Hello from the son of an Engineer Third Army

Hello, and sad to say just found this wonderful site and after prowling around decided to join.

As the topic title says my father was an Engineer in the 1306th Engineers General Services Regiment.

My father has been gone now more than twenty years and of course this time of year I miss him more than most other times. Yet I know that one Christmas season he spent in the Ardennes forever shaped the rest of his life.

Am somewhat well read on the history of the war so I hope I can contrite something intelligent on occasion.

When I can't I'll just shut up and listen.

Thanks for welcoming us newcomers.

 

Welcome to the forum.

 

Welcome Aboard Dash!

I'v spent decades reading about WWII before finding this site, so enjoy!

 

Welcome to the forums!

 

Welcome to the Forum, Dash.

 

Thanks for the welcome friends. As was common, my father talked very little about his war experiences so I am piecing things together from a variety of sources, including a couple of personal interviews with Veterans of the unit. When I have a more complete picture I will certainly post about that.

What I can write about and know for sure is that my father being posted to the Engineers by the US Army actually made sense. He was 21 when drafted in '42 and had grew up helping his father who was a surveyor. After high school he went into the CCC (this would have 1938) where he of course did more construction work, but still mostly surveying. He always believed the CCC had a largely under appreciated role in America's war effort since so many servicemen previously were in the CCC and thus already had experienced camp life. He told me that at least the CCC units he was posted to were all quasi military, lots of marching and drill, and led by former NCO's and officers. Leaving the CCC in 41 he began working in the mining industry as a "powder man". Which is just what you think, the guy that handles the explosives and the blasting. I'm sure not many enlisted in the engineers had that depth of experience although there seemed to be some attempt at matching pre war life with MOS. One of the vets in his unit I corresponded with said he had ran away from home and got a job in construction and was working in Panama when his mother wrote him about his draft notice. The other unit vet was a fellow who was a farm boy from Michigan but was posted to the Engineers seemingly because he knew how to drive a tractor. Of course all these stories are anecdotal and softened by time, still the human interest factor makes them compelling.

More to follow but in the meantime happy to be here.

 

Welcome, I'm eager to to read more.

 

Welkome !

 

Hello, Dash,

My father was an engineer attached to the Third Army during WWII. He was with the 608 Engineer Light Equipment Co.

I look forward to reading more about your father.