In December of 2012, I took a trip to Abilene, Kansas to visit the Eisenhower Presidential Library. The purpose of my trip- to view records of the 24th Armored Engineer Battalion.
After the talk with the archivist, I open the box which is waiting for me on a cart. I put the "out" marker in the place the folder resides, and pull the folder out of the box. As I open the folder I see the words, "Headquarters 24th Armored Engineer Battalion." The papers are bound to the folder the exact way the commanding officer handed them in- this is the first time they have been opened since the war.
About two months before this, I purchased a large map that depicted the 4th Armored Divisions trek though Europe. I thought it was very cool because it had dates, and routes taken. At the bottom, it said "24th Arm'd Engr Bn.". I had never heard of them before, so I looked them up on the internet. I found nothing of any substance, nothing at all. I was bound to see who these men were. How can they be forgotten? Someone has to bring their story back to life.
When I get to the first report, I see a name and signature at the bottom. I read the name and see "commanding" as the title; I just found out who the C/O was. I write the name down with hast.
As I look through the records, which are all after-action reports, I can not believe what I see. I see enlisted men and officers earning dozens of Silver Star Medals and countless Bronze Star Medals. And plenty of men are getting Oak Leaf Clusters for such awards.
These men helped push the Germans from the vicinity of Normandy, fought their way though France, rushed to relieve Bastogne, crossed the Rhine and ripped onto the German Army's Fatherland, liberated a Nazi concentration camp, and fought their way into Czechoslovakia.
Join me in telling their story. One of sacrifice, heroism, and a willingness to do more than the job of an infantryman.
To these men, this site is dedicated.
WE WILL NEVER FORGET!
:pdt12: