OSCAR EDWARD HAACK
FUNERAL and OBITUARY
BOTNA VALLEY REPORTER
May 27, 1998
1010th Treadway Bridge Company
Posted 24 March 2013 - 06:34 PM
My father, Leo Welz, who passed away in 2005, served in the 1010th Engineer Treadway Bridge Company. Enclosed, please find a 15-page 1010th history document – because of the level of detail, it could be ‘official,' but the document does not include an author or date, and it is not on letterhead. Fascinating read, filled with names, dates, locations – written with a proud sense of accomplishment.
I hope that the children/grandchildren of Riederer and Dunfee are still following this topic – this is a fascinating read but also thrilling to see our father/grandfather’s place in history:
“At 2200 on June 5 [1944] the company of 150 enlisted men and five officers hiked nineteen and a half miles from Camp Rucker to Newton and back. . . Welz's endurance and Riederer's exuberance were outstanding."
As info, a copy of this document was donated to the WWII museum, a chance to honor the 1010th and their role in WWII.
Thank you,
M Welz
Attached Files
My father, Leo Welz, who passed away in 2005, served in the 1010th Engineer Treadway Bridge Company. Enclosed, please find a 15-page 1010th history document – because of the level of detail, it could be ‘official,' but the document does not include an author or date, and it is not on letterhead. Fascinating read, filled with names, dates, locations – written with a proud sense of accomplishment.
I hope that the children/grandchildren of Riederer and Dunfee are still following this topic – this is a fascinating read but also thrilling to see our father/grandfather’s place in history:
“At 2200 on June 5 [1944] the company of 150 enlisted men and five officers hiked nineteen and a half miles from Camp Rucker to Newton and back. . . Welz's endurance and Riederer's exuberance were outstanding."
As info, a copy of this document was donated to the WWII museum, a chance to honor the 1010th and their role in WWII.
Thank you,
M Welz
Attached Files
HISTORY OF THE 1010 ENGINEER TREADWAY BRIDGE COMPANY
The history of the "Mighty Ten-Tenth" started on the 17th of February, 1944, at Camp Rucker, Alabama. Lt. Partch and a cadre of twenty enlisted men, formerly of the 994 ETB Co., were the charter members. Among these are: Blake, first platoon Sgt.; Eckrich, motor Sgt.; Rousseau and Jones, maintenance; Crump, assistant section leader; Strickland, Brock driver; Collier, supply Sgt.; Fillides, mess Sgt.; and Kilpatrick and Love, cooks. On February 19 Lt. McCall assumed command of the newly activated outfit. He had the full cooperation of his cadre in processing the bridge equipment and trucks sent to this unit. A full month and a half went by before reinforcements arrived. The majority of the men hailed from Pennsylvania and Maryland, while Virginia, North Carolina, and Jersey did their part in contributing to the personnel of the 1010. The 98th Division gave us a few veterans; Egan, Cunningham, Maglio, and Squillante being among them. The quota for April 9 was nine new men. Scott, Reddish, Roser, Taylor, Black, and Runkle arrived on the 2nd of May to take over the maintenance department.
Basic Training was slated to begin on the 8th of May. Ninety-seven enlisted men and five officers were to hike, to drive, to read maps, and to learn of personal hygiene, sanitation, mines, and camouflage. But on the 17th of May, the training program was interrupted by the arrival of forty-seven ASTs from Camp Crowder. What a schedule!
Reveille at 0600, chow at 0605, police call at 0610, work call at 0615, close order drill at 0620; lectures in military sanitation, may reading, mines, tying knots, first aid, "dry runs" on the carbine, and engineering reconnaissance took up the remainder of the morning. If only we could have had sufficient time to at least brush our teeth. Dinner at 1200, mail call by Hargrove at 1207, and a chance to rest our hands and feet until 1215 only to be interrupted by Diehl's whistle, causing a mild scramble to get to formation. Thank God, the Brockways offered a little shade from the burning rays of the sun. Convoys and drivers' schools, grass cutting, and stove cleaning were also part of the afternoon schedule. However the day's schedule did not stop at 1700 for after supper we staggered into the day room for orientation and pictures. Haggard and worn, we looked forward to the evening's entertainment. Yes, pictures of stimulating action filled slides on the nomenclature of the Teller mine, or pictures of how to tell the difference between the ejector and the extractor of the .50 caliber machine gun. These "scintillating" evenings would consume the "daylight hours" of the evening and up to ten minutes before the PX would close. Ann, the PX girl would be waiting behind the soft drinks counter when we would dash in buttoning our flies (we had to change to our khakis in that ten-minute interval), and ask for anything with which to wash down the dust of the day's work.
The 288th offered their small contribution by sending us Meisner, Cyr, Bailey, Turner, and Curt Miller. The sun was getting hotter and the humidity higher. The 1010 was "hot"; the war department would give us just three more weeks before we would be needed "over there." Union hours were never heard of or else none of us were union members. From 0600 to 2100 everyday! Wow!
At 2200 on June 5 the company of 150 enlisted men and five officers hiked nineteen and a half miles from Camp Rucker to Newton and back. At Newton, the halfway point, the men were served coffee and doughnuts by Fillides and Kessler. Welz's endurance and Riederer's exuberance were outstanding. June 6 was the 1010 Sabbath---nothing was done by anyone.
The next phase of our basic training was firing on the range. Biff Baker's 182 netted him a five-day extension on his furlough which he was granted in July. Furthermore, the second platoon outscored the first platoon on the range for which the skilled gave the lucky a beer party. (Hansen wants to know what became of the beer!) The Bunch Incident---will it be forgotten? Cpl. Bunch had Lamoreaux throw the grenade, pin, box, and all. There was an explosion not from the grenade but from the "old man." Bunch's explanation was that he thought this was the new GI grenade. Perhaps this is where the "atom" idea originated! Firing the grenade launcher and bazooka for familiarization and the firing of the .22 caliber rifle for anti-aircraft practice terminated out training on the range.
Toward the end of our basic training we had construction of the Treadway Bridge at Lake Tholocco and at the "chigger" and mosquito-infested Chatahoochee River. On the 28th of June we had a tactical problem involving chemical, air, and ground attack. The vehicles were driven over those class "D" roads between Rucker and Tholocco where the trees were utilized for the camouflage of the men and equipment. The boys had to search for the kettles of food which "Kil" and "Strick" hid (simulated battle conditions). The Mighty Ten-Tenth passed the test with flying colors. (Has anyone ever flunked it??)
All of this toil and trouble was not in vain, however, for shortly thereafter furloughs were granted. Most of the boys spent their leaves at home but "Pop" O'Donnell visited other stations on the east coast. His explanation was that he wanted to see how the other "half" lived! Curt Miller took a voluntary extension.
The strength of the outfit was increased by ten men during June and July.
Unit training was the next phase of the program. During one of the bridge constructions on Lake Tholocco, Lt. McCall jumped from a pontoon into the turbid lake and summoned the company in after him. Del Signore was in a helluva predicament without his glasses! If it weren't for the fact that water would get into his eyes he might have ended up walking around on the bed of the lake! Shortly thereafter his seeing-eye dog developed pneumonia and died. Charley Norris has had the job since then.
The 26th of August saw the Ten Tenth on the road to Geneva State Forest where the 1153 Group constructed the treadway. From here the convoy continued to Panama City, Fla. What a weekend for the people of that town with the 1010 soldiers as guests!
The program became more concentrated and extensive and the soldiers became engineers. Lt. Fredebeil's mine classes were practical now, one group of men would lay a mine field and another would deactivate it. The same procedure was followed in the booby trapping of vehicles and other equipment. How well we remember those lectures on Teller mines, "bouncing" Bettys, and the nomenclature of the different parts of this weapon.
When the 1153rd Group shipped out, we then were assigned to 1159th Group. On the 5th day of September a group problem was enacted at Coneguh State Forest where the chiggers were also holding a convention. This was the first real experience that the boys ever had in blackout driving which was valuable later on.
