned to duty aboard several LSTs. On Nov. 17, 1944, seven officers and 250 men were Nov. 23. The follnwing Aug. 8, the unit was inactivated."

So far I'm finding the same thing. The 1040th were at Naples/Salerno, and then were part of the Southern France Invasion.

Further thoughts by Bob Miller:

Marion,

 

Just some further thoughts regarding the Sea Bee patch inquiry. I know when I was in (1968 to 1971), it was quite common for the guys to collect and trade all sorts of gear. Many collected military patches or insignia much like police and firefighters do today. When my platoon was stationed with a platoon from 2nd Company, 7th ROK Marines about 12 miles south of Danang, we traded our USMC brass belt buckles for their aluminum with were stamped with the ROK insignia and small enameled pins with their logo on it (I still have mine). These items could be traded to Air Force guys for gear that we couldn't readily get through our regular supply chain. On numerous occasions, we worked with the Sea Bees and they were very well supplied and very gracious in helping us out. We were always scrounging for parts for our equipment or getting them to machine, forge or fabricate stuff we needed to keep our equipment running. One thing about engineers, regardless of the branch of service, is the sense of camaraderie which is why March 17th is celebrated as the Engineer birthday. While our Battalion was headquartered in Chu Lai, we shared the compound with the headquarters of the 26th Army Engineers (Way of the Victors). In later years, Cathy and I attended Engineer Birthday Balls at the O Club at Ft. Belvoir which at the time was where Marine Corps Engineer Officers attended the Senior Engineer School. It was always a great time.