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I've lost a very dear friend. He will be greatly missed. Here's to you Harvey! I really enjoyed our emails. It's a shame we never got to meet in person.

Harvey M. Schiller died at his home on April 16, 2011. He was surrounded by family. He would have been

91 on May 11.

 

Kathi Schiller, his daughter

Here's a copy of the email I sent to his daughter....

Dear Kathi and family:

I am so very sorry to hear this. I am very saddened the world will no longer have the pleasure of Harvey's great company. I shall place a note on our forum to honor him.

I am so glad you contacted me. That really means a lot to me.

I wanted to share one of the last letters your dad sent to me. He had sent a donation for a copy of my documentary. I wrote to thank him and said, "You sent to much." Well the little stinker (said lovingly), went on the internet and looked up where I lived and... So now when you read it, it will make sense. Here's his letter:

 

Dear Marion,

 

The mail travels faster from west to east.!

 

Thanks for your immediate reply. I am happy that I am able to contribute to the Combat Engineers saga!

 

Speaking of contributions, use the balance, as my treat, to enjoy with Lee, cocktails, and dinner at Hanks of Alger! (Google knows and tells all)

 

You are an exceptional, talented, ambitious charming person, and it has been my

pleasure to correspond with you. The intensive history you have created is indeed

a lasting honor to your father by a proud daughter!

 

When you get a moment in your VERY busy day, please send me the address of the

Army Corps of Engineer's Office of History.

 

I will e-mail you as soon as I receive your epic!

 

Fondly,

Harvey

 

 

With sympathy,

Marion

Here's something he shared with me a while back:

Army Service: May 11, 1992 to Oct 21, 1995. Rank: Personnel Sgt. Major, 133rd Combat Engineer Bn

Brief Resume:

1942. * May 11, 1942 - Oct 21, 1945 (3 years, 4 months) Served with 133d Engineer Combat Battalion

United States Army. Army serial number 32 334 223.

* May 11, 1942 - Mar 1944 Served in the US in Fort Lewis, Washington and Calif - Arizona

Maneuver Area (Death Valley).

* Promoted up thru the ranks to Battalion Personnel Sgt. Major with the rank of Technical Sgt.(5 stripes).

He had the responsibility of accurately maintaining the records of all the officers and enlisted men in

the Battalion, and the training and supervision of his squad of nine NCO specialists.

* Mar 1944 - Oct 1945 (1 yr, 9 mon) Served in European Theater of Operations:

North Ireland, England. Participated in third assault landing on "Omaha" Beach, France.

Attached to front line troops of General Patton's Third Army, pushing thru France, Luxembourg,

(Battle of the Bulge) across the Sauer River into Gilzem, Germany; Austria and Czechoslovakia.

Actively participated in the 5 major battles in European Theater of Operations. (Battle of St. Lo,

Rhine River, Battle of the Bulge, Ziegfried Line, Hertgen Forest)

Personally participated in the liberation of the "Lager - Aham" Germany Concentration Camp.

* Was Certified by HDG USF ETO "by command of General Eisenhower" for appointment

as Temporary Warrant Officer JG, June 7, 1945. Refused appointment as it disqualified eligibility

for prompt discharge, (the war in Europe was over) and made him eligible for immediate transfer to

Japan.

* Honorably discharged Oct 21, 1945 with the following 10 Decorations:

Bronze Star Medal by "executive order of the President of the US, Feb 4, 1944 for meritorious

achievement in ground operations against the enemy", European Campaign Medal with 5 Battle

Stars, American Campaign Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, Good Conduct Medal and Victory

Medal. Also awarded "Marksman" Medals for both M-1 and Carbine Rifles.

* During operations in ETO the 133d Engineer Combat Battalion, consisting of 725 enlisted men and

20 officers, constructed for assault river crossings, enough infantry and tank, "Bailey" steel bridges,

inflated rubber pontoon bridges and wooden bridges, that if put together, would measure

over 4 ½ miles!

They participated in 10 major assault river crossings, under enemy fire from the opposite shore and

strafing by enemy planes.

They experienced many casualties in removing over 8,000 enemy mines.

They had 174 Casualties, 43 of whom were taken prisoners by the Germans.

10 Officers were killed in combat. (50% !)

210 Received Purple Heart Medals and Oak Leaf clusters for wounds received in action. (71% !)

177 Received the Bronze Star Medal for Heroic or Meritorious Service in Ground

Operations against the enemy. (Harvey received this decoration)

16 Received the Silver Star Medal for Gallantry in Action.

That's so sad to read.

Rest in Peace, Sir!

Third wave at "Omaha" ... the same wave my friend Jim was in (also an Engineer at that time).

Erwin