Preparation for the UTP test saw the introduction of a very rigorous calisthenics program. We participated in a pre-breakfast program of push-ups, dashes, and a hike. Second platoon was elected by drawing numbers from a helmet and they took the physical fitness test. There was excellent morale and cooperation, especially by Mike O'Brien during the four-mile forced march which was completed in 49 minutes and 58 seconds. Push ups, bear walks, 100-yard dash, and creep and crawl courses were other exertions.
Night problems were more frequent now. We took a night convoy to Eufala, Alabama, crept across the infiltration course at night as well as in the daytime and participated in more night training with the 287 and 288 combat engineers.
On the night of September 24th Cpl. Hier was stricken with a heart attack and he passed away shortly after. His passing will ever be remembered by the boys of the Ten-Tenth who knew him for what he was--a swell fellow!
Although we were never officially alerted, we always seemed to be a "hot" outfit. Of course we were always having those "Meisner" dry runs. John T. Shaffer certainly would dread leaving for he would have to sacrifice both the mayoralty of Daleville and also Betty. Everybody thought that we would head for the high seas but our destination was Camp Polk. If there had been a lower priority for troop transpotation, we certainly would have gotten it! The last people to ride on the eoaches that we occupied were the Confederate soldiers. If it weren't for the kindness of an engineer of a freight train we might be still parked somewhere in Texas! (Heaven forbid!) Luckily for us, New Orleans was a layover. We weren't exactly given the keys to the city, in fact, we were fortunate to go on a tour conducted by the noncoms. Ah, hes, those supervised tours to Canal Street, to the French Quarters, the museum, the local graveyard and the cathedrals. Hansen and Johnson greatly appreciated the tours but decided to have one of their own. The two boys went on a toot--pardon me, tour of the "better" districts of New Orleans and wound up surveying the latest in etchings!!
When we arrived at our new station on the 16th of October, we were assigned to 1160th Group. We immediately set to work and began a program of boardwalk building and moving, for we no more than had the walks laid than we had to move to other quartesr. Sgt. Kunka certainly remembers those days, eh, Sarge? Many of our problems were carried out at the Sabine River, commonly known as the mud flats. The first platoon constructed a timber trestle bridge across a stream leading to the bridge site while the second platoon cleared a way through the forest for the road. Lou Paradis' dozer certainly saved a great deal of labor on that job. It was on the Sabine that we saw the Army Divisional bridge as constructed by the 555th Engineers.
In the early part of November we received the new M-2 treadway bridge. Many of the boys were sent to the engineer depot at Baton Rouge, the town of scotch and good times!
Once agian furloughs were being granted. At first the boys were given ten days but Lt. McCall stated that he was uncertain as to when we would be alerted and therefore a possibility existed that not everyone would be given a leave. So the men voted to take five-day furloughs. This was a gesture that showed the fine character of the men of the Ten-Tenth. Sgt. Squillante left on furlough never to return, for he died of pneumonia while at home.
Camp Polk was that station where we lost some very dear friends. Sgt. Diehl was transferred to the 1468 and Mike O'Brien left us at the train. Lt. Partch went to Camp Claiborne but before he left, a party was held in his honor.
A ten-mile hike was made within the limits of Polk on the 24th of November. On December 8 a tactical problem and blackout driving was carried out and this was one of the last problems in which the 1010 participated before it boarded the boat.
Lt. Kuchna joined the outfit at Polk just before taking off for the desolate spot known as New York.
The company was processed for duty overseas and the staff of 4 officers and 134 enlisted men were awaiting shipping orders. Lt. McCall was promoted to Captain on the 1st day of January, 1945.
January 8 saw us aboard a Pullman bound for Camp Shanks, New York. At Shanks many who lived below the Mason-Dixon Line experienced their first "dry" cold; at least, that's what the "Yankees" called it. We'll never forget those well heated barracks at Shanks! However, what the camp lacked the city of New YOrk possessed. What a contrast to Leesville.
On the night of February 2nd the "Mighty Ten-Tenth" bade farewell to the Statue of Liberty and her children boarded the Ile de France, docked in New York harbor, and shoved off for new adventures in the ETO.
How well that boat ride stands out in our minds. Many of the boys were a light shade of green during the entire trip, didn't you Dommermuth, Kunka, Ritz, Gentry and Kuchna! What wonderful meals we had! (Joke) Bologna and frankfurters were our favorite meats and cabbage, our favorite vegetable. Remember those boat drills! How gently the ship would be rocked by the wavelets!!
The former luxury liner (that is no longer a truth) finally docked at Grenock, Scotland eight days after it had set sail from the states. From there we sped by train to U.K. Camp No. 5 at Winchester, England.
At No. 5 we lived in Nissen huts which were as warm as the greeting that the Germans gave the Allied soldiers when they entered the Vaterland. The stoves in these quarters were called "space" stoves and that certainly was not a misnomer. Many of the boys took fence passes over the Burma Road so that they could enjoy a slug of bitters. One evening many of the frequenters of the Burma Road returned to find midnight oil piercing the darkness of the area where the 1010 was housed. The boys were packing for shipment to the Continent.
The following morning we put on our 90-pound packs, picked up our duffle bags and dragged outselves to the athletic field where we boarded trucks bound for Southampton. We spent the afternoon lolling around a huge warehouse at this British port and consumed a meal of coffee, doughnuts, and K-rations. Finally, the Marine Wolf pulled into harbor and we went through that now familiar routine of giving our first name and middle initial in answer to the clerk who called out our last names. It was with a sign of relief that we threw off our packs and removed our mackinaws and field jackets. The sight that met our eyes as we pulled into the part of Le Havre was a vastness of debris and flatness which was one of the results of war. An LCI carried us up the Seine to Camp Twenty Grand which is located near Du Claire. After we debarked, we straggled up a hilly route to the camp. Sgt. Williams asked "Shorty" Reynolds to shorten the pace, but that only goaded him to greater speed. Pyramid tents were more than anyone expected. We raided the abandoned tents for coal and wood for fuel that was very scarce here. What a mad scramble there was for that helmet full of coal every night. The sleeping bags which were issued here came in very handy but Kubilius and Fillides never did say whether they crawled into theirs or not. Cyr and Rousseau certainly put their French to good use here and the natives "sold" plenty of cider and wine to the Yanks. We sent to Rouen to obtain our trucks and bridge equipment.
On the night of March 18, it happened! Capt. McCall summoned the men together and announced that we were going to the combat zone immediately. I never saw a group of men work so feverishly and cooperatively as we did that night. However, there was some wailing and gnashing of teeth. It seems that Ronald Dommermuth was one of those unlucky few who were ordered to remain behind and bring up the remainder of the equipment, and was he disgusted. (The army has an expression for the unhappy state of mind and unfortunately it cannot be printed here.) It was not until six days later that this rear guard finally met the main body.
When the company pulled out there were some men in Paris getting trucks; and were they surprised to return to a ghost camp with but a few of the men left under the supervision of John Collier. While the main body of the company was traveling night and ay (Patton of course wouldn't do anything until the Mighty 1010 arrived) the rear guard was cleaning up the mess left in camp. In France we received nothing but cordiality from the populace. Women and children waved with joy and the men smiled enviously at a victorious army. We felt rather proud of ourselves. However when we hit Germany, we bacame more alert. It was as if Mendelsohn's Spring Song were playing over the radio, and suddenly Saint Saen's Dans Macabre were switched on. The Germans had hatred in their eyes. All of us had read about the war but now we were experiencing it. A war is so incomprehensible when one reads of it---it's a game of strength of arms and men. But now it becomes personalized when witnessed---it was homes ruined, people without the proper things to wear and eat, and the fighting men living from day to day.
