This month I have already added the months of Dec 44, Jan, Feb, and April of 45. This evening I compiled May of 45 and am hoping to upload it within the next few days. 

The amount of information is incredible. What a daunting task it must have been to type and submit all those required documents to the Army. And of course, this was before the age of computers! No way to save. Hey, we need that in triplicate. Pass me the carbon sheets. You guys deserve medals for that!!

So, the last files to complete the set are May through November of 1945. The last few will be easy, for there's very little to share after the mid-summer months during the occupation of Germany. 

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

On landing in Britain, Guyot joined the Free French Forces. Reunited with her former network chief, she worked for Rémy in London for the latter half of 1943. Yet she resolved to return to France as an agent and in preparation earned her jump wings and received further intelligence training. On the night of Feb. 8–9, 1944, she parachuted into France from an RAF bomber.

Guyot had returned home as part of Operation Sussex, whose four-member teams were dropped behind German lines to conduct intelligence missions ahead of D-Day.

In Paris, Guyot installed the team’s radio operator in a room above the Café de l’Electricité, owned by her cousin and next door to a Gestapo office. (The eatery, at 8 Rue Tournefort, remains in business as Café des Sussex.) Operating across northern France, she spent eight months behind German lines, setting up drop zones and safe houses, until the Allied advance overran the team’s area in October 1944.

Guyot ended all connections with the military and intelligence services shortly after the war. Her only remaining tie with her wartime past was her husband, Marcel Gaucher, a fellow former Sussex agent. MH

This article appeared in the September 2020 issue of Military History magazine.

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

No Bridge Too Far – a WWII documentary on Army Engineers in WWII - digital download

NBTF, a WWII documentary, written, directed, and produced by Marion J Chard, in loving memory of my father, Walter “Monday” Poniedzialek, 540th Combat Engineer.

While thousands of books and film have been dedicated to the history of WWII, lessor attention has been given to the comprehensive and heroic role played by U.S. Army Engineers.  It is in this light we hope to rectify this unfortunate oversight.

The 36th, 39th, 540th & 1108th Engineers were non-divisional and employed on an as-needed basis. Referred to as “bastard” regiments, they were often attached to or in support of other Army units, while part of II & VI Corps and 5th & 7th Army in the European Theater of Operations.

Part 1 begins with the state-side training in 1941 and follows the engineers as they embark across the Atlantic for their first beachhead landing, and initial baptism of fire on November 8, 1942. Part 2 – Walk alongside as we trace their footsteps throughout the North African Campaign, and their preparation for the Invasion of Sicily in July of 1943.

Note: Included in the documentary are references to men from other units who fought alongside the 36th, 39th, 540th and 1108th Engineers.

While I intended to complete each of their campaigns until the war’s end in 1945, circumstances prevent me from doing so. So, I'm working on a book in its stead. However, I believe parts one and two (1 hour and 46 minutes) will give you a great start and a sense of the spirit de corps.

TO READ REVIEWS AND/OR PURCHASE A COPY, PLEASE CLICK HERE!

Note:  Your purchase not only tells about the beginnings of the engineers during the war, but each sale helps to keep the main site and forum running. So thanks! Please spread the word.