Hello everyone, I am looking for more information on where my grandfather was and where he went during WWII. He was a DUKW driver with the 453rd Amphibious Truck Co. I dont know whether or not this was part of the 1st or 5th ESB. My father told me his task was to transport ammunition and explosives from ships to either Utah or Omaha beach. Also crossed the Rhine (There is a newspaper article with his photo on the DUKW somewhere at my parents house) and he was also in Belgium somewhere. Anyone with info about this unit would make my day. My father was also 365th Engineer Batallion during Vietnam. Sam
Hello and welcome to the forums! I'm sure someone will provide you with some information about your grandfather.
Welcome to the forum. It looks as though his unit was part of the 5th ESB. 5th Engineer Special Brigade (assigned and attached) HHC, 5th Engineer Special Brigade 37th Engineer Combat Battalion 336th Engineer Combat Battalion 348th Engineer Combat Battalion 533rd Quartermaster Battalion 4141st Service Company 4142nd Service Company 4143rd Service Company 619th Quartermaster Battalion 97th Railhead Company 559th Railhead Company Co A, 203rd Gas Supply Battalion 131st Quartermaster Battalion 453rd Amphibian Truck Company 458th Amphibian Truck Company 459th Amphibian Truck Company 251st Ordnance Battalion 616th Ammunition Company 3466th Medium Automotive Maintenance Company 61st Medical Battalion 391st Collecting Company 392nd Collecting Company 393rd Collecting Company 643rd Clearing Company 210th MP Company 30th Chemical Decontamination Company 294th JASCO Attached: 6th Naval Beach Battalion 4042nd QM Truck Company 26th Ordnance Bomb Disposal Squad 2nd Plt, 440th Engineer Depot Company 2nd Plt, 467th Engineer Maintenance Company Det P, 165th Signal Photo Company Det A, 175th Signal Repair Company Det 1, 215th Signal Depot Company 2nd Squad, 1st Medical Depot Company 3rd Surgical Group (8 teams) 1219th Engineer Firefighting Platoon 487th Port Battalion 184th Company 185th Company 186th Company 187th Company 282nd Company (attached) 283rd Company (attached) 502nd Port Battalion 270th Company 271st Company 272nd Company 273rd Company http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=79481
A couple of articles on a man who served in the 453rd. Although the are nearly two years old, they might be of interest. http://wkbn.com/2014/05/23/boardman-veteran-reflects-on-world-war-ii-experiences/ http://www.vindy.com/news/2014/may/25/local-wwii-vets-pushed-germans-france-turned-tide-/?print
Welcome to the Forum, Sam. The 453d Amphibian Truck Co. did receive credit for a Bronze Arrowhead for Normandy, and campaign credit for Germany. That matches what your father told you. You may also be interested in one of the "Green Books", The Transportation Corps: Operation Overseas. Of particular interest is page 271 (or pg. 289 of the PDF version):
Sorry, I haven't logged on to this forum in a long time and just saw your post. What was your grandfather's name? My dad was with the 453rd and has a list of almost everyone who was with the unit at the end of the war. I could ask dad if he remember's him although he will be 99 this September and his memory has faded a lot these past few years. Even if dad does not remember him, I could fill you in some about the 453 Amphibian Truck Company but I'll wait till I here back from you to make sure you're still on the forum. Wayne
Hi Wayne, My dad was also in the 453rd Amphibian Truck Co during WWII. His name was also Wayne. Wayne Palmer in fact. He has told me a few stories of his time in WWII and one of the stories was that his ships rudder hit a magnetic mine and was crippled so they couldn't make it in to land on D-Day. He said he had been in his bunk and nature called and had he not answered that call he wouldn't have survived as the bunk he was in was hit when the mine went off and several (if not all) of the men in the bunk at the time didn't make it. I'm trying to find out which ship he was on, but can find no information as to the name/number of the LST he was on. Dad just passed away on Sept 7th and was 100 years, 4 months, and 23 days old (yes this was important to him lol)...I've attached a picture of his company below. Dad is in the 2nd to last row, 10th from the right....Would love to know which is your dad. Also if you know of a list that shows what ship each of the members were on? Please & Thank you.