The main body of men covered the same territory as the rear echelon boys; but not without a few mishaps. Several of the Brock were driven off the road and turned over on their side. It was at this time that when some unsuspecting person would ask the whereabouts of the 1010th the reply would be, "which section?" Several days later the company regrouped itself and now it was ready for its part in the war.
Our first big job was to bring up a treadway to bridge the Rhine at Hitler's former summer rendezvous at St. Goar. We worked with the 89th Division, 243rd Combat Engineers, 160th Combat Engineers, and the 1012 Treadway Bridge Company on this crossing. Artillery support was given by the 76th and 89th Divisional Artillery. Paddle assault boats ferried the doughboys of the 89th across. The resistance was well "dug in" and had automatic weapons which gave our forces plenty of trouble. The first wave was not molested, but the second wave lost many of its troops. After the beachhead was established on the enemy side, the succeeding waves of troops were taken across in powered assault boats. On March 27 the construction of the treadway had begun. Our non-coms worked feverishly for 36 hours tying guy lines and supervising the combat teams. Finally, after a day and a half the bridge was ready for traffic. The current was swift, boats overturned, buy lines broke or became unsecured, and the operation was slow. Gaddy and Dodge witnessed the war from St. Goarhausen. Under the guidance of several colonels, those bulldozer operators cleared the approach for the final ink of the bridge.
The following day the CP was set up at Hotel Rhinofels on the RIne. During our sojourn there we were to maintain the bridge. However, it seemed as if truckes were pulling out every day to pick up steel at Coblenz and surrounding vicinities. We were under blackout restrictions up until the last few days we were there. Can we forget our first real mail call? Names were being called for two hours at least. Our dreams became realities now that the fmaily had written and we saw all of those things on paper. The war was furthest from our minds. Home! Was that our reason for being where we were?
On March 29, Melink, Riederer, Schaal, Quinton, Jervis, Haase, and Bordner crossed the Rine with four Brocks and joined the 168 Combat Engineers. Four days later the remaining elements of the second platoon left to contact the 168. The platoon traveled until about 2300 that night and the men no more got into their "sacks" when they were called out and told, "Hit the road, Bud." This was another night of blackout driving. Several of the trucks were lost in the convoy, but they rejoined the unit the following day. The men expereienced little night driving after that. We spent a day or two living at a school house at Oberaula. We now started on a menu of Ten in one and "C" rations which lasted for the following two months. Many of the boys spent a night shivering in their Brocks because they could not be found by Sgt. Kunka.
The next leg of the second platoon's trip took them to Vacha. Many of the boys met old buddies in the 285th Combat Engineers, which was also at Vacha. Coleman led three loads of steel and a load of Trestle into the unknown of a dark miserable night. Many of us acquired extra blankets and quilts which put us in good stead before the war had ended. The gun collectors and camera fiends were very busy at this time. In fact, scavenging was the fad. We were following the spearhead made by the 90th Division, and our next stop was Immelborn. Naturally, we were living in the homes of the civilians wherever it was possible. Plenty of wood and Sonne" brikettes were consumed. Gaddy was gringing in deer or rabbit almost every day and that also supplemented the ten-in-ones or "C" rations. We were now traveling with the 528 Light Pontoon Company.
During the three days spent in Zella Mehlis most of the boys acquired a shotgun at one of the many gun shops they learned to know so well. Lt. Fredebeil informed us that alghouth none of the townspeople were Nazis, there were at least 54 munition and small arms plants in this "stadt." New Lugers were almost obtained for us but we arrived just alittle too late. One German speaking DP remarked that one Infantryman walked out with so many Lugers on his person that it was difficult to tell whether he was a man or a walking arsenal. There were several work camps near this town and the liberated people were overjoyed to see the American troops. Among the displaced persons, Melink found one who had known his father before he went to America. It was here that the second platoon almost lost Melink. He was mistaken for a DP and it took four days of Lt. Fredebeil's valuable time to convince the other DPs that actually Melink belonged to the American Army. Lieutenants are always making mistakes like that!
Manebach found that boys sleeping in the houses and in the fields, for we had a very nice bivouac area near a rippling stream and the weather was very pleasant. More bacon from the ten-in-ones, french fries and fresh eggs were also consumed. Some were experiencing the "GIs" during the Central European Campaign and didn't know whether it was caused by the Army Chow or their own greasy cooking. Hamilton and Krein captured some excellent cameras and binoculars, while Coleman and Green took over some Nazi dress bayonets.
The entrance into Gross Breitenbach will never be forgotten for the gross cigars brightening the lives of men. The cigar factory was raided, first by GIs and then by DPs. Gaddy, Taylor, and Keeter had to part with motorbycles hwich had been confiscated at St. Goar.
At Probstzella the bridge was too weak for the Brocks, so we detoured over a mountain and remained at the farm village of Gross Geschwenda. The burgermeister was "visited" by several of the boys but all he had to offer was several rusty shotguns.
Blankenstein was the site for our next readway which was thrown across a stream about 100 feet wide. Tanks were still fording the water and were proceeding the very next town which had not yet been captured. Melink, WHitaker, Meisner, HAACK, Norris, Hackett, Webb, and DelSignore returned to Bad Salyungen to get another bridge load. Dunfee and Carbaugh also started back but their truck developed engine trouble and they rejoined the platoon.
It was at Scharchtenreuth that we were informed that the war in Europe was almost over. Dommermuth set up a German generator so that we could have lights and also listen to the radio. As we looked to the east we could see huge fires which were the result of bombings and shellings.
The next leg of our journey took us to Hof where we tarried but five hours. Gaddy scurried for the "wald" to continue his hunting spree and he was almost left at that town.
The next stop was Nieder Lamitz at which town we lived in a railroad station. Our artillery was set up on a hill just behind our quarters and every time those "Long Toms" were fired, we could expect to have more fallen plaster to sweep up.
Marktredwitz offered us the homes which were formerly occupied by Nazi officers and their families. At Wiesau we occupied the village hardware store. Here we increased our supply of knick-knacks and Reddish collected several mouth organs for Taylor.
Cham was the largest town that we had hit for several weeks. It was here that we came into contact with some old friends! We had almost completely forgot that there was such a thing as Headquarters platoon! This was the town that was bustling with the activities of DPs. Just being released from the concentration camp near there some of them were bent on getting even with the German people whom they hated far more than most or us. A false armistice was celebrated here!
Up and down snow-clad hills and then into Deggendorf where we constructed another treadway. The river to be spanned was none other than the beautiful blue Danube. We lived in the very modern villa of a German who owned a fleet of boats which sailed on the Danube. On the 8th of May the Germans surrendered. Also on this day Lt. Fredebeil exchanged his gold bar for a silver one.
We rejoined the 528 at Dorfurth where we remained until we were ordered to go to Passau where the 1010 regrouped.
After the bridge was constructed across the Rhine at St. Goar, the first and headquarters platoons were left behind to maintain it. On April 10 we received orders to move forward. It was a long and tiresome trip, but late that afternoon we pulled into Meiningen. We finally roused the Germans out of a few houses and moved in for the night.
The next afternoon we pulled out for the small stadt of Birkenfeld, where Capt. McCall was in charge. The first platoon slept in an old attic that night, but next day we moved across the street into a small school building. During our stay at this village, Tillman captured our first German prisoner. After that everyone was on the alert for more, because we were told that the German soldiers came in udring the night for food. Several cameras and old rifles were confiscated here.
April 13 we headed for the well-known city of Coburg -- and a little excitement. While checking our trucks we heard a plane coming in close to the ground. It was our first sight of an enemy plane at close range so we stood dumbfounded and watched until it passed over. Good thing he wasn't looking for meat or our goose would have been cooked! This "Joe" must have been lost because a few minutes later some American planes flew over looking for him. We met an English speaking German who tried to win our friendship by telling us how sorry he was to hear that President Roosevelt had died and asking a few questions about Truman.
