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Hey Chris:

Had a few minutes this morning before work and have uploaded the documents you sent to me the other day re: the CIB and your father.

For anyone that read through those 6 document pages, you cansee it did not go well for "us". After discussing it with Capt. Fallon, I have to agree with him that the only way for this to ever happen is to get a US represenative to offer up an amendment to one of those pork bills and designate the 36th as an Infantry outfit from '43 -'45. There sure is enough documentation calling them Infantry. I do not think it would go over too well at the Pentagon.

Chris

I found another page from the old spiral binder that Joe Medina sent me. This is page 2 of a section on Commendations. I spoke to Joe about the PUC and other letters and he told me that he got them many years ago from someone that was writing a book on the 36th and could not recall the name. Any way, item # 7 references the Truscott letter from October, '44 that I had posted previously. I sure wish we could get our hands on that old binder

Amazing what we can uncover and bring back to life, after all these years. With all the latest efforts from everyone, we now have a very fine collection of army documents.

It certainly is wonderful reading the comments from such men as Generals Truscott and Dalquist.

Thanks you Chris for your outstanding efforts.

Re #5: Capt. Fallon has always said that it was the 36th Engineers who captured Velletri. Many historians have mistaken ideas giving all credit to the 36th ID. (Or they didn't know the difference in units.) Sure would like to know more about the origin and contents of the binder too. Thanks for sharing the docs with us.

Anyone in any branch could easily get a CIB. Simply offer to transfer to a front line Infantry outfit, change your MOS to Infantry for good and qualify for it and become a Infantryman for your whole tour. Live in the dirt in a hole, no nice trucks to haul your bedrole and extra clothes ever. Eat K and C rations instead of 10 in ones or hot chow for long periods as per usual. This type of living was our day to day living, not a week or few weeks of it. That is why it is called a Combat Infantry Badge. And oh yea, we got $10.00 extra per month for living (existing) this way 24-7. Not just a occasional firefight but a expected continual string of firefights day after day was usual. No going back to your actual MOS for a change in living. Why was the

Infantry casualty rate so overwhelmingly high ?

Wow...I have to catch my breath before going on.

 

Marion...Those were words of passion.Keep writing like that and you will have a best seller.

 

Joe...the very last thing in the world I would want to do is see anything that would diminish the honor of that Badge. I am not the most eloquent of writers but this debate has been going on since 1944 as evidenced in the the following document-

Had a question posed the other day regarding this document. Since the copy is blurred in some parts, some of the words are not easy to read. The words from the last para read as follows:

5. It is recommended that the language of WD Circular #186 be broadened or interpreted to permit the award of Infantryman Combat Badge to members of the 36th Engineer Combat Regiment, otherwise qualified, and that such awards be made at the earliest practicable date in recognition of fine infantry service.

L.K. Truscott Jr

Major General, U.S. Army

Commanding

The arrow in the quote will take you back to the original post within this topic.

REGARDLESS OF WHAT ANYONE SAYS. THIS DOGFACE STILL AND WILL

ALWAYS STAND FOR THE COMBAT ENGINEER, SOMEONE ANSWER----WHAT

DID THE COMBAT ENGINEER DO DURING INVASION OF THE BEACHES ON D DAY, ALGIERS, NO.

AFRICA,INVASION SICILY, SALERNO, ANZIO, FOUR RIVER CROSSINGS THE

34TH MADE, CRAWLING ON THEIR BELLIES WITH A BAYONET LOOKING FOR.MINES.

I AM HEAR AND IN ONE PIECE BECAUSE THE C/E CLEARED THE WAY.

Roque Riojas, 1st Bn. 135th Combat INF. Regt. 34th,(RED BULL)Divn.