After spending three days "capturing enemy equipment" in Coburg we headed for Kulmbach and a few weeks of rest -- so we thought! We were told that we'd spend a few weeks resting there. After finding out there was a brewery in town we were ready to spend the duration there. We had three large modern houses, with real "bathtubs" in each one, to live in. Now we could scrub a few days scum off without drowning in our steel helmets!
During our stay here Kubilius, Schaal, Lundstrum, and Holland moved forward with the 285th Engr. C Bn. Duckworth -- the lucky guy -- receivede a pass to Paris. Of Course these fellows missed all the excitement.
There were four of us walking post one night -- two on each post. About midnight Sgt. Bolton brought out the new relief when all "hell" broke loose. A German fighter flew over and started strafing the area. You could see tracers flying everywhere and they seemed to be coming very close. Men scattered everywhere -- under trucks, beside buildings and fences, and some fell where they were standing. After making about three runs he took off, so we all came out shaking like leaves and glad that he was gone.
They couldn't afford to let us stay in such a wonderful place, so on April 21 we pulled out for open country. Our next stop was really out in the woods. The only shelter was an old barn that was too filthy to stay in so we slept out under the sky and in the rain. It rained hard all that night, but the guards had to be posted as usual. A good thing, too, because another prisoner was caught that night. A Polish fellow told us the next morning where two more were hiding out. Nearly everyone grabbed his carbine and took off. After we went on a wild chase up the side of a mountain in Egan's jeep we overtook the prisoners.
April 22 found us in a few small houses on the outskirts of Kaltenbrunn. We had a new adventure during our stay here -- looting a cave. Repak and Becker were a couple of lucky fellows because they found two new pocket watches. That caused a lot of us to spend most of our time underground. One rainy night three truck drivers -- Wasta, Becker, and Repak -- were called out to carry some steel up front so the tanks could cross a stream. They said it was kinda scary up that close with tanks firing from all directions. Before leaving Kaltenbrunn we put a few blocks of TNT on a couple of cars that were in the cave and made them "kaput."
On April 25 we arrived in a small village where we were to spend the night, but some "big shot" had pulled his rank, thus beating us out of the houses we had secured. After stopping there long enought to eat dinner we moved on. All the houses in this town had black flags flying, and upon inquiring what the purpose was we found out that the people were in "mourning" for several hundred displaced persons that had been murdered only a few days before. The Americans had discovered the bodies and had the Germans reburying them.
That night we stayed in three different houses -- each about one half mile apart so we had a little walk to chow and back.
On our way to Cham we could hardly drive for so many displaced persons on the road. They were overjoyed at the sight of the Americans, but they would throw rocks, sticks, etc., at the German prisoners that passed. The second platoon was in Cham the same night, so we spent most of our time exchanging yarns about this and that.
The next day, April 27, headquarters and the first platoons pulled out for Viechtach -- the city of "separation"! This is where the first platoon left for the "big thing" so we had heard. Lt. Witty told the fellows with fifties on their trucks to have them loaded and to be ready for action at any moment. To make the thing more real, they even added a couple of tank destroyers as escorts. You can see why we were kinda shaky all the way into Freyhung. Here we joined up with the 996th Engr Tdwy Br Co., and the 11th Armored Division.
Just as we were bedded down for the night -- with the sky as our ceiling -- it began to rain bullfrogs and pitchforks. The next morning we had a little fun pulling trucks out of mud holes. We finally managed to secure a couple of small rooms large enough for everyone to sleep in by taking turns. We had enough fried chicken and fish to keep our moral up to normal, though, thanks to fisherman Disque and chicken catcher Dunn.
On April 30 we headed for the foothills of the Austrian Alps and cold weather! That night we stayed in Sonnen and the next day we moved on into Kramerschlag, just a few miles from Austria. We were spearheading with one company of the 11th Armd and that day we saw several buildings go up in flames. The next morning we woke up to find everything covered with a blanket of snow -- the first day of May and here it was snowing as if it were midwinter!
After spending most of the day in our trucks with motors running and Coleman heaters burning we backtracked and spent the night in Sonnen again. We parked our trucks on what looked to be good solid ground, but we had a tough time pulling them out with the dozer the next day.
On May 3 we pulled into Rohrbach, Austria and parked our trucks in the only good spot there was -- about two miles from our sleeping quarters. We had a good workout carrying our bed rolls and other equipment through the mud to the houses. That afternoon a German fighter plane strafed the town but didn't do any damage.
May 4 found us traveling over rough country trails -- even the tanks had trouble going over these roads because one slipped off and haed the road blocked for several minutes. We had to lay some steel in a few places before the trucks could pass. After several hours of slow driving we stopped in Oberneukirchen only to find that some other outfit, with higher ranking officers than ours, had taken over our houses. We finally located an old saw mill on the opposite side of town, so over we went. We spent four miserable days in this desolate spot eating breakfast only! Why? Because nearly everyone was sick from eating so many "C" rations.
On May 6 four trucks were taken up to lay some steel on the main traveled highway to Linz so that traffic could pass without detouring. The next night the second section took off to build a bridge across some small river in Czechoslovakia. May 8 the first section went up through Linz and then backtracked several miles until we came into ObMoldau, Czechoslovakia on the Moldau River. Here we constructed, with one company from the 285th, the last bridge that was built in the ETO during the war. This bridge was built so the 11th Panzer Division could come across and surrender to the American forces.
As soon as the bridge was completed we rejoined headquarters platoon at Wegscheid, Germany. After spending a few peaceful days there we proceeded to the large city of Passau. At Passau we spent most of our time repairing roads, maintaining a bridge across the Inn River, and working on our trucks. Our last work with the bridge and equipment was when we carried several truck loads up the Danube where the 1024th was building a bridge.
The story of Headquarters platoon starts on the 27th of April, 1945, when the first platoon departed from Viechtach, Germany under the leadership of Lt. Witty. The second platoon was already committed to battle somewhere in Germany. This left headquarters platoon practically without fighting strength except what could be drawn from the few mechanics, clerks, and cooks left. Unknown to us all there was hiding in the ranks a hero, another David in the guise of an unassuming Corporal. John Titus Shaffer was his name, and he hailed from Pennsylvania. It was on or about the 30th of April that this Corporal performed a feat that may eventually give him the CMH. It was a bad night, rain, wind, and lightning. Cpl. Shaffer's duty took him on continuous inspection of the Guard -- also the "White Lightning" that was resting in the half-track. On one of these rounds Cpl. Shaffer had inspected the guard at the Motor Pool and had found everything shipshape. On his way back to the CP, Cpl. Shaffer glanced across the field used as a parking lot. This glance, small as it was, was the miracle that saved these few men still with headquarters platoon. Across the field Cpl. Shaffer could see figures moving up to attack. As the lightning flashed he could detect their outline. With the speed of light Cpl. Shaffer slipped to the ground, brought the sight of his carbine in line with the enemy and fired six shots. The next morning six jerri-cans were buried with full military honors, a bullet hole in the center of each one!
From Viechtach this brave little band of headquarters platoon proceeded to Deggendorf, Germany for a short delightful stay on the Danube River. The favorite pasttime there was to visit the Yacht Club on the hill overlooking the Danube River and now used for a CP by 1137 Engr C Gp.
Thence we went to Ob Kappel, Austria. A few days in this farm town was enough. A woman with too much battle fatigue was ever in the minds of the men as they settled down to a night of sleep. A satisfying thought was that we knew that "Gas Can" Shaffer was ever with us.
Wegscheid, GErmany was our next stop and here we settled down to see the end of the war. Peace had come to the ETC but not to the 1010th. As we celebrated the end of the war, we almost precipitated another. Too much "White Lightning" was the cause but before the war spread too far it was brought under control, and now peace even came to the 1010th. It was here that the first platoon again came under the wing of headquarters and we all rested easier.
The second platoon finally foined the company on the 26th of May. Passau had been well trampled on by the fighting first and the small contingent of headquarters. There was a mad rush for correspondence courses. There will be time for men to gain a little of that knowledge we are so in need of but somehow the enthusiasm lost its glamour after the first week. Of course the sundry details of building railing fences, taking over road details (trying to keep the Hungarian workers fed so a little work could be done) and building showers and stages rather outweighed the educational possibilities. Lots of softball was played in the afternoons.
Lt. Kuchna, while trying to play third, shortstop, and second, wrenched his knee. Water formed so Ponce de Leon had nothing on our illustrious adjutant. Yes, the Fountain of Youth. Lt. Witty left us after a long period of faithful service and we welcomed Lt. Scott to our little group.
The shades of war have lifted and the dawn of peace is coming into view. We are in a new country, a new job, with the same old opportunities. Here in Belgium we are so close to the ocean and yet so far! The 1010th has been hit hard by the redeployment program of the Army and most if not all of us are sweating out the ride home. We have lost many of our old men. Most of these men have come all the way with the 1010th. Among them are Taylor, R. M. Baker, "USAFI" Carbaugh, "Fraternizing" Jervis, "Bitching" Sam Morganti, "J. C." Egan, Johnson, Lach, Crump, Hargrove, Ritz, and many others. We miss each and every one of them. Scheduled for redeployment to the Pacific, peace may yet save them from further duties overseas.
For all of us in the 1010th there is one more ocean to cross and one more day to sweat out. We may go to the States as a Unit, or we may go individually. Whatever the way, we do know that soon there will be a parting of the ways. Just as sure as you are reading this we shall miss one another individually, and collectively we shall miss the Ten-Tenth.
Basic Training was slated to begin on the 8th of May. Ninety-seven enlisted men and five officers were to hike, to drive, to read maps, and to learn of personal hygiene, sanitation, mines, and camouflage. But on the 17th of May, the training program was interrupted by the arrival of forty-seven ASTs from Camp Crowder. What a schedule!
Reveille at 0600, chow at 0605, police call at 0610, work call at 0615, close order drill at 0620; lectures in military sanitation, may reading, mines, tying knots, first aid, "dry runs" on the carbine, and engineering reconnaissance took up the remainder of the morning. If only we could have had sufficient time to at least brush our teeth. Dinner at 1200, mail call by Hargrove at 1207, and a chance to rest our hands and feet until 1215 only to be interrupted by Diehl's whistle, causing a mild scramble to get to formation. Thank God, the Brockways offered a little shade from the burning rays of the sun. Convoys and drivers' schools, grass cutting, and stove cleaning were also part of the afternoon schedule. However the day's schedule did not stop at 1700 for after supper we staggered into the day room for orientation and pictures. Haggard and worn, we looked forward to the evening's entertainment. Yes, pictures of stimulating action filled slides on the nomenclature of the Teller mine, or pictures of how to tell the difference between the ejector and the extractor of the .50 caliber machine gun. These "scintillating" evenings would consume the "daylight hours" of the evening and up to ten minutes before the PX would close. Ann, the PX girl would be waiting behind the soft drinks counter when we would dash in buttoning our flies (we had to change to our khakis in that ten-minute interval), and ask for anything with which to wash down the dust of the day's work.
The 288th offered their small contribution by sending us Meisner, Cyr, Bailey, Turner, and Curt Miller. The sun was getting hotter and the humidity higher. The 1010 was "hot"; the war department would give us just three more weeks before we would be needed "over there." Union hours were never heard of or else none of us were union members. From 0600 to 2100 everyday! Wow!
At 2200 on June 5 the company of 150 enlisted men and five officers hiked nineteen and a half miles from Camp Rucker to Newton and back. At Newton, the halfway point, the men were served coffee and doughnuts by Fillides and Kessler. Welz's endurance and Riederer's exuberance were outstanding. June 6 was the 1010 Sabbath---nothing was done by anyone.
The next phase of our basic training was firing on the range. Biff Baker's 182 netted him a five-day extension on his furlough which he was granted in July. Furthermore, the second platoon outscored the first platoon on the range for which the skilled gave the lucky a beer party. (Hansen wants to know what became of the beer!) The Bunch Incident---will it be forgotten? Cpl. Bunch had Lamoreaux throw the grenade, pin, box, and all. There was an explosion not from the grenade but from the "old man." Bunch's explanation was that he thought this was the new GI grenade. Perhaps this is where the "atom" idea originated! Firing the grenade launcher and bazooka for familiarization and the firing of the .22 caliber rifle for anti-aircraft practice terminated out training on the range.
Toward the end of our basic training we had construction of the Treadway Bridge at Lake Tholocco and at the "chigger" and mosquito-infested Chatahoochee River. On the 28th of June we had a tactical problem involving chemical, air, and ground attack. The vehicles were driven over those class "D" roads between Rucker and Tholocco where the trees were utilized for the camouflage of the men and equipment. The boys had to search for the kettles of food which "Kil" and "Strick" hid (simulated battle conditions). The Mighty Ten-Tenth passed the test with flying colors. (Has anyone ever flunked it??)
All of this toil and trouble was not in vain, however, for shortly thereafter furloughs were granted. Most of the boys spent their leaves at home but "Pop" O'Donnell visited other stations on the east coast. His explanation was that he wanted to see how the other "half" lived! Curt Miller took a voluntary extension.
The strength of the outfit was increased by ten men during June and July.
Unit training was the next phase of the program. During one of the bridge constructions on Lake Tholocco, Lt. McCall jumped from a pontoon into the turbid lake and summoned the company in after him. Del Signore was in a helluva predicament without his glasses! If it weren't for the fact that water would get into his eyes he might have ended up walking around on the bed of the lake! Shortly thereafter his seeing-eye dog developed pneumonia and died. Charley Norris has had the job since then.
The 26th of August saw the Ten Tenth on the road to Geneva State Forest where the 1153 Group constructed the treadway. From here the convoy continued to Panama City, Fla. What a weekend for the people of that town with the 1010 soldiers as guests!
The program became more concentrated and extensive and the soldiers became engineers. Lt. Fredebeil's mine classes were practical now, one group of men would lay a mine field and another would deactivate it. The same procedure was followed in the booby trapping of vehicles and other equipment. How well we remember those lectures on Teller mines, "bouncing" Bettys, and the nomenclature of the different parts of this weapon.
When the 1153rd Group shipped out, we then were assigned to 1159th Group. On the 5th day of September a group problem was enacted at Coneguh State Forest where the chiggers were also holding a convention. This was the first real experience that the boys ever had in blackout driving which was valuable later on.
Preparation for the UTP test saw the introduction of a very rigorous calisthenics program. We participated in a pre-breakfast program of push-ups, dashes, and a hike. Second platoon was elected by drawing numbers from a helmet and they took the physical fitness test. There was excellent morale and cooperation, especially by Mike O'Brien during the four-mile forced march which was completed in 49 minutes and 58 seconds. Push ups, bear walks, 100-yard dash, and creep and crawl courses were other exertions.
Night problems were more frequent now. We took a night convoy to Eufala, Alabama, crept across the infiltration course at night as well as in the daytime and participated in more night training with the 287 and 288 combat engineers.
On the night of September 24th Cpl. Hier was stricken with a heart attack and he passed away shortly after. His passing will ever be remembered by the boys of the Ten-Tenth who knew him for what he was--a swell fellow!
Although we were never officially alerted, we always seemed to be a "hot" outfit. Of course we were always having those "Meisner" dry runs. John T. Shaffer certainly would dread leaving for he would have to sacrifice both the mayoralty of Daleville and also Betty. Everybody thought that we would head for the high seas but our destination was Camp Polk. If there had been a lower priority for troop transpotation, we certainly would have gotten it! The last people to ride on the eoaches that we occupied were the Confederate soldiers. If it weren't for the kindness of an engineer of a freight train we might be still parked somewhere in Texas! (Heaven forbid!) Luckily for us, New Orleans was a layover. We weren't exactly given the keys to the city, in fact, we were fortunate to go on a tour conducted by the noncoms. Ah, hes, those supervised tours to Canal Street, to the French Quarters, the museum, the local graveyard and the cathedrals. Hansen and Johnson greatly appreciated the tours but decided to have one of their own. The two boys went on a toot--pardon me, tour of the "better" districts of New Orleans and wound up surveying the latest in etchings!!
When we arrived at our new station on the 16th of October, we were assigned to 1160th Group. We immediately set to work and began a program of boardwalk building and moving, for we no more than had the walks laid than we had to move to other quartesr. Sgt. Kunka certainly remembers those days, eh, Sarge? Many of our problems were carried out at the Sabine River, commonly known as the mud flats. The first platoon constructed a timber trestle bridge across a stream leading to the bridge site while the second platoon cleared a way through the forest for the road. Lou Paradis' dozer certainly saved a great deal of labor on that job. It was on the Sabine that we saw the Army Divisional bridge as constructed by the 555th Engineers.
In the early part of November we received the new M-2 treadway bridge. Many of the boys were sent to the engineer depot at Baton Rouge, the town of scotch and good times!
Once agian furloughs were being granted. At first the boys were given ten days but Lt. McCall stated that he was uncertain as to when we would be alerted and therefore a possibility existed that not everyone would be given a leave. So the men voted to take five-day furloughs. This was a gesture that showed the fine character of the men of the Ten-Tenth. Sgt. Squillante left on furlough never to return, for he died of pneumonia while at home.
Camp Polk was that station where we lost some very dear friends. Sgt. Diehl was transferred to the 1468 and Mike O'Brien left us at the train. Lt. Partch went to Camp Claiborne but before he left, a party was held in his honor.
A ten-mile hike was made within the limits of Polk on the 24th of November. On December 8 a tactical problem and blackout driving was carried out and this was one of the last problems in which the 1010 participated before it boarded the boat.
Lt. Kuchna joined the outfit at Polk just before taking off for the desolate spot known as New York.
The company was processed for duty overseas and the staff of 4 officers and 134 enlisted men were awaiting shipping orders. Lt. McCall was promoted to Captain on the 1st day of January, 1945.
January 8 saw us aboard a Pullman bound for Camp Shanks, New York. At Shanks many who lived below the Mason-Dixon Line experienced their first "dry" cold; at least, that's what the "Yankees" called it. We'll never forget those well heated barracks at Shanks! However, what the camp lacked the city of New YOrk possessed. What a contrast to Leesville.
On the night of February 2nd the "Mighty Ten-Tenth" bade farewell to the Statue of Liberty and her children boarded the Ile de France, docked in New York harbor, and shoved off for new adventures in the ETO.
How well that boat ride stands out in our minds. Many of the boys were a light shade of green during the entire trip, didn't you Dommermuth, Kunka, Ritz, Gentry and Kuchna! What wonderful meals we had! (Joke) Bologna and frankfurters were our favorite meats and cabbage, our favorite vegetable. Remember those boat drills! How gently the ship would be rocked by the wavelets!!
The former luxury liner (that is no longer a truth) finally docked at Grenock, Scotland eight days after it had set sail from the states. From there we sped by train to U.K. Camp No. 5 at Winchester, England.
At No. 5 we lived in Nissen huts which were as warm as the greeting that the Germans gave the Allied soldiers when they entered the Vaterland. The stoves in these quarters were called "space" stoves and that certainly was not a misnomer. Many of the boys took fence passes over the Burma Road so that they could enjoy a slug of bitters. One evening many of the frequenters of the Burma Road returned to find midnight oil piercing the darkness of the area where the 1010 was housed. The boys were packing for shipment to the Continent.
The following morning we put on our 90-pound packs, picked up our duffle bags and dragged outselves to the athletic field where we boarded trucks bound for Southampton. We spent the afternoon lolling around a huge warehouse at this British port and consumed a meal of coffee, doughnuts, and K-rations. Finally, the Marine Wolf pulled into harbor and we went through that now familiar routine of giving our first name and middle initial in answer to the clerk who called out our last names. It was with a sign of relief that we threw off our packs and removed our mackinaws and field jackets. The sight that met our eyes as we pulled into the part of Le Havre was a vastness of debris and flatness which was one of the results of war. An LCI carried us up the Seine to Camp Twenty Grand which is located near Du Claire. After we debarked, we straggled up a hilly route to the camp. Sgt. Williams asked "Shorty" Reynolds to shorten the pace, but that only goaded him to greater speed. Pyramid tents were more than anyone expected. We raided the abandoned tents for coal and wood for fuel that was very scarce here. What a mad scramble there was for that helmet full of coal every night. The sleeping bags which were issued here came in very handy but Kubilius and Fillides never did say whether they crawled into theirs or not. Cyr and Rousseau certainly put their French to good use here and the natives "sold" plenty of cider and wine to the Yanks. We sent to Rouen to obtain our trucks and bridge equipment.
On the night of March 18, it happened! Capt. McCall summoned the men together and announced that we were going to the combat zone immediately. I never saw a group of men work so feverishly and cooperatively as we did that night. However, there was some wailing and gnashing of teeth. It seems that Ronald Dommermuth was one of those unlucky few who were ordered to remain behind and bring up the remainder of the equipment, and was he disgusted. (The army has an expression for the unhappy state of mind and unfortunately it cannot be printed here.) It was not until six days later that this rear guard finally met the main body.
When the company pulled out there were some men in Paris getting trucks; and were they surprised to return to a ghost camp with but a few of the men left under the supervision of John Collier. While the main body of the company was traveling night and ay (Patton of course wouldn't do anything until the Mighty 1010 arrived) the rear guard was cleaning up the mess left in camp. In France we received nothing but cordiality from the populace. Women and children waved with joy and the men smiled enviously at a victorious army. We felt rather proud of ourselves. However when we hit Germany, we bacame more alert. It was as if Mendelsohn's Spring Song were playing over the radio, and suddenly Saint Saen's Dans Macabre were switched on. The Germans had hatred in their eyes. All of us had read about the war but now we were experiencing it. A war is so incomprehensible when one reads of it---it's a game of strength of arms and men. But now it becomes personalized when witnessed---it was homes ruined, people without the proper things to wear and eat, and the fighting men living from day to day.
The main body of men covered the same territory as the rear echelon boys; but not without a few mishaps. Several of the Brock were driven off the road and turned over on their side. It was at this time that when some unsuspecting person would ask the whereabouts of the 1010th the reply would be, "which section?" Several days later the company regrouped itself and now it was ready for its part in the war.
Our first big job was to bring up a treadway to bridge the Rhine at Hitler's former summer rendezvous at St. Goar. We worked with the 89th Division, 243rd Combat Engineers, 160th Combat Engineers, and the 1012 Treadway Bridge Company on this crossing. Artillery support was given by the 76th and 89th Divisional Artillery. Paddle assault boats ferried the doughboys of the 89th across. The resistance was well "dug in" and had automatic weapons which gave our forces plenty of trouble. The first wave was not molested, but the second wave lost many of its troops. After the beachhead was established on the enemy side, the succeeding waves of troops were taken across in powered assault boats. On March 27 the construction of the treadway had begun. Our non-coms worked feverishly for 36 hours tying guy lines and supervising the combat teams. Finally, after a day and a half the bridge was ready for traffic. The current was swift, boats overturned, buy lines broke or became unsecured, and the operation was slow. Gaddy and Dodge witnessed the war from St. Goarhausen. Under the guidance of several colonels, those bulldozer operators cleared the approach for the final ink of the bridge.
The following day the CP was set up at Hotel Rhinofels on the RIne. During our sojourn there we were to maintain the bridge. However, it seemed as if truckes were pulling out every day to pick up steel at Coblenz and surrounding vicinities. We were under blackout restrictions up until the last few days we were there. Can we forget our first real mail call? Names were being called for two hours at least. Our dreams became realities now that the fmaily had written and we saw all of those things on paper. The war was furthest from our minds. Home! Was that our reason for being where we were?
On March 29, Melink, Riederer, Schaal, Quinton, Jervis, Haase, and Bordner crossed the Rine with four Brocks and joined the 168 Combat Engineers. Four days later the remaining elements of the second platoon left to contact the 168. The platoon traveled until about 2300 that night and the men no more got into their "sacks" when they were called out and told, "Hit the road, Bud." This was another night of blackout driving. Several of the trucks were lost in the convoy, but they rejoined the unit the following day. The men expereienced little night driving after that. We spent a day or two living at a school house at Oberaula. We now started on a menu of Ten in one and "C" rations which lasted for the following two months. Many of the boys spent a night shivering in their Brocks because they could not be found by Sgt. Kunka.
The next leg of the second platoon's trip took them to Vacha. Many of the boys met old buddies in the 285th Combat Engineers, which was also at Vacha. Coleman led three loads of steel and a load of Trestle into the unknown of a dark miserable night. Many of us acquired extra blankets and quilts which put us in good stead before the war had ended. The gun collectors and camera fiends were very busy at this time. In fact, scavenging was the fad. We were following the spearhead made by the 90th Division, and our next stop was Immelborn. Naturally, we were living in the homes of the civilians wherever it was possible. Plenty of wood and Sonne" brikettes were consumed. Gaddy was gringing in deer or rabbit almost every day and that also supplemented the ten-in-ones or "C" rations. We were now traveling with the 528 Light Pontoon Company.
During the three days spent in Zella Mehlis most of the boys acquired a shotgun at one of the many gun shops they learned to know so well. Lt. Fredebeil informed us that alghouth none of the townspeople were Nazis, there were at least 54 munition and small arms plants in this "stadt." New Lugers were almost obtained for us but we arrived just alittle too late. One German speaking DP remarked that one Infantryman walked out with so many Lugers on his person that it was difficult to tell whether he was a man or a walking arsenal. There were several work camps near this town and the liberated people were overjoyed to see the American troops. Among the displaced persons, Melink found one who had known his father before he went to America. It was here that the second platoon almost lost Melink. He was mistaken for a DP and it took four days of Lt. Fredebeil's valuable time to convince the other DPs that actually Melink belonged to the American Army. Lieutenants are always making mistakes like that!
Manebach found that boys sleeping in the houses and in the fields, for we had a very nice bivouac area near a rippling stream and the weather was very pleasant. More bacon from the ten-in-ones, french fries and fresh eggs were also consumed. Some were experiencing the "GIs" during the Central European Campaign and didn't know whether it was caused by the Army Chow or their own greasy cooking. Hamilton and Krein captured some excellent cameras and binoculars, while Coleman and Green took over some Nazi dress bayonets.
The entrance into Gross Breitenbach will never be forgotten for the gross cigars brightening the lives of men. The cigar factory was raided, first by GIs and then by DPs. Gaddy, Taylor, and Keeter had to part with motorbycles hwich had been confiscated at St. Goar.
At Probstzella the bridge was too weak for the Brocks, so we detoured over a mountain and remained at the farm village of Gross Geschwenda. The burgermeister was "visited" by several of the boys but all he had to offer was several rusty shotguns.
Blankenstein was the site for our next readway which was thrown across a stream about 100 feet wide. Tanks were still fording the water and were proceeding the very next town which had not yet been captured. Melink, WHitaker, Meisner, HAACK, Norris, Hackett, Webb, and DelSignore returned to Bad Salyungen to get another bridge load. Dunfee and Carbaugh also started back but their truck developed engine trouble and they rejoined the platoon.
It was at Scharchtenreuth that we were informed that the war in Europe was almost over. Dommermuth set up a German generator so that we could have lights and also listen to the radio. As we looked to the east we could see huge fires which were the result of bombings and shellings.
The next leg of our journey took us to Hof where we tarried but five hours. Gaddy scurried for the "wald" to continue his hunting spree and he was almost left at that town.
The next stop was Nieder Lamitz at which town we lived in a railroad station. Our artillery was set up on a hill just behind our quarters and every time those "Long Toms" were fired, we could expect to have more fallen plaster to sweep up.
Marktredwitz offered us the homes which were formerly occupied by Nazi officers and their families. At Wiesau we occupied the village hardware store. Here we increased our supply of knick-knacks and Reddish collected several mouth organs for Taylor.
Cham was the largest town that we had hit for several weeks. It was here that we came into contact with some old friends! We had almost completely forgot that there was such a thing as Headquarters platoon! This was the town that was bustling with the activities of DPs. Just being released from the concentration camp near there some of them were bent on getting even with the German people whom they hated far more than most or us. A false armistice was celebrated here!
Up and down snow-clad hills and then into Deggendorf where we constructed another treadway. The river to be spanned was none other than the beautiful blue Danube. We lived in the very modern villa of a German who owned a fleet of boats which sailed on the Danube. On the 8th of May the Germans surrendered. Also on this day Lt. Fredebeil exchanged his gold bar for a silver one.
We rejoined the 528 at Dorfurth where we remained until we were ordered to go to Passau where the 1010 regrouped.
After the bridge was constructed across the Rhine at St. Goar, the first and headquarters platoons were left behind to maintain it. On April 10 we received orders to move forward. It was a long and tiresome trip, but late that afternoon we pulled into Meiningen. We finally roused the Germans out of a few houses and moved in for the night.
The next afternoon we pulled out for the small stadt of Birkenfeld, where Capt. McCall was in charge. The first platoon slept in an old attic that night, but next day we moved across the street into a small school building. During our stay at this village, Tillman captured our first German prisoner. After that everyone was on the alert for more, because we were told that the German soldiers came in udring the night for food. Several cameras and old rifles were confiscated here.
April 13 we headed for the well-known city of Coburg -- and a little excitement. While checking our trucks we heard a plane coming in close to the ground. It was our first sight of an enemy plane at close range so we stood dumbfounded and watched until it passed over. Good thing he wasn't looking for meat or our goose would have been cooked! This "Joe" must have been lost because a few minutes later some American planes flew over looking for him. We met an English speaking German who tried to win our friendship by telling us how sorry he was to hear that President Roosevelt had died and asking a few questions about Truman.
After spending three days "capturing enemy equipment" in Coburg we headed for Kulmbach and a few weeks of rest -- so we thought! We were told that we'd spend a few weeks resting there. After finding out there was a brewery in town we were ready to spend the duration there. We had three large modern houses, with real "bathtubs" in each one, to live in. Now we could scrub a few days scum off without drowning in our steel helmets!
During our stay here Kubilius, Schaal, Lundstrum, and Holland moved forward with the 285th Engr. C Bn. Duckworth -- the lucky guy -- receivede a pass to Paris. Of Course these fellows missed all the excitement.
There were four of us walking post one night -- two on each post. About midnight Sgt. Bolton brought out the new relief when all "hell" broke loose. A German fighter flew over and started strafing the area. You could see tracers flying everywhere and they seemed to be coming very close. Men scattered everywhere -- under trucks, beside buildings and fences, and some fell where they were standing. After making about three runs he took off, so we all came out shaking like leaves and glad that he was gone.
They couldn't afford to let us stay in such a wonderful place, so on April 21 we pulled out for open country. Our next stop was really out in the woods. The only shelter was an old barn that was too filthy to stay in so we slept out under the sky and in the rain. It rained hard all that night, but the guards had to be posted as usual. A good thing, too, because another prisoner was caught that night. A Polish fellow told us the next morning where two more were hiding out. Nearly everyone grabbed his carbine and took off. After we went on a wild chase up the side of a mountain in Egan's jeep we overtook the prisoners.
April 22 found us in a few small houses on the outskirts of Kaltenbrunn. We had a new adventure during our stay here -- looting a cave. Repak and Becker were a couple of lucky fellows because they found two new pocket watches. That caused a lot of us to spend most of our time underground. One rainy night three truck drivers -- Wasta, Becker, and Repak -- were called out to carry some steel up front so the tanks could cross a stream. They said it was kinda scary up that close with tanks firing from all directions. Before leaving Kaltenbrunn we put a few blocks of TNT on a couple of cars that were in the cave and made them "kaput."
On April 25 we arrived in a small village where we were to spend the night, but some "big shot" had pulled his rank, thus beating us out of the houses we had secured. After stopping there long enought to eat dinner we moved on. All the houses in this town had black flags flying, and upon inquiring what the purpose was we found out that the people were in "mourning" for several hundred displaced persons that had been murdered only a few days before. The Americans had discovered the bodies and had the Germans reburying them.
That night we stayed in three different houses -- each about one half mile apart so we had a little walk to chow and back.
On our way to Cham we could hardly drive for so many displaced persons on the road. They were overjoyed at the sight of the Americans, but they would throw rocks, sticks, etc., at the German prisoners that passed. The second platoon was in Cham the same night, so we spent most of our time exchanging yarns about this and that.
The next day, April 27, headquarters and the first platoons pulled out for Viechtach -- the city of "separation"! This is where the first platoon left for the "big thing" so we had heard. Lt. Witty told the fellows with fifties on their trucks to have them loaded and to be ready for action at any moment. To make the thing more real, they even added a couple of tank destroyers as escorts. You can see why we were kinda shaky all the way into Freyhung. Here we joined up with the 996th Engr Tdwy Br Co., and the 11th Armored Division.
Just as we were bedded down for the night -- with the sky as our ceiling -- it began to rain bullfrogs and pitchforks. The next morning we had a little fun pulling trucks out of mud holes. We finally managed to secure a couple of small rooms large enough for everyone to sleep in by taking turns. We had enough fried chicken and fish to keep our moral up to normal, though, thanks to fisherman Disque and chicken catcher Dunn.
On April 30 we headed for the foothills of the Austrian Alps and cold weather! That night we stayed in Sonnen and the next day we moved on into Kramerschlag, just a few miles from Austria. We were spearheading with one company of the 11th Armd and that day we saw several buildings go up in flames. The next morning we woke up to find everything covered with a blanket of snow -- the first day of May and here it was snowing as if it were midwinter!
After spending most of the day in our trucks with motors running and Coleman heaters burning we backtracked and spent the night in Sonnen again. We parked our trucks on what looked to be good solid ground, but we had a tough time pulling them out with the dozer the next day.
On May 3 we pulled into Rohrbach, Austria and parked our trucks in the only good spot there was -- about two miles from our sleeping quarters. We had a good workout carrying our bed rolls and other equipment through the mud to the houses. That afternoon a German fighter plane strafed the town but didn't do any damage.
May 4 found us traveling over rough country trails -- even the tanks had trouble going over these roads because one slipped off and haed the road blocked for several minutes. We had to lay some steel in a few places before the trucks could pass. After several hours of slow driving we stopped in Oberneukirchen only to find that some other outfit, with higher ranking officers than ours, had taken over our houses. We finally located an old saw mill on the opposite side of town, so over we went. We spent four miserable days in this desolate spot eating breakfast only! Why? Because nearly everyone was sick from eating so many "C" rations.
On May 6 four trucks were taken up to lay some steel on the main traveled highway to Linz so that traffic could pass without detouring. The next night the second section took off to build a bridge across some small river in Czechoslovakia. May 8 the first section went up through Linz and then backtracked several miles until we came into ObMoldau, Czechoslovakia on the Moldau River. Here we constructed, with one company from the 285th, the last bridge that was built in the ETO during the war. This bridge was built so the 11th Panzer Division could come across and surrender to the American forces.
As soon as the bridge was completed we rejoined headquarters platoon at Wegscheid, Germany. After spending a few peaceful days there we proceeded to the large city of Passau. At Passau we spent most of our time repairing roads, maintaining a bridge across the Inn River, and working on our trucks. Our last work with the bridge and equipment was when we carried several truck loads up the Danube where the 1024th was building a bridge.
The story of Headquarters platoon starts on the 27th of April, 1945, when the first platoon departed from Viechtach, Germany under the leadership of Lt. Witty. The second platoon was already committed to battle somewhere in Germany. This left headquarters platoon practically without fighting strength except what could be drawn from the few mechanics, clerks, and cooks left. Unknown to us all there was hiding in the ranks a hero, another David in the guise of an unassuming Corporal. John Titus Shaffer was his name, and he hailed from Pennsylvania. It was on or about the 30th of April that this Corporal performed a feat that may eventually give him the CMH. It was a bad night, rain, wind, and lightning. Cpl. Shaffer's duty took him on continuous inspection of the Guard -- also the "White Lightning" that was resting in the half-track. On one of these rounds Cpl. Shaffer had inspected the guard at the Motor Pool and had found everything shipshape. On his way back to the CP, Cpl. Shaffer glanced across the field used as a parking lot. This glance, small as it was, was the miracle that saved these few men still with headquarters platoon. Across the field Cpl. Shaffer could see figures moving up to attack. As the lightning flashed he could detect their outline. With the speed of light Cpl. Shaffer slipped to the ground, brought the sight of his carbine in line with the enemy and fired six shots. The next morning six jerri-cans were buried with full military honors, a bullet hole in the center of each one!
From Viechtach this brave little band of headquarters platoon proceeded to Deggendorf, Germany for a short delightful stay on the Danube River. The favorite pasttime there was to visit the Yacht Club on the hill overlooking the Danube River and now used for a CP by 1137 Engr C Gp.
Thence we went to Ob Kappel, Austria. A few days in this farm town was enough. A woman with too much battle fatigue was ever in the minds of the men as they settled down to a night of sleep. A satisfying thought was that we knew that "Gas Can" Shaffer was ever with us.
Wegscheid, GErmany was our next stop and here we settled down to see the end of the war. Peace had come to the ETC but not to the 1010th. As we celebrated the end of the war, we almost precipitated another. Too much "White Lightning" was the cause but before the war spread too far it was brought under control, and now peace even came to the 1010th. It was here that the first platoon again came under the wing of headquarters and we all rested easier.
The second platoon finally foined the company on the 26th of May. Passau had been well trampled on by the fighting first and the small contingent of headquarters. There was a mad rush for correspondence courses. There will be time for men to gain a little of that knowledge we are so in need of but somehow the enthusiasm lost its glamour after the first week. Of course the sundry details of building railing fences, taking over road details (trying to keep the Hungarian workers fed so a little work could be done) and building showers and stages rather outweighed the educational possibilities. Lots of softball was played in the afternoons.
Lt. Kuchna, while trying to play third, shortstop, and second, wrenched his knee. Water formed so Ponce de Leon had nothing on our illustrious adjutant. Yes, the Fountain of Youth. Lt. Witty left us after a long period of faithful service and we welcomed Lt. Scott to our little group.
The shades of war have lifted and the dawn of peace is coming into view. We are in a new country, a new job, with the same old opportunities. Here in Belgium we are so close to the ocean and yet so far! The 1010th has been hit hard by the redeployment program of the Army and most if not all of us are sweating out the ride home. We have lost many of our old men. Most of these men have come all the way with the 1010th. Among them are Taylor, R. M. Baker, "USAFI" Carbaugh, "Fraternizing" Jervis, "Bitching" Sam Morganti, "J. C." Egan, Johnson, Lach, Crump, Hargrove, Ritz, and many others. We miss each and every one of them. Scheduled for redeployment to the Pacific, peace may yet save them from further duties overseas.
For all of us in the 1010th there is one more ocean to cross and one more day to sweat out. We may go to the States as a Unit, or we may go individually. Whatever the way, we do know that soon there will be a parting of the ways. Just as sure as you are reading this we shall miss one another individually, and collectively we shall miss the Ten-Tenth.